PEGylated proteins: evaluation of their safety in the absence of definitive metabolism studies.

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Webster R, Didier E, Harris P, Siegel N, Stadler J, Tilbury L, Smith D

PEGylated proteins: evaluation of their safety in the absence of definitive metabolism studies.

Drug Metab Dispos. 2007 Jan;35(1):9-16. doi: 10.1124/dmd.106.012419. Epub 2006 Oct 4.

PubMed ID

17020954 [ View in PubMed

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Abstract

During the development of any PEGylated protein or peptide, toxicology in relevant species will be conducted prior to human exposure. Normally, comprehensive metabolism data accompany the toxicity studies for a small molecule. We have examined whether such studies would be relevant in the safety assessment of PEGylated material. Literature data indicate that the polyethylene glycol (PEG) associated with a biological molecule should provide no extra concern because the exposure-toxicity relationship of PEG in animals and humans has been thoroughly investigated and metabolism/excretion of PEG is well understood. Based on the comparisons of PEG exposure from PEGylated biological products and the exposure of PEG associated with toxicity in humans, the therapeutic index is large (approximately 600-fold or greater). Therefore, assuming that toxicological evaluation of a biological molecule of interest is complete and satisfactory therapeutic windows are achieved, the data contained in this review indicate that the PEG associated with a protein or other biological molecule does not represent an additional unquantified risk to humans.

DrugBank Data that Cites this Article

Drugs

Certolizumab pegol

Drug Enzymes

Drug	Enzyme	Kind	Organism	Pharmacological Action	Actions
Certolizumab pegol	Alcohol dehydrogenase [NADP(+)]	Protein	Humans	No	Substrate	Details