Synthesis of a dual carbon-14-labeled calcitonin gene-related peptide receptor antagonist for use in a human absorption-distribution-metabolism-elimination study.

Oral calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptor antagonists have been shown to be effective in the acute and preventive treatment of migraine. CGRP receptor antagonists offer safety advantages over triptans because they are not active vasoconstrictors, which reduces cardiovascular risks. Bristol Myers Squibb discovered a high affinity CGRP receptor antagonist BMS-927711 for the treatment of migraine now FDA approved as Nurtec® ODT (rimegepant). Dual-labeled [14 C]-BMS-927711 was prepared and used in a human absorption-distribution-metabolism-elimination (ADME) study. A dual-labeled analog of BMS-927711 was required to fully track the compound's metabolic transformation. The carbon-14-labeled synthesis of both right side and left side portions of [14 C]-BMS-927711 is described.

Overcoming interference with the detection of a stable isotopically labeled microtracer in the evaluation of beclabuvir absolute bioavailability using a concomitant microtracer approach.

The oral absolute bioavailability of beclabuvir in healthy subjects was determined using a microdose (100µg) of the stable isotopically labeled tracer via intravenous (IV) infusion started after oral dosing of beclabuvir (150mg). To simultaneously analyze the concentrations of the IV microtracer ([13C6]beclabuvir) and beclabuvir in plasma samples, a liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method was initially developed. Surprisingly beclabuvir significantly interfered with the IV microtracer detection when using the selected reaction monitoring (SRM) in the assay. An interfering component from the drug substance was observed using a high resolution mass spectrometer (HRMS). The mass-to-charge (m/z) of the interfering component was -32ppm different from the nominal value for the IV microtracer and thus could not be differentiated in the SRM assay by the unit mass resolution. To overcome this interference, we evaluated two approaches by either monitoring an alternative product ion using the SRM assay or isolating the interfering component using the parallel reaction monitoring (PRM) assay on the HRMS. This case study has demonstrated two practical approaches for overcoming interferences with the detection of stable isotopically labeled IV microtracers in the evaluation of absolute bioavailability, which provides users the flexibility in using either LC-MS/MS or HRMS to mitigate unpredicted interferences in the assay to support microtracer absolute bioavailability studies.

Bioanalysis of dried saliva spot (DSS) samples using detergent-assisted sample extraction with UHPLC-MS/MS detection.

Dried saliva spot (DSS) sampling is a non-invasive sample collection technique for bioanalysis that can be potentially implemented at the patient's home. A UHPLC-MS/MS assay was developed using detergent-assisted sample extraction to quantify BMS-927711, a drug candidate in development for the treatment of migraines, in human DSS. By implementing DSS sampling at the patients' home, the bioanalytical sample collection for pharmacokinetic evaluation can be done at the time of the acute migraine attack without the need for clinical visits. DSS samples were prepared by spotting 15 µL of liquid saliva onto regular Whatman FTA™ DMPK-C cards and verified with a UV lamp (at λ 254 nm or 365 nm) during DSS punching. The 4-mm DSS punches in a 96-well plate were sonicated with 200 µL of [(13)C2, D4]-BMS-927711 internal standard (IS) solution in 20/80 MeOH/water for 10 min, followed by sonication with 50 µL of 100 mM NH4OAc with 1.0% Triton-X-100 (as detergent) prior to liquid-liquid extraction with 600 µL EtOAc/Hexane (90:10). UHPLC-MS/MS was performed with an Aquity(®) UPLC BEH C18 Column (2.1 × 50 mm, 1.7 µm) on a Triple Quad™ 5500 mass spectrometer. The assay was linear with a concentration range from 2.00 to 1000 ng mL(-1) for BMS-927711 in human saliva. The intra- and inter-assay precision was within 8.8% CV, and the accuracy was within ±6.7% Dev of the nominal concentration values. This UHPLC-MS/MS assay has been successfully applied to determine the drug's pharmacokinetics within a clinical study. For the first time, we observed BMS-927711 exposure in human DSS, confirming the suitability of this sampling technique for migraine patients to use at home. Detergent-assisted extraction with Triton-X-100 could be very useful in DSS or other dried matrix spot (DMS) assays to overcome low or inconsistent analyte recovery issues.

Synthesis of stable isotope-labeled epothilone D using a degradation-reconstruction approach.

The stabilization of microtubules using epothilones represents a novel mechanism of action to treat Alzheimer's disease. Epothilone D is one such microtubule-stabilizing drug that has been investigated by Bristol-Myers Squibb. An important step in the development process was the synthesis of a stable isotope-labeled analog for use in bioanalytical assays to accurately quantify the concentration of the drug in biological samples. A novel synthetic route to stable isotope-labeled epothilone D is described. The synthetic route was based on a strategy to degrade epothilone B and then use that key intermediate to reconstruct stable isotope-labeled epothilone D. Epothilone B was treated with potassium osmate and sodium periodate. The thiazole moiety in epothilone B was efficiently cleaved to give (1S,3S,7S,10R,11S,12S,16R)-3-acetyl-7,11-dihydroxy-8,8,10,12,16-pentamethyl-4,17-dioxabicyclo[14.1.0]heptadecane-5,9-dione. The epoxide in the macrocyclic ring of that intermediate was cleanly removed by treatment with tungsten hexachloride and n-butyllithium to give the corresponding olefin (4S,7R,8S,9S,16S,Z)-16-acetyl-4,8-dihydroxy-5,5,7,9,13-pentamethyloxacyclohexadec-13-ene-2,6-dione. Bis(triethylsilyl) protection produced (4S,7R,8S,9S,16S,Z)-16-acetyl-5,5,7,9,13-pentamethyl-4,8-bis(triethylsilyloxy)-oxacyclohexadec-13-ene-2,6-dione. This intermediate was coupled to a stable isotope-labeled thiazole using a Wittig reaction as the key step to provide (13)C5, (15)N-labeled epothilone D. In summary, the synthesis was completed in nine total steps, only six of which involved isotopically labeled reagents. A total of 168 mg of (13)C5, (15)N-labeled epothilone D was prepared in an 8% overall yield from (13)C2, (15)N-labeled thioacetamide and (13)C3-labeled ethyl bromopyruvate.

Quantification of 4-beta-hydroxycholesterol in human plasma using automated sample preparation and LC-ESI-MS/MS analysis.

It has recently been proposed that plasma levels of 4ß-hydroxycholesterol (4ßHC) may be indicative of cytochrome P450 3A4 (P450 3A) activity and therefore could be used to probe for P450 3A-mediated drug-drug interactions. With this in mind, we describe a highly sensitive and precise liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry method for the measurement of 4ßHC in human plasma with a lower limit of quantification established at 2 ng/mL using 50 µL of plasma. The entire sample preparation scheme including saponification and derivatization of 4ßHC to the corresponding dipicolinyl ester (DPE) was completed in less than 8 h using an automated sample preparation scheme enabling higher-throughput capabilities. Chromatographic resolution of 4ßHC from 4α-hydroxycholesterol and other endogenous isobaric species was achieved in 11-min using an isocratic gradient on a C18 column. Because of endogenous concentrations of 4ßHC in plasma, a stable isotope labeled (SIL) analogue, d7-4ßHC, was used as a surrogate analyte and measured in the standard curve and quality control samples prepared in plasma. A second SIL analogue, d4-4ßHC, was used as the internal standard. The intraday and interday accuracy for the assay was within 6% of nominal concentrations, and the precision for these measurements was less than 5% relative standard deviation. Rigorous stability assessments demonstrated adequate stability of endogenous 4ßHC in plasma and the corresponding DPE derivative for the analysis of clinical study samples. The results from clinical samples following treatment with a potent P450 3A inducer (rifampin) or inhibitor (ketoconazole) are reported and demonstrate the potential future application for this highly precise and robust analytical assay.