Validated HPLC-UV method for quantification of paxalisib, a pan PI3K and mTOR inhibitor in mouse plasma: Application to a pharmacokinetic study in mice.

Paxalisib is a pan-PI3K and mTOR inhibitor, currently entering into Phase II clinical trials as a potential drug to treat glioblastoma patients. We report the development and validation of a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method for the quantitation of paxalisib in mouse plasma as per the US Food and Drug Administration regulatory guidelines. From the mouse plasma, paxalisib and the internal standard (IS; filgotinib) were extracted using ethyl acetate as an extraction solvent. The chromatographic separation of paxalisib and the IS was accomplished on a Symmetry C18 (250 × 4.6 mm, 5.0 µm) column maintained at 40°C using 10 mm ammonium formate and acetonitrile in gradient conditions at a 0.8 ml/min flow-rate. The injection volume was 20 µl. The elution was monitored using a photo-diode array detector set at λmax 280 nm. Paxalisib and the IS eluted at 6.5 and 5.9 min, respectively with a total run time of 10 min. The calibration curve was linear over the range of 111-4,989 ng/ml. Inter- and intraday precision and accuracy, stability studies, dilution integrity and incurred sample reanalysis were investigated and the results met the acceptance criteria. The validated HPLC method was extended to assess the pharmacokinetic parameters of paxalisib in mice.

Modulating inhibitory response control through potentiation of GluN2D subunit-containing NMDA receptors.

NMDA receptors containing GluN2D subunits are expressed in the subthalamic nucleus and external globus pallidus, key nuclei of the indirect and hyperdirect pathways of the basal ganglia. This circuitry integrates cortical input with dopaminergic signaling to select advantageous behaviors among available choices. In the experiments described here, we characterized the effects of PTC-174, a novel positive allosteric modulator (PAM) of GluN2D subunit-containing NMDA receptors, on response control regulated by this circuitry. The indirect pathway suppresses less advantageous behavioral choices, a manifestation of which is suppression of locomotor activity in rats. Systemic administration of PTC-174 produced a dose-dependent reduction in activity in rats placed in a novel open field or administered the stimulants MK-801 or amphetamine. The hyperdirect pathway controls release of decisions from the basal ganglia to the cortex to optimize choice processing. Such response control was modeled in rats as premature responding in the 5-choice serial reaction time (5-CSRT) task. PTC-174 produced a dose-dependent reduction in premature responding in this task. These data suggest that potentiation of GluN2D receptor activity by PTC-174 facilitates the complex basal ganglia information processing that underlies response control. The behavioral effects occurred at estimated free PTC-174 brain concentrations predicted to induce 10-50% increases in GluN2D activity. The present findings suggest the potential of GluN2D PAMs to modulate basal ganglia function and to treat neurological disorders related to dysfunctional response control.

Preclinical assessment of Orteronel(®), a CYP17A1 enzyme inhibitor in rats.

Orteronel (TAK-700) is a novel and selective inhibitor of CYP17A1, which is expressed in testicular, adrenal and prostate tumor tissues. Orteronel is currently in Phase-III clinical development for metastatic castration-resistant prostate patients. The objective of the study is to assess the permeability, metabolic stability (in various preclinical and human liver microsomes), identify the major CYPs involved in the metabolism of Orteronel. We have also studied the pharmacokinetics and excretion of Orteronel in Sprague-Dawley rats. Orteronel was found to be stable in various liver microsomes tested. The half-life (t ½) of Orteronel with intravenous (i.v.) route was found to be 1.65 ± 0.22 h. The clearance and volume of distribution by i.v. route for Orteronel were found to be 27.5 ± 3.09 mL/min/kg and 3.94 ± 0.85 L/kg, respectively. The absorption of Orteronel was rapid, with maximum concentrations of drug in plasma of 614 ± 76.4, 1,764 ± 166, 4,652 ± 300 and 17,518 ± 3,178 ng/mL attained at 0.38, 0.75, 0.50 and 0.83 h, respectively, after oral administration of Orteronel at 5, 10, 30 and 100 mg/kg as a suspension. In the dose proportional oral pharmacokinetic study, the mean t ½ by oral route was found to be ~3.5 h and bioavailability ranged between 69 and 89 %. The primary route of elimination for Orteronel is urine.

Determination of theophylline in rabbit plasma by triple quadrupole LC/MS.

AIM AND BACKGROUND: A simple, sensitive and rapid method was developed for quantitation of theophylline in rabbit plasma utilizing Triple Quadrupole LC/MS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An aliquot of 0.1 mL of plasma sample was extracted with ethyl acetate using Heidolph Vortex. The chromatographic separation was performed by using HyPURITY ADVANCE™ C18 Column (3 × 50 mm) with a mobile phase of 80% methanol and 20% 2 mM ammonium acetate buffer followed by MS/MS detection. The analyte was quantitated in positive ionization mode. Multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) using the transition m/z 181.1→124.2 and m/z 180.2→110.1 was performed to quantify theophylline with internal standard (IS, Phenacetin), respectively. The method had a total chromatographic runtime of 3 min and linear calibration curves over the concentration range of 50.418-5062.063 ng/mL. The lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) was 50.418 ng/mL Sodium heparin (3.50%) used as an anticoagulant to prepare rabbit plasma and samples were maintained at 10°C in the auto sampler during the assay period. Inter and intraday batch precision and accuracy of the method were determined by using six quality control samples. RESULTS: Average accuracies for the assay were 89 to 106%, inter and intra-day coefficients variation (CV) of <9% and the recovery is 39.30% for theophylline and 57.00% for Phenacetin. CONCLUSION: Currently we are extensively using this method in our laboratory for quantitative analysis of theophylline in rabbit plasma samples and proved to be simple, accurate and precise.