Pharmacokinetic drug-drug interaction assessment between LCZ696, an angiotensin receptor neprilysin inhibitor, and hydrochlorothiazide, amlodipine, or carvedilol.

LCZ696 is a first-in-class angiotensin receptor neprilysin inhibitor in development for treatments of hypertension and heart failure indications. In 3 separate studies, pharmacokinetic drug-drug interactions (DDIs) potential was assessed when LCZ696 was coadministered with hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ), amlodipine, or carvedilol. The studies used a open-label, single-sequence, 3-period, crossover design in healthy subjects. Blood samples were collected to determine the pharmacokinetic parameters of LCZ696 analytes (AHU377, LBQ657, and valsartan), HCTZ, amlodipine, or carvedilol (R[+]- and S[-]-carvedilol) for statistical analysis. When coadministered LCZ696 with HCTZ, the 90% CIs of the geometric mean ratios of AUCtau,ss of HCTZ and that of LBQ657 were within a 0.80-1.25 interval, whereas HCTZ Cmax,ss decreased by 26%, LBQ657 Cmax,ss increased by 19%, and the AUCtau,ss and Cmax,ss of valsartan increased by 14% and 16%, respectively. Pharmacokinetics of amlodipine, R(+)- and S(-)-carvedilol, or LBQ657 were not altered after coadministration of LCZ696 with amlodipine or carvedilol. Coadministration of LCZ696 400 mg once daily (qd) with HCTZ 25 mg qd, amlodipine 10 mg qd, or carvedilol 25 mg twice a day (bid) had no clinically relevant pharmacokinetic drug-drug interactions. LCZ696, HCTZ, amlodipine, and carvedilol were safe and well tolerated when given alone or concomitantly in the investigated studies.

Is urethane-chloralose anaesthesia appropriate for pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic assessment? Studies with carvedilol.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of the work was to establish the impact of urethane-chloralose anaesthesia on pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic (PK-PD) properties of carvedilol in control rats and L-NAME hypertensive animals. METHODS: Male Wistar Rats were randomly divided into: control (n=12) with tap water to drink and L-NAME rats (n=12) with L-NAME solution (40 mg/kg/day) to drink for 2 weeks. Effects of carvedilol (1 mg kg(-1), i.v.) on blood pressure and heart rate were recorded during 3 h in conscious and urethane (500 mg kg(-1), i.p.) - chloralose (50 mg kg(-1), i.p.) anaesthetized rats. Carvedilol plasma pharmacokinetics was studied by means of traditional blood sampling. PK-PD modeling of carvedilol was made by means of an effect compartment model. RESULTS: Neither urethane-chloralose nor L-NAME modified estimation of pharmacokinetic parameters of carvedilol. Although urethane-chloralose did not modify potency of carvedilol comparing with awake animals in control and hypertensive group, maximal negative chronotropic response was significantly greater in anaesthetized L-NAME rats in comparison to awake animals. Conversely, anaesthesia did not modify maximal chronotropic response to carvedilol in control rats. Whilst no differences were found in the estimated potency of carvedilol hypotensive response comparing control and L-NAME rats in both awake and anaesthetized conditions, maximal hypotensive effect of carvedilol was significantly greater in anaesthetized control and L-NAME animals in comparison to conscious rats. L-NAME rats showed a greater maximal hypotensive response comparing to control group. DISCUSSION: Urethane-chloralose anaesthesia is an acceptable experimental condition for the evaluation of PK-PD properties of carvedilol, considering that it does not affect the potency of carvedilol for its chronotropic and hypotensive effect. Conclusions obtained from urethane-chloralose anaesthetized animals, regarding the impact of l-NAME treatment on PK-PD properties of carvedilol, did not differ from those obtained from conscious animals. Anaesthesia did not modify pharmacokinetic behaviour of carvedilol in both normotensive and L-NAME hypertensive rats.

Assessment of frequency dependency of the class III effects of almokalant: a study using programmed stimulation and recording of monophasic action potentials and ventricular paced QT intervals.

The aim of the present study was to assess the frequency dependency of the effects of almokalant, a selective class III antiarrhythmic drug, on ventricular repolarization using recordings of monophasic action potentials and measurements of ventricular paced QT intervals. Twenty male volunteers were studied during almokalant infusion aiming at plasma concentrations (Cpl) of 20, 50, 100, and 150 nmol/l. The duration of monophasic action potential at 90% repolarization (MAPD) was measured during incremental and premature ventricular extrastimulation. The ventricular paced QT interval was measured during incremental stimulation from the apical region (RV APEX) and the outflow tract (RVOT) of the right ventricle, and the frequency dependence was analyzed using a linear regression model. At an almokalant dose of Cpl > or = 50, there was a significant prolongation of the MAPD of 10-15%. The prolongation was of equal magnitude at all paced cycle lengths (CL). The MAPD of ventricular extrasystole increased in parallel over the range of coupling intervals studied and was significantly prolonged at Cpl 100 and 150. The ratio between the MAPD of the extrasystoles and preceding beats was unaltered after almokalant infusion. The ventricular paced QT intervals increased during almokalant infusion in a similar manner as that of the MAPD. During RV APEX stimulation, the prolongation was more pronounced at low heart rates, an effect that was not seen during RV OT stimulation. Almokalant significantly prolonged the MAPD at dose levels Cpl > or = 50. There was no evidence of a frequency dependence of this effect. The ventricular paced QT intervals were prolonged in a similar manner as that of the MAPD, and this effect exhibited a small reverse frequency dependence during RV APEX stimulation.

Determination of betaxolol, a new beta-blocker, by gas chromatography mass spectrometry: application to pharmacokinetic studies.

Betaxolol, a beta selective adrenoceptor antagonist recently approved for the treatment of hypertension, was determined by monitoring in chemical ionization mode with ammonia the [MH]+ ions of the trimethylsilyl derivatives of the drug and of its internal standard [2H5)betaxolol). Its pharmacokinetic profile obtained following administration of a 20 mg oral dose was characterized by a half-life of 22 h and a bioavailability of 85%. The main acid metabolite formed by elimination of the isopropylamino group may also be determined as the methyl TMS derivative but methylation with BF3-methanol should be used with caution since it may induce the opening of the cyclopropyl group. The routine electron capture determination procedure was compared to this mass spectrometric method and an excellent correlation was found (r = 0.9974). Both procedures have the same sensitivity (1 ng ml-1). Finally it was observed that under electron impact mode betaxolol trimethylsilyl side chain rearranged to lose TMS-O-CH=CH2; this elimination was confirmed by deuterium labelling studies.

Assessment of beta-blocking activity of trimepranol in man.

The beta-blocking potency and the duration of action of trimepranol were measured in healthy volunteers using isoprenaline antagonism and reduction in exercise tachycardia. Based on isoprenaline antagonism, trimepranol was four times as potent as propranolol on a weight basis. The degree of beta blockade increased linearly with dose from 5 mg to 20 mg, excluding a dose-dependent first-pass metabolism in this dose range. There was a significnat correlation between plasma concentration and the effect of 14C-trimepranol on isoprenaline and exercise tests. The elimination half-life of trimepranol, calculated both on the basis of its effects and plasma concentrations, was approximately three to four hours. The beta blockade due to 10 or 20 mg of trimepranol was extended at least up to 12 hours following p.o. administration, based both on isoprenaline and exercise tests and on the effect of resting heart rate. Twice-a-day administration thus seems sufficient to provide a continuous beta blockade in the clinical use of trimepranol.