Recent advances in the design and development of soft drugs.

This paper summarizes recent developments in the field of soft drug development as collected and reviewed for the 9th Retrometabolism-Based Drug Design and Targeting Conference. Soft drugs are still often confused with prodrugs because they both require metabolic transformations; however, they are conceptual opposites: whereas, prodrugs are pharmacologically inactive and are converted by a predictable mechanism to the active drug, soft drugs are active therapeutic agents as such and are designed to undergo a predictable and controllable metabolic deactivation after exerting their desired therapeutic effect. Several rationally designed soft drug examples including clinically approved ones (e.g., clevidipine, esmolol, landiolol, loteprednol etabonate, and remifentanil) as well as others that have reached clinical investigations within different therapeutic areas (e.g., budiodarone, naronapride, remimazolam, tecarfarine) are briefly summarized. Anesthesiology, which requires a high degree of pharmacologic control during the surgical procedure to maintain the anesthetic state together with a quick return to responsiveness at the end of this procedure, is a particularly well-suited area for soft drug development. Several new initiatives (e.g., MOC-etomidate, AZD3043) are focused in this area; they are also briefly reviewed. Finally, just as there are many 'accidental' prodrugs, there are 'accidental' soft drugs too: i.e., therapeutics that were not intentionally designed to be soft drugs, but turned out to be essentially soft drugs. Some examples, such as articaine or methylphenidate, are briefly reviewed.

The effects of delta1-cortienic acid on skin blanching, pharmacokinetics and stability of loteprednol etabonate.

The effect of delta1-cortienic acid (delta1-CA) on human skin blanching activity of the soft corticosteroid, loteprednol etabonate (LE), has been studied. Ten volunteers had applied to their forearms a dose of LE ranging from 0.1 to 1 mM, or LE from 0.1 to 1 mM in combination with 2-times the concentration of delta1-CA (0.2 - 2mM). The results indicate that delta1-CA increased LE's effect on human vasoconstriction/skin blanching activity, both in the intensity and duration. This enhancing effect of delta1-CA was also observed in other blanching studies with other corticosteroids, such as hydrocortisone. The enhancement may occur through the displacement of LE bound to transcortin (also known as corticosteroid-binding globulin, or CBG) by delta1-CA as delta1-CA has a higher affinity for CBG than that for glucocorticoid receptor (GR), resulting in more free-LE to act on GR, and increased skin blanching. In rat studies, intravenous injection of delta1-CA (5-50 mg/kg) did not affect the pharmacokinetics of LE (5 mg/kg), indicating that delta1-CA is safe for combined use with LE. In stability studies, the presence of delta1-CA at the same concentrations as LE in aqueous suspension (0.1 and 0.2%) significantly increased the stability of LE. Thus, the combination of delta1-CA with LE serves an enhancing and stabilizing role while not impacting the pharmacokinetic properties of LE.

Recent advances in retrometabolic drug design (RMDD) and development.

As a general review for the 7th Retrometabolism-Based Drug Design and Targeting Conference, recent developments within this field are briefly reviewed with various illustrative examples from different therapeutic areas. Retrometabolic drug design incorporates two major systematic approaches: the design of soft drugs and of chemical delivery systems (CDS). Both aim to design new, safe drugs with an improved therapeutic index by integrating structure-activity and structure-metabolism relationships; however, they achieve it by different means: whereas soft drugs are new, active therapeutic agents that undergo predictable metabolism to inactive metabolites after exerting their desired therapeutic effect, CDSs are biologically inert molecules that provide enhanced and targeted delivery of an active drug to a particular organ or site through a designed sequential metabolism that involves several steps.

Pharmacokinetics and delta1-cortienic acid excretion after intravenous administration of prednisolone and loteprednol etabonate in rats.

Detailed pharmacokinetic (PK) studies in rats were performed (i)to compare the PK of prednisolone (PRN) and loteprednol etabonate (LE, a soft corticosteroid) as well as their common inactive metabolite delta1-cortienic acid (delta1-CA), (ii) to investigate the excretion of delta1-CA after PRN and LE administration, and (iii) to investigate the effect of delta1-unsaturation on the excretion of delta1-CA versus CA. Following a 10 mg x kg(-1) intravenous bolus dose, the total clearance (CL(tot)) of PRN (27.0 +/- 1.4 mL x min(-1) kg(-1)) was significantly lower than that of LE (67.4 +/- 11.6 mL x min(-1) kg(-1)) or delta1-CA (53.8 +/- 1.4 mL x min(-1) kg(-1)) indicating that the metabolism/elimination of PRN in the liver (primarily, conjugation) may be less efficient than that of LE (primarily, hydrolysis) or delta1-CA (unchanged). The volume of distribution (Vd(ss)) of PRN (823 +/- 78 mL x kg(-1)) was significantly lower than that of LE (3078 +/- 79 mL x kg(-1)) indicating that LE is more distributed to lipophilic tissues. Excretion studies have confirmed that delta1-CA is indeed a metabolite of PRN. After intravenous injection of 10 mg x kg(-1), less than 1% of the administered PRN was excreted as delta1-CA by 4 h (0.38 +/- 0.10% in bile and 0.18 +/- 0.04% in urine), significantly less than for LE (17.01 +/- 2.09% in bile and 2.53 +/- 1.17% in urine) indicating that extent of this metabolic transformation can indeed be affected by molecular design. At doses of 100 mg/kg, the proportion of delta1-CA excreted after PRN administration (0.12 +/- 0.03% in bile and 0.19 +/- 0.03% in urine) was similar to that of CA excreted after hydrocortisone administration (0.11 +/- 0.03% in bile and 0.22 +/- 0.04% in urine) indicating that the presence of the delta1 double bond (delta1-unsaturation) does not affect significantly this metabolic conversion.

Feasibility of localized immunosuppression: 1. Exploratory studies with glucocorticoids in a biohybrid device designed for cell transplantation.

Emerging biotechnologies, such as the use of biohybrid devices for cellular therapies, are showing increasing therapeutic promise for the treatment of various diseases, including type 1 diabetes mellitus. The functionality of such devices could be greatly enhanced if successful localized immunosuppression regimens could be established, since they would eliminate the many otherwise unavoidable side effects of currently used systemic immunosuppressive therapies. The existence of local immune privilege at some specialized tissues, such as the eye, CNS, or pregnant uterus, supports the feasibility of localized immunomodulation, and such an approach is particularly well-suited for cell transplant therapies where all transplanted tissue is localized within a device. Following the success of syngeneic transplantation in a subcutaneous prevascularized device as a bioartificial pancreas in a rodent model, we now report the first results of exploratory in vivo islet allograft studies in rats using locally delivered glucocorticoids (dexamethasone phosphate and the soft steroid loteprednol etabonate). Following in vitro assessments, in silico drug distribution models were used to establish tentative therapeutic dose ranges. Sustained local delivery was achieved via implantable osmotic mini-pumps through a central sprinkler, as well as with a sustained-delivery formulation for loteprednol etabonate using poly(D,L-lactic) acid (PLA) microspheres. Doses delivered locally were approximately hundred-fold smaller than those typically used in systemic treatments. While several solubility, stability, and implantation problems still remain to be addressed, both compounds showed promise in their ability to prolong graft survival after tapering of systemic immunosuppression, compared to control groups.

Feasibility of localized immunosuppression: 2. PLA microspheres for the sustained local delivery of a soft immunosuppressant.

While biohybrid therapy shows promise, their further development into an "artificial pancreatic" system in diabetics also requires the management of the related immuneresponse triggered by such cellular therapies. Ideally this should be on a local level within the biohybrid device. This study relates to the design of sustained release formulations of the glucocorticoid soft drug loteprednol etabonate (LE) that are intended to locally suppress the immune response within the biohybrid devices, thereby warranting high local activity and reduced systemic side effects. Poly(D,L-lactic) acid (PLA) and poly(D,L-lactic glycolic acid (PLGA) microspheres of the soft corticosteroid loteprednol etabonate (LE) were prepared by solvent evaporation. A range of particles differing in particle size, nature of the polymer, emulsification method, and emulsifier were prepared and characterized. These results showed that the approach is able to customize slow release particles with predictable release characteristics over a period of days to month. Preliminary studies were performed with particles of a drug loading of 3.9 (+/- 0.2) %, and a mean particle diameter of 5 microm. In-vitro release studies indicated that these particles released drug over a period of three months. In vitro cell toxicity studies suggested that at higher concentrations (> 1 microM), unencapsulated LE showed some effect on the viability of the MIN-6 insuloma cell line, while the sustained release microspheres showed no cytotoxicity. The ability of these microspheres to provide localized immunosuppression has been evaluated in a set of early exploratory experiments with diabetic rats receiving islet transplantation. Animals treated using a biohybrid device loaded with microspheres showed improved results compared to those treated by delivery in solution form with an osmotic mini-pump. These results show the promise of localized glucocorticoid treatment by sustained release microspheres as a possible form of localized immunosuppression regimen. However, further confirmation is required before use in cell or organ transplantation.

Stereoisomers of N-substituted soft anticholinergics and their zwitterionic metabolite based on glycopyrrolate--syntheses and pharmacological evaluations.

PURPOSE: In this study, isomers of two N-substituted soft anticholinergics based on glycopyrrolate, SGM (PcPOAGP_NA.Me) and SGE (PcPOAGP_NA.Et) [3'-(2-cyclopentyl-2-phenyl-2-hydroxyacetoxy)-1'-methyl-1'-alkoxycarbonylpyrrolidinium bromide] and their zwitterionic metabolite, SGa (PcPOAGP_NA.H) [3'-(2-cyclopentyl-2-phenyl-2-hydroxyacetoxy)-1'-methyl-1'-carboxymethylpyrrolidinium inner salt] were synthesized and their pharmacological activities were evaluated in vitro and in vivo. METHODS: The isomers of SGM and SGE were synthesized with both optically pure methyl-cyclopentylmandelate and 3-hydroxy-N-methylpyrrolidine. Trans-esterification followed by quarternization with alkyl bromoacetate gave four isomers of SGM or SGE with the nitrogen chiral center unresolved (2R3'S-SGM, 2R3'R-SGM, 2S3'S-SGM, 2S3'R-SGM or 2R3'S-SGE, 2R3'R-SGE, 2S3'S-SGE, 2S3'R-SGE). The hydrolysis of these four isomers followed by HPLC separation resulted in eight fully resolved isomers of SGa (2R3'R1'R, 2R3'S1'R, 2R3'R1'S, 2R3'S1'S, 2S3'R1'R, 2S3'S1'R, 2S3'R1'S, and 2S3'S1'S). Pharmacological activities were assessed by using in vitro receptor-binding assay and guinea pig ileum pA2-assay, and by evaluating the in vivo rabbit mydriatic effects. Results were compared to those obtained with conventional anticholinergic agents, such as glycopyrrolate, N-meythylscopolamine, and tropicamide, as well as those obtained with previously prepared racemic mixtures and 2R isomers. RESULTS: Receptor binding pKi values at cloned human muscarinic receptors (M1-M4 subtypes) were in the 6.0-9.5 range for the newly synthesized SGM and SGE isomers, and in the 5.0-8.6 range for the SGa isomers. In all cases, 2R isomers were significantly more active than 2S isomers (27 to 447 times for SGM isomers, and 6 to 4467 times for SGa isomers). Among the four SGM isomers with unresolved 1' (N) chiral center, the 3'R isomers were more active than the corresponding 3'S isomers (1.5-12.9 times), whereas, among the SGa isomers, the 3'S isomers were not always more active than the corresponding 3'R isomers indicating that activity determined based on configuration at chiral center 3' is significantly affected by the configuration of the other two chiral centers, 2 and 1'. Among the completely resolved eight SGa isomers (all three chiral centers resolved), 1'S isomers were always more active than the corresponding 1'R isomers (1.8-22.4 times). Results also indicate that some isomers showed good M3/M2 muscarinic-receptor subtype-selectivity (about 3-5 times), and 2R and 3'S were the determining configurations for this property. Guinea pig ileum assays and rabbit mydriasis tests on SGa isomers further confirmed the stereospecificity. In rabbit eyes, some 2R-SGa isomers showed mydriatic potencies similar to glycopyrrolate and exceeded tropicamide, but their mydriatic effects lasted considerably shorter, and they did not induce dilation of the pupil in the contralateral, water-treated eye. These results indicate that these compounds are locally active, but safe and have a low potential to cause systemic side effects. The pharmacological potency of the eight SGa isomers was estimated as 2R3'S1'S approximately equal to 2R3'R1'S approximately equal to 2R3'S1'R > 2R3'R1'R > 2S3'R1'S > 2S3'S1'S approximately equal to 2S3'R1'R > 2S3'S1'R (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The stereospecificity and M3/M2 muscarinic-receptor subtype-selectivity of soft anticholinergics, SGM, SGE, and SGa have been demonstrated. In agreement with previous results, the potential for their effective and safe use has been confirmed.

Determination of estredox, a compound with sustained estradiol function, and its impurity profile by HPLC.

The HPLC methods described here for the assay and purity test of Estredox (E2CDS), a molecule with a redox-based, brain-targeted chemical delivery system for estradiol, allow reliable conclusions to be made on the potency and purity of API and E2CDS/HPCD complex samples. Extensive work was done to isolate and characterize the major, potential contaminants, and ensure the required stability of solutions of E2CDS, an inherently labile compound by design. Both the sample solvent and the eluent were thoroughly tested to avoid unwanted changes in sample solutions during analyses. The 12 minute isocratic assay method at 220 or 360 nm is simple, well-founded, highly precise and accurate. Purity profiling of E2CDS raised several problems in detection, stability and accuracy, owing to the fact that the pattern of the UV spectra and the stability of the compound and those of the potential contaminants often differed greatly. As a result of meticulous analysis of the UV spectra and the factors influencing the behaviour, in solution, of the compounds concerned, the 20 minute gradient method developed for the purity test, at 220 nm, of E2CDS and E2CDS/HPCD complex samples has proved to be a reliable means of adequately resolving 15-20 peaks of known and unknown compounds, and establishing the purity of various E2CDS samples. Sample impurity can be expressed as area % at 220 nm, and/or as approximate w/w % (if needed), since the relative response factors, at 220 nm, of the 6 major, potential contaminants have also been determined.

Soft corticosteroids for local immunosuppression: exploring the possibility for the use of loteprednol etabonate for islet transplantation.

Transplantation of pancreatic islets into subcutaneous, neovascularized devices is one of the possibilities explored as part of our search for a cure of diabetes. We have recently reported that syngeneic transplantation in a subcutaneous prevascularized device can restore euglycemia and sustain long-term function in rats and that explanted grafts showed preserved islets and intense vascular networks. Because all of the transplanted tissue is localized within the device, if such a bioartificial pancreas approach is used, localized immunosuppression might provide sufficient protection against rejection to achieve long-term function, while also avoiding the serious systemic side effects and the susceptibility for opportunistic infections that are commonly associated with systemic immunosuppressive therapies as only much smaller and localized doses are needed. Soft steroids are obvious candidates because soft drugs are specifically designed to produce targeted local activity, but no systemic side effects due to prompt metabolic (preferably extrahepatic, e.g., hydrolytic) inactivation. However, local concentrations that are effective for immunosuppression, but non-toxic to insulin-producing beta-cells have to be found, and nontrivial difficulties related to long-term local deliverability have to be addressed. Here, we report preliminary results obtained using in vitro studies with human islets used to establish a tentative therapeutic concentration range together with fully scaled three-dimensional finite element method (FEM)-based Comsol multiphysics computational models that were used to explore various possibilities to achieve and maintain these concentration levels within the device.

Novel, cell-penetrating molecular transporters with flexible backbones and permanently charged side-chains.

Various cell-penetrating peptides have been discovered recently that can translocate across plasma membranes and can even carry large cargo molecules into the cells. Because under physiological conditions most of these peptides carry considerable positive charges due to the presence of basic amino acids such as arginine, we decided to investigate whether molecular transporters composed of permanently charged side-chains also possess such cell penetrating ability. Arginine-rich oligomers that have a backbone with increased flexibility due to incorporation of non-alpha-amino acids (epsilon-aminocaproic acid) have been found to be effective molecular transporters. Here, we report the preparation of analogue structures by replacing the arginine residues with the quaternary form of a novel redox amino acid (Nys(+)) that contain a trigonelline moiety; it has already been shown possible to replace the original basic amino acid side-chain of neuropeptides without significant activity-loss due to the sufficiently close steric and electronic analogy between the new Nys(+) and the original side-chains (in their protonated form, e.g., Arg(+), Lys(+)). A nonamer analogue showed transporter activity resulting in increased cellular uptake in human carcinoma (HeLa) cells.

Preparation and biological effects of pure stereoisomeric novel soft anticholinergics.

A series of pure stereoisomeric soft glycopyrrolate analogues 3, 4 and 5 was synthesized using chiral intermediates and by careful separation of the stereoisomers formed during the last quaternization step of the synthesis. The stereochemistry of the products was elucidated using various 1D and 2D NMR techniques. Anticholinergic activity of the new compounds was determined by receptor binding studies and performing tests on isolated organs and by in vivo tests. Receptor binding revealed that in the higher alkyl ester series the (2R, 1'R, 3'R) and the (2R, 1'S, 3'S) isomers were the compounds showing the highest receptor affinity furthermore it demonstrated the confines of the length of the alkyl chain. In vitro isolated organ experiments correlated well with the receptor binding results, and in vivo investigations indicated the soft character of the compounds.

Influence of the N-acetylation polymorphism on the metabolism of talampanel: an investigation in fasted and fed subjects genotyped for NAT2 variants.

Talampanel is a 2,3-benzodiazepine-type allosteric (noncompetitive) AMPA-antagonist currently being developed as an orally active, broad-spectrum anticonvulsant. Here, a detailed study of its N-acetylation in humans is presented using plasma concentration data of both TLP and its N-acetyl metabolite obtained from healthy volunteers (n = 28) genotyped for N-acetyltansferase NAT2 isozymes. Plasma samples were obtained for up to 48 h after a single oral dose of 75 mg TLP both in fasted and in fed subjects. A perfect correspondence could be established between the phenotype inferred before the study from genotyping and that determined after the study by using plasma metabolite-to-parent molar ratios confirming that this route of metabolism is indeed mediated by NAT2. Analysis of the data has been performed using both noncompartmental analysis and a custom-built, unified parent-metabolite PK model, which incorporates three different acetylation rates according to the genotype-based classification of each subject as slow, intermediate, or fast acetylator to simultaneously fit plasma levels for both TLP and its metabolite. This suggest that for TLP in humans, (i) N-acetylation represents only a relatively small fraction of its total elimination (about one-fourth in fast acetylators and much less in slow acetylators), (ii) acetylation is about eight-twelve times faster in fast and three-six times faster in intermediate acetylators than in slow acetylators, and (iii) the N-acetyl metabolite is eliminated faster than the parent TLP.

Comparative evaluation of Estredox, a brain-targeted estradiol delivery system versus traditional estrogen replacement therapy.

Estredox is a novel brain-targeted delivery system for estradiol (E2). The mechanism of this estradiol-chemical delivery system (E2-CDS) is based on an interconvertible dihydropiridine <--> pyridinium salt carrier (targetor) attached to E2. After administration of the E2-CDS, the targetor moiety is oxidized to a quaternary pyridinium salt (E2-Q+). Here we demonstrate that a single i.v. injection with E2-CDS (3 mg/kg) resulted in sustained presence of E2-Q+ in three various brain regions. The sustained and gradual release of estradiol from E2-Q+ is reflected by the time-course of plasma estrogen level. At the end of repeated administration of E2-CDS (daily once 0.3 mg/kg i.v. for 10 consecutive days) we found a sharp decrease in the levels of plasma estradiol followed by a gradual decrease. The levels of E2-Q+ in the investigated brain regions decreased gradually from the first post-treatment day, however, a detectable amount of E2-Q+ was still present in the hypothalamus, striatum, and cortex even on the 24th post-treatment day. Strikingly different plasma estradiol levels were found in the groups of orchidectomized rats that received daily i.v. injections of estradiol benzoate (E2-BZ). The plasma estradiol levels in these animals were much higher compared to E2-CDS-treated animals throughout the treatment period but the level sharply dropped immediately after the treatments. In contrast to the E2-CDS-treated animals there was no estradiol in any of the brain regions of E2-BZ-treated rats on the 1st and 2nd post-treatment day. All of these data are in line with the long-lasting pharmacological effects of E2-CDS-treatment on estrogen-mediated functions in castrated rats and give further experimental support for brain-targeting estrogen-treatment approach as opposed to the traditional estrogen replacement therapy.

Pharmacological effects of some newly developed soft anticholinergics and a receptor-binding QSAR study.

Receptor-binding studies using cloned human muscarinic receptors (M1-M4 subtypes) were performed on newly synthesized soft anticholinergics (F-828, F-838, SGM, SGE, SA-A) that are isosteric/ isoelectronic analogs of glycopyrrolate. The receptor binding pK(i) values of the new soft drugs were in the 5.5-9.5 range; with the majority being in the 7.0-8.5 range. As previously observed for similar structures, the pK(i) values tended to decrease with increasing molecular size, and with the introduction of three structural indicator variables, a QSAR equation accounting for close to 75% of the variability could be established. Confirming the known stereospecificity of these receptors, pure 2R isomers were found more active than the corresponding isomeric mixtures. In agreement with soft drug design principles, acid metabolites (SA-A) were found considerably less active than their parent esters. The more active, 2R isomer of SA-A showed some muscarinic subtype selectivity (M3/M2), which was not observed for the parent compounds of this zwitterionic metabolite. Guinea pig ileum assay pA2 values have also been determined, and they were found to be in good agreement with the pK(i), values obtained from the binding study (r2 = 0.72). SGM and SGE caused pupil-dilation in rabbit eyes, but their mydriatic effects lasted considerably shorter than that of glycopyrrolate, and they did not induce dilation of the pupil in the contralateral, water-treated eyes, indicating that they are locally active and safe, with a low potential to cause systemic side effects.

Synthesis and pharmacological effects of new, N-substituted soft anticholinergics based on glycopyrrolate.

To reduce the possibility of systemic side-effects in locally administered anticholinergics, two new N-substituted glycopyrrolate analogues designed using soft drug design approaches have been synthesized and evaluated in vitro and in vivo. Because stereospecificity is known to be important at muscarinic receptors, the new compounds SGM and SGE also have been prepared as their pure 2R isomers, 2R-SGM and 2R-SGE, by starting from optically pure (-)-cyclopentylmandelic acid, and the corresponding isomers were indeed found to be more active. The new soft glycopyrrolates were chemically more stable under acidic conditions, and the ethyl esters SGE were more stable than the methyl esters SGM. The new compounds were also found to be quite susceptible to extrahepatic metabolism, having half-lives of 20-30 min in rat plasma (in vitro), consistent with their soft nature. Binding studies at human muscarinic receptors (M(1)-M(4)) and guinea-pig ileum assays found 2R-SGM and 2R-SGE to have potencies somewhat less than, but close to, those of glycopyrrolate and N-methylscopolamine. They caused pupil dilation in rabbit eyes, but their mydriatic effects lasted for considerably less time than that of glycopyrrolate, and they did not induce dilation of the pupil in the contralateral, water-treated eyes, indicating that, in agreement with their soft nature, they are locally active, but safe and with a low potential to cause systemic side-effects.

Etiprednol dicloacetate, a new soft glucocorticoid drug candidate. Development of chemistry.

During development of chemistry of the soft drug candidate etiprednol dicloacetate (BNP-166) 1) optimization studies on the three-step chemical synthesis resulted in a process that could be scaled-up to the kg level, 2) the impurity profile was determined, 3) synthetic routes were developed for the preparation of the radiolabeled target compound, and 4) a series of hydroxylated metabolites was prepared.

Metabolic properties of phosphonate esters.

The object of the present work was to investigate the difference in the metabolism of the phosphonate derivatives of primary or secondary hydroxyl groups. To study the phosphorolytic cleavage of such P-O bonds, zidovudine (AZT) hexanoyloxymethyl-methylphosphonate (HOM-AZT-P), an ester of a primary OH functionality, and methyl-pivaloyloxymethyl-testosterylphosphonate (POM-T-P), an ester of a secondary OH functionality, were prepared. The actions of pure enzymes such as alkaline phosphatase and phosphodiesterase on the corresponding phosphonate compounds (AZT-P and T-P) were investigated at various pH values. The phosphonate derivative of the secondary hydroxyl group of testosterone proved completely resistant to such phosphorolytic attacks, and release of free testosterone could not be detected. The phosphonate derivative of the primary hydroxyl group of zidovudine proved resistant to phosphodiesterase, but not to alkaline phosphatase, and in this second case, release of free zidovudine could be detected.

HPLC separation of related impurities in etiprednol dicloacetate, a novel soft corticosteroid.

Etiprednol dicloacetate (ethyl 17alpha-dichloroacetoxy-11beta-hydroxy-androsta-1,4-diene-3-one-17beta-carboxylate, code-named: BNP-166) has been prepared in a 3-step synthesis from prednisolone as starting material. The primary aim of the present work was to develop HPLC methods for the separation of all the impurities found in experimental pilot plant batches of BNP-166 at concentrations > or = 0.10 area %. Besides BNP-166, a total of 19 compounds, eight of them potential impurities, were involved in the HPLC studies in which several HPLC systems were examined and tested to optimize the separation. Of the parameters influencing chromatographic behaviour column type, the nature and composition of the mobile phase and column temperature were varied, while the pH of the eluent was kept constant at 4.5, a pH value at which stability of the BNP-166 ester bonds was found to be the highest. A comparison of the RRT values obtained allowed some conclusions to be drawn concerning the physico-chemical forces governing separation. The isocratic reversed-phase HPLC system (V02) chosen to be used for various GXP studies on BNP-166 affords baseline separation of nearly all the compounds concerned, and also the quantitation of the drug candidate (BNP-166). By means of this system, it was shown that the target compound prepared by the standardized synthesis method on a pilot plant scale, never contained more than 2-3 impurities with area % values higher than 0.10.

Soft glucocorticoid design: structural elements and physicochemical parameters determining receptor-binding affinity.

Following rational, retrometabolism-based drug design strategies, already two generations of cortienic acid-based soft corticosteroids have been designed. During their development, a large number of receptor-binding affinity (RBA) data for the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) were determined. RBA is a major determinant of therapeutic potential for corticosteroids, because GRs from different tissues and even from different species seem to be essentially the same. A quantitative analysis of these RBA data obtained from more than sixty structures was performed. Within both generations of soft steroids, good receptor-binding affinity could be achieved with adequate substitution at the sensitive 17alpha or 17beta pharmacophores. For soft steroids that satisfy the main binding criteria at the glucocorticoid receptor, an indicator variable for a structural element (6alpha- or 9alpha-halogenation) and a physicochemical parameter (lipophilicity as measured by log P(o/w)) account for a large portion of the variability in RBA. Following a classical, regression-type analysis, a QSAR model that accounts for close to 80% of the variability in the log RBA data could be built using only these two descriptors. According to these data, receptor binding affinity at the GR is dramatically increased by 6alpha- or 9alpha-halogenation and it also tends to increase with increasing lipophilicity.

Anti-inflammatory effect and soft properties of etiprednol dicloacetate (BNP-166), a new, anti-asthmatic steroid.

In vitro and in vivo anti-inflammatory properties and soft characteristics of etiprednol dicloacetate (BNP-166) a new steroid, which has been developed for the treatment of asthma, were investigated in this study. The compound effectively decreased cytokine production in lipopolysaccharide stimulated lymphocytes and attenuated lectin-induced proliferation of blood mononuclear cells in tissue culture. In an animal model of allergen sensitized and challenged Brown Norway rats, using topical treatment, etiprednol dicloacetate substantially attenuated the extent of allergen induced bronchoalveolar fluid eosinophilia. At every examined parameter its pharmacological effects were comparable to those of budesonide. By means of in vitro biological and analytical methods the soft character of BNP-166 was also investigated. The anti-inflammatory effect of etiprednol dicloacetate in vitro was shown to be the function of the quantity of serum components, present in the assay. This loss of activity was most likely the result of the fast metabolism of etiprednol dicloacetate, which in the presence of sera could have been demonstrated by LC/MS/MS. Our data indicate that the significant local effect of the compound will very likely be accompanied with a drastically reduced systemic activity indicating an encouraging selectivity of the pharmacological action of etiprednol dicloacetate.