A mechanistic PK/PD model for two anti-IL13 antibodies explains the difference in total IL-13 accumulation observed in clinical studies
MABS
Authors: Tiwari, Abhinav; Kasaian, Marion; Heatherington, Anne C.; Jones, Hannah M.; Hua, Fei
Abstract
IMA-638 and IMA-026 are humanized IgG1 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) that target non-overlapping epitopes of IL-13. Separate first-in-human single ascending dose studies were conducted for each mAb. These studies had similar study designs, but mild to moderate asthmatics were recruited for the IMA-638 study and healthy subjects were recruited for the IMA-026 study. IMA-638 and IMA-026 showed similar pharmacokinetic (PK) profiles, but very different total IL-13 (free and drug bound IL-13) profiles; free IL13 was not measured. IMA-026 treatment induced a dose-dependent accumulation of total IL-13, while IMA-638 treatment led to a much smaller accumulation without any clear dose-response. To understand the differences between the two total IL-13 profiles and to predict the free IL-13 profiles for each mAb treatment, a mechanistic PK/pharmacodynamic model was developed. PK-related parameters were first fit to the mean PK profiles of each mAb separately; thereafter, the target-related parameters were fit to both total IL-13 profiles simultaneously. The IL-13 degradation rate was assumed to be the same for asthma patients and healthy subjects. The model suggests that an approximately 100x faster elimination of IL-13-IMA-638 complex than IL-13-IMA-026 complex could be responsible for the differences observed in total IL-13 profiles for the two mAbs. Furthermore, the model predicts that IMA-638 administration results in greater and more prolonged free IL-13 inhibition than equivalent dosing of IMA-026 despite similar binding K-D and PK profile. In conclusion, joint modeling of two similar molecules provided mechanistic insight that the elimination rate of mAb-target complex can regulate the degree of free target inhibition.
Immunofibroblasts are pivotal drivers of tertiary lymphoid structure formation and local pathology
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Authors: Nayar, Saba; Campos, Joana; Smith, Charlotte G.; Iannizzotto, Valentina; Gardner, David H.; Mourcin, Frederic; Roulois, David; Turner, Jason; Sylvestre, Marvin; Asam, Saba; Glaysher, Bridget; Bowman, Simon J.; Fearon, Douglas T.; Filer, Andrew; Tarte, Karin; Luther, Sanjiv A.; Fisher, Benjamin A.; Buckley, Christopher D.; Coles, Mark C.; Barone, Francesca
Abstract
Resident fibroblasts at sites of infection, chronic inflammation, or cancer undergo phenotypic and functional changes to support leukocyte migration and, in some cases, aggregation into tertiary lymphoid structures (TLS). The molecular programming that shapes these changes and the functional requirements of this population in TLS development are unclear. Here, we demonstrate that external triggers at mucosal sites are able to induce the progressive differentiation of a population of podoplanin (pdpn)-positive stromal cells into a network of immunofibroblasts that are able to support the earliest phases of TLS establishment. This program of events, that precedes lymphocyte infiltration in the tissue, is mediated by paracrine and autocrine signals mainly regulated by IL13. This initial fibroblast network is expanded and stabilized, once lymphocytes are recruited, by the local production of the cytokines IL22 and lymphotoxin. Interfering with this regulated program of events or depleting the immunofibroblasts in vivo results in abrogation of local pathology, demonstrating the functional role of immunofibroblasts in supporting TLS maintenance in the tissue and suggesting novel therapeutic targets in TLS-associated diseases.