Sensitive quantification of roflumilast and roflumilast N-oxide in human plasma by LC-MS/MS employing parallel chromatography and electrospray ionisation.

A high throughput bioanalytical method based on semi-automated liquid extraction and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) has been developed for the sensitive quantification of roflumilast and its metabolite roflumilast N-oxide, a phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitor in human plasma and serum. The sample work-up procedure comprised liquid extraction using penta-deuterated analogues of both analytes as internal standards. Chromatography was performed on C18 revered phase analytical columns at a flow rate of 0.5 mL/min in the dual column mode employing a column switching technique and a linear gradient from 18% to 54% acetonitrile in 0.005 M aqueous ammonium acetate containing 0.006% formic acid. Mass spectrometry was performed on an API 4000 instrument in the positive ion SRM-mode (selected reaction monitoring) with the Turbo-V ionspray interface. The method showed linear detector responses over the entire calibration range between 0.1 ng/mL (lower limit of quantification (LLOQ)) and 50 ng/mL (upper limit of quantification (ULOQ)) for both analytes. Linear regression analysis with concentration-squared weighting (1/x(2) for roflumilast and 1/x for roflumilast N-oxide) yielded inaccuracy and precision values <15% and coefficients of correlation (r) for the calibration curves >0.99 for both analytes.

Pharmacology, clinical efficacy, and tolerability of phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitors: impact of human pharmacokinetics.

Since more than two decades anti-inflammatory effects of inhibitors of phosphodiesterase-4 have been described in numerous cellular and animal studies and were finally confirmed in clinical trials. The path from an early, pioneering study with Ro20-1724 showing reduction of psoriatric plaque size in 1979 to modern PDE4 inhibitors such as oral apremilast in development for psoriasis, the inhaled PDE4 inhibitor GSK256066 in development for asthma and COPD and finally roflumilast, the first PDE4 inhibitor approved and currently marketed as an oral, once-daily remedy for severe COPD was marked by large progress in chemical optimization based on improved understanding of PDE4 biology and drug-like properties determining the appropriate pharmacokinetic profile. In this chapter aspects of the pharmacology and clinical efficacy of PDE4 inhibitors, which have been in clinical development over the years are summarized with specific emphasis on their clinical pharmacokinetic properties.

Population pharmacokinetic modelling of roflumilast and roflumilast N-oxide by total phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitory activity and development of a population pharmacodynamic-adverse event model.

BACKGROUND: Roflumilast is an oral, selective phosphodiesterase (PDE)-4 inhibitor in development for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Both roflumilast and its metabolite roflumilast N-oxide have anti-inflammatory properties that contribute to overall pharmacological activity. OBJECTIVES: To model the pharmacokinetics of roflumilast and roflumilast N-oxide, evaluate the influence of potential covariates, use the total PDE4 inhibitory activity (tPDE4i) concept to estimate the combined inhibition of PDE4 by roflumilast and roflumilast N-oxide, and use individual estimates of tPDE4i to predict the occurrence of adverse events (AEs) in patients with moderate-to-severe COPD. METHODS: We modelled exposure to roflumilast and roflumilast N-oxide (21 studies provided the index dataset and five separate studies provided the validation dataset), extended the models to COPD (using data from two studies) and assessed the robustness of the parameter estimates. A parametric bootstrap estimation was used to quantify tPDE4i in subpopulations. We established logistic regression models for each AE occurring in >2% of patients in a placebo-controlled trial that achieved a p-value of <0.2 in a permutation test. The exposure variables were the area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) of roflumilast, the AUC of roflumilast N-oxide and tPDE4i. Individual AUC values were estimated from population models. RESULTS: Roflumilast pharmacokinetics were modelled with a two-compartment model with first-order absorption including a lag time. A one-compartment model with zero-order absorption was used for roflumilast N-oxide. The final models displayed good descriptive and predictive performance with no appreciable systematic trends versus time, dose or study. Posterior predictive checks and robustness analysis showed that the models adequately described the pharmacokinetic parameters and the covariate effects on disposition. For roflumilast, the covariates of sex, smoking and race influenced clearance; and food influenced the absorption rate constant and lag time. For roflumilast N-oxide, age, sex and smoking influenced clearance; age, sex and race influenced the fraction metabolized; bodyweight influenced the apparent volume of distribution; and food influenced the apparent duration of formation. The COPD covariate increased the central volume of distribution of roflumilast by 184% and reduced its clearance by 39%; it also reduced the estimated volume of distribution of roflumilast N-oxide by 21% and reduced its clearance by 7.9%. Compared with the reference population (male, non-smoking, White, healthy, 40-year-old subjects), the relative geometric mean [95% CI] tPDE4i was higher in patients with COPD (12.6% [-6.6, 35.6]), women (19.3% [8.2, 31.6]), Black subjects (42.1% [16.4, 73.4]), Hispanic subjects (28.2% [4.1, 57.9]) and older subjects (e.g. 8.3% [-11.2, 32.2] in 60-year-olds), and was lower in smokers (-19.1% [-34.0, -0.7]). Among all possible subgroups in this analysis, the subgroup with maximal tPDE4i comprised elderly, Black, female, non-smoking, COPD patients (tPDE4i 217% [95% CI 107, 437] compared with the value in the reference population). The probability of a patient with tPDE4i at the population geometric mean [95% CI] was 13.0% [7.5, 18.5] for developing diarrhoea, 6.0% [2.6, 9.4] for nausea and 5.1% [1.9, 8.6] for headache. CONCLUSIONS: Covariate effects have a limited impact on tPDE4i. There was a general association between tPDE4i and the occurrence of common AEs in patients with COPD.

Effects of rifampicin on the pharmacokinetics of roflumilast and roflumilast N-oxide in healthy subjects.

AIMS: To evaluate the effect of co-administration of rifampicin, an inducer of cytochrome P450 (CYP)3A4, on the pharmacokinetics of roflumilast and roflumilast N-oxide. Roflumilast is an oral, once-daily phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) inhibitor, being developed for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Roflumilast is metabolized by CYP3A4 and CYP1A2, with further involvement of CYP2C19 and extrahepatic CYP1A1. In vivo, roflumilast N-oxide contributes >90% to the total PDE4 inhibitory activity. METHODS: Sixteen healthy male subjects were enrolled in an open-label, three-period, fixed-sequence study. They received a single oral dose of roflumilast 500 microg on days 1 and 12 and repeated oral doses of rifampicin 600 mg once daily on days 5-15. Plasma concentrations of roflumilast and roflumilast N-oxide were measured for up to 96 h. Test/Reference ratios and 90% confidence intervals (CIs) of geometric means for AUC and C(max) of roflumilast and roflumilast N-oxide and for oral apparent clearance (CL/F) of roflumilast were estimated. RESULTS: During the steady-state of rifampicin, the AUC(0-infinity) of roflumilast decreased by 80% (point estimate 0.21; 90% CI 0.16, 0.27); C(max) by 68% (0.32; CI 0.26, 0.39); for roflumilast N-oxide, the AUC(0-infinity) decreased by 56% (0.44; CI 0.36, 0.55); C(max) increased by 30% (1.30; 1.15, 1.48); total PDE4 inhibitory activity decreased by 58% (0.42; 0.38, 0.48). CONCLUSIONS: Co-administration of rifampicin and roflumilast led to a reduction in total PDE4 inhibitory activity of roflumilast by about 58%. The use of potent cytochrome P450 inducers may reduce the therapeutic effect of roflumilast.

A novel screening strategy to identify ABCB1 substrates and inhibitors.

We tested the hypothesis whether data on ABCB1 ATPase activity and passive permeability can be used in combination to identify ABCB1 substrates and inhibitors. We determined passive permeability using an artificial membrane permeability assay (HDM-PAMPA) and ABCB1 function, i.e., vanadate-sensitive ATPase activity for a training set (40 INN drugs) and a validation set (26 development compounds). In parallel experiments, we determined ABCB1 function, i.e., vectorial transport in a Caco-2 cell monolayer, and ABCB1 inhibition, i.e., calcein AM extrusion out of K562-MDR cells, to cross-validate the results with cellular assays. We found that compounds that did not modulate ABCB1-ATPase did also not affect calcein AM extrusion and were not actively transported by ABCB1 in Caco-2 cell monolayers. The results corroborated the effect of passive permeability as an important covariate of active transport: active transport in Caco-2 monolayer was only apparent for compounds showing low passive permeability (<5.0 cmx10(-6)/s) in the HDM-PAMPA assay whereas compounds with high passive permeability (>50 cmx10(-6)/s) were shown to inhibit calcein AM efflux with IC50 values close to their respective Km value obtained for ABCB1-ATPase. The use of HDM-PAMPA in combination with ABCB1-ATPase offers a simple, inexpensive experimental approach capable of identifying ABCB1 inhibitors as well as transported substrates.

Effect of single and repeated doses of ketoconazole on the pharmacokinetics of roflumilast and roflumilast N-oxide.

Effects of single and multiple doses of oral ketoconazole on roflumilast and its active metabolite, roflumilast N-oxide, were investigated in healthy subjects. In study 1, subjects (n = 26) received oral roflumilast 500 microg once daily for 11 days and a concomitant 200-mg single dose of ketoconazole on day 11. In study 2, subjects (n = 16) received oral roflumilast 500 microg on days 1 and 11 and a repeated dose of ketoconazole 200 mg twice daily from days 8 to 20. Coadministration of single-dose ketoconazole with steady-state roflumilast increased the AUC of roflumilast by 34%; C(max) was unchanged. For roflumilast N-oxide, AUC and C(max) decreased by 12% and 20%, respectively. Repeated doses of ketoconazole increased the AUC and C(max) of roflumilast by 99% and 23%, respectively; for roflumilast N-oxide, AUC was unchanged, and C(max) decreased by 38%. No clinically relevant adverse events were observed. Coadministration of ketoconazole and roflumilast does not require dose adjustment of roflumilast.

Sensitive simultaneous determination of ciclesonide, ciclesonide-M1-metabolite and fluticasone propionate in human serum by HPLC-MS/MS with APPI.

A new and very sensitive analytical method has been developed and validated to jointly determine the anti-inflammatory drug ciclesonide (CIC), its active principle metabolite M1 (CIC-M1) and fluticasone propionate (FP) in human serum, in the low concentration range from 10 to 1000 pg/mL. This was accomplished by high-performance liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry using atmospheric pressure photo ionisation (HPLC-MS/MS with APPI) using 0.5 mL of serum. Serum was mixed with the internal standards (IS) D11-CIC and D11-CIC-M1 and extracted with diisopropylether. A gradient with acetonitrile (containing 10 mM of acetic acid and 10% of acetone) was used. HPLC-MS/MS of the acetic acid adducts of the analytes was performed in negative mode. The novel aspect of this method is that instead of the dopant being introduced directly into the source by means of an external HPLC pump, it was added to the mobile phase. This provided significantly better sensitivity than the usual method of in-source addition of the dopant, and with no loss in HPLC performance. Sensitivity for the analytes was about four times greater than with either APCI or ESI. Validation was performed in three batches. The inter-batch precision (CV) of the quality control samples in human serum ranged from 4.08% to 6.78% for CIC, from 2.57% to 7.74% for CIC-M1, and from 2.38% to 9.61% for FP. The inter-batch accuracy (with reference to the mean value) of the quality control samples in human serum ranged from 99.3% to 110.0% for CIC, from 101.8% to 104.7% for CIC-M1, and from 100.4% to 101.8% for FP. Calibration data and LLOQ data are also presented in this paper. The analytes were stable in human serum over three freeze/thaw cycles, or for 4h at room temperature, or for at least 18 months when stored at below -20 degrees C. This method was used for quantifying the analytes after inhalation of low-mug amounts of the drugs by patients.

Single-dose pharmacokinetics of roflumilast in children and adolescents.

Roflumilast is an orally administered phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitor that has potential for use in pediatric patients with asthma. The pharmacokinetics of roflumilast and roflumilast N-oxide were examined in adolescents and children with stable mild to moderate asthma in an open-label crossover study with age-stratification and 2 treatment periods (100-microg dose in period 1, 250-microg dose in period 2) separated by a washout period. Plasma concentrations were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Pharmacokinetic parameters were determined using standard noncompartmental methods and compared between study groups and within the entire cohort. Roflumilast was well tolerated. Linear relationships were evident for dose and area under the plasma drug concentration-time curve extrapolated to infinity for both roflumilast (r(2) = 0.36, P < .01) and roflumilast N-oxide (r(2) = 0.39, P < .01). With the exception of dose-normalized maximum plasma concentration (mean 1.1 and 0.8 microg/L per 1 microg/kg dose for adolescents and children, respectively), pharmacokinetic parameters for roflumilast and roflumilast N-oxide were not different between age groups and were similar to adults.

The oral, once-daily phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitor roflumilast lacks relevant pharmacokinetic interactions with inhaled budesonide.

This open-label, randomized, 3-period crossover study evaluated the pharmacokinetic interaction potential of roflumilast and budesonide following repeated coadministration to healthy male subjects (N = 12). Treatments consisted of oral roflumilast 500 mug, once daily, orally inhaled budesonide 800 mug, twice daily, and concomitant administration of both treatments for 7 days each. Roflumilast and roflumilast N-oxide in plasma and budesonide serum levels were measured by specific assays. Geometric mean test/reference ratios of steady-state pharmacokinetic parameters were evaluated by analysis of variance. Safety and tolerability were monitored. Pharmacokinetic parameters of roflumilast, roflumilast N-oxide, and budesonide after coadministration of roflumilast and budesonide were similar to those after mono-treatment. Compared with budesonide and roflumilast mono-treatments, slightly lower maximum serum/plasma concentration (C(max)) and area under the curve (AUC) values of roflumilast N-oxide and budesonide (ranging from -8% to -16%) were observed with combined treatment. All test/reference ratios were within predefined equivalence acceptance ranges for roflumilast AUC (0.80, 1.25) and C(max) (0.70, 1.43) and for roflumilast N-oxide and budesonide AUC and C(max) (all 0.67, 1.50). Coadministration of roflumilast and budesonide did not alter the steady-state disposition of each other and did not affect safety and tolerability of either drug.

Effect of fluvoxamine on the pharmacokinetics of roflumilast and roflumilast N-oxide.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of steady-state dosing of fluvoxamine, an inhibitor of cytochrome P450 (CYP) 1A2 and CYP2C19, on the pharmacokinetics of roflumilast, an oral, once-daily phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) inhibitor and its pharmacodynamically active metabolite roflumilast N-oxide. METHODS: In an open-label, non-randomised, one-sequence, two-period, two-treatment crossover study, 14 healthy subjects received a single oral dose of roflumilast 500 microg on study day 1. After a 6-day washout period, repeated doses of fluvoxamine 50 mg once daily were given from days 8 to 21. On day 15, roflumilast 500 microg and fluvoxamine 50 mg were taken concomitantly. Percentage ratios of test/reference (reference: roflumilast alone; test: roflumilast plus steady-state fluvoxamine) of geometric means and their 90% confidence intervals for area under the plasma concentration-time curve, maximum plasma concentration (roflumilast and roflumilast N-oxide) and plasma clearance of roflumilast were calculated. RESULTS: Upon co-administration with steady-state fluvoxamine, the exposure to roflumilast as well as roflumilast N-oxide increased by a factor of 2.6 and 1.5, respectively. Roflumilast plasma clearance decreased by a factor of 2.6, from 9.06 L/h (reference) to 3.53 L/h (test). The combined effect of fluvoxamine co-administration on roflumilast and roflumilast N-oxide exposures resulted in a moderate (i.e. 59%) increase in total PDE4 inhibitory activity. CONCLUSION: Co-administration of roflumilast and fluvoxamine affects the disposition of roflumilast and its active metabolite roflumilast N-oxide most likely via a potent dual pathway inhibition of CYP1A2 and CYP2C19 by fluvoxamine. The exposure increases observed for roflumilast N-oxide are suggested to be attributable to CYP2C19 co-inhibition by fluvoxamine and thus, are not to be expected to occur when roflumilast is co-administered with more selective CYP1A2 inhibitors.

Steady-state pharmacokinetics of roflumilast and roflumilast N-oxide in patients with mild and moderate liver cirrhosis.

BACKGROUND: Roflumilast and its primary N-oxide metabolite are targeted phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) inhibitors with similar in vivo potency. Roflumilast is being developed for the treatment of inflammatory airway diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of mild and moderate liver cirrhosis on the steady-state pharmacokinetics of roflumilast and roflumilast N-oxide. METHODS: Patients with mild (n = 8, Child-Pugh A) and moderate (n = 8, Child-Pugh B) liver cirrhosis and healthy subjects (n = 8) matched with patients with cirrhosis with regard to sex, age and bodyweight received oral roflumilast 250 microg once daily for 14 days. Blood samples were collected for 24 hours after the last dose on day 14. Steady-state plasma concentrations of roflumilast and roflumilast N-oxide were determined using a validated high-performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry assay. The pharmacokinetics were compared between groups using ANOVA. RESULTS: In patients with liver cirrhosis, the average total exposure (area under the plasma concentration-time curve from 0 to 24 hours [AUC(24)]) of roflumilast was approximately 51% (Child-Pugh A) and 92% (Child-Pugh B) higher than in healthy subjects. In contrast, roflumilast maximum plasma concentration (C(max)) was unaltered in Child-Pugh A patients and was increased by 27% in Child-Pugh B patients. Changes in the AUC(24) of roflumilast N-oxide were less distinct, with 24% and 41% increases and corresponding C(max) increases of 26% and 40% in Child-Pugh A and B patients, respectively, compared with healthy subjects. Overall, changes in average potency-corrected exposure to the sum of the free fractions of both compounds were estimated to result in approximately 26% and 46% increases in total PDE4 inhibitory capacity (tPDE4i) in Child-Pugh A and B patients, respectively, relative to healthy subjects. Roflumilast was well tolerated. CONCLUSIONS: Mild and moderate liver cirrhosis resulted in distinct alterations of exposure to roflumilast but only in modest alterations of exposure to roflumilast N-oxide. The integrated exposure-weighted assessment of the observed pharmacokinetic changes of roflumilast and roflumilast N-oxide (tPDE4i) indicates modest average exposure increases to the sum of both compounds. These findings and the favourable tolerability profile suggest that roflumilast can be safely used in patients with mild and moderate liver cirrhosis without special precautions or dose adjustment.

The role of esterases in the metabolism of ciclesonide to desisobutyryl-ciclesonide in human tissue.

Ciclesonide (CIC) is an inhaled glucocorticosteroid. This study aimed to identify esterases involved in the metabolism of CIC to the active metabolite desisobutyryl-ciclesonide (des-CIC), and to measure hydrolysis rates in human liver, lung and plasma and normal human bronchial epithelial (NHBE) cells in vitro. Ciclesonide (5 microM and 500 microM) was incubated with microsomal or cytosolic fractions from liver, lung and plasma (n=4 for each) and des-CIC formation was determined by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with U.V. detection. The roles of carboxylesterase, cholinesterase and A-esterase in CIC hydrolysis were determined using a range of inhibitors. Inhibitor concentrations for liver and NHBE cells were 100 microM and 5 microM, respectively. Liver tissue had a higher activity for 500 microM CIC hydrolysis (microsomes: 25.4; cytosol: 62.9 nmol/g tissue/min) than peripheral lung (microsomes: 0.089; cytosol: 0.915 nmol/g tissue/min) or plasma (0.001 nmol/mL plasma/min), corresponding with high levels of carboxylesterase and cholinesterase in the liver compared with the lung. CIC (5 microM) was rapidly hydrolyzed by NHBE cells (approximately 30% conversion at 4h), with almost complete conversion by 24h. In liver and NHBE cells, major involvement of cytosolic carboxylesterases, with some contribution by cholinesterases, was indicated. The highest level of conversion was found in the liver, the site of inactivation of des-CIC through rapid oxidation by cytochrome P450. Carboxylesterases in bronchial epithelial cells probably contribute significantly to the conversion to des-CIC in the target organ, whereas low systemic levels of des-CIC are a result of the high metabolic clearance by the liver following CIC inhalation.

Lack of a pharmacokinetic interaction between steady-state roflumilast and single-dose midazolam in healthy subjects.

AIMS: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of roflumilast, an investigational PDE4 inhibitor for the treatment of COPD and asthma, on the pharmacokinetics of the CYP3A probe drug midazolam and its major metabolites. METHODS: In an open, randomized (for midazolam treatment sequence) study, 18 healthy male subjects received single doses of midazolam (2 mg oral and 1 mg i.v., 1 day apart) alone, repeated doses of roflumilast (500 microg once daily for 14 days) alone, and repeated doses of roflumilast together with single doses of midazolam (2 mg oral and 1 mg i.v., 1 day apart). RESULTS: A comparison of clearance and peak and systemic exposure to midazolam following administration of roflumilast indicated no effect of roflumilast dosed to steady state on the pharmacokinetics of midazolam. Point estimates (90% CI) were 0.97 (0.84, 1.13) for the AUC of i.v. midazolam and 0.98 (0.82, 1.17) for that of oral midazolam with and without roflumilast. CONCLUSIONS: Therapeutic steady state concentrations of roflumilast and its N-oxide do not alter the disposition of the CYP3A substrate midazolam in healthy subjects. This finding suggests that roflumilast is unlikely to alter the clearance of drugs that are metabolized by CYP3A4.

Investigation of a potential food effect on the pharmacokinetics of roflumilast, an oral, once-daily phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitor, in healthy subjects.

This open, randomized, single-dose crossover study investigated effects of a high-fat meal on the pharmacokinetics of roflumilast and its major active N-oxide metabolite. Twelve healthy subjects received oral roflumilast 500 microg (2 x 250 microg) after overnight fasting and after breakfast. Blood was sampled up to 54 hours for pharmacokinetic profiling of roflumilast and N-oxide. Geometric mean ratios (fed/fasted) for point estimates (PE) and 90% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated for AUC(0-last), AUC(0-infinity), and C(max) of both compounds. After the meal, roflumilast C(max) (PE, 0.59; 90% CI, 0.49-0.70) was modestly reduced; N-oxide C(max) (PE, 0.95; 90% CI, 0.90-1.01) was unchanged. Roflumilast t(max) was delayed in fed state (2.0 +/- 0.4 hours) versus fasted state (1.0 +/- 0.2 hours); N-oxide t(max) was unaltered. No significant food effect on roflumilast AUC(0-last) (PE, 1.04; 90% CI, 0.90-1.21), AUC(0-infinity) (PE, 1.12; 90% CI, 1.00-1.25), and respective N-oxide AUCs (PE, 0.91; 90% CI, 0.79-1.04; PE, 0.99; 90% CI, 0.92-1.06) occurred. Because roflumilast N-oxide is the major contributor to roflumilast's overall pharmacologic effects, these findings suggest that roflumilast can be taken with or without food.

Identification and characterization of CYP3A4*20, a novel rare CYP3A4 allele without functional activity.

BACKGROUND: The major drug-metabolizing enzyme cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A4 is genetically conserved. One outlier of Brazilian descent was found in a clinical pharmacokinetic trial exhibiting a 6-fold higher exposure than expected to an investigational drug, shown to be a CYP3A4 substrate. We aimed to investigate the genetic background of this finding. METHODS: The allelic variant of the CYP3A4 gene present in the outlier was sequenced, and the corresponding complementary deoxyribonucleic acid was expressed in yeast and human embryonic kidney cells. The outlier was phenotyped by use of intravenous administration of 1 mg midazolam. Analysis of phenotype and genotype correlation was carried out. The prevalence of the new allele was screened for in a white population. RESULTS: We identified a subject who heterozygously carried a novel CYP3A4 allele, named CYP3A4*20, with a premature stop codon yielding a truncated protein. Heterologous expression revealed that the CYP3A4.20 enzyme does not incorporate heme and thus is devoid of catalytic activity. CYP3A phenotyping in vivo showed that CYP3A4*20 exhibits a clear genotype-phenotype correlation, demonstrated by the subject's low systemic midazolam clearance (2.99 mL x min(-1) x kg(-1)). Genotyping of a white German population (n = 428) and relatives of the subject, as well as a review of published CYP3A4 sequencing data, suggests that CYP3A4*20 is a rare variant allele (<0.06% in white subjects). CONCLUSIONS: CYP3A4*20 represents the first CYP3A4 allele to be identified that has been shown to be devoid of functional activity. It causes an intermediate CYP3A4 metabolizer phenotype in a heterozygous carrier. Subjects of this genotype might be susceptible to side effects during drug therapy with substrates or inhibitors of CYP3A4.

In Vitro metabolism of ciclesonide in human lung and liver precision-cut tissue slices.

Ciclesonide is a new-generation inhaled corticosteroid developed to treat the inflammation associated with persistent asthma. In order to identify the properties of ciclesonide responsible for anti-inflammatory activity, ciclesonide metabolism was investigated in human lung and liver precision-cut tissue slices. Three human lung and three human liver tissue slices were incubated with 25 microM [14C]-ciclesonide for 2, 6 and 24 h. Cellular viability was assessed using adenosine 5'-triphosphate content and protein synthesis in lung slices and adenosine 5'-triphosphate content and potassium retention in liver slices. Ciclesonide and ciclesonide metabolites were analysed in tissue samples using high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet and radiochemical detection. Metabolite identity was confirmed using mass spectrometry. In lung slices, the inactive parent compound, ciclesonide, was initially converted to the active metabolite, desisobutyryl-ciclesonide, and subsequently converted to fatty acid conjugates. The reversible formation of fatty acid conjugates was a major pathway of ciclesonide metabolism in human lung slices. The primary conjugate was identified as desisobutyryl-ciclesonide oleate. Ciclesonide was metabolized to at least five polar metabolites in the liver. Dihydroxylated desisobutyryl-ciclesonide was the major polar metabolite in liver slices. Activation and fatty acid esterification in the lung followed by rapid inactivation in the liver may explain the improved safety profile and prolonged anti-inflammatory activity of ciclesonide.

Ultra-sensitive determination of Formoterol in human serum by high performance liquid chromatography and electrospray tandem mass spectrometry.

An analytical method was developed and validated to determine Formoterol in human serum in the range from 0.40 to 100.24 pg/mL by high performance liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) due to the lack of efficient methods to determine very low levels of Formoterol in serum and plasma. Serum was diluted by water and mixed with the internal standard (d6-Formoterol). Formoterol and internal standard were extracted using a cation-exchange solid phase column (SCX-3). After eliminating endogenous serum constituents through washing steps with water and methanol, elution took place using methanol/ammonia. After evaporation of the elution liquid the residue was redissolved and analyzed by HPLC-MS/MS with electrospray ionisation (ESI) in positive mode. A gradient between 10 mM ammonium formate and acetonitrile was used. The inter-batch precision of the calibration standards ranged from 1.55% to 9.01%. The inter-batch accuracy of the calibration standards ranged from 93.37% to 107.30%. The lower limit of quantitation (LLOQ, 0.40 pg/mL) had a precision of 19.67% and an accuracy of 96.78%. Comparable results were obtained for quality control samples. Stability in human serum was given over three freeze/thaw cycles and 2h at room temperature. Formoterol in human serum was stable for at least 6 months below -20 degrees C. This method has been used widely for quantifying Formoterol after inhalation of 9-36 microg of the drug by volunteers. A cross validation with human plasma versus serum was performed after this method was successfully validated in human serum.

Lower oropharyngeal deposition of inhaled ciclesonide via hydrofluoroalkane metered-dose inhaler compared with budesonide via chlorofluorocarbon metered-dose inhaler in healthy subjects.

OBJECTIVE: Inhaled corticosteroids may cause oropharyngeal side effects if deposited in the oropharynx in active form. Ciclesonide, an inhaled corticosteroid with low glucocorticoid receptor affinity, is activated primarily in the lung by esterases to an active metabolite, desisobutyryl-ciclesonide (des-CIC), with high glucocorticoid receptor affinity. We studied oropharyngeal deposition of ciclesonide, des-CIC, and budesonide. METHODS: In an open-label, randomized, two-treatment (administered in sequence), five-period study, 18 healthy subjects received 800 microg (ex-valve) inhaled ciclesonide via a hydrofluoroalkane-pressurized, metered-dose inhaler followed by 800 microg budesonide (Pulmicort) by a chlorofluorocarbon-pressurized, metered-dose inhaler (four puffs of 200 microg each, ex-valve) or vice versa. Oropharyngeal cavity rinsing was performed immediately, or 15, 30, 45, or 60 min after inhalation (one rinsing per study period), and the solutions were analyzed using liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometric detection. RESULTS: Ciclesonide and budesonide were detected in most oropharyngeal wash samples. Maximal concentration of each inhaled corticosteroid was reached immediately post-inhalation; maximal concentrations of ciclesonide and des-CIC were 30% and 0.67%, respectively, of budesonide. Oropharyngeal deposition of ciclesonide and budesonide decreased rapidly within 15 min post-inhalation, and less rapidly thereafter. Less than 10% of the residual ciclesonide in the oropharynx was converted to des-CIC. The molar dose-adjusted amount of des-CIC was 4% of budesonide (P < 0.0001). There were no significant adverse events. CONCLUSION: Oropharyngeal deposition of des-CIC was more than one order of magnitude lower than that of budesonide when administered by the respective metered-dose inhalers. This may explain the low frequency of oropharyngeal side effects of ciclesonide in clinical studies.

Pharmacokinetics of [14C]ciclesonide after oral and intravenous administration to healthy subjects.

BACKGROUND: Ciclesonide is a novel inhaled corticosteroid developed for the treatment of asthma. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the extent of oral absorption and bioavailability of ciclesonide referenced to an intravenous infusion. This information provides an estimate for the contribution of the swallowed fraction to systemic exposure to ciclesonide after oral inhalation. METHODS: In a randomised crossover study, six healthy male subjects (age range 19-40 years) received single doses of 6.9 mg (oral administration) and 0.64 mg (intravenous administration) of [14C]ciclesonide, separated by a washout period of at least 14 days. Total radioactivity was determined in whole blood, plasma, urine and faeces. Serum concentrations of ciclesonide and its major metabolite, the pharmacologically active desisobutyryl-ciclesonide (des-CIC), were determined in serum by high-performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry detection. RESULTS: After a 10-minute intravenous infusion, the mean half-life for total radioactivity was 45.2 hours. Elimination of des-CIC was fast with a mean elimination half-life of 3.5 hours. After oral administration, the mean half-life for total radioactivity was 27.5 hours. On the basis of a comparison of dose-normalised areas under the curve of total plasma radioactivity versus time, 24.5% of orally administered [14C]ciclesonide was absorbed. The parent compound ciclesonide was not detected in any of the serum samples after oral administration; serum concentrations of des-CIC were mostly near or below the lower limit of quantification. Thus, systemic bioavailability for des-CIC is <1% and the absolute bioavailability of ciclesonide is even less than this. [14C]Ciclesonide showed no retention in red blood cells. The mean cumulative excretion of total radioactivity was almost complete by 120 hours after oral and intravenous administration. Faecal excretion was the predominant route of excretion for total radioactivity after both routes of administration. Single oral and intravenous administration of ciclesonide was well tolerated. CONCLUSIONS: Because of an almost complete first-pass metabolism, ciclesonide is undetectable in serum after oral administration. Thus, any ciclesonide swallowed after oral inhalation does not contribute to systemically available ciclesonide or to its active metabolite. Drug-related metabolites are excreted mainly via the faeces, and overall recovery of administered radioactivity is virtually complete after an extended sample collection period.