Human bronchopulmonary disposition and plasma pharmacokinetics of oral bemnifosbuvir (AT-527), an experimental guanosine nucleotide prodrug for COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: Bemnifosbuvir (AT-527) is a novel oral guanosine nucleotide antiviral drug for the treatment of persons with COVID-19. Direct assessment of drug disposition in the lungs, via bronchoalveolar lavage, is necessary to ensure antiviral drug levels at the primary site of SARS-CoV-2 infection are achieved. OBJECTIVES: This Phase 1 study in healthy subjects aimed to assess the bronchopulmonary pharmacokinetics, safety and tolerability of repeated doses of bemnifosbuvir. METHODS: A total of 24 subjects were assigned to receive bemnifosbuvir twice daily at doses of 275, 550 or 825 mg for up to 3.5 days. RESULTS: AT-511, the free base of bemnifosbuvir, was largely eliminated from the plasma within 6 h post dose in all dosing groups. Antiviral drug levels of bemnifosbuvir were consistently achieved in the lungs with bemnifosbuvir 550 mg twice daily. The mean level of the guanosine nucleoside metabolite AT-273, the surrogate of the active triphosphate metabolite of the drug, measured in the epithelial lining fluid of the lungs was 0.62 µM at 4-5 h post dose. This exceeded the target in vitro 90% effective concentration (EC90) of 0.5 µM for antiviral drug exposure against SARS-CoV-2 replication in human airway epithelial cells. Bemnifosbuvir was well tolerated across all doses tested, and most treatment-emergent adverse events reported were mild in severity and resolved. CONCLUSIONS: The favourable pharmacokinetics and safety profile of bemnifosbuvir demonstrates its potential as an oral antiviral treatment for COVID-19, with 550 mg bemnifosbuvir twice daily currently under further clinical evaluation in persons with COVID-19.

Regulation of carboxylesterases and its impact on pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics: an up-to-date review.

INTRODUCTION: Carboxylesterase 1 (CES1) and carboxylesterase 2 (CES2) are among the most abundant hydrolases in humans, catalyzing the metabolism of numerous clinically important medications, such as methylphenidate and clopidogrel. The large interindividual variability in the expression and activity of CES1 and CES2 affects the pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics (PD) of substrate drugs. AREAS COVERED: This review provides an up-to-date overview of CES expression and activity regulations and examines their impact on the PK and PD of CES substrate drugs. The literature search was conducted on PubMed from inception to January 2024. EXPERT OPINION: Current research revealed modest associations of CES genetic polymorphisms with drug exposure and response. Beyond genomic polymorphisms, transcriptional and posttranslational regulations can also significantly affect CES expression and activity and consequently alter PK and PD. Recent advances in plasma biomarkers of drug-metabolizing enzymes encourage the research of plasma protein and metabolite biomarkers for CES1 and CES2, which could lead to the establishment of precision pharmacotherapy regimens for drugs metabolized by CESs. Moreover, our understanding of tissue-specific expression and substrate selectivity of CES1 and CES2 has shed light on improving the design of CES1- and CES2-activated prodrugs.

Long-acting intramuscular injections of ELQ-331, an antimalarial agent.

The overarching premise of this investigation is that injectable, long-acting antimalarial medication would encourage adherence to a dosage regimen for populations at risk of contracting the disease. To advance support for this goal, we have developed oil-based formulations of ELQ-331 (a prodrug of ELQ-300) that perform as long-acting, injectable chemoprophylactics with drug loading as high as 160 mg/ml of ELQ-331. In a pharmacokinetic study performed with rats, a single intramuscular injection of 12.14 mg/kg maintained higher plasma levels than the previously established minimum fully protective plasma concentration (33.25 ng/ml) of ELQ-300 for more than 4 weeks. The formulations were well tolerated by the rats and the tested dose produced no adverse reactions. We believe that by extending the length of time between subsequent injections, these injectable oil-based solutions of ELQ-331 can offer a more accessible, low-cost option for long-acting disease prevention and reduced transmission in malaria-endemic regions and may also be of use to travelers.

Review of valiltramiprosate (ALZ-801) for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease: a novel small molecule with disease modifying potential.

INTRODUCTION: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative condition characterized by progressive cognitive deterioration, functional impairments, and neuropsychiatric symptoms. Valiltramiprosate is a tramiprosate prodrug being investigated as a novel treatment for AD. AREAS COVERED: The online databases PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and ClinicalTrials.gov were searched using the terms 'ALZ-801' or 'valiltramiprosate.' Alzheon press releases were reviewed for emerging clinical information. Valiltramiprosate is an oral, well-tolerated synthetic valine-conjugate prodrug of tramiprosate. Valiltramiprosate's active metabolite include tramiprosate and 3-sulfopropanoic acid. Proposed mechanism of action is multiligand binding to Aß42 which stabilizes amyloid monomers to prevent peptide aggregation and oligomerization. Pharmacokinetic studies show 52% oral bioavailability, rapid absorption, approximately 40% brain-drug exposure, and near complete renal clearance. Compared to tramiprosate, valiltramiprosate extends plasma tramiprosate half-life and improves interindividual pharmacokinetic variability. Interim analyses from valiltramiprosate's phase II biomarker trial show: (1) significant reductions in plasma p-tau181 and related AD fluid biomarkers; (2) brain structure preservation and reduced hippocampal atrophy by MRI; and (3) improvements on cognitive assessments at multiple timepoints. Its phase III clinical trial in ApoE ε4 homozygotes is near completion. EXPERT OPINION: Valiltramiprosate's clinical trial data show early indications of efficacy with potential disease modifying effect in AD.

Evaluation of Pharmacokinetics of a BCS Class III Drug with Two Different Study Designs: Tenofovir Alafenamide Monofumarate Film-coated Tablet.

Tenofovir alafenamide (TAF) is a BCS Class III compound and an oral pro-drug of Tenofovir (TFV) with limited oral bioavailability. The bioavailability of the oral intake increases with food as a result of the low stability of the active substance in the stomach. The reference drug is "Vemlidy® 25 mg Film Tablet", which contains 25 mg of TAF in "hemifumarate" form, is under patent protection until 15.08.2032 by Gilead, and so the "monofumarate" form was used in the present study. At first, a pilot study was conducted involving 12 subjects under fed conditions. The results of the pilot study revealed the test and reference products were not bioequivalent, as a result of insufficient statistical power and high inter-subject variability. Secondly, a physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) simulation was performed based on the pilot study results and literature data. Finally, the power of the design was increased and the pivotal study design was optimized into a four-period, full-replicated, cross-over study with 34 subjects under fed conditions and it was concluded that the test and reference products were bioequivalent. In conclusion, the present study proved the importance of a correct study design with higher statistical power for a BCS Class III compound with high variability, to present the pharmacokinetics.

Protocol for a seamless phase 2A-phase 2B randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of benfotiamine in patients with early Alzheimer's disease (BenfoTeam).

BACKGROUND: Benfotiamine provides an important novel therapeutic direction in Alzheimer's disease (AD) with possible additive or synergistic effects to amyloid targeting therapeutic approaches. OBJECTIVE: To conduct a seamless phase 2A-2B proof of concept trial investigating tolerability, safety, and efficacy of benfotiamine, a prodrug of thiamine, as a first-in-class small molecule oral treatment for early AD. METHODS: This is the protocol for a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled 72-week clinical trial of benfotiamine in 406 participants with early AD. Phase 2A determines the highest safe and well-tolerated dose of benfotiamine to be carried forward to phase 2B. During phase 2A, real-time monitoring of pre-defined safety stopping criteria in the first approximately 150 enrollees will help determine which dose (600 mg or 1200 mg) will be carried forward into phase 2B. The phase 2A primary analysis will test whether the rate of tolerability events (TEs) is unacceptably high in the high-dose arm compared to placebo. The primary safety endpoint in phase 2A is the rate of TEs compared between active and placebo arms, at each dose. The completion of phase 2A will seamlessly transition to phase 2B without pausing or stopping the trial. Phase 2B will assess efficacy and longer-term safety of benfotiamine in a larger group of participants through 72 weeks of treatment, at the selected dose. The co-primary efficacy endpoints in phase 2B are CDR-Sum of Boxes and ADAS-Cog13. Secondary endpoints include safety and tolerability measures; pharmacokinetic measures of thiamine and its esters, erythrocyte transketolase activity as blood markers of efficacy of drug delivery; ADCS-ADL-MCI; and MoCA. CONCLUSION: The BenfoTeam trial utilizes an innovative seamless phase 2A-2B design to achieve proof of concept. It includes an adaptive dose decision rule, thus optimizing exposure to the highest and best-tolerated dose. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT06223360, registered on January 25, 2024. https://classic.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT06223360.

Differential Bioactivation Profiles of Different GS-441524 Prodrugs in Cell and Mouse Models: ProTide Prodrugs with High Cell Permeability and Susceptibility to Cathepsin A Are More Efficient in Delivering Antiviral Active Metabolites to the Lung.

We assessed factors that determine the tissue-specific bioactivation of ProTide prodrugs by comparing the disposition and activation of remdesivir (RDV), its methylpropyl and isopropyl ester analogues (MeRDV and IsoRDV, respectively), the oral prodrug GS-621763, and the parent nucleotide GS-441524 (Nuc). RDV and MeRDV yielded more active metabolite remdesivir-triphosphate (RDV-TP) than IsoRDV, GS-621763, and Nuc in human lung cell models due to superior cell permeability and higher susceptivity to cathepsin A. Intravenous administration to mice showed that RDV and MeRDV delivered significantly more RDV-TP to the lung than other compounds. Nevertheless, all four ester prodrugs exhibited very low oral bioavailability (<2%), with Nuc being the predominant metabolite in blood. In conclusion, ProTides prodrugs, such as RDV and MeRDV, are more efficient in delivering active metabolites to the lung than Nuc, driven by high cell permeability and susceptivity to cathepsin A. Optimizing ProTides' ester structures is an effective strategy for enhancing prodrug activation in the lung.

A serine-conjugated butyrate prodrug with high oral bioavailability suppresses autoimmune arthritis and neuroinflammation in mice.

Butyrate-a metabolite produced by commensal bacteria-has been extensively studied for its immunomodulatory effects on immune cells, including regulatory T cells, macrophages and dendritic cells. However, the development of butyrate as a drug has been hindered by butyrate's poor oral bioavailability, owing to its rapid metabolism in the gut, its low potency (hence, necessitating high dosing), and its foul smell and taste. Here we report that the oral bioavailability of butyrate can be increased by esterifying it to serine, an amino acid transporter that aids the escape of the resulting odourless and tasteless prodrug (O-butyryl-L-serine, which we named SerBut) from the gut, enhancing its systemic uptake. In mice with collagen-antibody-induced arthritis (a model of rheumatoid arthritis) and with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (a model of multiple sclerosis), we show that SerBut substantially ameliorated disease severity, modulated key immune cell populations systemically and in disease-associated tissues, and reduced inflammatory responses without compromising the global immune response to vaccination. SerBut may become a promising therapeutic for autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.

Tumor-penetrating iRGD facilitates penetration of poly(floxuridine-ketal)-based nanomedicine for enhanced pancreatic cancer therapy.

Efficient intratumoral penetration is essential for nanomedicine to eradicate pancreatic tumors. Although nanomedicine can enter the perivascular space of pancreatic tumors, their access to distal tumor cells, aloof from the vessels, remains a formidable challenge. Here, we synthesized an acid-activatable macromolecular prodrug of floxuridine (FUDR)-poly(FUDR-ketal), engineered a micellar nanomedicine of FUDR, and intravenously co-administered the nanomedicine with the tumor-penetrating peptide iRGD for enhanced treatment of pancreatic tumor. A FUDR-derived mono-isopropenyl ether was synthesized and underwent self-addition polymerization to afford the hydrophobic poly(FUDR-ketal), which was subsequently co-assembled with amphiphilic DSPE-mPEG into the micellar nanomedicine with size of 12 nm and drug content of 56.8 wt% using nanoprecipitation technique. The acetone-based ketal-linked poly(FUDR-ketal) was triggered by acid to release FUDR to inhibit cell proliferation. In an orthotopic pancreatic tumor model derived from KPC (KrasLSL-G12D/+; Trp53LSL-R172H/+; Pdx1-Cre) cells that overexpress neuropilin-1 (NRP-1) receptor, iRGD improved penetration of FUDR nanomedicine into tumor parenchyma and potentiated the therapeutic efficacy. Our nanoplatform, along with iRGD, thus appears to be promising for efficient penetration and activation of acid-responsive nanomedicines for enhanced pancreatic cancer therapy.

Enhancing SN38 prodrug delivery using a self-immolative linker and endogenous albumin transport.

Enhancing the delivery and release efficiency of hydroxyl agents, constrained by high pKa values and issues of release rate or unstable linkage, is a critical challenge. To address this, a self-immolative linker, composed of a modifiable p-hydroxybenzyl ether and a fast cyclization adapter (N-(ortho-hydroxyphenyl)-N-methylcarbamate) was strategically designed, for the synthesis of prodrugs. The innovative linker not only provides a side chain modification but also facilitates the rapid release of the active payloads, thereby enabling precise drug delivery. Particularly, five prodrug model compounds (J1, J2, J3, J5 and J6) were synthesized to evaluate the release rates by using ß-glucuronic acid as trigger and five hydroxyl compounds as model payloads. Significantly, all prodrug model compounds could efficiently release the hydroxyl payloads under the action of ß-glucuronidase, validating the robustness of the linker. And then, to assess the drug delivery and release efficiency using endogenous albumin as a transport vehicle, J1148, a SN38 prodrug modified with maleimide side chain was synthesized. Results demonstrated that J1148 covalently bound to plasma albumin through in situ Michael addition, effectively targeting the tumor microenvironment. Activated by ß-glucuronidase, J1148 underwent a classical 1, 6-elimination, followed by rapid cyclization of the adapter, thereby releasing SN38. Impressively, J1148 showed excellent therapeutic efficacy against human colonic cancer xenograft model, leading to a significant reduction or even disappearance of tumors (3/6 of mice cured). These findings underscore the potential of the designed linker in the delivery system of hydroxyl agents, positioning it at the forefront of advancements in drug delivery technology.

A nanomedicine composed of polymer-ss-DOX and polymer-Ce6 prodrugs with monoclonal antibody targeting effect for anti-tumor chemo-photodynamic synergetic therapy.

Anticancer drugs used for systemic chemotherapy often exhibit off-target toxicity and uncontrolled drug release due to their lack of targeting. To improve the bioavailability of drugs and reduce side effects, we have developed a mixed micelle of nanomedicine composed of two prodrugs with surface modified monoclonal antibody for cancer therapy. In this system, Nimotuzumab was used as targeting ligands of the mixed micelles (named as DCMMs) that is composed of polymer-doxorubicin prodrug (abbreviated as PEG-b-P(GMA-ss-DOX)) and maleimide polyethylene glycol-chlorin e6 (abbreviated as Mal-PEG-Ce6). The mixed micelles modified with Nimotuzumab (named as NTZ-DCMMs) bind to overexpressed EGFR receptors on Hepatoma-22 (H22) cells. Disulfide bonds in PEG-b-P(GMA-ss-DOX) are disrupted in tumor microenvironment, inducing the reduction-responsive release of DOX and leading to tumor cell apoptosis. Simultaneously, Chlorin e6 (Ce6) produced plenty of singlet oxygen (1O2) under laser irradiation to kill tumor cells. In vivo biological distribution and antineoplastic effect experiments demonstrate that NTZ-DCMMs enhanced drug enrichment at tumor sites through targeting function of antibody, dramatically suppressing tumor growth and mitigating cardiotoxicity of drugs. All results prove that NTZ-DCMMs have the ability to actively target H22 cells and quickly respond to tumor microenvironment, which is expected to become an intelligent and multifunctional drug delivery carrier for efficient chemotherapy and photodynamic therapy of hepatoma. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Anticancer drugs used for systemic chemotherapy often exhibit off-target toxicity due to their lack of targeting. Therefore, it's necessary to develop effective, targeted, and collaborative treatment strategies. We construct a mixed micelle of nanomedicine based on two polymer prodrugs and modified with monoclonal antibody on surface for cancer therapy. Under the tumor cell microenvironment, the disulfide bonds of polymer-ss-DOX were broken, effectively triggering DOX release. The photosensitizer Ce6 could generate a large amount of ROS under light, which synergistically promotes tumor cell apoptosis. By coupling antibodies to the hydrophilic segments of polymer micelles, drugs can be specifically delivered. Compared with monotherapy, the combination of chemotherapy and photodynamic therapy can significantly enhance the therapeutic effect of liver cancer.

Synthesis and characterisation of a nucleotide based pro-drug formulated with a peptide into a nano-chemotherapy for colorectal cancer.

Recent studies in colorectal cancer patients (CRC) have shown that increased resistance to thymidylate synthase (TS) inhibitors such as 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), reduce the efficacy of standard of care (SoC) treatment regimens. The nucleotide pool cleanser dUTPase is highly expressed in CRC and is an attractive target for potentiating anticancer activity of chemotherapy. The purpose of the current work was to investigate the activity of P1, P4-di(2',5'-dideoxy-5'-selenouridinyl)-tetraphosphate (P4-SedU2), a selenium-modified symmetrically capped dinucleoside with prodrug capabilities that is specifically activated by dUTPase. Using mechanochemistry, P4-SedU2 and the corresponding selenothymidine analogue P4-SeT2 were prepared with a yield of 19% and 30% respectively. The phosphate functionality facilitated complexation with the amphipathic cell-penetrating peptide RALA to produce nanoparticles (NPs). These NPs were designed to deliver P4-SedU2 intracellularly and thereby maximise in vivo activity. The NPs demonstrated effective anti-cancer activity and selectivity in the HCT116 CRC cell line, a cell line that overexpresses dUTPase; compared to HT29 CRC cells and NCTC-929 fibroblast cells which have reduced levels of dUTPase expression. In vivo studies in BALB/c SCID mice revealed no significant toxicity with respect to weight or organ histology. Pharmacokinetic analysis of blood serum showed that RALA facilitates effective delivery and rapid internalisation into surrounding tissues with NPs eliciting lower plasma Cmax than the equivalent injection of free P4-SedU2, translating the in vitro findings. Tumour growth delay studies have demonstrated significant inhibition of growth dynamics with the tumour doubling time extended by >2weeks. These studies demonstrate the functionality and action of a new pro-drug nucleotide for CRC.

First-in-human trial evaluating safety and pharmacokinetics of AT-752, a novel nucleotide prodrug with pan-serotype activity against dengue virus.

AT-752 is a novel guanosine nucleotide prodrug inhibitor of the dengue virus (DENV) polymerase with sub-micromolar, pan-serotype antiviral activity. This phase 1, double-blind, placebo-controlled, first-in-human study evaluated the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of ascending single and multiple oral doses of AT-752 in healthy subjects. AT-752 was well tolerated when administered as a single dose up to 1,500 mg or when administered as multiple doses up to 750 mg three times daily (TID). No serious adverse events occurred, and the majority of treatment-emergent adverse events were mild in severity and resolved by the end of the study. In those receiving single ascending doses of AT-752, no pharmacokinetic sensitivity was observed in Asian subjects, and no food effect was observed. Plasma exposure of the guanosine nucleoside metabolite AT-273, the surrogate of the active triphosphate metabolite of the drug, increased with increasing dose levels of AT-752 and exhibited a long half-life of approximately 15-25 h. Administration of AT-752 750 mg TID led to a rapid increase in plasma levels of AT-273 exceeding the target in vitro 90% effective concentration (EC90) of 0.64 µM in inhibiting DENV replication, and maintained this level over the treatment period. The favorable safety and pharmacokinetic results support the evaluation of AT-752 as an antiviral for the treatment of dengue in future clinical studies.Registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04722627).

Conversion of Olmesartan to Olmesartan Medoxomil, A Prodrug that Improves Intestinal Absorption, Confers Substrate Recognition by OATP2B1.

PURPOSE: Olmesartan medoxomil (olmesartan-MX), an ester-type prodrug of the angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) olmesartan, is predominantly anionic at intestinal pH. Human organic anion transporting polypeptide 2B1 (OATP2B1) is expressed in the small intestine and is involved in the absorption of various acidic drugs. This study was designed to test the hypothesis that OATP2B1-mediated uptake contributes to the enhanced intestinal absorption of olmesartan-MX, even though olmesartan itself is not a substrate of OATP2B1. METHODS: Tetracycline-inducible human OATP2B1- and rat Oatp2b1-overexpressing HEK 293 cell lines (hOATP2B1/T-REx-293 and rOatp2b1/T-REx-293, respectively) were established to characterize OATP2B1-mediated uptake. Rat jejunal permeability was measured using Ussing chambers. ARBs were quantified by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. RESULTS: Significant olmesartan-MX uptake was observed in hOATP2B1/T-REx-293 and rOatp2b1/T-REx-293 cells, whereas olmesartan uptake was undetectable or much lower than olmesartan-MX uptake, respectively. Furthermore, olmesartan-MX exhibited several-fold higher uptake in Caco-2 cells and greater permeability in rat jejunum compared to olmesartan. Olmesartan-MX uptake in hOATP2B1/T-REx-293 cells and in Caco-2 cells was significantly decreased by OATP2B1 substrates/inhibitors such as 1 mM estrone-3-sulfate, 100 µM rifamycin SV, and 100 µM fluvastatin. Rat Oatp2b1-mediated uptake and rat jejunal permeability of olmesartan-MX were significantly decreased by 50 µM naringin, an OATP2B1 inhibitor. Oral administration of olmesartan-MX with 50 µM naringin to rats significantly reduced the area under the plasma concentration-time curve of olmesartan to 76.9%. CONCLUSION: Olmesartan-MX is a substrate for OATP2B1, and the naringin-sensitive transport system contributes to the improved intestinal absorption of olmesartan-MX compared with its parent drug, olmesartan.

Curcumin - Bioavailability Enhancement by Prodrug Approach and Novel Formulations.

Curcumin is a diverse natural pharmacological agent involved in various signal transduction mechanisms. Therapeutically, this potent molecule faces different challenges and issues related to low bioavailability due to its poor aqueous solubility, less permeability, faster elimination and clearance. Experts in synthetic chemistry and pharmaceuticals are continuously sparing their efforts to overcome these pharmacokinetic challenges by using different structural modification strategies and developing novel drug delivery systems. In this mini-review article, we are focusing on development of curcumin derivatives by different possible routes like conjugation with biomolecules, natural polymers, synthetic polymers, natural products, metal conjugates and co- administration with natural metabolic inhibitors. In addition to that, it was also focused on the preparation of modified formulations such as micelles, microemulsions, liposomes, complexes with phospholipids, micro and nanoemulsions, solid lipid nanoparticles, nano lipid carriers, biopolymer nanoparticles and microgels to improve the pharmacokinetic properties of the curcumin without altering its pharmacodynamics activity. This review helps to understand the problems associated with curcumin and different strategies to improve its pharmacokinetic profile.

Self-Reporting Molecular Prodrug for In Situ Quantitative Sensing of Drug Release by Ratiometric Photoacoustic Imaging.

Understanding the pharmacokinetics of prodrugs in vivo necessitates quantitative, noninvasive, and real-time monitoring of drug release, despite its difficulty. Ratiometric photoacoustic (PA) imaging, a promising deep tissue imaging technology with a unique capacity for self-calibration, can aid in solving this problem. Here, for the first time, a methylamino-substituted Aza-BODIPY (BDP-N) and the chemotherapeutic drug camptothecin (CPT) are joined via a disulfide chain to produce the molecular theranostic prodrug (BSC) for real-time tumor mapping and quantitative visualization of intratumoral drug release using ratiometric PA imaging. Intact BSC has an extremely low toxicity, with a maximum absorption at ∼720 nm; however, endogenous glutathione (GSH), which is overexpressed in tumors, will cleave the disulfide bond and liberate CPT (with full toxicity) and BDP-N. This is accompanied by a significant redshift in absorption at ∼800 nm, resulting in the PA800/PA720 ratio. In vitro, a linear relationship is successfully established between PA800/PA720 values and CPT release rates, and subsequent experiments demonstrate that this relationship can also be applied to the quantitative detection of intratumoral CPT release in vivo. Notably, the novel ratiometric strategy eliminates nonresponsive interference and amplifies the multiples of the signal response to significantly improve the imaging contrast and detection precision. Therefore, this research offers a viable alternative for the design of molecular theranostic agents for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of tumors.

Development of lipophilic ester prodrugs of dolutegravir for intestinal lymphatic transport.

The establishment of latent cellular and anatomical viral reservoirs is a major obstacle to achieving a cure for people infected by HIV. Mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs) are one of the most important anatomical reservoirs of HIV. Suboptimal levels of antiretroviral (ARVs) drugs in these difficult-to-penetrate viral reservoirs is one of the limitations of current antiretroviral therapy (ART) regimens. This study aimed to design and assess highly lipophilic ester prodrugs of dolutegravir (DTG) formulated with long-chain triglyceride (LCT) for delivery of DTG to the viral reservoir in mesenteric lymph and MLNs. A number of alkyl ester prodrugs of DTG were designed based on the predicted affinity to chylomicrons (CM), and the six most promising prodrugs were selected and synthesised. The synthesised prodrugs were further assessed for their intestinal lymphatic transport potential and biotransformation in biorelevant media in vitro and ex vivo. DTG and the most promising prodrug (prodrug 5) were then assessed in pharmacokinetic and biodistribution studies in rats. Although oral administration of 5 mg/kg of unmodified DTG (an allometrically scaled dose from humans) with or without lipids achieved concentrations above protein binding-adjusted IC90 (PA-IC90) (64 ng/mL) in most tissues, the drug was not selectively targeted to MLNs. The combination of lipophilic ester prodrug and LCT-based formulation approach improved the targeting selectivity of DTG to MLNs 4.8-fold compared to unmodified DTG. However, systemic exposure to DTG was limited, most likely due to poor intestinal absorption of the prodrug following oral administration. In vitro lipolysis showed a good correlation between micellar solubilisation of the prodrug and systemic exposure to DTG in rats in vivo. Thus, it is prudent to include in vitro lipolysis in the early assessment of orally administered drugs and prodrugs in lipidic formulations, even when intestinal lymphatic transport is involved in the absorption pathway. Further studies are needed to clarify the underlying mechanisms of low systemic bioavailability of DTG following oral administration of the prodrug and potential ways to overcome this limitation.

Development and Pharmacokinetic Evaluation of Two Parenteral Formulations of Albendazole Using Prodrug and Cosolvent Approaches.

Albendazole is a broad-spectrum anthelmintic drug used for parasitic infections. In addition, due to its mechanism of action, it has been studied as an anticancer agent. However, poor and highly variable bioavailability are limiting factors for its use in systemic illnesses. The present study aimed to develop two parenteral formulations of albendazole and to compare its pharmacokinetic profile with the conventional oral administration. Parenteral formulations were developed using two different approaches: a phosphonooxymethylated prodrug and cosolvents. For the albendazole prodrug, once synthetized, its solubility and hydrolysis with alkaline phosphatase were evaluated. A factorial design of experiments was used for the cosolvent formulation. Stability and hemolytic activity were assessed. A pharmacokinetic study was performed on New Zealand rabbits. Both formulations were administered intravenously, and the prodrug was also administered intramuscularly. Results were compared with those obtained after the oral administration of albendazole. A 20,000-fold and 6000-fold increase in albendazole solubility was found with the prodrug and cosolvent formulations, respectively. Both parenteral formulations displayed higher albendazole plasma concentrations for the first 2 h compared with oral administration, even when the oral dose was doubled. The absolute bioavailability of oral albendazole was 15.5% while for the intramuscular administration of the prodrug was 102.6%. Both parenteral formulations showed a significant decrease in the formation of albendazole sulfoxide (ANOVA p<0.05) and allowed greater exposure to albendazole. Albendazole cosolvent parenteral formulation could be a promising option in systemic illnesses considering its ease of preparation and superb pharmacokinetic performance.

Emerging nanoparticle platforms to improve the administration of glucocorticoids.

Glucocorticoids (GC) are common drugs used to treat acute and chronic inflammatory diseases, whose prolonged use can result in severe side effects hampering their efficacy. In addition, the pharmacokinetics, and biodistribution of GC are inadequate to support high efficacy with reduced toxicity. Following the marketing of GC prodrugs, new GC prodrug entities, and conjugates, have been developed. These new prodrugs and conjugates have been administered in free form or under a nanoparticulate form for local or systemic administration. These nanoparticles from lipid prodrugs and nanoconjugates change the paradigm of GC delivery, solving the issue of low drug loading into nanoparticles and circumventing the potential burst release effect by allowing a more controlled delivery of the GC and better targeting in inflammatory sites. This review highlights the design strategies, recent advances in GC prodrugs and conjugates, and their delivery in nanoparticulate form, demonstrating the strong potentialities of these novel strategies.

Preclinical Pharmacokinetic Profile of Topical Ophthalmic and Intravenous Delivery of QLS-101, a Novel ATP-Sensitive Potassium Channel Opening Ocular Hypotensive Agent.

Purpose: To evaluate the pharmacokinetic profiles of the ocular hypotensive agent QLS-101, a novel ATP-sensitive potassium channel opening prodrug, and its active moiety levcromakalim, following topical ophthalmic and intravenous dosing of normotensive rabbits and dogs. Methods: Dutch belted rabbits (n = 85) and beagle dogs (n = 32) were dosed with QLS-101 (0.16-3.2 mg/eye/dose) or formulation buffer for 28 days. Pharmacokinetic profiles of QLS-101 and levcromakalim were evaluated in ocular tissues and blood by LC-MS/MS. Tolerability was assessed by clinical and ophthalmic examinations. Maximum systemic tolerated dose was evaluated in beagle dogs (n = 2) following intravenous bolus administrations of QLS-101 (0.05 to 5 mg/kg). Results: Plasma analysis following topical dosing of QLS-101 (0.8-3.2 mg/eye/dose) for 28 days indicated an elimination half-life (T1/2) of 5.50-8.82 h and a corresponding time (Tmax) range of 2-12 h in rabbits, and a T1/2 of 3.32-6.18 h with a Tmax range of 1-2 h in dogs. Maximum tissue concentration (Cmax) values ranged from 54.8-540 (day 1) to 50.5-777 ng/mL (day 28) in rabbits, and 36.5-166 (day 1) to 47.0-147 ng/mL (day 28) in dogs. Levcromakalim plasma T1/2 and Tmax were similar to QLS-101, while Cmax was consistently lower. Topical ophthalmic delivery of QLS-101 was well tolerated in both species, with sporadic mild ocular hyperemia noted in the group treated with the highest concentration (3.2 mg/eye/dose). Following topical ophthalmic dosing, QLS-101 and levcromakalim were found primarily in the cornea, sclera, and conjunctiva. Maximum tolerated dose was determined to be 3 mg/kg. Conclusions: QLS-101 was converted to its active moiety levcromakalim and showed characteristic absorption, distribution, and safety profiles of a well-tolerated prodrug.