Protein viscosity is one of the major obstacles in preparing highly concentrated protein formulations suitable for subcutaneous (subQ) injection. Highly viscous protein solutions would require a significant force to be applied to the syringe for injection. As a result, the patient could experience a considerable amount of pain. In many cases, injectability would not be possible.
This white paper evaluates the viscosity-reducing capacities of excipients and excipient combinations. It shows the over-additive effect of using two excipients together and addresses how excipients’ viscosity-reducing ability depends on pH. The results show the effect of protein viscosity on injection force and highlight the platform’s ability to balance viscosity reduction with protein stability. The case studies presented demonstrate that using a combination of two excipients at lower concentrations instead of a single excipient at a higher concentration enables balancing protein viscosity and protein stability in a favorable way.
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