Validation of a biolayer interferometry-based method for the determination of binding (total) antibodies to romiplostim in human serum

INTRODUCTION. Romiplostim treatment of patients with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura is associated with formation of anti-drug antibodies (ADA), which often leads to the serious adverse events. A method based on biolayer interferometry is proposed for determination of binding (total) ADA (bADA) to romiplostim in human serum. From a technological point of view, instruments using this principle have some advantages (higher throughput, prolonged service intervals, low level of equipment contamination during analysis of biosamples) over those based on surface plasmon resonance, which are used to monitor bADA levels during clinical trials of the original drug. The method should be validated to ensure reproducibility of measurements and standardise clinical laboratory trials of the immunogenicity of a biosimilar drug. AIM. To establish the key validation characteristics of a biolayer interferometry-based method for the determination of total anti-drug antibodies to romiplostim in human serum. MATERIALS AND METHODS. The method is used to detect the specific interaction of binding antibodies with biotinylated romiplostim immobilised on the streptavidin-coated biosensors. The method includes a screening test to determine bADA presence or absence in the samples; a confirmatory test to check the specificity of bADA binding to romiplostim; determination of antibody titer and maximal dilution, that allows to detect bADA in the samples. Positive control samples containing different concentrations of polyclonal rabbit antibodies to romiplostim were used in the work. Detection of protein complex formation was performed in real time mode using an Octet® QKe interferometer. RESULTS. The biological variability factor and the limit of not significant inhibition were 1.481 and 34.2%, respectively. The precision and specificity of the method were confirmed. The lower limit of bADA detection in the absence of romiplostim was 622 ng/mL. The analytical signal of 8 out of 10 blood serum samples after the addition of bADA increased by more than 1.481 times when assessing the matrix effect in the screening test; the percentage inhibition value exceeded 34.2% when analysing 8 out of 10 samples with the addition of bADA in the confirmatory test. There was no high-dose effect at bADA concentrations from 0.8 to 50 μg/mL. The results of bADA determination in the screening test were robust to the presence of 1 ng/mL romiplostim in the samples. Streptavidin-coated biosensors with immobilised romiplostim maintained stability after 14 days of storage at a temperature of (5±3) °С and at least 20 regeneration cycles. CONCLUSIONS. Analysis of the validation results obtained confirms the suitability of the method for reliable and reproducible determination of binding (total) antibodies to romiplostim in human serum.