Absorption, Metabolism, and Excretion of [14C]-Tolebrutinib After Oral Administration in Humans, Contribution of the Metabolites to Pharmacological Activity.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Tolebrutinib is a covalent inhibitor of Bruton's tyrosine kinase, an enzyme expressed in B lymphocytes and myeloid cells including microglia, which are thought to be major drivers of inflammation in multiple sclerosis. This excretion balance and metabolism study evaluated the metabolite profile of tolebrutinib in healthy male volunteers. METHODS: Six healthy volunteers received a 60-mg oral dose of [14C]-tolebrutinib, and metabolite profiling of 14C-labeled metabolites was performed using a combination of liquid chromatography, mass spectrometry, and radioactivity assay methods. RESULTS: Tolebrutinib was rapidly and completely absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract, followed by rapid and extensive metabolism. Excretion via feces was the major elimination pathway of the administered radioactivity (78%). Tolebrutinib was highly metabolized, with 19 metabolites identified in human plasma. Phase 1 biotransformations were primarily responsible for the circulating metabolites in plasma. Seven metabolites that achieved exposure in plasma similar to or higher than the parent compound were characterized biochemically for inhibition of Bruton's tyrosine kinase activity. Metabolite M8 exceeded the exposure threshold of 10% (18%) of the total radioactivity but had little if any pharmacological activity. Metabolite M2 (4% of circulating radioactivity) retained the ability to irreversibly and potently inhibit Bruton's tyrosine kinase in vitro, similar to the parent compound. Tolebrutinib and metabolite M2 had short (3.5-h) half-lives but durable pharmacodynamic effects as expected for an irreversible antagonist. CONCLUSIONS: Tolebrutinib was extensively metabolized to multiple metabolites. The hydroxylated metabolite M2 demonstrated similar inhibitory potency toward Bruton's tyrosine kinase as the parent compound. Both tolebrutinib and metabolite M2 likely contributed to pharmacological activity in vivo.

The antimalarial MMV688533 provides potential for single-dose cures with a high barrier to Plasmodium falciparum parasite resistance.

The emergence and spread of Plasmodium falciparum resistance to first-line antimalarials creates an imperative to identify and develop potent preclinical candidates with distinct modes of action. Here, we report the identification of MMV688533, an acylguanidine that was developed following a whole-cell screen with compounds known to hit high-value targets in human cells. MMV688533 displays fast parasite clearance in vitro and is not cross-resistant with known antimalarials. In a P. falciparum NSG mouse model, MMV688533 displays a long-lasting pharmacokinetic profile and excellent safety. Selection studies reveal a low propensity for resistance, with modest loss of potency mediated by point mutations in PfACG1 and PfEHD. These proteins are implicated in intracellular trafficking, lipid utilization, and endocytosis, suggesting interference with these pathways as a potential mode of action. This preclinical candidate may offer the potential for a single low-dose cure for malaria.

Clinical assessment of drug-induced QT prolongation in association with heart rate changes.

BACKGROUND: The formulas for heart rate (HR) correction of QT interval have been shown to overcorrect or undercorrect this interval with changes in HR. A Holter-monitoring method avoiding the need for any correction formulas is proposed as a means to assess drug-induced QT interval changes. METHODS: A thorough QT study included 2 single doses of the alpha1-adrenergic receptor blocker alfuzosin, placebo, and a QT-positive control arm (moxifloxacin) in 48 healthy subjects. Bazett, Fridericia, population-specific (QTcN), and subject-specific (QTcNi) correction formulas were applied to 12-lead electrocardio-graphic recording data. QT1000 (QT at RR = 1000 ms), QT largest bin (at the largest sample size bin), and QT average (average QT of all RR bins) were obtained from Holter recordings by use of custom software to perform rate-independent QT analysis. RESULTS: The 3 Holter end points provided similar results, as follows: Moxifloxacin-induced QT prolongation was 7.0 ms (95% confidence interval [CI], 4.4-9.6 ms) for QT1000, 6.9 ms (95% CI, 4.8-9.1 ms) for QT largest bin, and 6.6 ms (95% CI, 4.6-8.6 ms) for QT average. At the therapeutic dose (10 mg), alfuzosin did not induce significant change in the QT. The 40-mg dose of alfuzosin increased HR by 3.7 beats/min and induced a small QT1000 increase of 2.9 ms (95% CI, 0.3-5.5 ms) (QTcN, +4.6 ms [95% CI, 2.1-7.0 ms]; QTcNi, +4.7 ms [95% CI, 2.2-7.1 ms]). Data corrected by "universal" correction formulas still showed rate dependency and yielded larger QTc change estimations. The Holter method was able to show the drug-induced changes in QT rate dependence. CONCLUSIONS: The direct Holter-based QT interval measurement method provides an alternative approach to measure rate-independent estimates of QT interval changes during treatment.