Today’s cyclodextrin is an excellent example of using CDs (in this particular case, HPBCD) in peptide/protein formulations. ELGAN Pharma‘s patent concerns combining insulin, cyclodextrins, and other components, where the role of the CD is stabilization and cryopreservation.
As we see more examples of CD-protein combinations in research and clinical practice, I am convinced that this use will shape future applications.
Using cyclodextrins to prevent aggregation in protein formulations has been known for some time, and we have already published a lot about this topic.
This paper from Florian Johann, Steffen Wöll, and Henning Gieseler adds some special spice to the application as they investigate the potential of CDs in reducing aggregation of Antibody–Drug Conjugates with different payloads.
The main takeaways of the study are:
Hydroxypropylated (CDs) reduced agitation-induced aggregation in all tested ADCs without causing destabilization during incubation at 40 °C.
Native CDs that are not surface active partially reduced agitation-induced aggregation in ADCs, suggesting the possibility of stabilizing mechanisms beyond mere competition at the air-liquid interface.
ADC-specific formulation effects were observed, e.g., superior performance of the large HPγCD type in stabilizing a highly unstable ADC with a bulky fluorophore payload during incubation.
As a company also involved in research for Alzheimer’s disease both from the DDS and API perspective, we cheer for this news!
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Kisunla™ (donanemab-azbt), a once-monthly injection (350 mg/20 mL) for IV infusion developed by Eli Lilly and Company.
Kisunla is designed to treat adults with early symptomatic Alzheimer’s disease (AD), which includes mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and mild dementia stages of AD, with confirmed amyloid pathology. This is the first and only amyloid plaque-targeting therapy that allows stopping treatment when amyloid plaques are cleared, potentially reducing costs and the number of infusions needed.
Today’s cyclodextrin this recent patent of RemeGen Biosciences suggests that cyclodextrins, particularly methyl-beta-cyclodextrin (Fine Chemicals – www.carbohydesolutions.com) can significantly improve the efficacy of antibody-drug conjugates so that some of the ADC drugs with safety issues caused by excessive dosage can be developed. Moreover, due to the reduction in the dosage of ADC drugs, the cost of production and treatment for patients have also been significantly reduced, thereby being beneficial.
Transformational Potential: Cell and gene therapies are revolutionizing how we treat diseases, promising to cure certain conditions. They remain at the forefront of healthcare innovation.
Fast-Growing Field: These therapies are the fastest-growing therapeutics areas, with over 50 new in vivo and ex vivo gene therapy launches planned in the next few years.
Challenges and Innovation: While promising, cell and gene therapies require substantial innovation to unlock their full potential for patients. Scaling digital and analytics in discovery and R&D is part of the solution.
Market Resilience: Despite the disruptions caused by the pandemic, stakeholders, including CGT innovators, healthcare providers, and CDMOs, are optimistic that positive developments lie ahead.
Viral-Vector Therapies: Viral-vector gene therapies are here to stay, but addressing challenges and strategizing for patient access is critical for their success.
Overall, the outlook is positive, but ongoing research, regulatory advancements, and manufacturing innovations will shape the future of cell and gene therapy. 🌟
Drug repositioning is a high-priority and feasible strategy in the field of oncology research, where the unmet medical needs are continuously unbalanced. Disulfiram is a potential non-chemotherapeutic, adjuvant anticancer agent. However, the clinical translation is limited by the drug‘s poor bioavailability. Therefore, the molecular encapsulation of disulfiram with cyclodextrins is evaluated to enhance the solubility and stability of the drug.
Throughout the different cancer cell lines‘ characteristics and disulfiram unspecific antitumoral activity, the inhibitory efficacy of the cyclodextrin encapsulated drug on melanoma (IC50 about 100 nM) and on glioblastoma (IC50 about 7000 nM) cell lines differ by a magnitude. This pre-formulation screening experiment serves as proof of concept for using cyclodextrin encapsulation as a platform tool for further drug delivery development in repositioning areas.
This recent patent from our friend Tao Peng at Roquette on preserving an adenovirus vaccine with the help of cyclodextrins got us thinking about how CDs can be used in this area.
In the context of vaccines, cyclodextrins can effectively encapsulate antigens, ensuring their protection from degradation and improving their immunogenicity. Cyclodextrins offer stability advantages to vaccines by preventing the degradation of labile vaccine components during storage and transportation. Furthermore, cyclodextrins can serve as adjuvants, potentiating the immune response triggered by vaccines. Their unique structure and interaction with the immune system enhance the recognition of antigens by immune cells, leading to an improved activation of both innate and adaptive immune responses. This adjuvant effect contributes to the development of robust and long-lasting immune protection against targeted pathogens. Owing to the distinctive attributes inherent to nanoparticles, their integration into vaccine formulations has assumed an imperative role. Through the encapsulation of vaccine antigens/adjuvants within cyclodextrin nanoparticles, the potency and stability of vaccines can be notably enhanced. In particular, the capacity of amphiphilic cyclodextrins to form nanoparticles through self-assembly without surfactants or co-solvents is a captivating prospect for their application as carrier systems for antigens. In conclusion, cyclodextrins present a promising platform for enhancing the efficacy and stability of vaccines. Their ability to encapsulate antigens, stabilize labile vaccine components and act as adjuvants demonstrates their potential to revolutionize vaccine formulation and delivery. Further research and development in this field will facilitate the translation of cyclodextrin-based vaccine technologies into practical and impactful immunization strategies, ultimately benefiting global health and disease prevention.
Tay-Sachs disease, a progressive neurodegenerative disorder caused by mutations in the HEXA gene, lacks effective treatment. This study explores the therapeutic potential of δ-tocopherol and hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin, targeting lysosomal exocytosis in Tay-Sachs models. Results indicate significant lysosomal GM2 reduction, offering hope for future treatments.
We are happy to announce the acceptance of a great patent from CarboHyde’s collaborator, Renatus, a pharmaceutical company focused on developing cyclodextrin-based cholesterol metabolism modulators. Renatus is a pharmaceutical company whose mission is to provide safe and effective treatment options for the treatment of numerous cholesterol-driven diseases such as chronic kidney disease, atherosclerosis, and Alzheimer’s diseases. The core technology of the company allows the normalization of cholesterol homeostasis by removal of excessive and toxic cholesterol within diseased cells without significant harmful effects on normal cells.
The lead asset RN-005 is a cholesterol metabolism modulator that has proven strong therapeutic efficacy in preclinical models of both diabetic kidney disease (DKD) and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) wherein dysregulated cholesterol metabolism causes progressive damage and loss of function in the kidney. The gamma-cyclodextrin oligomers are effective in cholesterol metabolism enhancement, cholesterol efflux, reducing inflammatory cytokine secretion, renal clearance of cholesterol, and/or reducing albuminuria. Therefore, the gamma-cyclodextrin oligomers can be used to treat or alleviate chronic kidney disease, symptoms thereof and/or complications related to chronic kidney disease.