Interpreting In Vitro Release Performance from Long-Acting Parenteral Nanosuspensions Using USP-4 Dissolution and Spectroscopic Techniques.

Injectable sustained release dosage forms have emerged as desirable therapeutic routes for patients that require life-long treatments. The prevalence of drug molecules with low aqueous solubility and bioavailability has added momentum toward the development of suspension-based long-acting parenteral (LAP) formulations; the previously undesirable physicochemical properties of Biopharmaceutics Classification System (BCS) Class II/IV compounds are best suited for extended release applications. Effective in vitro release (IVR) testing of crystalline suspensions affirms product quality during early-stage development and provides connections with in vivo performance. However, before in vitro-in vivo correlations (IVIVCs) can be established, it is necessary to evaluate formulation attributes that directly affect IVR properties. In this work, a series of crystalline LAP nanosuspensions were formulated with different stabilizing polymers and applied to a continuous flow-through (USP-4) dissolution method. This technique confirmed the role of salt effects on the stability of polymer-coated nanoparticles through the detection of disparate active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) release profiles. The polymer stabilizers with extended hydrophilic chains exhibited elevated intrapolymer activity from the loss of hydrogen-bond cushioning in dissolution media with heightened ionic strength, confirmed through one-dimensional (1D) 1H NMR and two-dimensional nuclear Overhauser effect spectroscopy (2D NOESY) experiments. Thus, steric repulsion within the affected nanosuspensions was limited and release rates decreased. Additionally, the strength of interaction between hydrophobic polymer components and the API crystalline surface contributed to suspension dissolution properties, confirmed through solution- and solid-state spectroscopic analyses. This study provides a unique perspective on the dynamic interface between the crystalline drug and aqueous microenvironment during dissolution.

Discovery of a Photoinduced Dark Catalytic Cycle Using in Situ LED-NMR Spectroscopy.

We report the use of LED-NMR spectroscopy to study the reaction mechanism of a newly discovered photoinduced iron-catalyzed cycloisomerization of alkynols to cyclic enol ethers. By understanding on/off ligand binding to the catalyst, we were able to appropriately design reaction conditions to balance catalyst activity and stability. LED-NMR was demonstrated to be a powerful tool in elucidating reaction mechanisms of photochemical reactions. Temporal NMR spectroscopic data under visible light illumination (1) revealed the pre-catalyst activation mechanism, (2) proved that photon flux provides a unique external control of the equilibrium distribution between the pre-catalyst and active catalyst, and ultimately the rate of reaction, (3) provided information about the reaction driving forces and the turnover-limiting step, and (4) enabled both real-time structural and kinetic insights into elusive species (e.g., dissolved gases).

Model for the Enantioselectivity of Asymmetric Intramolecular Alkylations by Bis-Quaternized Cinchona Alkaloid-Derived Catalysts.

A model for the stereoselectivity of intramolecular alkylations by N,N'-disubstituted cinchona alkaloids reported by Xiang et al. was established using density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The stereocontrol is based on the minimal distortion of the transition state (TS) and catalyst required to achieve favorable electrostatic interactions in the favored TS. Counterions must be included in computational modeling of ion-paired catalysis in order to reproduce experimental enantioselectivity.

Assessment of the Stoichiometry of Multicomponent Crystals Using Only X-ray Powder Diffraction Data.

Knowledge of the unit cell volume of a crystalline form and the expected space filling requirements of an API molecule can be used to determine if a crystalline material is likely to be multicomponent, such as a solvate, hydrate, salt, or a co-crystal. The unit cell information can be readily accessed from powder diffraction data alone utilizing powder indexing methodology. If the unit cell has additional space not likely attributable to the API entity, then there is either a void or another component within the crystal lattice. This "leftover" space can be used to determine the likely stoichiometry of the additional component. A simple approach for calculating the expected required volume for a given molecule within a crystal using an atom based additive approach will be discussed. Coupling this estimation with the actual unit cell volumes and space group information obtained from powder indexing allows for the rapid evaluation of the likely stoichiometry of multicomponent crystals using diffraction data alone. This approach is particularly useful for the early assessment of new phases during salt, co-crystal, and polymorph screening, and also for the characterization of stable and unstable solvates.

Discovery of Arylsulfonamide Nav1.7 Inhibitors: IVIVC, MPO Methods, and Optimization of Selectivity Profile.

The voltage-gated sodium channel Nav1.7 continues to be a high-profile target for the treatment of various pain afflictions due to its strong human genetic validation. While isoform selective molecules have been discovered and advanced into the clinic, to date, this target has yet to bear fruit in the form of marketed therapeutics for the treatment of pain. Lead optimization efforts over the past decade have focused on selectivity over Nav1.5 due to its link to cardiac side effects as well as the translation of preclinical efficacy to man. Inhibition of Nav1.6 was recently reported to yield potential respiratory side effects preclinically, and this finding necessitated a modified target selectivity profile. Herein, we report the continued optimization of a novel series of arylsulfonamide Nav1.7 inhibitors to afford improved selectivity over Nav1.6 while maintaining rodent oral bioavailability through the use of a novel multiparameter optimization (MPO) paradigm. We also report in vitro-in vivo correlations from Nav1.7 electrophysiology protocols to preclinical models of efficacy to assist in projecting clinical doses. These efforts produced inhibitors such as compound 19 with potency against Nav1.7, selectivity over Nav1.5 and Nav1.6, and efficacy in behavioral models of pain in rodents as well as inhibition of rhesus olfactory response indicative of target modulation.

4-Oxocyclo-hexa-neacetic acid: catemeric hydrogen bonding and spontaneous resolution of a single conformational enanti-omer in an achiral ∊-keto acid.

The asymmetric unit of the title compound, C(8)H(12)O(3), consists of a single conformational enanti-omer, which aggregates in the catemeric acid-to-ketone hydrogen-bonding mode [O⋯O = 2.682 (4) Šand O-H⋯O = 172 (6)°]. Four hydrogen-bonding chains of translationally related mol-ecules pass through the cell orthogonal to the 4(3) screw axis along c, alternating in the 110 and the 10 direction, with alignment with respect to this axis of + + - -. Successive chains are rotated by 90° around the c axis. One C-H⋯O=C close contact, involving the carboxyl group, exists.

(±)-trans-3-Benzoyl-bicyclo-[2.2.2]octane-2-carboxylic acid.

The title keto acid, C(16)H(18)O(3), displays significant twisting of all three ethyl-ene bridges in its bicyclo-[2.2.2]octane structure owing to steric inter-actions; the bridgehead-to-bridgehead torsion angles are 13.14 (12), 13.14 (13) and 9.37 (13)°. The compound crystallizes as centrosymmetric carboxyl dimers [O⋯O = 2.6513 (12) Šand O-H⋯O = 178°], which have two orientations within the cell and contain no significant carboxyl disorder.

Discovery of the 3-Imino-1,2,4-thiadiazinane 1,1-Dioxide Derivative Verubecestat (MK-8931)-A ß-Site Amyloid Precursor Protein Cleaving Enzyme 1 Inhibitor for the Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease.

Verubecestat 3 (MK-8931), a diaryl amide-substituted 3-imino-1,2,4-thiadiazinane 1,1-dioxide derivative, is a high-affinity ß-site amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1) inhibitor currently undergoing Phase 3 clinical evaluation for the treatment of mild to moderate and prodromal Alzheimer's disease. Although not selective over the closely related aspartyl protease BACE2, verubecestat has high selectivity for BACE1 over other key aspartyl proteases, notably cathepsin D, and profoundly lowers CSF and brain Aß levels in rats and nonhuman primates and CSF Aß levels in humans. In this annotation, we describe the discovery of 3, including design, validation, and selected SAR around the novel iminothiadiazinane dioxide core as well as aspects of its preclinical and Phase 1 clinical characterization.

(+/-)-3-Oxocyclopentanecarboxylic acid: The smallest keto acid known to aggregate by catemeric hydrogen bonding.

The title compound, C6H8O3, is the smallest keto acid yet found to aggregate in the solid as acid-to-ketone hydrogen-bonded catemers. Four translational chains pass through the cell in the a direction [O...O = 2.6915 (14) A and O-H...O = 166 degrees]. Two intermolecular C-H...O close contacts exist, involving both carbonyl functions.

(+)-2-(1,2,3,4,4a,5,6,7-Octahydro-4a,8-dimethyl-7-oxo-2-naphthyl)propionic acid: catemeric hydrogen bonding in a bicyclic sesquiterpenoid keto acid.

The title compound, C(15)H(22)O(3), derived from a naturally occurring sesquiterpenoid, has two molecules in the asymmetric unit, differing principally in the rotational conformation of the carboxyl group. Each species aggregates separately as a carboxyl-to-ketone hydrogen-bonding catemer [O.O = 2.752 (4) and 2.682 (4) A, and O-H.O = 161 (4) and 168 (4) degrees ], producing two crystallographically independent single-strand hydrogen-bonding helices, with opposite end-to-end orientations, passing through the cell in the b direction. Three intermolecular C-H.O=C close contacts exist for the ketone.

4-Oxocyclohexanecarboxylic acid: hydrogen bonding in the monohydrate of a delta-keto acid.

The title monohydrate, C(7)H(10)O(3).H(2)O, aggregates as a complex hydrogen-bonding network, in which the water molecule accepts a hydrogen bond from the carboxyl group of one molecule and donates hydrogen bonds to ketone and carboxyl C=O functions in two additional molecules, yielding a sheet-like structure of parallel ribbons. The keto acid adopts a chiral conformation through rotation of the carboxyl group by 62.50 (15) degrees relative to the plane defined by its point of attachment and the ketone C and O atoms. Two C-H.O close contacts exist in the structure.

(+/-)-3-Oxocyclohexanecarboxylic and -acetic acids: contrasting hydrogen-bonding patterns in two homologous keto acids.

The crystal structures for the title compounds reveal fundamentally different hydrogen-bonding patterns. (+/-)-3-Oxocyclohexanecarboxylic acid, C(7)H(10)O(3), displays acid-to-ketone catemers having a glide relationship for successive components of the hydrogen-bonding chains which advance simultaneously by two cells in a and one in c [O...O = 2.683 (3) A and O-H...O = 166]. A pair of intermolecular close contacts exists involving the acid carbonyl group. The asymmetric unit in (+/-)-3-oxocyclohexaneacetic acid, C(8)H(12)O(3), utilizes only one of two available isoenthalpic conformers and its aggregation involves mutual hydrogen bonding by centrosymmetric carboxyl dimerization [O.O = 2.648 (3) A and O-H...O = 171]. Intermolecular close contacts exist for both the ketone and the acid carbonyl group.

(+/-)-(2,3,4,4a,5,6,7,8-Octahydro-2-oxonaphthalen-1-yl)acetic acid: hydrogen-bonding pattern of the monohydrate of an unsaturated bicyclic gamma-keto acid.

In the title compound, C(12)H(16)O(3).H(2)O, the water of hydration accepts a hydrogen bond from the carboxyl group and donates hydrogen bonds to the carboxyl carbonyl and the ketone groups of two different neighbors, yielding a complex three-dimensional hydrogen-bonding array. There are two independent hydrated molecules in the asymmetric unit (Z' = 2) related by a pseudo-translation.