Pharmacokinetics and Drug-Drug Interaction of Ocedurenone (KBP-5074) in vitro and in vivo

A review of novel endothelin antagonists and overview of non-steroidal mineralocorticoid antagonists for treating resistant hypertension: An update

Several agents are emerging from five different novel classes of antihypertensive medications. We will focus on endothelin antagonists and non-steroidal mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists. While several agents exist in this later class, only a couple have demonstrated superior efficacy in resistant hypertension management. Endothelin receptor antagonists are effective therapy for primary and resistant hypertension, but they are not widely used. This is due to side effects demonstrated in large clinical trials, specifically increased peripheral edema and worsening heart failure in some cases, as well as the availability of many alternative agents to manage blood pressure effectively. However, the relationship between endothelin and its close ties to hypertension is evolving. Recent pre-clinical work explores new applications of more selective endothelin receptor antagonists. They suggest that specific subtypes of hypertension may benefit more from endothelin receptor blockade than simply those with primary hypertension. We review this topic and other related data. Lastly, we also provide a brief overview of non-steroidal mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists as some in the class show promise as antihypertensive agents.

Pharmacokinetics of the Novel Nonsteroidal Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonist Ocedurenone (KBP-5074) in Individuals with Moderate Hepatic Impairment

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Ocedurenone (KBP-5074) is a novel nonsteroidal mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist that has demonstrated safety and efficacy in clinical trials in patients with uncontrolled hypertension and stage 3b/4 chronic kidney disease. The aim of this study was to assess the pharmacokinetics, safety, and tolerability of ocedurenone in individuals with moderate hepatic impairment.

METHODS

This study was an open-label, nonrandomized, multi-center study investigating the pharmacokinetics, safety, and tolerability of a single dose of 0.5 mg ocedurenone administered orally in male and female subjects with moderate hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh B, score 7-9) compared with subjects with normal hepatic function. Serial blood samples were obtained from predose through 264 h postdose for analysis of ocedurenone concentrations using a validated liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method. Free ocedurenone concentrations in plasma were determined ex vivo using equilibrium dialysis.

RESULTS

Following a single oral dose of 0.5 mg ocedurenone administered to subjects with moderate hepatic impairment and subjects with normal hepatic function, ocedurenone was steadily absorbed with median time to peak drug concentration (Tmax) values of 4 and 3 h, respectively. After reaching maximum plasma concentration (Cmax), the disposition of ocedurenone appeared to be biphasic. The geometric mean t1/2 values for the moderate hepatic impairment group and normal hepatic function group were 75.6 and 65.7 h, respectively. Ocedurenone systemic exposure, as assessed by area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) was 23.5-26.6% lower in subjects with moderate hepatic impairment versus subjects with normal hepatic function, whereas Cmax was 41.2% lower. Ocedurenone was determined to be > 99.7% bound to total protein in plasma. Hepatic impairment appeared not to change plasma protein binding or the unbound free fraction. Ocedurenone was safe and well-tolerated in all participants.

CONCLUSIONS

Considering the long half-life of ocedurenone and previously completed clinical studies using 0.25 mg and 0.5 mg doses demonstrating efficacy and safety, the observed decreases in AUC and Cmax do not warrant a dose adjustment in patients with moderate hepatic impairment. A single 0.5 mg dose of ocedurenone was safe and well-tolerated when administered to subjects with moderate hepatic impairment and subjects with normal hepatic function. CLINICAL TRIAL IDENTIFIER ( WWW.

CLINICALTRIALS

GOV ): NCT04534699.

Molecular pharmacology of mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists: The role of co-regulators

Mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) antagonists have shown remarkable benefits in the treatment of cardiovascular disease. However, their underutilization in clinical practice may be attributed to concerns regarding the risk of hyperkalemia. An ideal selective MR modulator would inhibit the detrimental effects of MR in non-epithelial cells of the cardiovascular system while sparing its physiological function in kidney epithelial cells, thereby reducing the risk of adverse events. To address this issue, a new generation of non-steroidal MR antagonists, including esaxereneone, balcinrenone, ocedurenone, and finerenone, has been developed with distinct molecular structures and pharmacology. They share a mechanism of action that is different from the previously developed steroidal MR antagonists, leading to altered co-regulator interaction, potentially involving conformational changes of the receptor. Interfering with MR co-regulator interaction or the co-regulator itself may enable selective targeting of downstream signaling cascades and - in the long term - lead to more personalized medicine. In this review article, we summarize what is currently known about the mechanisms of action of the different MR antagonists with a focus on MR co-factor interaction and what may be inferred from this for future developments.