B-domain deleted recombinant coagulation factor VIII modified with monomethoxy polyethylene glycol

Recombinant coagulation factor VIII (r-VIII SQ) was chemically modified with monomethoxy poly(ethylene glycol) (mPEG). Three mPEG derivatives were used for coupling to the r-VIII SQ lysines, a mixed anhydride of monomethoxy poly(ethylene glycol) succinic acid (mPEG-SAH), monomethoxy poly(ethylene glycol) succinimidyl succinate (mPEG-SS), and monomethoxy poly(ethylene glycol) tresylate (mPEG-TRES). A consequence of the modification with all derivatives was a substantial reduction in coagulant activity, even at very low degrees of modification. A method was developed with the purpose of avoiding conjugation at certain important biological sites on the factor VIII and thereby producing conjugates with better retained activity. This was achieved by immobilizing the protein onto a solid matrix during the modification reaction. Characterization of conjugates by SDS-PAGE, western blots, interaction with von Willebrand factor (vWf), and thrombin activation/inactivation analyses was undertaken. The SDS-PAGE and western blots revealed coupling heterogeneity regarding degree of modification. The amount of factor VIII able to bind to vWf decreased with the conjugation. Thrombin activated the modified factor VIII to essentially the same extent as the reference preparation of r-VIII SQ. Inactivation of the modified factor VIII was, however, slower than inactivation of the unmodified protein. Finally, an in vitro study was performed to evaluate the influence of the mPEG modification on the protein stability in extract of porcine tissue. Despite that conjugates with low degrees of modification were included in the study, the coagulant activity was preserved to a significantly higher extent in all incubation mixtures containing conjugates compared to that with unmodified protein.