Application of population physiologically based pharmacokinetic modelling to optimize target expression and clearance mechanisms of therapeutic monoclonal antibodies

Aims To use population physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PopPBPK) modelling to optimize target expression, kinetics and clearance of HER1/2 directed therapeutic monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). Thus, to propose a general workflow of PopPBPK modelling and its application in clinical pharmacology. Methods Full PBPK model of pertuzumab (PTZ) was developed in patient population using Simcyp V21R1 incorporating mechanistic targeted‐mediated drug disposition process by fitting known clinical PK and sparse receptor proteomics data to optimize target expression and kinetics of HER2 receptor. Trastuzumab (TTZ) PBPK modelling was used to validate the optimized HER2 target. Additionally, the simulator was also used to develop a full PBPK model for the HER1‐directed mAb cetuximab (CTX) to assess the underlying targeted‐mediated drug disposition‐independent elimination mechanisms. Results HER2 final parameterisation coming from the PBPK modelling of PTZ was successfully cross validated through PBPK modelling of TTZ with average fold error (AFE), absolute AFE and percent prediction error values for area under the concentration–time curve (AUC) and maximum plasma concentration (C max ) of 1.13, 1.16 and 16, and 1.01, 1.07 and 7, respectively. CTX PBPK model performance was validated after the incorporation of an additional systemic clearance of 0.033 L/h as AFE and absolute AFE showed an acceptable predictive power of AUC and C max with percent prediction error of 13% for AUC and 10% for C max . Conclusions Optimisation of both system and drug related parameters were performed through PBPK modelling to improve model performance of therapeutic mAbs (PTZ, TTZ and CTX). General workflow was proposed to develop and apply PopPBPK to support clinical development of mAbs targeting same receptor.