In silico prediction of pharmaceutical degradation pathways: a benchmarking study.

Zeneth is a new software application capable of predicting degradation products derived from small molecule active pharmaceutical ingredients. This study was aimed at understanding the current status of Zeneth's predictive capabilities and assessing gaps in predictivity. Using data from 27 small molecule drug substances from five pharmaceutical companies, the evolution of Zeneth predictions through knowledge base development since 2009 was evaluated. The experimentally observed degradation products from forced degradation, accelerated, and long-term stability studies were compared to Zeneth predictions. Steady progress in predictive performance was observed as the knowledge bases grew and were refined. Over the course of the development covered within this evaluation, the ability of Zeneth to predict experimentally observed degradants increased from 31% to 54%. In particular, gaps in predictivity were noted in the areas of epimerizations, N-dealkylation of N-alkylheteroaromatic compounds, photochemical decarboxylations, and electrocyclic reactions. The results of this study show that knowledge base development efforts have increased the ability of Zeneth to predict relevant degradation products and aid pharmaceutical research. This study has also provided valuable information to help guide further improvements to Zeneth and its knowledge base.

Standardized UV-vis spectra as the foundation for a threshold-based, integrated photosafety evaluation.

Phototoxicity is a relatively common phenomenon and is an adverse effect of some systemic drugs. The fundamental initial step of photochemical reactivity is absorption of a photon; however, little guidance has been provided thus far regarding how ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) light absorption spectra may be used to inform testing strategies for investigational drugs. Here we report the results of an inter-laboratory study comparing the data from harmonized UV-vis light absorption spectra obtained in methanol with data from the in vitro 3T3 Neutral Red Uptake Phototoxicity Test. Six pharmaceutical companies submitted data according to predefined quality criteria for 76 compounds covering a wide range of chemical classes showing a diverse but "positive"-enhanced distribution of photo irritation factors (22%: PIF<2, 12%: PIF 2-5, 66%: PIF>5). For compounds being formally positive (PIF value above 5) the lowest reported molar extinction coefficient (MEC) was 1700 L mol⁻¹ cm⁻¹ in methanol. However, the majority of these formally positive compounds showed MEC values being significantly higher (up to almost 40,000 L mol⁻¹ cm⁻¹). In conclusion, an MEC value of 1000 L mol⁻¹ cm⁻¹ may represent a reasonable and pragmatic threshold warranting further experimental photosafety evaluation.

An evaluation of chemical photoreactivity and the relationship to photogenotoxicity.

In the accompanying paper (Kleinman et al., submitted for publication), the link between phototoxicity and photoreactivity (i.e. production of singlet oxygen, superoxide and chemical photostability) has been established. It is proposed this may be used to refine existing triggers for photosafety testing. Using a series of compounds we have determined whether these photochemical reactivity measurements may be used to mechanistically predict phototoxic and/or photogenotoxic liability. Therefore, a subset of compounds tested in the in vitro 3T3 NRU assay from the accompanying paper were tested in the photo-chromosome aberration assay in CHO cells, using standard methodologies. The results of these studies indicate that photochemical analysis of compounds is a good predictor of in vitro phototoxicity, but not necessarily, photoclastogenicity. Further evidence from photostability experiments suggests that this is due to the differences in UVR irradiance and exposure conditions between the two assays. Nevertheless, this approach may provide a more robust trigger for the need to conduct in vitro and/or in vivo photosafety studies than simple UV/visible absorbance spectra.

An evaluation of chemical photoreactivity and the relationship to phototoxicity.

The existing regulatory guidance for photosafety testing of new drug products states that studies are warranted for those chemicals that both absorb light in the range of 290-700 nm, and that are either applied locally/topically, or "reach" (EMEA)/"significantly partition" (FDA) to the skin or eyes. The initial in vitro study recommended for the assessment of phototoxic potential is the 3T3 Neutral Red Uptake (NRU) Assay. The current study was undertaken to establish superior triggers for the initiation of biological photosafety testing. In this study, photophysical and photochemical parameters for 40 drug or drug-like molecules were studied. Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Partial Least Squares-Discriminant Analysis (PLS-DA), and a fivefold cross-validation PLS algorithm were used to evaluate the relationship between subsets of photophysical and photochemical parameters with the 3T3 NRU PIF/MPE (Photo Irritation Factor/Mean Photo Effect) results. The parameters most indicative of a 3T3 NRU positive PIF or MPE score were the extent of degradation in solution, the quantum yield of formation of singlet oxygen and the relative formation of superoxide anion. The results demonstrate that while absorption of light is critical to the induction of a light-induced process, it is the resultant events that may be used to predict the 3T3 NRU assay result. It is therefore proposed that the trigger for photosafety testing be revised to include a molecular basis for photoreactivity. From this limited investigation, estimated thresholds leading to 3T3 NRU positive results due to photodegradation, formation of singlet oxygen quantum yield or a relative superoxide anion formation value are proposed.

Implications of In-Use Photostability: Proposed Guidance for Photostability Testing and Labeling to Support the Administration of Photosensitive Pharmaceutical Products, Part 2: Topical Drug Product.

Although essential guidance to cover the photostability testing of pharmaceuticals for manufacturing and storage is well-established, there continues to be a significant gap in guidance regarding testing to support the effective administration of photosensitive drug products. Continuing from Part 1, (Baertschi SW, Clapham D, Foti C, Jansen PJ, Kristensen S, Reed RA, Templeton AC, Tønnesen HH. 2013. J Pharm Sci 102:3888-3899) where the focus was drug products administered by injection, this commentary proposes guidance for testing topical drug products in order to support administration. As with the previous commentary, the approach taken is to examine "worst case" photoexposure scenarios in comparison with ICH testing conditions to provide practical guidance for the safe and effective administration of photosensitive topical drug products.

Transient spectroscopy of ninhydrin.

The photochemistry of ninhydrin in benzene and water was studied by laser flash photolysis and electron paramagnetic resonance. Its photochemistry was shown to be dependent on the solvent. In benzene, a triplet excited state was observed, which underwent hydrogen abstraction reactions or reduction to the radical anion. In water, the radical anion of ninhydrin was formed within the laser pulse (15 ns) at neutral pH, whereas the neutral ketyl radical was formed by protonation of the radical anion at low pH. A pKa of 0.77 was determined for the protonation equilibrium. The formation of hydrindantin is proposed to occur through the dimerization of the ketyl radical or the radical anion (or both). In addition, ninhydrin was shown to be a poor precursor for the photogeneration of hydroxyl radicals.

Electron Spin Polarization and Time-Resolved Electron Paramagnetic Resonance: Applications to the Paradigms of Molecular and Supramolecular Photochemistry.

Most molecular and supramolecular organic photochemical reactions involve paramagnetic reactive intermediates (such as molecular triplet states, triplet radical pairs, and free radicals). In a number of cases these species are created with "anomalous" spin populations which are far from thermal equilibrium. Such paramagnetic species are said to be "spin polarized" and may be observed directly by time-resolved electron paramagnetic resonance (TREPR). The TREPR technique can be applied to exploit spin polarization, which, in addition to providing an enormous signal to noise enhancement, also reveals the mechanisms involved in photochemical reactions. TREPR spectroscopy provides a means of tracking the reaction of radicals with molecules and the nonreactive interactions of radicals with other radicals in real time. The latter interactions provide a systematic investigation of supramolecular interactions of geminate radicals in micelles.

The use of N-methylpyrrolidone as a cosolvent and oxidant in pharmaceutical stress testing.

The use of N-methylpyrrolidone (NMP) as an oxidant and cosolvent in pharmaceutical stress testing (forced degradation) is examined. Various active pharmaceutical ingredients were heated in NMP-water solutions under nitrogen, air, and oxygen and then analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography, usually with ultraviolet diode array detection and mass spectrometry detection. In some cases, degradation products were isolated and characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance. The NMP-water-air-heat system provided oxidative and hydrolytic degradation products. The observed oxidation products were consistent with products expected from free radical autoxidation, reactions with hydroperoxides, and possibly singlet oxygen. Oxidative and hydrolytic pathways could be distinguished by comparison of the reactions carried out under air/oxygen and nitrogen. In many cases, the oxidation products observed during stress testing were also observed during formal stability studies of drug products. The NMP-water-air-heat stress condition facilitates various oxidative degradation pathways, which are often relevant to drug product on stability. This approach facilitates stability-indicating method development and helps elucidate degradation pathways.

Hydrogen atom tunneling in triplet o-methylbenzocycloalkanones: effects of structure on reaction geometry and excited state configuration.

The rates of phosphorescence decay of 4,7-dimethylindanone (2), 6,9-dimethylbenzosuberone (3), and several related compounds have been analyzed between 4 and 100 K to determine the contributions of intramolecular hydrogen atom tunneling from the o-methyl group to the excited state carbonyl oxygen. Changes in the benzocycloalkanone ring size from five to seven not only affect the geometry at the reaction center, but they also affect the electronic configuration of the triplet excited state in a significant manner. While the triplet state of 5,8-dimethyltetralone (1) in nonpolar glasses can be clearly described as having a predominant n,pi configuration, compounds 2 and 3 have a significantly larger contribution of the less reactive pi,pi state. 4,7-Dimethylindanone (2) is stable under cryogenic conditions and in solution at ambient temperature. In contrast, triplet lifetimes and product analysis indicate that 6,9-dimethylbenzosuberone (3) reacts by quantum mechanical tunneling at temperatures as low as 4 K. A surprisingly small isotope effect k(H)/k(D) approximately 1.1 between 4 and 50 K increases steadily up to k(H)/k(D) approximately 5.1 at 100 K. This unusual observation is interpreted in terms of a vibrationally activated quantum mechanical tunneling process with hydrogen atom transfer at the lowest temperatures being mediated by zero-point-energy reaction-promoting skeletal motions. Results presented here indicate that the combined effects of increasing pi,pi character and unfavorable reaction geometry contribute to the diminished reactivity of o-methyl ketones 2 and 3 as compared to those of tetralone 1.

Selective solid state photooxidant.

Irradiation of biphenyl encapsulated in the cavities of a NaZSM-5 zeolite framework has been reported to result in the formation of an extremely long-lived radical cation. Here, we show that such zeolite encapsulated radical cations can act as irreversible one-electron oxidants for simple alkenes and dienes, in a solid-state analogue to solution-phase cosensitization. Compared to the well-known semiconductor photooxidizers, such as titanium dioxide, the NaZSM-5 zeolite-based solid photooxidants exhibit enhanced selectivity based on oxidation potential, molecular size and shape, and Lewis base character.

The role of iron and copper molecules in the neuronal vulnerability of locus coeruleus and substantia nigra during aging.

In this study, a comparative analysis of metal-related neuronal vulnerability was performed in two brainstem nuclei, the locus coeruleus (LC) and substantia nigra (SN), known targets of the etiological noxae in Parkinson's disease and related disorders. LC and SN pars compacta neurons both degenerate in Parkinson's disease and other Parkinsonisms; however, LC neurons are comparatively less affected and with a variable degree of involvement. In this study, iron, copper, and their major molecular forms like ferritins, ceruloplasmin, neuromelanin (NM), manganese-superoxide dismutase (SOD), and copper/zinc-SOD were measured in LC and SN of normal subjects at different ages. Iron content in LC was much lower than that in SN, and the ratio heavy-chain ferritin/iron in LC was higher than in the SN. The NM concentration was similar in LC and SN, but the iron content in NM of LC was much lower than SN. In both regions, heavy- and light-chain ferritins were present only in glia and were not detectable in neurons. These data suggest that in LC neurons, the iron mobilization and toxicity is lower than that in SN and is efficiently buffered by NM. The bigger damage occurring in SN could be related to the higher content of iron. Ferritins accomplish the same function of buffering iron in glial cells. Ceruloplasmin levels were similar in LC and SN, but copper was higher in LC. However, the copper content in NM of LC was higher than that of SN, indicating a higher copper mobilization in LC neurons. Manganese-SOD and copper/zinc-SOD had similar age trend in LC and SN. These results may explain at least one of the reasons underlying lower vulnerability of LC compared to SN in Parkinsonian syndromes.