Highly Sensitive, Specific ADA Assay, Cell-Based NAb Assay, And Immunogenicity Testing Services!

Immunogenicity testing plays a crucial role in measuring the immune response elicited by large molecule drugs during biotherapeutics R&D. Given its defense mechanism, the human immune system marks large molecules as foreign invaders and mounts a subsequent reaction. Typically, this happens through the production of antibodies to remove or destroy the external elements. During the immune response, the large molecules can create even larger macromolecules that further change the immunogenicity profile of the underlying drug. In other words, the immune response triggered by the therapeutic compound or its delivery vehicle can impact the efficacy and safety of the drug. Thus, immunogenicity testing methods is an essential step in biopharmaceutical development.

Immunogenicity assays are complicated because of multiple interactions that occur between the drug, target, and sample matrices. Thus, careful selection of the assay format is critical for further optimization and validation. NorthEast Biolab has extensive experience in designing, validating, and optimizing antibody immunogenicity assays according to regulatory and safety guidelines by the FDA. Our scientists systematically develop your methods for high quality and reproducible antibody immunogenicity assays. Usually, we support clients in developing a screening assay to measure immunogenicity. This is followed by ADA titer assay and confirmation assays. We also help in developing custom antibody immunogenicity assays by checking the risk or safety profile of the antibody and the intended purpose of the drug.

Immunogenicity ADA assays are critical in measuring an immune response against the therapeutic proteins. These tests also measure the various anti-drug antibodies (ADA) and soluble protein biomarkers. The findings from these measurements impact dose selection and the safety profile of the drug. The soluble protein biomarkers quantified during ADA assay can reveal target engagement, provide a mechanism of action, and predict the immune response related to the drug.

ADA Samples for immunogenicity ADA assay contain complex matrices that can create considerable interference and cause inaccuracies. Hence, scientists formulate strategies to reduce interference in ADA immunogenicity testing methods and accurately support the development of therapeutic antibodies and other drug candidates.

NorthEast Biolab has 15+ years of experience in designing, optimizing, and validating ADA assays for biotech and pharma companies. We implement GLP and GCP evaluation of a new biologics in preclinical and clinical stages, respectively. Our veteran scientists have worked on a variety of immunogenicity testing assay to provide highly sensitive and selective methods.

Our immunogenicity testing services include the following procedures, at all stages of the immunogenicity assay development process:

• Purification, modification, and procurement of antibodies
• Immunogen and antigen preparation
• Cell line formation
• Development and optimization of immunoassays
• Reagent preparation
• Anti-drug antibody testing
• Titration and isotyping

The body produces Anti-drug antibodies (ADA) as an immunogenic response against therapeutic proteins, enzymes, antibodies, peptides, and other biologic combination products. ADAs, somewhat identical to the proteins found in the human body, are complex macromolecules composed of hundreds of amino acids. The generated ADA antibodies could bind to various epitopes of the biologics, making them ineffective. Additionally, these antibodies can neutralize or break down the biologics or drug products into their components in many ways. The human body makes five different antibodies called immunoglobulins (Ig) to combat different antigens, namely IgA, IgG, IgM, IgE, and IGD. We test all relevant Ig isotypes in the initial ADA screening assay, depending on the route of administration and clinical evidence or risk of anaphylaxis. We also perform ELISA ADA assays. Generally, the FDA doesn’t mandate the determination of Ig isotype in screening assays. That said, assessment of antigen-specific Ig assays and evaluation of the generated Ig ADA subtype is sometimes deemed informative based on the drug therapy.

Immunogenicity is defined as any drug compound’s ability to evoke an immune response. Immunogenicity testing in clinical trials is necessary because sponsors seeking regulatory approval must ensure that their drug doesn’t elicit an adverse immune response upon administration. Typically, immunogenicity results from the detection of drug biomaterial as a foreign object by the body’s immune response. Depending upon the biomaterial, the T-helper cells usually form a cascade and migrate towards the drug. It is challenging to predict how these T- helper cells would respond to a specific therapy. This immunogenic response could be the reason for the limited binding between the biomaterial and the site of action or the rejection of biomaterial altogether. The immunogenicity prediction for immunogenicity testing in clinical trials could be based upon drug performance in preclinical testing. NorthEast BioLab performs immunogenicity assays such as ADA and NAb Testing to evaluate antibodies produced against your biologics.

Immunogenicity assays can be involved, given the complexities and interferences associated with the various sample matrices, drug therapy, and targeted site of action. That said, the Anti-drug Antibody (ADA) assays (screening, confirmation, and titration) and Neutralizing Antibody (NAb) assay are the most common assays during the drug development process. The ADA and NAb assays are completed to identify and evaluate the antibody that binds with any therapeutic product. Our scientists obtain rigorous and actionable data for your drug development through highly sensitive and precise Anti-drug Antibody and Neutralizing Antibody assays.

Anti-drug antibody (ADA) assays development and validation is an essential step in the clinical and preclinical testing of biologics for managing immune responses that affect drug therapy safety and efficacy. Our immunogenicity experts are well versed in the development and validation of qualitative and semi-qualitative immunoassays using the FDA recommended multi-step approach to measure ADAs and NAbs. As the first step, our scientists screen patient samples to detect ADA immunogenicity. Next, the ADA samples are evaluated for cut point analysis, which is a test to eliminate false-positives and perform the confirmation assay for potential positives. As a confirmatory assay, we determine the ADA titer assay assessment and specificity of the binding. Afterward, all confirmed ADA positive samples are assayed for the presence of neutralizing antibodies by NAb assay.

ADA assay development is a multi-step bioanalytical approach that includes several assay formats and method validation for suitable immunoassays. In the first tier, our scientists utilize a sensitive screening assay, aka binding antibody assay, to analyze biological samples for low and high-affinity ADA antibodies. In the second tier of our Anti-drug Antibody testing, we perform a cut point analysis to determine positive or negative ADA samples. Any samples that demonstrate potential binding get re-tested for specificity by competition with the therapeutic protein in a confirmatory assay. At this point, the FDA recommends that sponsors conduct risk-based characterization testing for any cross-reactivity, isotypes assessment, and epitope specificity. After ADA confirmatory assay, positive samples need to be tested further for neutralizing and titration assays.

Neutralizing Antibody (NAb) assays are a necessary component for immunogenicity testing in clinical trials when anti-drug antibodies are detected in patient samples. NAbs can neutralize the effects of biomaterials and are evoked in the body as an adverse immune response to therapeutic proteins. In these NAb assay, it is crucial to observe whether i) patients are producing anti-drug antibodies and ii) these antibodies are neutralizing the therapeutic drug effects. NorthEast BioLab immunogenicity professionals design and develop your customized and specific Neutralizing Antibody assay. We utilize MSD Quickplex 120 to increase NAb assay sensitivity and dynamic range, as well as limit matrix effects as compared to traditional ELISA.

Immunogenicity test is crucial in ADA analysis in clinical trials from Phase I through Phase III. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) offer the traditional approach to quantitate ADA antibodies from administered drug therapy. First, we coat the polystyrene plate with a solution of capture antigen or antibody and wash the plate. Next, we add a blocking solution, incubate, and rewash. Afterward, we add biological samples from the drug therapy administration and rewash. At this time, the ADA antibodies can bind with the capture antigen or antibody. Finally, we add the detection substrate that emits a color if the ADA target is identified. Notably, the MSD immunogenicity assay has several advantages over conventional ELISA, including higher sensitivity, matrix tolerance, free drug tolerance, and lower sample volume requirement. It is essential to perform both ADA and NAb assays if patients are showing immunogenicity against your drug therapy. Our MSD Quickplex 120 platform delivers high-performance ADA immunogenicity assay for broad range multiplex detection using electrode plate binding and electrochemiluminescence quantitation.

Immunogenicity testing is crucial because the protein-based therapeutics, such as monoclonal antibodies and vaccines, are sometimes recognized as foreign particles by the body and induce an unwanted immunogenic response. Thus, immunogenicity assessment of biologics or therapeutic proteins is mandatory for regulatory approval. Often immune response involves B or T cell epitopes. For immunogenicity prediction, histocompatibility complex class II/ MHC is identified as an immunogenic molecule that shows T-epitopes as the receptors for cascade responses. These types of cells are responsible for producing antibodies and inactivating the administered protein-based drugs. Other risk factors for immunogenicity testing include dosage, administration route, delivery vehicle, and immune system activation to predict the immunogenicity of protein. Thus, measuring the capacity of producing antibodies is an essential aspect for the safety of clinical trials and for the success of therapeutic drugs. Immune tolerance can also significantly affect the therapeutics product design in many cases. Rheumatoid Arthritis and Hemophilia A exemplify health conditions that have complicated treatments due to immunogenicity.

Immunogenicity assays during clinical and preclinical studies evaluate the tendency of biologics to produce an immune response in the form of ADAs and NAbs. Immunogenic response against biologics and therapeutic proteins is a common concern for scientists and clinicians focused on drug development. These responses could result in adverse clinical events due to the inactivation of drug therapy for patients. Several factors determine whether any biologic does or does not evoke an immune response, including drug structure, variants, immunogenic status, dosage, route of administration, and genetic profile of treated patients. The overall purpose of immunogenicity study, ADA assay specifically, is to determine whether ADA antibodies are generated and can cause adverse events or loss of efficacy. NorthEast BioLab experts develop and validate your immunogenicity assays, including ADA and NAb assays, to analyze your novel compounds in clinical and preclinical studies.