MPDL3280A is a human monoclonal antibody that targets programmed cell death-1 ligand 1 (PD-L1), and exerts anti-tumor activity mainly by blocking PD-L1 interaction with programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) and B7.1. It is being investigated as a potential therapy for locally advanced or metastatic malignancies. The purpose of the study reported here was to characterize the pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, tissue distribution and tumor penetration of MPDL3280A and/or a chimeric anti-PD-L1 antibody PRO304397 to help further clinical development.

The pharmacokinetics of MPDL3280A in monkeys at 0.5, 5 and 20 mg·kg⁻¹ and the pharmacokinetics / pharmacodynamics of PRO304397 in mice at 1, 3 10 mg·kg⁻¹ were determined after a single intravenous dose. Tissue distribution and tumor penetration for radiolabeled PRO304397 in tumor-bearing mouse models were determined.

The pharmacokinetics of MPDL3280A and PRO304397 were nonlinear in monkeys and mice, respectively. Complete saturation of PD-L1 in blood in mice was achieved at serum concentrations of PRO304397 above ∼0.5 µg·mL⁻¹. Tissue distribution and tumor penetration studies of PRO304397 in tumor-bearing mice indicated that the minimum tumor interstitial to plasma radioactivity ratio was ∼0.3; saturation of target-mediated uptake in non–tumor tissues and desirable exposure in tumors were achieved at higher serum concentrations, and the distribution into tumors was dose-and time-dependent.

The biodistribution data indicated that the efficacious dose is mostly likely higher than that estimated based on simple pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics in blood. These data also allowed for estimation of the target clinical dose for further development of MPDL3280A.