A validated RP-HPLC method for the determination of rosuvastatin in presence of sacubitril/valsartan in rat plasma: Application to in vivo evaluation of OATP-mediated drug interaction potential between rosuvastatin and sacubitril/valsartan

Bioanalytical HPLC method with fluorescence detector for determination of Entresto™ when co-administered with ibuprofen and fexofenadine: a pharmacokinetic study

Entresto™ (LCZ696) has been approved globally for heart failure management. However, its lifelong use alongside over-the-counter (OTC) drugs like ibuprofen (IBU) and fexofenadine (FEX) necessitates an in-depth investigation of potential pharmacokinetic interactions, as they share the same metabolic and elimination pathways. This study aimed to develop a bioanalytical HPLC method with a fluorescence detector (FLD) to quantify LCZ696 analytes (valsartan, VAL; sacubitril, SAC; and sacubitril active metabolite, LBQ657) in rat plasma. Additionally, an in vivo study was performed to investigate the pharmacokinetic interactions of LCZ696 with IBU and FEX. Utilizing HPLC with a gradient-mode mobile phase of acetonitrile and 0.025 M phosphate buffer (pH 3), the study demonstrated a significant increase in the bioavailability of LCZ696 analytes (VAL and LBQ657) when co-administered with IBU (C max 0.23 ± 0.07 and 0.53 ± 0.21 μg mL-1, respectively) compared to the control (0.17 ± 0.03 and 0.33 ± 0.14 μg mL-1). A more significant increase in C max was noticed with FEX (0.38 ± 0.01 and 0.77 ± 0.18 μg mL-1, respectively). Moreover, a decrease in the clearance (Cl/F) of VAL and LBQ657 was observed (18.05 ± 1.94 and 12.42 ± 2.97 L h-1 kg, respectively) with a more pronounced effect in the case of FEX (30.87 ± 4.29 and 33.14 ± 9.57 L h-1 kg, respectively) compared to the control (49.99 ± 7.31 and 51.19 ± 9.12 L h-1 kg, respectively). In conclusion, our study underscores the importance of cautious administration and appropriate dose spacing of IBU and FEX in patients treated with LCZ696 to prevent elevated serum concentrations and potential toxicity. The novelty of this work lies in its dual contribution: developing a highly sensitive HPLC-FLD method and comprehensively elucidating significant pharmacokinetic interactions between LCZ696 and common OTC drugs.

Fabricating Ultrathin Imprinting Layer for Fast Capture of Valsartan via a Metal Affinity-Oriented Surface Imprinting Method

Rapid separation and enrichment of targets in biological matrixes are of significant interest in multiple life sciences disciplines. Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) have vital applications in extraction and sample cleanup owing to their excellent specificity and selectivity. However, the low mass transfer rate, caused by the heterogeneity of imprinted cavities in polymer networks and strong driving forces, significantly limits its application in high-throughput analysis. Herein, one novel metal affinity-oriented surface imprinting method was proposed to fabricate an MIP with an ultrathin imprinting layer. MIPs were prepared by immobilized template molecules on magnetic nanoparticles (NPs) with metal ions as bridges via coordination, and then polymerization was done. Under the optimized conditions, the thickness of the imprinting layer was merely 1 nm, and the adsorption toward VAL well matched the Langmuir model. Moreover, it took just 5 min to achieve adsorption equilibrium significantly faster than other reported MIPs toward VAL. Adsorption capacity still can reach 25.3 mg/g ascribed to the high imprinting efficiency of the method (the imprinting factor was as high as 5). All evidence proved that recognition sites were all external cavities and were evenly distributed on the surface of the NPs. The obtained MIP NPs exhibited excellent selectivity and specificity toward VAL, with good dispersibility and stability. Coupled with high-performance liquid chromatography, it was successfully used as a dispersed solid phase extraction material to determine VAL in serum. Average recoveries are over 90.0% with relative standard deviations less than 2.14% at three spiked levels (n = 3). All evidence testified that the MIPs fabricated with the proposed method showed a fast trans mass rate and a large rebinding capacity. The method can potentially use high-throughput separation and enrichment of target molecules in batch samples to meet practical applications.

Stability-indicating RP-HPLC assay of three novel oral anticoagulants binary mixtures with rosuvastatin calcium: Application to pharmaceutical preparations and human plasma

The binary mixtures of the novel oral anticoagulants (NOACs); Apixaban (APX), Edoxaban tosylate (EDX) and Rivaroxaban (RIV) with the lipid lowering statin; Rosuvastatin calcium were analyzed using a validated HPLC-DAD method. This method was suitable for the quantitative assay of the targeted mixtures in tablets and human plasma. The analysis in dosage form was a stability indicating one where the drugs were separated from possible degradation products arising from applying different stress conditions. For analysis in human plasma, EDX was used as internal standard in APX/ROS and RIV/ROS mixtures, while APX was used as internal standard in EDX/ROS mixture and the method was validated according to FDA regulation for analysis in biological fluids. A ZORBAX Eclipse column C18 (4.6 × 150 mm × 5 µm) was used as stationary phase with a gradient eluting mobile phase composed of acidified water and acetonitrile. The method selectivity was demonstrated by its ability to simultaneously analyze the drugs in presence of possible forced degradation products and dosage form excipients and in presence of plasma interferences (analysis in biological fluid) at a single wavelength (291 nm) with the use of the internal standard. The simplicity of the method emphasizes its capability to analyze the drugs in pharmaceutical preparations and human plasma. This is very important in regular clinical monitoring of the drugs plasma concentrations for cardiovascular patients medicated with either of these combinations, as prophylaxis from stroke, in order to prevent severe bleeding and to achieve optimum dose adjustment.

Potential Safety Signals for Rhabdomyolysis Associated With High-Potency Statin Use With or Without Sacubitril/Valsartan

Regarding the drug interactions between sacubitril/valsartan and statins, we identified 3 reports of rhabdomyolysis with high-potency statins. However, it remains unknown whether the combined use of these medications could lead to additive or synergistic effects on rhabdomyolysis. This study aims to assess the disproportionality in reporting rhabdomyolysis for these medications when used alone or in combination. Case reports from the United States Food and Drug Administration's Adverse Event Reporting System from 1991 to Q4/2020 were used. Queries extracted reports based on exposure to statins alone, sacubitril/valsartan alone, and statin+sacubitril/valsartan each. Proportional reporting ratios (PRR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated, where a lower limit of the 95% CI (Lower 95% CI) value of ≥2.0 was interpreted as a safety signal. Lower 95% CIs for statins other than rosuvastatin alone demonstrated no potential safety signals for rhabdomyolysis, death, or the control event. The PRRs and 95% CI for rhabdomyolysis were 2.39 (2.01 to 2.84) with rosuvastatin alone and 2.06 (2.01 to 2.12) for sacubitril/valsartan alone. For atorvastatin+sacubitril/valsartan, the PRR and 95% CI were 0.95 (0.64 to 1.40). Statin+sacubitril/valsartan was not associated with a safety signal. However, rosuvastatin alone and sacubitril/valsartan alone were associated with rhabdomyolysis.

Rosuvastatin exposure in female Wistar rats alters uterine contractility and do not show evident (anti)estrogenic effects

Statins are 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-CoA (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitor drugs that lead to serum-cholesterol-lowering effects. Rosuvastatin, a third-generation statin, has shown better results in reducing cholesterol concentrations when compared to other widely prescribed statins. Recent studies by our group reported that rosuvastatin impairs reproductive function in rats possibly by disrupting the reproductive-endocrine axis. In this study, we evaluated whether rosuvastatin presents estrogenic or antiestrogenic effects, by an in vivo uterotrophic assay in rats, and investigated the direct effect of this drug upon rat uterine tissue contractility both in non-gravid and gravid periods. Rosuvastatin exposure in vivo at doses of 0 (control), 3, and 10 mg/kg/d was not associated with estrogenic or antiestrogenic effects on uterine tissue. However, in vivo (doses of 0, 3, and 10 mg/kg/d) and ex vivo (concentrations of 0, 1, 10, and 100 µg/mL) exposures to this drug were related to alterations in uterine basal contraction pattern. Furthermore, in vivo and ex vivo rosuvastatin exposures potentially modulate the action of uterine contraction inducers carbachol, norepinephrine, and prostaglandin E2. Thus, rosuvastatin can affect uterine physiology not necessarily by an endocrine mechanism related to the estrogen signaling, but possibly by its pleiotropic effects, with indirect tissue and cellular interactions, since in vivo and ex vivo exposures of uterine fragments to rosuvastatin presented different responses in uterine contractile parameters, which require further studies upon the precise mechanism of action of this drug in female reproductive function.