Glycoengineering of CHO-DG44 cells for the production of a recombinant terminally alpha-2,6-sialylated anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody

• Grant number: 24/16982-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)
• Start date: July 01, 2025
• End date: June 30, 2030
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biochemistry - Molecular Biology
• Principal Investigator: Mari Cleide Sogayar
• Grantee: Matheus Costa Lourenço
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química (IQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 16/05311-2 - Regenerative medicine aiming at therapy for chronic degenerative diseases (cancer and diabetes), AP.TEM

Abstract

In this project, carried out in partnership with the Institute of Technology in Immunobiologicals of the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Bio-Manguinhos), a Glycoengineering strategy will be explored to produce a biosimilar recombinant monoclonal antibody anti-PD-1 aiming to expand access to the Nivolumab antibody (OPDIVO, Bristol Myers Squibb). The objective is to introduce the alpha-2,6 sialylation pathway through the stable expression of the enzyme ST6GAL1 (beta-galactoside alpha-2,6-sialyltransferase 1) in Chinese hamster ovary cells of the DG44 lineage (CHO-DG44) that overexpress the anti-PD-1 antibody. The effects of alpha-2,6 sialylation on the structural and biological properties of the antibody will be evaluated, using structural characterization and in vitro biological activity assays.