The efficacy and safety of clopidogrel resinate as a novel polymeric salt form of clopidogrel

Efficacy, Safety, and Role of Antiplatelet Drugs in the Management of Acute Coronary Syndrome: A Comprehensive Review of Literature

Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is a complex condition characterized by myocardial ischemia or infarction which can lead to significant morbidity and death. Antiplatelet drugs play a crucial role in the management of ACS and have been shown to minimize the incidence of significant adverse cardiovascular events and recurrent myocardial infarction (MI). This comprehensive literature review is intended to summarize current information on the effectiveness, safety, and function of frequently used antiplatelet medications in treating ACS. Aspirin, clopidogrel, prasugrel, ticagrelor, abciximab, tirofiban, dipyridamole, cilostazol, and novel antiplatelets are included in the review. Aspirin's effectiveness as a first-line antiplatelet medication in ACS is well established. It has significantly lowered the risk of serious adverse cardiovascular events. Clopidogrel, prasugrel, and ticagrelor are P2Y12 receptor inhibitors found to lower the incidence of recurrent ischemia episodes in ACS patients. Using glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors such as abciximab, tirofiban, and eptifibatide is effective in managing ACS, especially in high-risk patients. Dipyridamole effectively reduces the risk of recurrent ischemic events in patients with ACS, particularly when used with aspirin. Cilostazol, a phosphodiesterase III inhibitor, has also been shown to reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in patients with ACS. Antiplatelet drugs' safety in managing ACS has also been well established. Aspirin is generally well-tolerated with a low risk of adverse effects, although the risk of bleeding events, particularly gastrointestinal bleeding, cannot be eliminated. The P2Y12 receptor inhibitors have been associated with a small increase in the risk of bleeding events, particularly in patients with a high risk of bleeding. The glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors are associated with a higher risk of bleeding than other antiplatelet drugs, especially in high-risk patients. To summarize, antiplatelet drugs play a crucial role in the management of ACS, and the efficacy and safety of these drugs have been well-established in the literature. The choice of antiplatelet drugs will depend on the patient's risk factors, including age, comorbidities, and bleeding risk. The novel antiplatelets may offer new therapeutic options for managing ACS, and further studies are needed to determine their role in managing this complex condition.

Multilayer-Coated Tablet of Clopidogrel and Rosuvastatin: Preparation and In Vitro/In vivo Characterization

The acid lability of rosuvastatin hinders the preparation of mixed combination formulations of rosuvastatin with acidic drugs such as clopidogrel. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to develop a multilayer-coated tablet that avoids physicochemical interactions between rosuvastatin and clopidogrel. Among the tested hydrophobic materials, glyceryl behenate was most effective at inhibiting the production of lactone, the acid degradation product of rosuvastatin. Therefore, the multilayer-coated tablet included a hydrophobic separation layer consisting of glyceryl behenate between the clopidogrel core tablet and the rosuvastatin coating layer. In order to prevent delayed dissolution by the stable hydrophobic separation layer, crospovidone was added into the clopidogrel core tablet as an effective disintegrant. Copovidone was also added to the coating layer of rosuvastatin, achieving a dissolution profile comparable to that of the reference drug, Crestor^®. The resulting multilayer-coated tablet exhibited similar pharmacokinetic profiles to those of reference drugs (Plavix^® and Crestor^®) in beagle dogs, and there was no statistically significant difference in the maximum plasma concentration (C_max), the time to reach the maximum plasma concentration (T_max), or the area under the plasma-concentration time curve (AUC) between the test and reference formulations. The storage stability tests showed that the amounts of acid degradation products and total impurities were comparable to that of the reference drug. In conclusion, the present study successfully developed a stable multilayer-coated tablet containing both clopidogrel and rosuvastatin that may improve the patient compliance in combination therapy for cardiovascular diseases.

Assessment of the efficacy and tolerability of clopidogrel napadisilate in Korean patients with coronary stenting: a multicenter, prospective, open-label, randomized trial

OBJECTIVE

Clopidogrel is indicated for the treatment and prevention of peripheral vascular, cerebrovascular, and coronary artery diseases. This clinical trial was designed to demonstrate that clopidogrel napadisilate (CN) is not inferior to clopidogrel bisulfate (CB) with respect to its effectiveness in inhibiting platelet aggregation.

METHODS

This 4 week multi-center, prospective, open-label, randomized trial was conducted at five clinical centers in South Korea. Patients were randomized into the 75 mg CN group or the 75 mg CB group. Platelet aggregation was assessed by the VerifyNow assay. The primary outcome was the difference of the percentage P2Y12 inhibition and the secondary outcome was the baseline and change in P2Y12 reaction units (PRU).

RESULTS

There was no significant difference in the percentage P2Y12 inhibition (CN vs. CB, 34.92 ± 21.33% vs. 30.43 ± 17.90%, p=0.203). The mean difference of the percentage P2Y12 inhibition between groups was 4.49%, their two-sided 95% confidence interval was -2.45% to 11.44%, and the lower bound (-2.45%) was greater than the acceptable non-inferiority margin of -9.0%. The baseline PRU was 96.67 ± 76.76 in the CN group and 216.95 ± 68.86 in the CB group (p=0.121), and the change in the PRU was -3.32 ± 51.71 in the CN group and 10.52 ± 43.31 in the CB group (p=0.106). Four subjects experienced AEs (6.3%, 5 events) in the CN group and 7 subjects (11.11%, 13 events) in the CB group without statistical significance (p=0.364). With respect to serious adverse events, 2 events were reported in 2 subjects, 1 in each group.

CONCLUSION

Clopidogrel napadisilate was not inferior to clopidogrel bisulfate in terms of antiplatelet efficacy and tolerability, and there were no clinically significant adverse events.

Comparison of antiplatelet effect and safety of clopidogrel napadisilate with clopidogrel bisulfate in coronary artery disease patients: multi-center, randomized, double-blind, phase IV, non-inferiority clinical trial

BACKGROUND

Clopidogrel napadisilate has better clopidogrel stability than clopidogrel bisulfate. There are no data, however, on the antiplatelet efficacy and tolerability of clopidogrel napadisilate in coronary artery disease (CAD) patients.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study is to demonstrate that the combination therapy of aspirin and clopidogrel napadisilate is not inferior to that of aspirin and clopidogrel bisulfate with respect to its effectiveness in inhibiting platelet aggregation, if it is given for 4 weeks to CAD patients who had been treated with a drug-eluting stent more than 12 months prior and had remained in a stable condition with a single antiplatelet agent, aspirin.

METHODS

This study was a prospective, randomized, double-blind, double-dummy, parallel-group, phase IV clinical trial. A total of 162 patients were prospectively recruited from three centers. The subjects were randomized to either the test group that was treated with 75 mg of clopidogrel napadisilate once daily or to the control group that was treated with 75 mg of clopidogrel bisulfate once daily. The primary outcome was the percent inhibition of the platelet aggregation change after the medication, as assessed by a VerifyNow™ P2Y12 assay. The secondary outcome was the change in P2Y12 reaction units (PRUs) from the baseline to the end of 4 weeks of treatment. The prevalence of adverse events was assessed at each visit through a direct interview.

RESULTS

The mean increase in the percent inhibition after 4 weeks of treatment was 19.4 % in the clopidogrel napadisilate group and 19.5 % in the clopidogrel bisulfate group. The lower bound of the 95 % two-sided confidence interval for the difference in the change between the two groups (-5.46) was greater than the pre-defined non-inferiority margin of (-10.5). Therefore, clopidogrel napadisilate was deemed non-inferior to clopidogrel bisulfate with respect to its effectiveness in inhibiting platelet aggregation. The PRU decreased by 73.1 ± 30.7 in the clopidogrel napadisilate group, which decreased by -7.8 more than in the clopidogrel bisulfate group (65.3 ± 62.1); but the difference between the two groups was statistically insignificant (p = 0.435). There was no significant difference in the drug-related adverse events between the two groups (12.3 vs. 10.1 %; p = 0.804).

CONCLUSION

The platelet inhibitory efficacy of clopidogrel napadisilate is not inferior to that of clopidogrel bisulfate. There were also no statistically significant differences between the two treatment groups in the safety analyses. Therefore, clopidogrel napadisilate can be a suitable alternative to clopidogrel bisulfate in stable CAD patients who have undergone a drug-eluting stent placement.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

Registered at ClinicalTrials.gov as NCT01830491.

Comparison of clinical efficacy and safety of clopidogrel resinate with clopidogrel bisulfate in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention

OBJECTIVE

A new polymeric salt form of clopidogrel, clopidogrel resinate (CR), is a resinate complex of the (+)-clopidogrel optical isomer wherein the (+)-clopidogrel isomer binds to a water-soluble cation exchange resin via sulfonic acid groups. CR was approved for marketing by the Korean Food and Drug Administration based on a Phase I bioequivalence study. However, no data are available regarding its impact on adverse clinical outcomes in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

METHODS

Clopidogrel bisulfate (CB) was used exclusively from January 2004 through April 2010, after which CR was exclusively administered from May 2010 through September 2011, in 8 centers. We categorized the overall population (N = 10,487) into two groups according to the prescribed clopidogrel type: CB (n = 9,127) or CR (n = 1,360). To minimize the covariate imbalance and confounding in comparing CB and CR, we used a multivariable Cox proportional hazard regression model and the propensity score (PS) method to identify a 1:1 matched cohort (n = 2,470). We compared cumulative adverse outcomes during a 1-year follow-up after PCI in the overall population and in the PS-matched cohort.

RESULTS

In the overall population, there is no difference in the 1-year cumulative event rates between the two groups (CB : CR) : composite of any death, nonfatal myocardial infarction or stroke (6.0 % vs. 6.0 %, adjusted HR, 0.82; 95 % CI, 0.61-1.11, p = 0.57), stent thrombosis (0.4 % vs. 0.2 %; adjusted HR, 0.40; 95 % CI, 0.09-1.72, p = 0.31), and bleeding (0.9 % vs. 0.6 %; adjusted HR, 0.67; 95 % CI, 0.28-1.58, p = 0.22). In the PS-matched cohort, the overall findings were consistent.

CONCLUSIONS

In this large real-world PCI population, CR was as effective and as safe as CB in preventing adverse clinical outcomes.

Comparison of antiplatelet efficacy and tolerability of clopidogrel napadisilate with clopidogrel bisulfate in coronary artery disease patients after percutaneous coronary intervention: a prospective, multicenter, randomized, open-label, phase IV, noninferiority trial

BACKGROUND

Clopidogrel bisulfate, a potent antiplatelet agent, has a pivotal role in the prevention and treatment of atherothrombotic disease. Clopidogrel napadisilate, a different salt preparation of clopidogrel, has been developed and approved in Korea and several European countries. Recent studies have suggested that clopidogrel napadisilate might have improved stability and comparable bioequivalence to clopidogrel bisulfate. However, these 2 clopidogrel preparations have not been compared in terms of efficacy and tolerability in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

OBJECTIVE

We sought to investigate the antiplatelet efficacy and safety profile of clopidogrel napadisilate compared with clopidogrel bisulfate in CAD patients after PCI.

METHODS

This was a randomized, multicenter, open-label, Phase IV, noninferiority clinical trial. We prospectively recruited CAD patient in 6 institutions in Korea between October 2010 and November 2011. Patients who underwent PCI were randomly assigned to the test group (clopidogrel napadisilate plus aspirin) or control group (clopidogrel bisulfate plus aspirin). Antiplatelet efficacy and safety profile were assessed after 4 weeks of maintenance treatment. The primary end point was noninferiority of the percentage of P2Y(12) inhibition, measured by point-of-care assay. The rate of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), as a secondary end point, was compared between the 2 clopidogrel preparations. To assess tolerability, we evaluated the incidence, severity, and causal relation of adverse events (AEs) of 2 groups.

RESULTS

A total of 169 patients were screened, and 127 patients completed the study (64 in the test group and 63 in the control group; P = 0.296). The baseline characteristics of patients did not differ significantly between the treatment groups. The between-group difference in percentage of P2Y(12) inhibition did not exceed the prespecified limit for noninferiority (P for noninferiority = 0.032; 95% CI, -8.33 to 5.53). With respect to the risk of MACE, no significant difference was found in the incidence of myocardial infarction or stroke between the groups (1 in the test group and 2 in the control group; P > 0.99); no mortality was reported in either group. The tolerability of clopidogrel napadisilate was comparable with that of clopidogrel bisulfate in terms of all AEs, drug-related AEs, and serious AEs (all AEs: test group, 33.3%; control group, 32.9% [P > 0.99]; drug-related AEs: test group, 4.17%; control group, 0% [P = 0.113]; serious AEs: test group, 1.39%; control group, 5.26% [P=0.367]).

CONCLUSIONS

In this study of CAD Korean patients who have undergone PCI, the antiplatelet efficacy of clopidogrel napadisilate was noninferior to that of clopidogrel bisulfate after 4 weeks of maintenance treatment. No statistically significant difference was found in tolerability between the 2 treatment groups.

Strategies to address low drug solubility in discovery and development

Drugs with low water solubility are predisposed to low and variable oral bioavailability and, therefore, to variability in clinical response. Despite significant efforts to "design in" acceptable developability properties (including aqueous solubility) during lead optimization, approximately 40% of currently marketed compounds and most current drug development candidates remain poorly water-soluble. The fact that so many drug candidates of this type are advanced into development and clinical assessment is testament to an increasingly sophisticated understanding of the approaches that can be taken to promote apparent solubility in the gastrointestinal tract and to support drug exposure after oral administration. Here we provide a detailed commentary on the major challenges to the progression of a poorly water-soluble lead or development candidate and review the approaches and strategies that can be taken to facilitate compound progression. In particular, we address the fundamental principles that underpin the use of strategies, including pH adjustment and salt-form selection, polymorphs, cocrystals, cosolvents, surfactants, cyclodextrins, particle size reduction, amorphous solid dispersions, and lipid-based formulations. In each case, the theoretical basis for utility is described along with a detailed review of recent advances in the field. The article provides an integrated and contemporary discussion of current approaches to solubility and dissolution enhancement but has been deliberately structured as a series of stand-alone sections to allow also directed access to a specific technology (e.g., solid dispersions, lipid-based formulations, or salt forms) where required.

Comparison of antiplatelet effect and tolerability of clopidogrel resinate with clopidogrel bisulfate in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) or CHD-equivalent risks: a phase IV, prospective, double-dummy, parallel-group, 4-week noninferiority trial

BACKGROUND

Clopidogrel resinate is a resinate complex of (+)-clopidogrel optical isomer, wherein the (+)-clopidogrel isomer binds to a water-soluble cation exchange resin via sulfonic acid groups. It was approved by the Korean Food and Drug Administration on the basis of a Phase I study that demonstrated the bioequivalence of clopidogrel resinate and clopidogrel bisulfate. However, there are no available data regarding efficacy and tolerability in patients with vascular disease.

OBJECTIVE

The goal of this study was to investigate the antiplatelet efficacy and tolerability of clopidogrel resinate in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) or CHD-equivalent risks.

METHODS

This study was a Phase IV, randomized, double-blind, double-dummy, parallel-group, noninferiority trial. We prospectively recruited patients in 10 centers between March 2008 and July 2008. Patients who had documented CHD or CHD-equivalent risks were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 groups: group A, aspirin (100 mg) + clopidogrel bisulfate placebo + clopidogrel resinate placebo; group B, aspirin (100 mg) + clopidogrel bisulfate placebo + clopidogrel resinate (75 mg); or group C, aspirin (100 mg) + clopidogrel bisulfate (75 mg) + clopidogrel resinate placebo. The primary outcome was the percent P2Y(12) inhibition after medication, assessed by using a point-of-care assay. If the 1-sided 90% upper confidence limit for the difference was less than the prespecified delta value (-5.7), clopidogrel resinate would be considered noninferior to clopidogrel bisulfate. The secondary outcome, the prevalence of adverse events (AEs) associated with study medications, was assessed at each visit by direct interview.

RESULTS

A total of 314 patients (mean [SD] age, 62.2 [9.0] years; male 63.7%; weight, 67.3 [13.6] kg [range, 45-102 kg]; all Asian) were enrolled, and 287 patients finished the study (group A, n = 97; group B, n = 90; and group C, n = 100). Eight patients took no study medications and were excluded from the tolerability and efficacy analyses. Nineteen patients discontinued the study because of protocol violation (n = 15), adverse events (n = 3), or voluntary withdrawal (n = 1) and were excluded from the efficacy analysis. There were no significant differences in baseline clinical characteristics among the groups except for the frequency of a history of CHD (group A, 85.4%; group B, 73.0%; and group C, 88.3%; P = 0.01). Patients treated with either type of clopidogrel showed significant inhibition (mean [SD]) of P2Y(12) (group A, -5.9% [15.1%]; group B, 23.4% [21.9%]; and group C, 19.5% [23.8%]; P < 0.001). Differences between clopidogrel resinate and clopidogrel bisulfate in the inhibition of P2Y(12) did not exceed the predetermined value for inferiority (P for noninferiority, 0.02; 90% CI, -0.9 to 10.3). In the tolerability analysis, there was no mortality during the study period and no significant differences between groups in the frequency of AEs and serious AEs (AEs: group A, 33.0%; group B, 26.0%; and group C, 23.3% [P = 0.27]; serious AEs: group A, 1.0%; group B, 3.0%; and group C, 1.0% [P = 0.42]). One patient in group B underwent coronary stent implantation for treatment of stable angina.

CONCLUSIONS

In this small, selected Asian patient population, differences in the platelet inhibition efficacies of clopidogrel resinate and clopidogrel bisulfate did not exceed the predetermined limits for noninferiority. The differences in tolerability between the 2 drugs did not reach statistical significance.