Peptibodies: A flexible alternative format to antibodies

Peptibodies or peptide-Fc fusions are an attractive alternative therapeutic format to monoclonal antibodies. They consist of biologically active peptides grafted onto an Fc domain. This approach retains certain desirable features of antibodies, notably an increased apparent affinity through the avidity conferred by the dimerization of two Fcs and a long plasma residency time. Peptibodies can be made in E. coli using recombinant technology. The manufacturing process involves fermentation and downstream processing, including refolding and multiple column chromatographic steps, that result in overall yields and quality suitable for commercial development. Romiplostim, marketed under the brand name Nplate®, is the first peptibody to be approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicines Agency and is indicated for the treatment of immune thrombocytopenic purpura. AMG 386, a peptibody antagonist to angiopoietins 1 and 2, is being evaluated in Phase 3 clinical testing in combination with chemotherapy in women with ovarian cancer. AMG 819, a peptibody targeting nerve growth factor for pain has also progressed to clinical trials. These peptibodies illustrate the versatility of the modality.