Highly sensitive liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry method for the quantitative analysis of mometasone furoate in human plasma: Method validation and application to clinical pharmacokinetic studies.

We report the development and the validation of a sensitive liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method for mometasone furoate (MF) analysis in human plasma. Plasma samples were processed through liquid-liquid extraction and analyzed using LC-MS/MS operating in positive mode using multiple reaction monitoring of transitions m/z 520.9 â†’ 355.0 and m/z 525.8 â†’ 355.0 for MF and the internal standard (IS), respectively. Separation was achieved at 1.0 mL/min on a C18 column using a gradient elution of mobile phase of 0.05% ammonia in water (phase A) and acetonitrile (phase B). The assay range was 0.250-100 pg/mL and proved to be accurate and precise MF. Normalized recoveries were consistent and reproducible with a coefficient of variation (CV%) value of 6.0. The CV (%) of the IS normalized matrix factor was not observed in normal, lipemic, and hemolyzed plasmas. Dilutions of 1:10 were accurately quantified. A cycle of three freeze and thaw and stabilities at room temperature and on the autosampler were demonstrated. In addition, MF in the presence of indacaterol and glycopyrronium was proven to be stable at -70°C for at least 157 days. The present method was successfully applied to quantify MF in patients receiving MF, indacaterol, and glycopyrronium as a fixed-dose combination.

Development and validation of an LC-MS/MS method for the quantitative analysis of the adenosine A2a receptor antagonist NIR178 and its monohydroxy metabolite in human plasma: Application to clinical pharmacokinetics.

We report a selective LC-MS/MS method for the simultaneous quantitative determinations of the adenosine A2a receptor antagonist NIR178 (NIR178) and its major metabolite NJI765 in human plasma. Sample preparation steps involved protein precipitation, sample evaporation and reconstitution using a plasma sample volume of 0.1 ml plasma. Separation was achieved in 10 min on an Acquity UPLC BEH C18 1.7 µm, 2.1 × 50 mm column heated at 60°C with a gradient elution at 0.6 ml/min mobile phase made of water and acetonitrile both acidified with 0.1% formic acid. The detection was performed in positive ion mode and quantification based on multiple reaction monitoring. The linear response range was 1.00-1,000 ng/ml using a 1/x2 weighting factor. The intra- and inter-day accuracies (bias %) and intra- and inter-day precisions (CV, %) obtained for NIR178 and NJI765 were within the acceptance criteria. The normalized NIR178 and NJI765 matrix factor calculated from six lots of normal, lipemic and hemolyzed plasmas ranged from 0.97 to 1.05. The normalized recoveries of both NIR178 and NJI765 compared with their internal standards were consistent and reproducible with a CV ≤8.0. This method was successfully applied to support pharmacokinetic studies in adult patients with cancer.

Generic Hybrid Ligand Binding Assay Liquid Chromatography High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry-Based Workflow for Multiplexed Human Immunoglobulin G1 Quantification at the Intact Protein Level: Application to Preclinical Pharmacokinetic Studies.

The quantitative analysis of human immunoglobulin G1 (hIgG1) by mass spectrometry is commonly performed using surrogate peptides after enzymatic digestion. Since some limitations are associated with this approach, a novel workflow is presented by hybridizing ligand binding assay (LBA) with liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS) for hIgG1 quantification directly at the intact protein level. Different hIgG1s, including a [13C]-labeled version used as internal standard, were immuno-enriched from rat serum with a fully automated platform based on streptavidin coated tips and a biotinylated mouse anti-hIgG capture antibody targeting the fragment crystallizable region followed by overnight deglycosylation prior to LC-HRMS analysis. The proposed quantitative workflow utilized extracted ion chromatograms (XICs) from the nondeconvoluted full-scan MS spectrum. The assay was validated in terms of selectivity, sensitivity, accuracy/precision, carry-over, dilution linearity, and reproducibility. Consistent data between the conventional approach based on surrogate peptide analysis and our proposed workflow were obtained in vitro and in vivo with the advantage of a less extensive sample pretreatment. Multiplexing capabilities for simultaneous quantification of different hIgG1s within the same spiked sample were also exemplified. Altogether our results pave the way not only for the thorough application of intact hIgG1 quantification by LBA-LC-HRMS but also as a generic quantitative analytical method for other hIgG isotypes or next generation biotherapeutics.

New Insights in Tissue Distribution, Metabolism, and Excretion of [3H]-Labeled Antibody Maytansinoid Conjugates in Female Tumor-Bearing Nude Rats.

For antibody drug conjugates (ADCs), the fate of the cytotoxic payload in vivo needs to be well understood to mitigate toxicity risks and properly design the first in-patient studies. Therefore, a distribution, metabolism, and excretion (DME) study with a radiolabeled rat cross-reactive ADC ([(3)H]DM1-LNL897) targeting the P-cadherin receptor was conducted in female tumor-bearing nude rats. Although multiple components [total radioactivity, conjugated ADC, total ADC, emtansine (DM1) payload, and catabolites] needed to be monitored with different technologies (liquid scintillation counting, liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and size exclusion chromatography), the pharmacokinetic data were nearly superimposable with the various techniques. [(3)H]DM1-LNL897 was cleared with half-lives of 51-62 hours and LNL897-related radioactivity showed a minor extent of tissue distribution. The highest tissue concentrations of [(3)H]DM1-LNL897-related radioactivity were measured in tumor. Complimentary liquid extraction surface analysis coupled to micro-liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry data proved that the lysine (LYS)-4(maleimidylmethyl) cyclohexane-1-carboxylate-DM1 (LYS-MCC-DM1) catabolite was the only detectable component distributed evenly in the tumor and liver tissue. The mass balance was complete with up to 13.8% ± 0.482% of the administered radioactivity remaining in carcass 168 hours postdose. LNL897-derived radioactivity was mainly excreted via feces (84.5% ± 3.12%) and through urine only to a minor extent (4.15% ± 0.462%). In serum, the major part of radioactivity could be attributed to ADC, while small molecule disposition products were the predominant species in excreta. We show that there is a difference in metabolite profiles depending on which derivatization methods for DM1 were applied. Besides previously published results on LYS-MCC-DM1 and MCC-DM1, maysine and a cysteine conjugate of DM1 could be identified in serum and excreta.

Quantitative analysis of maytansinoid (DM1) in human serum by on-line solid phase extraction coupled with liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry - Method validation and its application to clinical samples.

A sensitive and specific method was developed and validated for the quantitation of maytansinoid (DM1) in human serum using on-line solid phase extraction (SPE)-liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Because DM1 contains a free thiol moiety, likely to readily dimerize or react with other thiol-containing molecules in serum, samples were pre-treated with a reducing agent [tris (2-carboxyethyl) phosphine] (TCEP) and further blocked with N-ethylmaleimide (NEM). The resulting samples were diluted with acetonitrile prior to the on-line solid phase extraction (SPE) on a C18 cartridge. A C18 (150×4.6mm ID 3µm particle size) column was used for chromatographic separation with a 10.0min HPLC gradient and DM1-NEM was detected in the selected reaction monitoring mode of a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer. DM1 concentrations were back-calculated from DM1-NEM amount found in the human serum samples. The quantitation range of the method was 0.200-200ng/mL when using 0.25mL serum. Within-run day precisions (n=6) were 0.9-4.4% and between-run day (3 days runs; n=18) precisions 2.5-5.6%. Method biases were between 3.5-14.5% across the whole calibration range. DM1-NEM exhibited sufficiently stability under all relevant analytical conditions and no DM1 losses from the ADC were observed. Finally, the assay was used for DM1 determination in human serum concentration after the intravenous administration of an investigational antibody drug conjugate (ADC) containing DM1 as payload.

The use of generic surrogate peptides for the quantitative analysis of human immunoglobulin G1 in pre-clinical species with high-resolution mass spectrometry.

In the present study, the application of a liquid chromatography high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS) analytical assay for the quantitative analysis of a recombinant human immunoglobulin G1 (hIgG1) in rat serum is reported using three generic peptides GPSVFPLAPSSK (GPS), TTPPVLDSDGSFFLYSK (TTP), and VVSVLTVLHQDWLNGK (VVS). Moreover, the deamidation site of a fourth peptide FNWYVDGVEVHNAK (FNW) was identified and further excluded from the assay evaluation due to the inaccuracy of the quantitative results. The rat serum samples were spiked with a fully labeled hIgG1 as internal standard (ISTD). The digestion with trypsin was performed onto the pellet prior to peptide analysis by LC-HRMS using a quadrupole time of flight (QTOF) mass analyzer operating in selected reaction monitoring (SRM) mode with enhanced duty cycles (EDC). The assay linearity for the three investigated peptides was established for a hIgG1 (hIgG1A) from 1.00 to 1000 µg mL(-1) with a mean coefficient of determination (R (2)) higher than 0.9868. The inter-day accuracy and precision obtained in rat serum over 3 days were ≤11.4 and ≤10.5%, respectively. Short-term stability on the auto-sampler at 6 °C for 30 h, at RT for 48 h, and a 100-fold dilution factor were demonstrated. In addition, QC samples prepared in cynomolgus monkey serum and measured with the present method met the acceptance criteria of ±20.0 and ≤20.0% for all three peptides regarding accuracy and precision, respectively. The LC-HRMS method was applied to the analysis of samples from five individual cynomolgus monkeys dosed with a second hIgG1 (hIgG1B) and consistent data were obtained compared to the LC-MS/MS method (conventional triple quadrupole (QqQ) mass analyzer operating in SRM). The present data demonstrate that LC-HRMS can be used for the quantitative analysis of hIgG1 in both species and that quantification is not only limited to classical QqQ instruments.

Liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry method for the quantitative analysis of ceritinib in human plasma and its application to pharmacokinetic studies.

Ceritinib is a highly selective inhibitor of an important cancer target, anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK). Because it is an investigational compound, there is a need to develop a robust and reliable analytical method for its quantitative determination in human plasma. Here, we report the validation of a liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method for the rapid quantification of ceritinib in human plasma. The method consists of protein precipitation with acetonitrile, and salting-out assisted liquid-liquid extraction (SALLE) using a saturated solution of sodium chloride prior to analysis by LC-MS/MS with electrospray ionization (ESI) technique in positive mode. Samples were eluted at 0.800 mL min(-1) on Ascentis Express® C18 column (50 mm × 2.1 mm, 2.7 µm) with a mobile phase made of 0.1 % formic acid in water (A) and 0.1 % formic acid in acetonitrile (B). The method run time was 3.6 min and the low limit of quantification (LLOQ) was estimated at 1.00 ng mL(-1) when using 0.100 mL of human plasma. The assay was fully validated and the method exhibited sufficient specificity, accuracy, precision, and sensitivity. In addition, recovery data and matrix factor (MF) in normal and in hemolyzed plasmas were assessed, while incurred samples stability (ISS) for ceritinib was demonstrated for at least 21 months at a storage temperature of -65 °C or below. The method was successfully applied to the measurement of ceritinib in clinical samples and the data obtained on incurred samples reanalysis (ISR) showed that our method was reliable and suitable to support the analysis of samples from the clinical studies.

Laser diode thermal desorption atmospheric pressure chemical ionization tandem mass spectrometry applied for the ultra-fast quantitative analysis of BKM120 in human plasma.

A sensitive and ultra-fast method utilizing the laser diode thermal desorption ion source using atmospheric pressure chemical ionization coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LDTD-APCI-MS/MS) was developed for the quantitative analysis of BKM120, an investigational anticancer drug in human plasma. Samples originating from protein precipitation (PP) followed by salting-out assisted liquid-liquid extraction (SALLE) were spotted onto the LazWell™ plate prior to their thermal desorption and detection by tandem mass spectrometry in positive mode. The validated method described in this paper presents a high absolute extraction recovery (>90 %) for BKM120 and its internal standard (ISTD) [D8]BKM120, with precision and accuracy meeting the acceptance criteria. Standard curves were linear over the range of 5.00 to 2000 ng mL(-1) with a coefficient of determination (R (2)) >0.995. The method specificity was demonstrated in six different batches of human plasma. Intra- and inter-run precision as well as accuracy within ±20 % at the lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) and ±15 % (other levels) were achieved during a three-run validation for quality control (QC) samples. The post-preparative stability on the LazWell™ plate at room temperature was 72 h and a 200-fold dilution of spiked samples was demonstrated. The method was applied successfully to three clinical studies (n = 847) and cross-checked with the validated LC-ESI-MS/MS reference method. The sample analysis run time was 10 s as compared to 4.5 min for the current validated LC-ESI-MS/MS method. The resultant data were in agreement with the results obtained using the validated reference LC-ESI-MS/MS assay and the same pharmacokinetic (PK) parameters were calculated for both analytical assays. This work demonstrates that LDTD-APCI-MS/MS is a reliable method for the ultra-fast quantitative analysis of BKM120 which can be used to speed-up and support its bioanalysis in the frame of the clinical trials.

A small-molecule dengue virus entry inhibitor.

The incidence of dengue fever epidemics has increased dramatically over the last few decades. However, no vaccine or antiviral therapies are available. Therefore, the need for safe and effective antiviral drugs has become imperative. The entry of dengue virus into a host cell is mediated by its major envelope (E) protein. The crystal structure of the E protein reveals a hydrophobic pocket that is presumably important for low-pH-mediated membrane fusion. High-throughput docking with this hydrophobic pocket was performed, and hits were evaluated in cell-based assays. Compound 6 was identified as one of the inhibitors and had an average 50% effective concentration of 119 nM against dengue virus serotype 2 in a human cell line. Mechanism-of-action studies demonstrated that compound 6 acts at an early stage during dengue virus infection. It arrests dengue virus in vesicles that colocalize with endocytosed dextran and inhibits NS3 expression. The inhibitors described in this report can serve as molecular probes for the study of the entry of flavivirus into host cells.

Towards absolute quantification of therapeutic monoclonal antibody in serum by LC-MS/MS using isotope-labeled antibody standard and protein cleavage isotope dilution mass spectrometry.

Although LC-MS methods are increasingly used for the absolute quantification of proteins, the lack of appropriate internal standard (IS) hinders the development of rapid and standardized analytical methods for both in vitro and in vivo studies. Here, we have developed a novel method for the absolute quantification of a therapeutic protein, which is monoclonal antibody (mAb). The method combines liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and protein cleavage isotope dilution mass spectrometry with the isotope-labeled mAb as IS. The latter was identical to the analyzed mAb with the exception that each threonine contains four (13)C atoms and one (15)N atom. Serum samples were spiked with IS prior to the overnight trypsin digestion and subsequent sample cleanup. Sample extracts were analyzed on a C18 ACE column (150 mm x 4.6 mm) using an LC gradient time of 11 min. Endogenous mAb concentrations were determined by calculating the peak height ratio of its signature peptide to the corresponding isotope-labeled peptide. The linear dynamic range was established between 5.00 and 1000 microg/mL mAb with accuracy and precision within +/-15% at all concentrations and below +/-20% at the LLOQ (lower limit of quantification). The overall method recovery in terms of mAb was 14%. The losses due to sample preparation (digestion and purification) were 72% from which about 32% was due to the first step of the method, the sample digestion. This huge loss during sample preparation strongly emphasizes the necessity to employ an IS right from the beginning. Our method was successfully applied to the mAb quantification in marmoset serum study samples, and the precision obtained on duplicate samples was, in most cases, below 20%. The comparison with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) showed higher exposure in terms of AUC and Cmax with the LC-MS/MS method. Possible reasons for this discrepancy are discussed in this study. The results of this study indicate that our LC-MS/MS method is a simple, rapid, and precise approach for the therapeutic mAb quantification to support preclinical and clinical studies.

Study of bradykinin metabolism by rat lung tissue membranes and rat kidney brush border membranes by HPLC with inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry and orthogonal acceleration time-of-flight mass spectrometry.

The coupling of the techniques, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), orthogonal acceleration time-of-flight mass spectrometry (OATOF-MS) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) provides a very powerful method for identifying and quantifying the products of bradykinin metabolism. In this study, we were able to identify the major metabolites of bradykinin degradation reported in the literature. In addition, a new bradykinin metabolite corresponding to bradykinin 5,9 fragment (BK-(5,9)-fragment) was identified as a product of neutral endopeptidase (NEP) activity. This finding establishes that NEP cleaves bradykinin simultaneously at the positions 4-5 and 7-8. We also demonstrate the equivalent participation of NEP and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) within the rat lung tissue membranes (RLTM) in bradykinin degradation, suggesting its suitability as a model for the assay of dual ACE/NEP inhibitors. On the contrary, in rat kidney brush border membranes (KBBM), ACE is not significantly involved in bradykinin metabolism, with NEP being the major enzyme.

Investigation of bradykinin metabolism in human and rat plasma in the presence of the dual ACE/NEP inhibitors GW660511X and omapatrilat.

Several studies have suggested that the accumulation of bradykinin, or that of one its metabolites BK1-8, is involved in the occurrence of side effects such as AE associated with the use of various ACEi. In this work a novel approach combining HPLC-UV on-line with oaTOF-MS and ICPMS was applied to investigate in human and rat plasma the metabolism of labelled BK (79/81 Br-Phe5) BrBK in the presence of two new dual ACE/NEP inhibitors (GW660511X and omapatrilat) currently under clinical trial. In human plasma the BrBK half-life values in the absence or in the presence of GW660511X (3.8 microM) or omapatrilat (32 nM) were 38.7 +/- 2.4, 51.2 +/- 4.7 and 114.7 +/- 9.3 min, respectively and BrBK was degraded into BrBK1-8, BrBK1-7, BrBK1-5 and Br-Phe. In the presence of inhibitors, however, the levels of these resultant metabolites were different. Unlike GW660511X, omapatrilat abolished the production of BrBK1-5 and BrBK1-7, suggesting a better ACE inhibition effect over GW660511X as no NEP activity was found. In addition the production of BrBK1-8 was enhanced in the presence of these inhibitors with a greater accumulation being observed with omapatrilat. The production of Br-Phe5 was reduced with GW660511X while no significant change was observed with omapatrilat after 4 h of incubation. In rat plasma the BrBK half-life values in the absence or in the presence of GW660511X (530 nM) or omapatrilat (50 nM) were 9.31 +/- 1.7, 22.06 +/- 3.1 and 25.3 +/- 1.7 min, respectively and BrBK was degraded into BrBK1-8, BrBK1-7, BrBK1-5 and Br-Phe5 plus BrBK2-9, BrBK4-8 and BrBK2-8 metabolites not found in human plasma. GW660511X and omapatrilat reduced the production of BrBK1-5 and BrBK1-7 with more effect being observed with omapatrilat. GW660511X and omapatrilat increased the production of both BrBK1-8 and Br-Phe5 but not that of BrBK4-8 and BrBK2-8. This study shows that the potency of GW660511X in comparison with omapatrilat is more than 100-fold lower in human, but less than 10-fold lower in rat plasma, suggesting that rat may not be a suitable in vivo model for the evaluation of ACE/NEP inhibition in relation to effects in humans.

Differential isotopic mass splitting as a mass spectrometric tool for identifying protease substrates.

A method is described whereby stable isotopic signatures were partially incorporated into both termini of a peptide sequence giving rise to a characteristic cluster of four peaks in the mass spectral analysis. Cleavage of this peptide by a protease between the labeled positions generates two fragments both displaying their own individual signature peaks. The event of protease cleavage of the peptide was monitored by the changes in clusters within the spectrum. We believe that this technique could be used to aid the discovery of new cleavage substrates for proteases. Additionally, the analysis can be automated with dedicated software designed to select and interpret the data since all peaks of interest contain predefined signatures and can be easily distinguished from background noise.