CTLA4-Ig prevents development of neutralizing antibody formation after continuous treatment with human FVIII in HA rats

Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskriftTidsskriftartikelForskningfagfællebedømt

Introduction: Immunogenicity causing development of anti-drug antibodies (ADAs) are major challenges in the treatment of haemophilia, as well as other diseases where proteins are used for treatment. Furthermore, it is a complication for preclinical testing of such therapies in animal models. Aim: To investigate if the immunosuppressive drug CTLA4 immunoglobulin (CTLA4-Ig) can induce tolerance in haemophilia A (HA) rats receiving recombinant human coagulation factor VIII (rhFVIII) treatment. Methods: Two different prophylactic rhFVIII compounds were given intravenously to HA rats for 4 weeks. Both rhFVIII compounds were co-administered with commercially available CTLA4-Ig or human IgG subclass 4 (hIgG4) as control, and blood samples were collected. To functionally test if pharmacological efficacy was retained, rats were subjected to a bleeding experiment under anaesthesia at end of study. Results: The mean inhibitory level after 4 weeks in rats receiving rhFVIII and hIgG4 was 85.7 BU for octocog alfa and 37.4 BU for rurioctocog alfa pegol. In contrast, co-administration with CTLA4-Ig during rhFVIII therapy prevented the formation of ADAs (both binding and inhibitory) in 14/14 rats receiving octocog alfa and in 7/7 rats receiving rurioctocog alfa pegol. Moreover, we were able to show that the pharmacological efficacy of rhFVIII was preserved. Conclusion: In a rat model with spontaneous bleeding, co-administration of CTLA4-Ig with rhFVIII prevented antibody formation. No FVIII antibodies were detected, demonstrating that CTLA4-Ig co-administration can be applicable as a method to prevent immunogenicity, when evaluating human proteins in preclinical systems permitting continuous pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic assessment.

OriginalsprogEngelsk
TidsskriftHaemophilia
Vol/bind28
Udgave nummer4
Sider (fra-til)568-577
ISSN1351-8216
DOI
StatusUdgivet - 2022

Bibliografisk note

Funding Information:
Authors gratefully acknowledge and thank the following employees at Novo Nordisk A/S, specifically: Sarah Baumgarten, Dennis Funch Danielsen, Mia Jørgensen‐Grøndahl, Christa Andsbjerg Frederiksen, Lonnie Frimodt Bangshof and Thomas Nygaard Jensen for their high‐quality technical assistance. This work was supported with funding by Novo Nordisk A/S and The University of Copenhagen.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

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