Cytochrome-P450-Mediated Drug-Drug Interactions of Substrate Drugs: Assessing Clinical Risk Based on Molecular Properties and an Extended Clearance Classification System.

Cytochrome-P450 (P450) isoforms are major drug-metabolizing enzymes implicated in the clearance and drug-drug interactions (DDIs) of diverse small-molecule drugs. Here, we evaluated the association between primary physicochemical descriptors of substrate drugs and their clinical DDI risk with P450 index (probe) inhibitors using an exhaustive clinical data set (n = 397, substrate-inhibitor pairs). Additionally, the ability of extended clearance classification system (ECCS), a categorical clearance mechanism model, to predict P450 DDI risk was assessed. The clinical data set indicated that basic and neutral compounds are probable candidates to show a higher magnitude of DDIs on P450 inhibition (i.e., plasma exposure change > twofold). Additionally, trends with lipophilicity were apparent for P450-based DDIs. ECCS class 2 drugs (high-permeability bases/neutrals) have higher probability to show moderate-to-strong DDIs with probe inhibitors of CYP1A2/2C19/2C9/2D6/3A, while ECCS class 1A/1B drugs are prone to interactions with inhibitors of CYP2C8 and CYP2C9. On the other hand, P450-based DDIs are notably small for classes 3A/3B/4. In conclusion, this study emphasizes the relevance of the ECCS framework in clearance characterization to evaluate victim DDI liabilities and aid chemists in mitigating risk during drug design.