Leading scientists offer detailed profiles of ten protein drugs currently in development. The case histories of these important new compounds are described from the perspective of their formulation, characterization, and stability. This ready reference also features recent data and an abundance of previously unpublished information. The in-depth coverage includes a highly useful compendium of degradation sites occurring in over 70 proteins. An invaluable aid in the rapid identification of potential `hot spots' in proteins, this accessible compilation allows for inspection of the protein's primary structure and preparation of a hydroflex plot.

This title is intended to assist pharmaceutical scientists in the development of stable protein formulations during the early stages of the product development process, providing a comprehensive review of mechanisms and causes of protein instability in formulation development, coverage of accelerated stability testing methods and relevant analytica

This is the first volume to make available specific case histories of therapeutic proteins and peptides that have been marketed or are currently under clinical testing. The editors have selected a wide range of molecules derived from monoclonal antibodies, recombinant DNA, and natural and chemical sources to provide formulation scientists with practical examples of the development of pharmaceutical products.

Leading scientists offer detailed profiles of ten protein drugs currently in development. The case histories of these important new compounds are described from the perspective of their formulation, characterization, and stability. This ready reference also features recent data and an abundance of previously unpublished information. The in-depth coverage includes a highly useful compendium of degradation sites occurring in over 70 proteins. An invaluable aid in the rapid identification of potential `hot spots' in proteins, this accessible compilation allows for inspection of the protein's primary structure and preparation of a hydroflex plot.

Proteins are still gaining importance in the pharmaceutical world, where they are used to improve our arsenal of therapeutic drugs and vaccines and as diagnostic tools. Proteins are different from "traditional" low-molecular-weight drugs. As a group, they exhibit a number of biopharmaceutical and formulation problems. These problems have drawn considerable interest from both industrial and aca demic environments, forcing pharmaceutical scientists to explore a domain previ ously examined only by peptide and protein chemists. Biopharmaceutical aspects of proteins, e.g., low oral bioavailability, have been extensively investigated. Although all possible conventional routes of ad ministration have been examined for proteins, no real, generally applicable alter native to parenteral administration in order to achieve systemic effects has yet been discovered. Several of these biopharmaceutical options have been discussed in Volume 4 of this series, Biological Barriers to Protein Delivery. Proteins are composed of many amino acids, several of which are notorious for their chemical instability. Rational design of formulations that optimize the native structure and/or bioactivity of a protein is therefore of great importance when long shelf life is required, as it is for pharmaceutical products. This issue has also been examined in two prior volumes of this series: Volume 2: Stability of Protein Pharmaceuticals (Part A) and Volume 5: Stability and Characterization of Protein and Peptide Drugs.