Biosimilars and biobetters as tools for understanding and mitigating the immunogenicity of biotherapeutics

In this article, we review key steps for the development of biosimilars and biobetters and related bioanalytical challenges, with a focus on how they are associated with immunogenicity. We analyze the factors that can impact antidrug antibody (ADA) responses and their correlations with preclinical and clinical outcomes to provide relevant insights and to answer questions, including what types of aggregate are immunogenic. We also address strategies for developing less-immunogenic biotherapeutics. Using interferon-beta (IFN-beta) as a case study, we explore the correlation between aggregation and immunogenicity. We dissect and integrate with clinical data the IFN-beta preclinical immunogenicity and aggregation predictions and discuss the feasibility of developing an IFN-beta with lower aggregation and/or immunogenicity.