Recent advancements in immunocapture methods and mass spectrometer
technology have enabled intact protein mass spectrometry to be applied
for the characterization of antibodies and other large biotherapeutics
from in-life studies. Protein molecules have not been traditionally
studied by intact mass or screened for catabolites in the same manner
as small molecules, but the landscape has changed. Researchers have
presented methods that can be applied to the drug discovery and development
stages, and others are exploring the possibilities of the new approaches.
However, a wide variety of options for assay development exists without
clear recommendation on best practice, and data processing workflows
may have limitations depending on the vendor. In this perspective,
we share experiences and recommendations for current and future application
of mass spectrometry for biotherapeutic molecule monitoring from preclinical
and clinical studies.