New IL-6 advantages over Actemra?
Before the phase 2 trial began, Timmerman interviewed Randy Schatzman, CEO of Alder Biopharmaceuticals. “Alder has engineered the drug, called ALD518, to block the same IL-6 molecules, but with a number of advantages over Actemra, Schatzman says. The Alder drug can last longer in the bloodstream, so it can be injected less frequently, possibly as little as three or four times a year instead of once a month, he says. It is made to be given intravenously or in a straightforward injection under the skin, while Actemra is IV only.” Timmerman also explains that ALD518 is “designed to snip off a carbohydrate chain that hangs off the genetically engineered antibody” and they hope that will eliminate a rare, but dangerous allergic reaction to infusions.
The method for doing that uses yeast cells to produce the drug instead of the hamster ovary cells. The yeast provides a better imitation of the human environment. As a bonus, yeast is cheaper and divides much faster than hamster cells. It is possible that ALD518 could be made much more cheaply than existing Biologics.
Before the phase 2 trial began, Timmerman interviewed Randy Schatzman, CEO of Alder Biopharmaceuticals. “Alder has engineered the drug, called ALD518, to block the same IL-6 molecules, but with a number of advantages over Actemra, Schatzman says. The Alder drug can last longer in the bloodstream, so it can be injected less frequently, possibly as little as three or four times a year instead of once a month, he says. It is made to be given intravenously or in a straightforward injection under the skin, while Actemra is IV only.” Timmerman also explains that ALD518 is “designed to snip off a carbohydrate chain that hangs off the genetically engineered antibody” and they hope that will eliminate a rare, but dangerous allergic reaction to infusions.
The method for doing that uses yeast cells to produce the drug instead of the hamster ovary cells. The yeast provides a better imitation of the human environment. As a bonus, yeast is cheaper and divides much faster than hamster cells. It is possible that ALD518 could be made much more cheaply than existing Biologics.