Effect of PVP K30 and/or L-arginine on stability constant of etoricoxib-HPbetaCD inclusion complex: preparation and characterization of etoricoxib-HPbetaCD binary system.

The effect of polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) K30 and/or L-arginine on etoricoxib-HPbetaCD complex was investigated. The phase solubility profiles were classified as A(L)-type, both in absence or presence of auxiliary substances used. The apparent stability constant (K(c)) of binary complex obtained at room temperature, 371.80 +/- 2.61 M(-1), was decreased with the addition of PVP and arginine indicating no benefit of addition of auxiliary substances to promote higher complexation efficiency. Therefore, solid etoricoxib-HPbetaCD binary systems were prepared and characterized by proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1HNMR), X-ray powder diffractometry, Fourier transformation-infrared spectroscopy, and dissolution studies. Among all binary systems, a lyophilized product showed superior performance in enhancing dissolution of etoricoxib.

Physicochemical investigation of the solid dispersion systems of etoricoxib with poloxamer 188.

Solid dispersion systems of a poorly water-soluble drug, etoricoxib were prepared with poloxamer 188 in 1:0.5, 1:1.5 and 1:2.5 ratios and evaluated by FTIR, powder XRD and dissolution studies. Physical studies demonstrated a strong hydrogen bonding with significant decrease in the crystallinity and formation of amorphous etoricoxib in its binary systems. All binary systems of etoricoxib showed faster dissolution than pure drug alone (P < 0.001). However, 1:2.5 proportion of etoricoxib: poloxamer 188 showed superior performance (DE45: 71.27% +/- 3.85) in enhancing solubility and dissolution rate of etoricoxib suggesting optimum ratio of the carrier.

From the Cover: Inhibitors of Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyltransferase Cause Retinal Damage in Larval Zebrafish.

Nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT) has been investigated as a target for oncology because it catalyzes a rate-limiting step in cellular energy metabolism to produce nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide. Small molecule inhibitors of NAMPT have been promising drug candidates but preclinical development has been hindered due to associated retinal toxicity. Here we demonstrate that larval zebrafish can predict retinal toxicity associated with this mechanism revealing an attractive alternative method for identifying such toxicities. Zebrafish permit higher throughput testing while using far lower quantities of test article compared with mammalian systems. NAMPT inhibitor-associated toxicity manifested in zebrafish as a loss of response to visual cues compared with auditory cues. Zebrafish retinal damage associated with NAMPT inhibitor treatment was confirmed through histopathology. Ranking 6 NAMPT inhibitors according to their impact on zebrafish vision revealed a positive correlation with their in vitro potencies on human tumor cells. This correlation indicates translatable pharmacodynamics between zebrafish and human NAMPT and is consistent with on-target activity as the cause of retinal toxicity associated with NAMPT inhibition. Together, these data illustrate the utility of zebrafish for identifying compounds that may cause ocular toxicity in mammals, and, likewise, for accelerating development of compounds with improved safety margins.

Measuring drug absorption improves interpretation of behavioral responses in a larval zebrafish locomotor assay for predicting seizure liability.

INTRODUCTION: Unanticipated effects on the central nervous system are a concern during new drug development. A larval zebrafish locomotor assay can reveal seizure liability of experimental molecules before testing in mammals. Relative absorption of compounds by larvae is lacking in prior reports of such assays; having those data may be valuable for interpreting seizure liability assay performance. METHODS: Twenty-eight reference drugs were tested at multiple dose levels in fish water and analyzed by a blinded investigator. Responses of larval zebrafish were quantified during a 30min dosing period. Predictive metrics were calculated by comparing fish activity to mammalian seizure liability for each drug. Drug level analysis was performed to calculate concentrations in dose solutions and larvae. Fifteen drug candidates with neuronal targets, some having preclinical convulsion findings in mammals, were tested similarly. RESULTS: The assay has good predictive value of established mammalian responses for reference drugs. Analysis of drug absorption by larval fish revealed a positive correlation between hyperactive behavior and pro-convulsive drug absorption. False negative results were associated with significantly lower compound absorption compared to true negative, or true positive results. The predictive value for preclinical toxicology findings was inferior to that suggested by reference drugs. DISCUSSION: Disproportionately low exposures in larvae giving false negative results demonstrate that drug exposure analysis can help interpret results. Due to the rigorous testing commonly performed in preclinical toxicology, predicting convulsions in those studies may be more difficult than predicting effects from marketed drugs.

Physicochemical characterization of solid dispersion systems of tadalafil with poloxamer 407.

Dissolution behaviour of a poorly water-soluble drug, tadalafil, from its solid dispersion systems with poloxamer 407 has been investigated. Solid dispersion systems of tadalafil were prepared with poloxamer 407 in 1:0.5, 1:1.5 and 1:2.5 ratios using the melting method. Characterization of binary systems with FTIR and XRPD studies demonstrated the presence of strong hydrogen bonding interactions, a significant decrease in crystallinity and the possibility of existence of amorphous entities of the drug. In the binary systems tested, 1:0.5 proportion of tadalafil/poloxamer 407 showed rapid dissolution of tadalafil (DE(30) 70.9 + or - 3.6 %). In contrast, higher proportions of poloxamer 407 (1:1.5 and 1:2.5) offered no advantage towards dissolution enhancement of the drug, indicating altered rheological characteristics of the polymer at its higher concentration, which might have retarded the release rate of tadalafil.