Deuterated active pharmaceutical ingredients: A science-based proposal for synthesis, analysis, and control. Part 1: Framing the problem.

The International Consortium for Innovation & Quality (IQ) in Pharmaceutical Development recently established a working group focused on the development of a guidance to address Deuterated Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients. Deuteration of an Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) in some cases can retard and/or alter API metabolism by exploiting the primary kinetic isotope effect. Several deuterated APIs have entered into the clinic, and one has recently been approved. In most cases, it is very difficult to nearly impossible to synthesize a 100% isotopically pure compound. This raises synthetic, analytical, and regulatory questions that warrant a science-based assessment and recommendations for synthetic methods, analytical methods, and specifications. A cross functional team of scientists with expertise in isotope chemistry, process chemistry, analytical chemistry, and drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics have been meeting under the auspices of IQ to define and address these questions. This paper strives to frame chemistry, manufacturing, and controls challenges.

Identification and Mitigation of Reactive Metabolites of 2-Aminoimidazole-Containing Microsomal Prostaglandin E Synthase-1 Inhibitors Terminated Due to Clinical Drug-Induced Liver Injury.

Two 2-aminoimidazole-based inhibitors, LY3031207 (1) and LY3023703 (2), of the microsomal prostaglandin E synthase-1 (mPGES-1) enzyme were found to cause drug-induced liver injury (DILI) in humans. We studied imidazole ring substitutions to successfully mitigate reactive metabolite (RM) formation. These studies support the conclusion that RM formation may play a role in the observations of DILI and the consideration of 2-aminoimidazoles as structure alerts, due to the high likelihood of bioactivation to generate RMs.

Comparison between Radioanalysis and 19F Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy in the Determination of Mass Balance, Metabolism, and Distribution of Pefloxacin.

Mass balance and metabolism studies using radiolabeled substances are well recognized as an important part of the drug development process. In this study, we directly assessed the use of fluorine nuclear magnetic resonance (19F NMR) to achieve quantitative mass balance, metabolism, and distribution information for fluorinated compounds, without the need for radiolabeled synthesis or study. As a test case, the disposition of pefloxacin, a fluoroquinolone antibiotic, was evaluated in rats using quantitative 19F NMR in parallel with a radiolabeled study. Urine, bile, and feces samples were collected over specific periods after oral administration of either 25 mg/kg [14C]pefloxacin or 25 mg/kg pefloxacin and were subsequently profiled by radioactivity or 19F NMR, respectively. The percentage of dose excreted in each matrix was comparable between the two methods, with the total dose recovered by radioactivity and 19F NMR determined to be 86.8% and 81.8%, respectively. In addition, plasma samples were collected to determine the exposure of pefloxacin and its circulating metabolites. The plasma exposure of pefloxacin determined by 19F NMR was within 5% to that calculated by a validated liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry bioanalytical method. By both methods, pefloxacin was identified as the major circulating entity, with pefloxacin glucuronide as the major circulating metabolite. Quantitative analysis of metabolites in excreta was generally comparable between the two methods. In selected tissues, both methods indicated that the parent drug accounted for most of the drug-related material. In summary, we have demonstrated that 19F NMR can be used as an alternative method to conventional radiolabeled studies for compounds containing fluorine without the need for radiolabeled synthesis/study.

Synthesis of C-14 radiolabeled glucagon receptor antagonist and its use in a human mass balance study.

The synthesis of the radiolabeled glucagon receptor antagonist 1-[14 C] was accomplished based on decarboxylative iodination of acid 2 followed by "reattachment" of 14 C carboxylic function. The method allowed a significant reduction in the number of steps in preparation of the radiolabeled compound. Iodide 4, obtained by the halodecarboxylation, was converted to cyanide 5-[14 C], which was hydrolyzed to provide the radiolabeled acid 2-[14 C]. Coupling with ß-alanine fragment and hydrolysis of ester 6-[14 C] completed the synthesis of the target molecule 1-[14 C]. The resulting compound was utilized in a mass balance and metabolism study where hepatic oxidation followed by a trace amount of sulfate conjugation and elimination was the main clearance pathway for 1 in humans.

Absolute bioavailability of evacetrapib in healthy subjects determined by simultaneous administration of oral evacetrapib and intravenous [(13) C8 ]-evacetrapib as a tracer.

This open-label, single-period study in healthy subjects estimated evacetrapib absolute bioavailability following simultaneous administration of a 130-mg evacetrapib oral dose and 4-h intravenous (IV) infusion of 175 µg [(13) C8 ]-evacetrapib as a tracer. Plasma samples collected through 168 h were analyzed for evacetrapib and [(13) C8 ]-evacetrapib using high-performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry. Pharmacokinetic parameter estimates following oral and IV doses, including area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) from zero to infinity (AUC[0-∞]) and to the last measureable concentration (AUC[0-tlast ]), were calculated. Bioavailability was calculated as the ratio of least-squares geometric mean of dose-normalized AUC (oral : IV) and corresponding 90% confidence interval (CI). Bioavailability of evacetrapib was 44.8% (90% CI: 42.2-47.6%) for AUC(0-∞) and 44.3% (90% CI: 41.8-46.9%) for AUC(0-tlast ). Evacetrapib was well tolerated with no reports of clinically significant safety assessment findings. This is among the first studies to estimate absolute bioavailability using simultaneous administration of an unlabeled oral dose with a (13) C-labeled IV microdose tracer at about 1/1000(th) the oral dose, with measurement in the pg/mL range. This approach is beneficial for poorly soluble drugs, does not require additional toxicology studies, does not change oral dose pharmacokinetics, and ultimately gives researchers another tool to evaluate absolute bioavailability.

Metabolism and disposition of the antihypertensive agent moxonidine in humans.

The metabolism and pharmacokinetics of moxonidine, a potent central-acting antihypertensive agent, were studied in four healthy subjects after a single oral administration of approximately 1 mg (approximately 60 muCi) of [(14)C(3)]moxonidine. Moxonidine was rapidly absorbed, with peak plasma concentration achieved between 0.5 to 2 h postdose. The maximal plasma concentration and the area under the curve of unchanged moxonidine are lower than those determined for radioactivity, indicating presence of circulating metabolite(s). The total recovery of radiocarbon over 120 h ranged from 99.6 to 105.2%, with 92.3 to 103.3% of the radioactivity excreted in the urine and only 1.9 to 7.3% of the dose excreted in the feces. Thus, renal elimination represented the principal route of excretion of radioactivity. Metabolites of moxonidine were identified in urine and plasma samples by high performance liquid chromatography and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Oxidation of moxonidine on the methyl group or on the imidazoline ring resulted in the formation of hydroxymethyl moxonidine, hydroxy moxonidine, dihydroxy moxonidine, and dehydrogenated moxonidine. Metabolite profiling results indicated that parent moxonidine was the most abundant component in the urine. The dehydrogenated moxonidine was the major urinary metabolite as well as the major circulating metabolite. Moxonidine also underwent phase II metabolism, generating a cysteine conjugate. In summary, moxonidine is well absorbed after oral administration. The major clearance pathway for moxonidine in humans is via renal elimination. Furthermore, seven metabolites were identified with three metabolites unique to humans.

Identification, synthesis and pharmacological activity of moxonidine metabolites.

The metabolism of moxonidine, 4-chloro-N-(4,5-dihydro-1H-imidazol-2-yl)-6-methoxy-2-methyl-5-pyrimidinamine, LY326869, in rats, mice, dogs, and humans has been examined. At least 17 metabolites were identified or tentatively identified in the different species by HPLC, LC/MS and LC/MS/MS. The identities of seven of the major metabolites have been verified by independent synthesis. The metabolites are generally derived from oxidation and conjugation pathways. Oxidation occurred at the imidazolidine ring as well as the methyl at the 2 position of the pyrimidine ring. All seven metabolites were examined in the spontaneously hypertensive rats (3 mg kg(-1), i.v.) for pressure and heart rate. Only one, 2-hydroxymethyl-4-chloro-5-(imidazolidin-2-ylidenimino)-6-methoxypyrimidine, exerted a short-lasting decrease in blood pressure, albeit attenuated in magnitude compared to moxonidine.