THU0101 ASP015K: A Novel Jak Inhibitor Demonstrated Potent Efficacy in Adjuvant-Induced Arthritis Model in Rats

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.

European League against rheumatism - selected presentation and poster a highlights June 11th to 13th 2013

INTRODUCTION

The heterogeneous pathology of many autoimmune diseases warrants the continual discovery and development of new drugs. Drawing on selected oral presentations and selected poster displays, this article highlights some new developments in the pharmacological validation of molecular targets implicated in inflammatory autoimmune disease and may be of direct importance to scientists working in this field.

AREAS COVERED

This report describes the current state of the pharmacology of selected drugs and targets which may have utility in modulating immune function and autoimmune inflammatory disease.

EXPERT OPINION

Many new molecules are progressing through clinical development for the treatment of rheumatological diseases. The value of the basic nonclinical and clinical research presented is to further pharmacological knowledge of the molecule, better understand the benefit-risk associated with clinical development and to assist in supporting the potential position of a new drug in the current treatment paradigm.