JNJ-64794964 (AL-034/TQ-A3334), a TLR7 agonist, induces sustained anti-HBV activity in AAV/HBV mice via non-cytolytic mechanisms.

JNJ-64794964 (JNJ-4964/AL-034/TQ-A3334), an oral toll-like receptor 7 agonist, is being investigated for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B (CHB), a condition with a high unmet medical need. The anti-hepatitis B (HBV) activity of JNJ-4964 was assessed preclinically in an adeno-associated virus vector expressing HBV (AAV/HBV) mouse model. Mice were treated orally with 2, 6 or 20 mg/kg of JNJ-4964 once-per-week for 12 weeks and then followed up for 4 weeks. At 6 mg/kg, a partial decrease in plasma HBV-DNA and plasma hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) was observed, and anti-HBs antibodies and HBsAg-specific T cells were observed in 1/8 animals. At 20 mg/kg, plasma HBV-DNA and HBsAg levels were undetectable for all animals 3 weeks after start of treatment, with no rebound observed 4 weeks after JNJ-4964 treatment was stopped. High anti-HBs antibody levels were observed until 4 weeks after JNJ-4964 treatment was stopped. In parallel, HBsAg-specific immunoglobulin G-producing B cells and interferon-γ-producing CD4+ T cells were detected in the spleen. In 2/4 animals, liver HBV-DNA and HBV-RNA levels and liver hepatitis B core antigen expression dropped 4 weeks after JNJ-4964 treatment-stop. In these animals, HBsAg-specific CD8+ T cells were detectable. Throughout the study, normal levels of alanine aminotransferase were observed, with no hepatocyte cell death (end of treatment and 4 weeks later) and minimal infiltrations of B and T cells into the liver, suggesting induction of cytokine-mediated, non-cytolytic mechanisms.

Recommendations for pathology peer review.

Pathology peer review verifies and improves the accuracy and quality of pathology diagnoses and interpretations. Pathology peer review is recommended when important risk assessment or business decisions are based on nonclinical studies. For pathology peer review conducted before study completion, the peer-review pathologist reviews sufficient slides and pathology data to assist the study pathologist in refining pathology diagnoses and interpretations. Materials to be reviewed are selected by the peer-review pathologist. Consultations with additional experts or a formal (documented) pathology working group may be used to resolve discrepancies. The study pathologist is solely responsible for the content of the final pathology data and report, makes changes resulting from peer-review discussions, initiates the audit trail for microscopic observations after all changes resulting from peer-review have been made, and signs the final pathologist's report. The peer-review pathologist creates a signed peer-review memo describing the peer-review process and confirming that the study pathologist's report accurately and appropriately reflects the pathology data. The study pathologist also may sign a statement of consensus. It is not necessary to archive working notes created during the peer-review process.

Tamoxifen: 28-day oral toxicity study in the rat based on the Enhanced OECD Test Guideline 407 to detect endocrine effects.

The main objective of this 28-day oral gavage toxicity study in the rat was to investigate which of the current and/or additional parameters of the OECD Test Guideline 407 would reliably and sensitively detect the endocrine-mediated effects of the nonsteroidal antiestrogen tamoxifen. In addition, as this study was performed using two subgroups of five animals of each sex run concurrently, it enabled an assessment of the intralaboratory reproducibility while also assessing the potential value of using ten animals of each sex per group instead of using the standard five animals of each sex per group stipulated by the current guideline. Tamoxifen was administered daily by gavage to groups of 7-week-old Wistar rats for at least 28 days at dose levels of 5, 30, or 200 microg/kg body weight. Additional parameters specified in the enhanced OECD Test Guideline 407 were spermatozoa enumeration and morphology of the cauda epididymis, hormonal analysis of the thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) levels, monitoring of the estrous cycle during week 4 of treatment to ensure females were in diestrus on the day of terminal sacrifice, organ weight of ovary, uterus, thyroid gland, prostate gland (ventral and dorsolateral parts), seminal vesicles with coagulation glands and pituitary gland, and microscopic investigation of the pituitary gland, vagina, mammary gland, seminal vesicles with coagulating glands, epididymis, and prostate gland (ventral and dorsolateral parts). Overall, 200 microg/kg per day was considered to be the Maximum Tolerated Dose (MTD) in both sexes, resulting in a marked reduction of body weight gain, together with slight effects on clinical signs, hematology, plasma chemistry, and microscopic changes in some endocrine tissues. Five micrograms per kilogram per day represented the No Observed Adverse Effect Level (NOAEL) in males and the No Observed Effect Level (NOEL) in females. At the intermediate dose level (30 microg/kg per day), the current OECD Test Guideline 407 was appropriate to detect the specific endocrine-related changes induced by tamoxifen in females, based on the histopathology findings observed in the ovary and the uterus. The additional parameters which were found to be changed in females (thyroid hormone levels, ovary and uterus weights, and histopathology of vagina) provided supplementary information further confirming tamoxifen-mediated endocrine effects. In males, when data from the current Test Guideline 407 were considered at the intermediate dose level, specific endocrine effects were only indicated on the basis of the histopathology findings observed in the prostate gland. The additional parameters examined which were found to be changed (prostate gland and seminal vesicle weights, and histopathology of seminal vesicle and mammary gland) were necessary to confirm the specific tamoxifen-mediated endocrine effects. Hence, amongst the additional parameters contained in the enhanced OECD Test Guideline 407, organ weights and histopathological examination of endocrine-related organs were the most helpful in confirming the detection of tamoxifen-mediated endocrine effects. The reproducibility evaluation showed that a group size of five animals of each sex consistently allowed the detection of endocrine effects with the current Test Guideline in both sexes at the high dose level and in females at the intermediate dose level. Doubling the animal number from five to ten of each sex per dose level did not notably increase the sensitivity of detection of endocrine-mediated effects.