Cited by 733Advanced Drug Delivery SystemsProtein purification and stabilityNanoparticle-Based Drug Delivery

PEGylation of Biopharmaceuticals: A Review of Chemistry and Nonclinical Safety Information of Approved Drugs

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Turecek, Peter L., Bossard, Mary J., Schoetens, Freddy, Ivens, Inge A.·2016·Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Abstract

Modification of biopharmaceutical molecules by covalent conjugation of polyethylene glycol (PEG) molecules is known to enhance pharmacologic and pharmaceutical properties of proteins and other large molecules and has been used successfully in 12 approved drugs. Both linear and branched-chain PEG reagents with molecular sizes of up to 40 kDa have been used with a variety of different PEG derivatives with different linker chemistries. This review describes the properties of PEG itself, the history and evolution of PEGylation chemistry, and provides examples of PEGylated drugs with an established medical history. A trend toward the use of complex PEG architectures and larger PEG polymers, but with very pure and well-characterized PEG reagents is described. Nonclinical toxicology findings related to PEG in approved PEGylated biopharmaceuticals are summarized. The effect attributed to the PEG part of the molecules as observed in 5 of the 12 marketed products was cellular vacuolation seen microscopically mainly in phagocytic cells which is likely related to their biological function to absorb and remove particles and macromolecules from blood and tissues. Experience with marketed PEGylated products indicates that adverse effects in toxicology studies are usually related to the active part of the drug but not to the PEG moiety.

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  • PEG coating increases retention of particles in tumor sites and extends circulating half-life.

    “Previous research revealed that PEG coating is a useful technology for increasing the retention of particles in tumor sites and extending the circulating half-life of particles.291”

    From Smart nanoparticles for cancer therapy (2023) · cites this paper as [291]

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Authors
Turecek, P. L., Bossard, M. J., Schoetens, F., & Ivens, I. A.
Affiliations
Nektar Therapeutics (United States) (US)
Corresponding author
Turecek, Peter L.
Venue
Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2016-02
Volume
105
Issue
2
Pages
460-475
ISSN
0022-3549 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2291150896
Cited by
733
References
127
Citations by year
2026: 40 · 2025: 60 · 2024: 57 · 2023: 57 · 2022: 83 · 2021: 88 · 2020: 89 · 2019: 93 · 2018: 92 · 2017: 49 · 2016: 22 · 2014: 1
FWCI
7.27
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics › Pharmaceutical Science › Advanced Drug Delivery Systems
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Protein purification and stability
  • Physical Sciences › Materials Science › Biomaterials › Nanoparticle-Based Drug Delivery
Keywords
PEGylation, polyethylene glycol, biopharmaceuticals, PEGylated drugs, linker chemistry, nonclinical toxicology, phagocytes
MeSH terms
Animals, Biopharmaceutics, Chemistry, Pharmaceutical, Pharmaceutical Preparations, Humans, Polyethylene Glycols, Drug Approval, Protein Stability, Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions

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