Development and qualification of a high-yield recombinant human Erythropoietin biosimilar

Recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) has been saving millions of lives worldwide as a potent and safe treatment for the lack of erythrocyte, which is caused by chronic kidney disease (CKD) and other issues. Several biosimilars of rhEPO have been approved since the expiry of the relevant patents to provide cost-effective options but the price of rhEPO is still high for the affordability of global community. Therefore, development of biosimilar of rhEPO at a lower price is highly necessary. Here we report the development and characterization of a biosimilar of rhEPO with high-yield satisfying regulatory requirements. The hEPO-expressing cDNA was stably expressed in CHO cells with successive transfection. The master cell bank (MCB) and working cell bank (WCB) were established from the best selected clone and characterized for 50 passages. The rhEPO was expressed from the WCB in single-use suspension culture system with a high-titer (1.24{+/-}0.16 g/L). To the best of our knowledge this is the highest reported rhEPO titer to date. The rhEPO was purified using a series of validated chromatography unit processes including virus inactivation and filtration. The purified EPO was formulated in serum-free buffer, sterile filtered, and analyzed as the biosimilar of reference product Eprex(R). Physicochemical analysis strongly suggested similarities between the developed rhEPO (GBPD002) and the reference. The in vitro and in vivo functional assays confirmed the similar biofunctionality of the GBPD002 and Eprex(R). GBPD002 could provide a less-expensive solution to the needful communities as an effective and safe biosimilar where rhEPO treatment is necessary.