Investigation of Potential Drug-Drug Interactions between Peficitinib (ASP015K) and Methotrexate in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis.

BACKGROUND: Methotrexate is frequently used to treat rheumatoid arthritis. Peficitinib (ASP015K; Smyraf®), an oral Janus kinase inhibitor indicated for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, may be coadministered with methotrexate. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to investigate potential drug-drug interactions of peficitinib with methotrexate and the short-term safety of coadministration. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This phase I, open-label, single-sequence study included patients with rheumatoid arthritis taking a stable dose of methotrexate. Patients received their prescribed methotrexate dose (Day 1) and then peficitinib (100 mg) twice daily from Day 3 until the morning of Day 9; a second methotrexate dose was coadministered with peficitinib on Day 8. Serial blood samples were collected for methotrexate concentration after dosing on Days 1 (methotrexate alone) and 8 (methotrexate plus peficitinib) and for peficitinib concentration after dosing on Days 7 (peficitinib alone) and 8 (methotrexate plus peficitinib). Pre-dose concentrations of peficitinib were measured (Days 3-8). RESULTS: Peficitinib concentrations reached steady state on Day 5. Administration of peficitinib did not result in changes to methotrexate area under the concentration-time curve from time zero to infinity or maximum observed concentration following a methotrexate dose (15-25 mg), and there was no significant effect of methotrexate (15-25 mg) on peficitinib area under the concentration-time curve within a 12-hour dosing interval. There were no new tolerability or safety signals after coadministration of peficitinib and methotrexate. One patient experienced two serious adverse events and withdrew from the study without receiving peficitinib. CONCLUSIONS: Pharmacokinetic results showed no significant interactions between peficitinib and methotrexate. CLINICALTRIALS. GOV IDENTIFIER: NCT01754805.

Safety, pharmacokinetic, and pharmacodynamic profiles of ipragliflozin (ASP1941), a novel and selective inhibitor of sodium-dependent glucose co-transporter 2, in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND: The sodium-dependent glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) is a high-capacity, low-affinity transport system primarily expressed in the renal proximal tubules, where it plays an important role in the regulation of glucose levels. Inhibition of SGLT2 represents an innovative approach for plasma glucose control in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) by blocking glucose reabsorption and enhancing glucose loss in the urine. METHODS: This Phase 2, randomized, placebo-controlled study investigated the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profiles of the novel oral SGLT2 inhibitor ipragliflozin (ASP1941) in T2DM patients. Sixty-one patients were randomized to placebo or ipragliflozin once daily at doses of 50, 100, 200, or 300 mg for 28 days. Patients were admitted to the clinic during the study and received a weight-maintenance diet. RESULTS: The incidence of treatment-emergent adverse events was similar for placebo and ipragliflozin groups. There were no deaths, and no patients discontinued ipragliflozin because of adverse events. Ipragliflozin was absorbed rapidly, taking approximately 1 h to reach the maximum concentration. The area under the concentration-time curve and maximum ipragliflozin concentration at steady state displayed dose linearity. All ipragliflozin doses significantly reduced glycosylated hemoglobin, fasting plasma glucose, and mean amplitude of glucose excursions compared with placebo. Significant dose-dependent increases in urinary glucose excretion were observed in all ipragliflozin groups. Mean weight decreased in the placebo and ipragliflozin groups, with greater reductions occurring in ipragliflozin-treated patients. CONCLUSION: Ipragliflozin was generally safe, well tolerated, and effective at blocking renal glucose reabsorption and decreasing plasma glucose levels in T2DM patients.