Disposition, metabolism and mass balance of delafloxacin in healthy human volunteers following intravenous administration.

1. The pharmacokinetics and disposition of delafloxacin was investigated following a single intravenous (300 mg, 100 µCi) dose to healthy male subjects. 2. Mean Cmax, AUC0-∞, Tmax and t1/2 values for delafloxacin were 8.98 µg/mL, 21.31 µg h/mL, 1 h and 2.35 h, respectively, after intravenous dosing. 3. Radioactivity was predominantly excreted via the kidney with 66% of the radioactive dose recovered in the urine. Approximately 29% of the radioactivity was recovered in the faeces, giving an overall mean recovery of 94% administered radioactivity. 4. The predominant circulating components were identified as delafloxacin and a direct glucuronide conjugate of delafloxacin.

Absorption, metabolism and excretion of [14C]gemigliptin, a novel dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitor, in humans.

1. Gemigliptin (formerly known as LC15-0444) is a newly developed dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitor for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Following oral administration of 50 mg (5.4 MBq) [(14)C]gemigliptin to healthy male subjects, absorption, metabolism and excretion were investigated. 2. A total of 90.5% of administered dose was recovered over 192 hr postdose, with 63.4% from urine and 27.1% from feces. Based on urinary recovery of radioactivity, a minimum 63.4% absorption from gastrointestinal tract could be confirmed. 3. Twenty-three metabolites were identified in plasma, urine and feces. In plasma, gemigliptin was the most abundant component accounting for 67.2% ∼ 100% of plasma radioactivity. LC15-0636, a hydroxylated metabolite of gemigliptin, was the only human metabolite with systemic exposure more than 10% of total drug-related exposure. Unchanged gemigliptin accounted for 44.8% ∼ 67.2% of urinary radioactivity and 27.7% ∼ 51.8% of fecal radioactivity. The elimination of gemigliptin was balanced between metabolism and excretion through urine and feces. CYP3A4 was identified as the dominant CYP isozyme converting gemigliptin to LC15-0636 in recombinant CYP/FMO enzymes.

Optimization of LY545694 tosylate controlled release tablets through pharmacoscintigraphy.

PURPOSE: To optimize a controlled release (CR) matrix formulation with two goals: (1) effectively deliver a prodrug to a preferred absorption region of the upper GI tract, and (2) afford a PK profile similar to a "reference" CR formulation. METHODS: A pharmacoscintigraphic clinical study was conducted using a flexible formulation design space. A six-arm, three-prototype study was employed to cover the formulation design space and assess performance against the reference formulation. Pharmacokinetic and scintigraphic data from the first three dosing arms were used to select prototypes to be dosed in subsequent arms. RESULTS: Of three prototypes tested, the third prototype had an optimal release rate. The in vivo erosion rate was observed via scintigraphy to reach 90% in 3 h. The AUC ratio relative to the reference for the prodrug was 1.25, while the C(max) ratio was 1.07. The ratios for the active moiety were 1.31 (AUC) and 1.01 (C(max)). CONCLUSIONS: A single pharmacoscintigraphic study efficiently investigated a wide formulation design space and precisely optimized the release rate with few formulation iterations. The selected formulation provided the desired exposure at a 30% lower dose. The approach is beneficial when drug absorption is limited to a region of the GI tract.

Biomedical accelerator mass spectrometry: recent applications in metabolism and pharmacokinetics.

BACKGROUND: Accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) is a sensitive isotope ratio technique used in drug development that allows for small levels of 14C-drug to be administered to humans, thereby removing regulatory hurdles associated with radiotracer studies. AMS uses innovative study designs to obtain pharmacokinetic and metabolism data. OBJECTIVE: This review addresses the metabolism and pharmacokinetics relevant to cases where therapeutic drug concentrations are achieved in humans. METHODS: The review focuses on two study designs: i) administration of tracer 14C-drug intravenously with a simultaneous non-labelled extravascular therapeutic dose to obtain the pharmacokinetic parameters of clearance, volume of distribution and absolute bioavailability without extensive intravenous toxicology safety studies or formulation development; and ii) use of low levels of 14C-drug during Phase I studies to investigate the quantitative metabolism of the drug in humans early in drug development, as required by the new FDA guideline issued in February 2008. RESULTS/CONCLUSIONS: Early knowledge about a drug's clearance, volume of distribution, absolute bioavailability and metabolism can affect the development of a new drug candidate.

Novel Application of the Two-Period Microtracer Approach to Determine Absolute Oral Bioavailability and Fraction Absorbed of Ertugliflozin.

Ertugliflozin, a sodium glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor, is approved in the United States for treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. A novel two-period study design with 14 C microtracer dosing in each period was used to determine absolute oral bioavailability (F) and fraction absorbed (Fa ) of ertugliflozin. Eight healthy adult men received 100-µg i.v. 14 C-ertugliflozin (400 nCi) dose 1 h after a 15-mg oral unlabeled ertugliflozin dose (period 1), followed by 100 µg 14 C-ertugliflozin orally along with 15 mg oral unlabeled ertugliflozin (period 2). Unlabeled ertugliflozin plasma concentrations were determined using high-performance liquid-chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS). 14 C-ertugliflozin plasma concentrations were determined using HPLC-accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) and 14 C urine concentrations were determined using AMS. F ((area under the curve (AUC)p.o. /14 C-AUCi.v. )*(14 C-Dosei.v. /Dosep.o. )) and Fa ((14 C_Total_Urinep.o. /14 C_Total_Urinei.v. )* (14 C-Dosei.v. /14 C-Dosep.o. )) were estimated. Estimates of F and Fa were 105% and 111%, respectively. Oral absorption of ertugliflozin was complete under fasted conditions and F was ∼100%. Ertugliflozin was well tolerated.

Netupitant PET imaging and ADME studies in humans.

Netupitant is a new, selective NK1 receptor antagonist under development for the prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. Two studies were conducted to evaluate the brain receptor occupancy (RO) and disposition (ADME) of netupitant in humans. Positron emission tomography (PET) imaging with the NK1 receptor-binding-selective tracer [(11) C]-GR205171 was used to evaluate the brain penetration of different doses of netupitant (100, 300, and 450 mg) and to determine the NK1 -RO duration. A NK1 -RO of 90% or higher was achieved with all doses in the majority of the tested brain regions at Cmax, with a long duration of RO. The netupitant minimal plasma concentration predicted to achieve a NK1 -RO of 90%, C90% , in the striatum was 225 ng/mL; after administration of netupitant 300 mg, concentrations exceeded the C90% . In the ADME study, a single nominal dose of [(14) C]-netupitant 300 mg was used to assess its disposition. Absorption was rapid and netupitant was extensively metabolized via Phase I and II hepatic metabolism. Elimination of >90% was predicted at day 29 and was principally via hepatic/biliary route (>85%) with a minor contribution of the renal route (<5%). In conclusion, these studies demonstrate that netupitant is a potent agent targeting NK1 receptors with long lasting RO. In addition, netupitant is extensively metabolized and is mainly eliminated through the hepatic/biliary route and to a lesser extent via the kidneys.