Intact- And Peptide-Level Characterization Of Trastuzumab Emtansine In Vitro Transformation

By Yulan Bian

Maintaining stability and precise drug loading is critical to unlocking the full potential of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs). Even subtle drug loss can compromise both efficacy and safety, making robust characterization essential. A combined workflow leveraging ligand-binding affinity capture and high-resolution mass spectrometry enables sensitive, specific analysis across both intact proteins and peptide fragments. Applied to trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1), this approach reveals how ADCs transform under physiologically relevant conditions, including extended incubation in PBS and plasma. The result is a clearer understanding of conjugate stability, degradation pathways, and structural changes—insights that can inform development, quality control, and regulatory strategies.

See how this flexible analytical strategy can strengthen confidence in ADC performance.