Immunogenicity and PK/PD evaluation in biotherapeutic drug development: scientific considerations for bioanalytical methods and data analysis

Abstract

With the advent of novel technologies, considerable advances have been made in the evaluation of the relationship between PK and PD. Ligand-binding assays have been the primary assay format supporting PK and immunogenicity assessments. Critical and in-depth characterizations of the ligand-binding assay of interest can provide valuable understanding of the limitations, for interpreting PK/PD and immunogenicity results. This review illustrates key challenges with regard to understanding the relationship between anti-drug antibody and PK/PD, including confounding factors associated with the development and validation of ligand-binding assays, mechanisms by which anti-drug antibody impacts PK/PD, factors to consider during data analyses and interpretation, and a perspective on integrating immunogenicity data into the well-established quantitative modeling approach. Through recognizing these challenges, we propose some opportunities for improvements in the development and validation of fit-for-purpose bioanalytical methods.