Rapid Method To Determine Intracellular Drug Concentrations in Cellular Uptake Assays: Application to Metformin in Organic Cation Transporter 1-Transfected Human Embryonic Kidney 293 Cells.

Because of the importance of intracellular unbound drug concentrations in the prediction of in vivo concentrations that are determinants of drug efficacy and toxicity, a number of assays have been developed to assess in vitro unbound concentrations of drugs. Here we present a rapid method to determine the intracellular unbound drug concentrations in cultured cells, and we apply the method along with a mechanistic model to predict concentrations of metformin in subcellular compartments of stably transfected human embryonic kidney 293 (HEK293) cells. Intracellular space (ICS) was calculated by subtracting the [(3)H]-inulin distribution volume (extracellular space, ECS) from the [(14)C]-urea distribution volume (total water space, TWS). Values obtained for intracellular space (mean ± S.E.M.; µl/10(6) cells) of monolayers of HEK cells (HEK-empty vector [EV]) and cells overexpressing human organic cation transporter 1 (HEK-OCT1), 1.21± 0.07 and 1.25±0.06, respectively, were used to determine the intracellular metformin concentrations. After incubation of the cells with 5 µM metformin, the intracellular concentrations were 26.4 ± 7.8 µM and 268 ± 11.0 µM, respectively, in HEK-EV and HEK-OCT1. In addition, intracellular metformin concentrations were lower in high K(+) buffer (140 mM KCl) compared with normal K(+) buffer (5.4 mM KCl) in HEK-OCT1 cells (54.8 ± 3.8 µM and 198.1 ± 11.2 µM, respectively; P < 0.05). Our mechanistic model suggests that, depending on the credible range of assumed physiologic values, the positively charged metformin accumulates to particularly high levels in endoplasmic reticulum and/or mitochondria. This method together with the computational model can be used to determine intracellular unbound concentrations and to predict subcellular accumulation of drugs in other complex systems such as primary cells.

Projecting ADME Behavior and Drug-Drug Interactions in Early Discovery and Development: Application of the Extended Clearance Classification System.

PURPOSE: To assess the utility of Extended Clearance Classification System (ECCS) in understanding absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination (ADME) attributes and enabling victim drug-drug interaction (DDI) predictions. METHODS: A database of 368 drugs with relevant ADME parameters, main metabolizing enzymes, uptake transporters, efflux transporters, and highest change in exposure (%AUC) in presence of inhibitors was developed using published literature. Drugs were characterized according to ECCS using ionization, molecular weight and estimated permeability. RESULTS: Analyses suggested that ECCS class 1A drugs are well absorbed and systemic clearance is determined by metabolism mediated by CYP2C, esterases, and UGTs. For class 1B drugs, oral absorption is high and the predominant clearance mechanism is hepatic uptake mediated by OATP transporters. High permeability neutral/basic drugs (class 2) showed high oral absorption, with metabolism mediated generally by CYP3A, CYP2D6 and UGTs as the predominant clearance mechanism. Class 3A/4 drugs showed moderate absorption with dominant renal clearance involving OAT/OCT2 transporters. Class 3B drugs showed low to moderate absorption with hepatic uptake (OATPs) and/or renal clearance as primary clearance mechanisms. The highest DDI risk is typically seen with class 2/1B/3B compounds manifested by inhibition of either CYP metabolism or active hepatic uptake. Class 2 showed a wider range in AUC change likely due to a variety of enzymes involved. DDI risk for class 3A/4 is small and associated with inhibition of renal transporters. CONCLUSIONS: ECCS provides a framework to project ADME profiles and further enables prediction of victim DDI liabilities in drug discovery and development.

Toward a unified model of passive drug permeation II: the physiochemical determinants of unbound tissue distribution with applications to the design of hepatoselective glucokinase activators.

In this work, we leverage a mathematical model of the underlying physiochemical properties of tissues and physicochemical properties of molecules to support the development of hepatoselective glucokinase activators. Passive distribution is modeled via a Fick-Nernst-Planck approach, using in vitro experimental data to estimate the permeability of both ionized and neutral species. The model accounts for pH and electrochemical potential across cellular membranes, ionization according to Henderson-Hasselbalch, passive permeation of the neutral species using Fick's law, and passive permeation of the ionized species using the Nernst-Planck equation. The mathematical model of the physiochemical system allows derivation of a single set of parameters governing the distribution of drug molecules across multiple conditions both in vitro and in vivo. A case study using this approach in the development of hepatoselective glucokinase activators via organic anion-transporting polypeptide-mediated hepatic uptake and impaired passive distribution to the pancreas is described. The results for these molecules indicate the permeability penalty of the ionized form is offset by its relative abundance, leading to passive pancreatic exclusion according to the Nernst-Planck extension of Fickian passive permeation. Generally, this model serves as a useful construct for drug discovery scientists to understand subcellular exposure of acids or bases using specific physiochemical properties.

Discovery of new piperidine amide triazolobenzodiazepinones as intestinal-selective CCK1 receptor agonists.

New cholecystokinin-1 receptor (CCK1R) agonist 'triggers' were identified using iterative library synthesis. Structural activity relationship studies led to the discovery of compound 10e, a potent CCK1R agonist that demonstrated robust weight loss in a diet-induced obese rat model with very low systemic exposure. Pharmacokinetic data suggest that efficacy is primarily driven through activation of CCK1R's located within the intestinal wall.

Excretion, metabolism, and pharmacokinetics of CP-945,598, a selective cannabinoid receptor antagonist, in rats, mice, and dogs.

1-(8-(2-Chlorophenyl)-9-(4-chlorophenyl)-9H-purin-6-yl)-4-(ethylamino)piperidine-4-carboxamide (CP-945,598) is an orally active antagonist of the cannabinoid CB-1 receptor that progressed into phase 3 human clinical trials for the treatment of obesity. In this study, we investigated the metabolic fate and disposition of CP-945,598 in rats, Tg-RasH2 mice, and dogs after oral administration of a single dose of [(14)C]CP-945,598. Total mean recoveries of the radioactive dose were 97.7, 97.8, and 99.3% from mice, rats, and dogs, respectively. The major route of excretion in all three species was via the feces, but on the basis of separate studies in bile duct-cannulated rats and dogs, this probably reflects excretion in bile rather than incomplete absorption. CP-945,598 underwent extensive metabolism in all three species, because no unchanged parent compound was detected in the urine across species. The primary metabolic pathway of CP-945,598 involved N-deethylation to form an N-desethyl metabolite (M1). M1 was subsequently metabolized by amide hydrolysis, oxidation, and ribose conjugation to numerous novel and unusual metabolites. The major circulating and excretory metabolites were species-dependent; however, several common metabolites were observed in more than one species. In addition to parent compound, M1, M3, M4, and M5 in rats, M1, M3, and M4 in mice, and M1 and M2 in dogs were identified as the major circulating metabolites. Gender-related differences were also apparent in the quantitative and qualitative nature of the metabolites in rats. An unprecedented metabolite, M4, formed by deamidation of M1 or M3 (N-hydroxy-M1), but not by decarboxylation of M2, was identified in all species. M4 was nonenzymatically converted to M5.

Species independence in brain tissue binding using brain homogenates.

Species independence of brain tissue binding was assessed with a large number of structurally diverse compounds using equilibrium dialysis with brain homogenates of seven species and strains (Wistar Han rat, Sprague-Dawley rat, CD-1 mouse, Hartley guinea pig, beagle dog, cynomolgus monkey, and human). The results showed that the fractions unbound of the seven species and strains were strongly correlated with correlation coefficients ranging from 0.93 to 0.99. The cross-species/strain correlations were not significantly different from the interassay correlation with the same species. The linear correlation between Wistar Han and other species had a slope close to 1 and an intercept near 0. Based on orthogonal statistical analysis, no correction is needed for extrapolation of fraction unbound from Wistar Han rat to the other species or strains. Hence, brain tissue binding of Wistar Han rat can be used to obtain binding of other species and strains in drug discovery.

In vitro and in vivo pharmacology of CP-945,598, a potent and selective cannabinoid CB(1) receptor antagonist for the management of obesity.

Cannabinoid CB(1) receptor antagonists exhibit pharmacologic properties favorable for the treatment of metabolic disease. CP-945,598 (1-[9-(4-chlorophenyl)-8-(2-chlorophenyl)-9H-purin-6-yl]-4-ethylamino piperidine-4-carboxylic acid amide hydrochloride) is a recently discovered selective, high affinity, competitive CB(1) receptor antagonist that inhibits both basal and cannabinoid agonist-mediated CB(1) receptor signaling in vitro and in vivo. CP-945,598 exhibits sub-nanomolar potency at human CB(1) receptors in both binding (K(i)=0.7 nM) and functional assays (K(i)=0.2 nM). The compound has low affinity (K(i)=7600 nM) for human CB(2) receptors. In vivo, CP-945,598 reverses four cannabinoid agonist-mediated CNS-driven responses (hypo-locomotion, hypothermia, analgesia, and catalepsy) to a synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonist. CP-945,598 exhibits dose and concentration-dependent anorectic activity in two models of acute food intake in rodents, fast-induced re-feeding and spontaneous, nocturnal feeding. CP-945,598 also acutely stimulates energy expenditure in rats and decreases the respiratory quotient indicating a metabolic switch to increased fat oxidation. CP-945,598 at 10mg/kg promoted a 9%, vehicle adjusted weight loss in a 10 day weight loss study in diet-induced obese mice. Concentration/effect relationships combined with ex vivo brain CB(1) receptor occupancy data were used to evaluate efficacy in behavioral, food intake, and energy expenditure studies. Together, these in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo data indicate that CP-945,598 is a novel CB(1) receptor competitive antagonist that may further our understanding of the endocannabinoid system.

Discovery of N-benzyl-2-[(4S)-4-(1H-indol-3-ylmethyl)-5-oxo-1-phenyl-4,5-dihydro-6H-[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-a][1,5]benzodiazepin-6-yl]-N-isopropylacetamide, an orally active, gut-selective CCK1 receptor agonist for the potential treatment of obesity.

We describe the design, synthesis, and structure-activity relationships of triazolobenzodiazepinone CCK1 receptor agonists. Analogs in this series demonstrate potent agonist activity as measured by in vitro and in vivo assays for CCK1 agonism. Our efforts resulted in the identification of compound 4a which significantly reduced food intake with minimal systemic exposure in rodents.

Quantitative in vitro and in vivo pharmacological profile of CE-178253, a potent and selective cannabinoid type 1 (CB1) receptor antagonist.

BACKGROUND: Cannabinoid 1 (CB1) receptor antagonists exhibit pharmacological properties favorable for the treatment of obesity and other related metabolic disorders. CE-178253 (1-[7-(2-Chlorophenyl)-8-(4-chlorophenyl)-2-methylpyrazolo[1,5-a]-[1,3,5]triazin-4-yl]-3-ethylaminoazetidine-3-carboxylic acid hydrochloride) is a recently discovered selective centrally-acting CB1 receptor antagonist. Despite a large body of knowledge on cannabinoid receptor antagonists little data exist on the quantitative pharmacology of this therapeutic class of drugs. The purpose of the current studies was to evaluate the quantitative pharmacology and concentration/effect relationships of CE-178253 based on unbound plasma concentration and in vitro pharmacology data in different in vivo preclinical models of FI and energy expenditure. RESULTS: In vitro, CE-178253 exhibits sub-nanomolar potency at human CB1 receptors in both binding (Ki = 0.33 nM) and functional assays (Ki = 0.07 nM). CE-178253 has low affinity (Ki > 10,000 nM) for human CB2 receptors. In vivo, CE-178253 exhibits concentration-dependent anorectic activity in both fast-induced re-feeding and spontaneous nocturnal feeding FI models. As measured by indirect calorimetry, CE-178253 acutely stimulates energy expenditure by greater than 30% in rats and shifts substrate oxidation from carbohydrate to fat as indicated by a decrease the respiratory quotient from 0.85 to 0.75. Determination of the concentration-effect relationships and ex vivo receptor occupancy in efficacy models of energy intake and expenditure suggest that a greater than a 2-fold coverage of the Ki (50-75% receptor occupancy) is required for maximum efficacy. Finally, in two preclinical models of obesity, CE-178253 dose-dependently promotes weight loss in diet-induced obese rats and mice. CONCLUSIONS: We have combined quantitative pharmacology and ex vivo CB1 receptor occupancy data to assess concentration/effect relationships in food intake, energy expenditure and weight loss studies. Quantitative pharmacology studies provide a strong a foundation for establishing and improving confidence in mechanism as well as aiding in the progression of compounds from preclinical pharmacology to clinical development.

Bioisosteric replacement of the hydrazide pharmacophore of the cannabinoid-1 receptor antagonist SR141716A. Part I: potent, orally-active 1,4-disubstituted imidazoles.

A new series of CB(1) receptor antagonists incorporating an imidazole-based isosteric replacement for the hydrazide moiety of rimonabant (SR141716) is disclosed. Members of this imidazole series possess potent/selective binding to the rCB(1) receptor and exhibit potent hCB(1) functional activity. Isopropyl analog 9a demonstrated activity in the tetrad assay and was orally-active in a food intake model.

In silico modeling of nonspecific binding to human liver microsomes.

Estimation of unbound fraction of substrate in microsomal incubation media is important in accurately predicting hepatic intrinsic clearance and drug-drug interactions. In this study, the unbound fraction of 1223 drug-like molecules in human liver microsomal incubation media has been determined using equilibrium dialysis. These compounds, which include 27 marketed drug molecules, cover a much broader range of physiochemical properties such as hydrophobicity, molecular weight, ionization state, and degree of binding than those examined in previous work. In developing the in silico model, we have used two-dimensional molecular descriptors including cLogP, Kier connectivity, shape, and E-state indices, a subset of MOE descriptors, and a set of absorption, disposition, metabolism, and excretion structural keys used for our in-house absorption, disposition, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity modeling. Hydrophobicity is the most important molecular property contributing to the nonspecific binding of substrate to microsomes. The prediction accuracy of the model is validated using a subset of 100 compounds, and 92% of the variance is accounted for by the model with a root mean square error (RMSE) of 0.10. For the training set of compounds, 99% of variance is accounted for by the model with a RMSE of 0.02. The performance of the developed model has been further tested using the 27 marketed drug molecules with a RMSE of 0.10 between the observed and the predicted unbound fraction values.

In Vitro-In Vivo Extrapolation of Intestinal Availability for Carboxylesterase Substrates Using Portal Vein-Cannulated Monkey.

Prediction of intestinal availability (FaFg) of carboxylesterase (CES) substrates is of critical importance in designing oral prodrugs with optimal properties, projecting human pharmacokinetics and dose, and estimating drug-drug interaction potentials. A set of ester prodrugs were evaluated using in vitro permeability (parallel artificial membrane permeability assay and Madin-Darby canine kidney cell line-low efflux) and intestinal stability (intestine S9) assays, as well as in vivo portal vein-cannulated cynomolgus monkey. In vitro-in vivo extrapolation (IVIVE) of FaFg was developed with a number of modeling approaches, including a full physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model as well as a simplified competitive-rate analytical solution. Both methods converged as in the PBPK simulations enterocyte blood flow behaved as a sink, a key assumption in the competitive-rate analysis. For this specific compound set, the straightforward analytical solution therefore can be used to generate in vivo predictions. Strong IVIVE of FaFg was observed for cynomolgus monkey with R2 of 0.71-0.93. The results suggested in vitro assays can be used to predict in vivo FaFg for CES substrates with high confidence.

A nonprostanoid EP4 receptor selective prostaglandin E2 agonist restores bone mass and strength in aged, ovariectomized rats.

UNLABELLED: CP432 is a newly discovered, nonprostanoid EP4 receptor selective prostaglandin E2 agonist. CP432 stimulates trabecular and cortical bone formation and restores bone mass and bone strength in aged ovariectomized rats with established osteopenia. INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study was to determine whether a newly discovered, nonprostanoid EP4 receptor selective prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) agonist, CP432, could produce bone anabolic effects in aged, ovariectomized (OVX) rats with established osteopenia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: CP432 at 0.3, 1, or 3 mg/kg/day was given for 6 weeks by subcutaneous injection to 12-month-old rats that had been OVX for 8.5 months. The effects on bone mass, bone formation, bone resorption, and bone strength were determined. RESULTS: Total femoral BMD increased significantly in OVX rats treated with CP432 at all doses. CP432 completely restored trabecular bone volume of the third lumbar vertebral body accompanied with a dose-dependent decrease in osteoclast number and osteoclast surface and a dose-dependent increase in mineralizing surface, mineral apposition rate, and bone formation rate-tissue reference in OVX rats. CP432 at 1 and 3 mg/kg/day significantly increased total tissue area, cortical bone area, and periosteal and endocortical bone formation in the tibial shafts compared with both sham and OVX controls. CP432 at all doses significantly and dose-dependently increased ultimate strength in the fifth lumber vertebral body compared with both sham and OVX controls. At 1 and 3 mg/kg/day, CP432 significantly increased maximal load in a three-point bending test of femoral shaft compared with both sham and OVX controls. CONCLUSIONS: CP432 completely restored trabecular and cortical bone mass and strength in established osteopenic, aged OVX rats by stimulating bone formation and inhibiting bone resorption on trabecular and cortical surfaces.

Insights From an Integrated Physiologically Based Pharmacokinetic Model for Brain Penetration.

Central-nervous-system, physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) models predict exposure profiles in the brain, that is, the rate and extent of distribution. The current work develops one such model and presents improved methods for determining key input parameters. A simple linear regression statistical model estimates the passive permeability at the blood-brain barrier from brain uptake index data and descriptors, and a novel analysis extracts the relative active transport parameter from in vitro assays taking into consideration both paracellular transport and unstirred water layers. The integrated PBPK model captures the concentration profiles of both rate-restricted and effluxed compounds with high passive permeability. In many cases, compounds distribute rapidly into the brain and are, therefore, not rate limited. The PBPK model is then simplified to a straightforward equation to describe brain-to-plasma ratios at steady state. The equation can estimate brain penetration either from in vitro efflux data or from in vivo results from another species and, therefore, is a valuable tool in the discovery setting.

Evaluation of a Mathematical Model of Rat Body Weight Regulation in Application to Caloric Restriction and Drug Treatment Studies.

The purpose of this work is to develop a mathematical model of energy balance and body weight regulation that can predict species-specific response to common pre-clinical interventions. To this end, we evaluate the ability of a previously published mathematical model of mouse metabolism to describe changes in body weight and body composition in rats in response to two short-term interventions. First, we adapt the model to describe body weight and composition changes in Sprague-Dawley rats by fitting to data previously collected from a 26-day caloric restriction study. The calibrated model is subsequently used to describe changes in rat body weight and composition in a 23-day cannabinoid receptor 1 antagonist (CB1Ra) study. While the model describes body weight data well, it fails to replicate body composition changes with CB1Ra treatment. Evaluation of a key model assumption about deposition of fat and fat-free masses shows a limitation of the model in short-term studies due to the constraint placed on the relative change in body composition components. We demonstrate that the model can be modified to overcome this limitation, and propose additional measurements to further test the proposed model predictions. These findings illustrate how mathematical models can be used to support drug discovery and development by identifying key knowledge gaps and aiding in the design of additional experiments to further our understanding of disease-relevant and species-specific physiology.

Towards a unified model of passive drug permeation I: origins of the unstirred water layer with applications to ionic permeation.

In this work, we provide a unified theoretical framework describing how drug molecules can permeate across membranes in neutral and ionized forms for unstirred in vitro systems. The analysis provides a self-consistent basis for the origin of the unstirred water layer (UWL) within the Nernst-Planck framework in the fully unstirred limit and further provides an accounting mechanism based simply on the bulk aqueous solvent diffusion constant of the drug molecule. Our framework makes no new assumptions about the underlying physics of molecular permeation. We hold simply that Nernst-Planck is a reasonable approximation at low concentrations and all physical systems must conserve mass. The applicability of the derived framework has been examined both with respect to the effect of stirring and externally applied voltages to measured permeability. The analysis contains data for 9 compounds extracted from the literature representing a range of permeabilities and aqueous diffusion coefficients. Applicability with respect to ionized permeation is examined using literature data for the permanently charged cation, crystal violet, providing a basis for the underlying mechanism for ionized drug permeation for this molecule as being due to mobile counter-current flow.

Mechanistic insights from comparing intrinsic clearance values between human liver microsomes and hepatocytes to guide drug design.

Metabolic stability of drug candidates are often determined in both liver microsome and hepatocyte assays. Comparison of intrinsic clearance values between the two assays provides additional information to guide drug design. Intrinsic clearance values from human liver microsomes and hepatocytes were compared for a set of commercial drugs with known metabolic pathways and transporter characteristics. The results showed that for compounds that were predominately metabolized by CYP mediated mechanisms, the intrinsic clearance values from the two assays were comparable. For compounds with non-CYP pathways, such as UGT and AO, intrinsic clearance was faster in hepatocytes than in microsomes. Substrates of uptake or efflux transporters in this study did not have significant differences of intrinsic clearance between microsomes and hepatocytes, when uptake into the hepatocytes was not the rate-limiting step. When hepatic uptake was rate limiting, intrinsic clearance in microsomes was faster than that in hepatocytes, which was more prevalent for compounds with rapid metabolism. Low passive permeability can limit the exposure to drug molecules to the metabolizing enzymes in the hepatocytes in relationship to the rate of metabolism. The faster the rate of metabolism, the higher permeability is needed for molecule to enter the cells and not becoming rate-limiting. The findings are very useful for drug discovery programs to gain additional insights on mechanistic information to help drug design without added experiments. Follow-up studies can then be designed to address specific questions.

Design of a Potent CB1 Receptor Antagonist Series: Potential Scaffold for Peripherally-Targeted Agents.

Antagonism of cannabinoid-1 (CB1) receptor signaling has been demonstrated to inhibit feeding behaviors in humans, but CB1-mediated central nervous system (CNS) side effects have halted the marketing and further development of the lead drugs against this target. However, peripherally restricted CB1 receptor antagonists may hold potential for providing the desired efficacy with reduced CNS side effect profiles. In this report we detail the discovery and structure-activity-relationship analysis of a novel bicyclic scaffold (3) that exhibits potent CB1 receptor antagonism and oral activity in preclinical feeding models. Optimization of physical properties has led to the identification of analogues which are predicted to have reduced CNS exposure and could serve as a starting point for the design of peripherally targeted CB1 receptor antagonists.

Metabolism of 4-Aminopiperidine Drugs by Cytochrome P450s: Molecular and Quantum Mechanical Insights into Drug Design.

4-Aminopiperidines are a variety of therapeutic agents that are extensively metabolized by cytochrome P450s with CYP3A4 as a major isoform catalyzing their N-dealkylation reaction. However, its catalytic mechanism has not been fully elucidated in a molecular interaction level. Here, we applied theoretical approaches including the molecular mechanics-based docking to study the binding patterns and quantum mechanics-based reactivity calculations. They were supported by the experimental human liver microsomal clearance and P450 isoform phenotyping data. Our results herein suggested that the molecular interactions between substrates and CYP3A4 active site residues are essential for the N-dealkylation of 4-aminopiperidines. We also found that the serine 119 residue of CYP3A4 may serve as a key hydrogen-bonding partner to interact with the 4-amino groups of the studied drugs. The reactivity of the side chain α-carbon hydrogens drives the direction of catalysis as well. As a result, structure-based drug design approaches look promising to guide drug discovery programs into the optimized drug metabolism space.

Impact of genetic polymorphisms of cytochrome P450 2 C (CYP2C) enzymes on the drug metabolism and design of antidiabetics.

CYP2C enzymes are responsible for the oxidative metabolism of a diverse number of drugs for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus, a severe metabolic disorder with high prevalence. Various clinical studies found the close association between CYP2C polymorphisms and altered pharmacokinetics, toxicological profiles, and drug-drug interactions of antidiabetic drugs. In this brief review, we discussed the impact of CYP2C polymorphisms on the metabolic fate of small-molecule antidiabetics including sulfonylureas, meglitinides, thiazolidinediones, gliptins, and gliflozins, with the key drug-protein molecular interactions highlighted.