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Research Article

Mechanistic Modeling of Soluble Aβ Dynamics and Target Engagement in the Brain by Anti-Aβ mAbs in Alzheimer’s Disease

[ Vol. 17 , Issue. 4 ]

Author(s):

Gregory Z. Ferl*, Reina N. Fuji, Jasvinder K. Atwal, Tony Sun, Saroja Ramanujan and Angelica L. Quartino   Pages 393 - 406 ( 14 )

Abstract:


<P>Background: Anti-amyloid-&#946; (A&#946;) monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are currently in development for treating Alzheimer’s disease. </P><P> Objectives: To address the complexity of A&#946; target engagement profiles, improve the understanding of crenezumab Pharmacokinetics (PK) and A&#946; Pharmacodynamics (PD) in the brain, and facilitate comparison of anti-A&#946; therapies with different binding characteristics. </P><P> Methods: A mechanistic mathematical model was developed describing the distribution, elimination, and binding kinetics of anti-A&#946; mAbs and A&#946; (monomeric and oligomeric forms of A&#946;1-40 and A&#946;1-42) in the brain, Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF), and plasma. Physiologically meaningful values were assigned to the model parameters based on the previous data, with remaining parameters fitted to clinical measurements of A&#946; concentrations in CSF and plasma, and PK/PD data of patients undergoing anti-A&#946; therapy. A&#946; target engagement profiles were simulated using a Monte Carlo approach to explore the impact of biological uncertainty in the model parameters. </P><P> Results: Model-based estimates of in vivo affinity of the antibody to monomeric A&#946; were qualitatively consistent with the previous data. Simulations of A&#946; target engagement profiles captured observed mean and variance of clinical PK/PD data. </P><P> Conclusion: This model is useful for comparing target engagement profiles of different anti-A&#946; therapies and demonstrates that 60 mg/kg crenezumab yields a significant increase in A&#946; engagement compared with lower doses of solanezumab, supporting the selection of 60 mg/kg crenezumab for phase 3 studies. The model also provides evidence that the delivery of sufficient quantities of mAb to brain interstitial fluid is a limiting step with respect to the magnitude of soluble A&#946; oligomer neutralization.</P>

Keywords:

Alzheimer&#39;s disease, amyloid-&#946;, monoclonal antibodies, mathematical, quantitative systems pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, crenezumab.

Affiliation:

Department of Translational & Systems Pharmacology, Genentech Research & Early Development, Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, California, CA 94048, Department of Translational & Systems Pharmacology, Genentech Research & Early Development, Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, California, CA 94048, Department of Translational & Systems Pharmacology, Genentech Research & Early Development, Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, California, CA 94048, Department of Translational & Systems Pharmacology, Genentech Research & Early Development, Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, California, CA 94048, Department of Translational & Systems Pharmacology, Genentech Research & Early Development, Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, California, CA 94048, Department of Translational & Systems Pharmacology, Genentech Research & Early Development, Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, California, CA 94048



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