Survey of monoclonal antibody disposition in man utilizing a minimal physiologically-based pharmacokinetic model

Minimal physiologically based pharmacokinetic (mPBPK) models provide a simple and sensible approach that incorporates physiological elements into pharmacokinetic (PK) analysis when only plasma data are available. With this modeling concept, a second-generation mPBPK model was further developed with specific accommodations for the unique PK properties of monoclonal antibodies (mAb). This study applied this model to extensively survey mAb PK in man in order to seek general perspectives on mAb distributional and elimination features. Profiles for 72 antibodies were successfully analyzed with this model. The model results provide assessment regarding: (1) predominant clearance site, in plasma or interstitial fluid (ISF); (2) mAb ISF concentrations in two groups of lumped tissues with continuous (V(tight)) or fenestrated (V(leaky)) vascular endothelium; (3) Transcapillary escape rate (TER), an indicator of systemic vascular permeability. For 93% of surveyed mAbs, the model assuming clearance from plasma (CL) produced better or at least equivalent model performance than the model with clearance from ISF and yielded most consistent values of vascular reflection coefficients (σ1 and σ2) among all antibodies. The average mAb ISF concentration in V(tight) and V(leaky) at equilibrium was predicted to be about 6.8 and 37.9% of that in plasma. A positive correlation was detected between plasma clearance and TER among most mAbs, which could be interpreted as both parameters having common determinants related to ISF tissue distribution in this model context. The mAbs with relative higher plasma clearance (>0.035 L/h/70 kg) did not reveal such positive correlation between clearance and TER, implying that the factors contributing to high clearance may not necessarily increase tissue distribution and penetration. In conclusion, this mPBPK model offers a more mechanistic approach for analyzing plasma mAb PK than compartment models and generates parameters providing useful intrinsic distributional and elimination insights for a large number of mAbs that were examined in man.