Simultaneous determination of ornidazole and its main metabolites in human plasma by LC–MS/MS: application to a pharmacokinetic study

Chemical, Analytical and Pharmacokinetic Characterisation of RO7304898, an API Consisting of Two Rapidly Interconverting Diastereoisomers

PURPOSE

Exploration of the chemical, analytical and pharmacokinetic properties of the API, RO7304898, an allosteric EGFR inhibitor, intended to be developed as a mixture of two rapidly interconverting diastereoisomers with composition ratio of approximately 1:1.

METHODS

Assessment of diastereoisomer stereochemistry, interconversion rates, binding to EGFR protein, metabolic stability and in vivo PK in Wistar-Han rats was conducted.

RESULTS

The two diastereoisomers of the API undergo fast interconversion at physiologically relevant pH and direct EGFR binding studies revealed diastereoisomer B to be the active moiety. Pharmacokinetic studies in rat revealed a low-moderate total plasma clearance of the API along with similar plasma concentration-time profiles for diastereoisomers A and B, and the diastereoisomeric ratio reached stable equilibrium favoring formation of the potent diastereoisomer B. In in vitro incubations, the API was metabolically stable in plasma and hepatocyte suspension incubations in all species tested except that of rat hepatocytes. Additionally, only small species differences in the A:B composition were observed in vitro with the potent diastereoisomer B being the predominant form.

CONCLUSIONS

We demonstrated that the API, a mixture of two diastereoisomers; A (impotent) and B (potent), undergoes rapid interconversion which is faster than the apparent distribution and elimination rates of the individual diastereoisomers in vivo in rat, serving to diminish concerns that separate diastereoisomer effects may occur in subsequent pharmacologic and pivotal toxicological studies. Whilst vigilant monitoring of the diastereoisomeric ratio will need to be continued, this data adds confidence on the development pathway for this API to the clinic.

Pharmacokinetics of Levornidazole Tablet in Healthy Chinese Subjects and Proposed Dosing Regimen Based on Pharmacokinetic/Pharmacodynamic Analysis

INTRODUCTION

Levornidazole is a novel nitroimidazole antimicrobial agent active against anaerobes. We aimed to investigate the pharmacokinetic (PK) profile of levornidazole after single and multiple oral doses of levornidazole tablets in healthy Chinese subjects and propose the dosing regimen based on pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) analysis.

METHODS

A single-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted with a single ascending dose (250, 500, 1000, and 1500 mg) and multiple doses of 500 mg levornidazole q12h for 7 days. Food effect on PK and absolute bioavailability were investigated at the 500 mg dose level. Blood and urine samples were collected to determine the PK parameters of levornidazole. The probability of target attainment (PTA) and cumulative fraction of response (CFR) were calculated by Monte Carlo simulation to predict the clinical efficacy of levornidazole tablets.

RESULTS

Plasma concentration reached peak about 0.5 h after single dose (250-1500 mg) of levornidazole tablets. The maximal concentration (C_max) and exposure (AUC_0-∞) of levornidazole increased linearly with dose. High-fat diet did not affect the absorption extent of levornidazole tablets. The absolute oral bioavailability of levornidazole tablets was 98.3% ± 7.6%, associated with large apparent volume of distribution (48.68 ± 4.92 l) and long half-life (11.93 ± 1.28 h). The urinary excretion of levornidazole was 7.99%. Levornidazole, administered at either 500 mg q12h or 750 mg q24h, achieved a CFR > 95.4% and PTA > 99% for B. fragilis (minimum inhibitory concentration ≤ 1.0 mg/l) infections.

CONCLUSION

Levornidazole tablets are absorbed rapidly and completely and distributed extensively with a long half-life and low urinary excretion after a single dose or multiple doses in healthy Chinese subjects. Levornidazole tablets can be taken with or without food. Levornidazole tablets 500 mg q12h and 750 mg q24h are expected to achieve the desired efficacy in B. fragilis infections.

CLINICAL TRAIL REGISTRATION

Trial registration number CTR20160786 at http://www.chinadrugtrials.org.cn/ .

Rapid and Simultaneous Analysis of Multiple Classes of Antimicrobial Drugs by Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry and Its Application to Routine Biomedical, Food, and Soil Analyses

Antimicrobial agents (AMAs) are widely exploited nowadays to meet the high demand for animal-derived food. It has a significant impact on the food chain whose end consumers are human beings. The burden of AMAs on humans comes from either meat or crops cultivated on soil containing high residual antibiotics, which are responsible for the global crisis of antibiotic resistance. Thus, the objective of this study was to design a selective and sensitive liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS)/MS-based simultaneous bioanalytical method for estimation of twenty AMAs in human plasma, raw meat, and soil samples. The selective extraction of all analytes from the above matrices was performed by the solid-phase extraction clean-up method to overcome the interferences. Analytes were separated on a Waters Symmetry Shield C18 (150 × 4.6 mm², 5 μm) column, using an isocratic solvent system of methanol-0.5% formic acid (80:20, v/v) with 0.75 mL/min flow rate. The average extraction recoveries for all analytes in plasma were ranged from 42.0 to 94.0% with relative standard deviations (RSDs) below ±15%. All of the validation parameters are in accordance with the United State Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) guidelines. Moreover, the method was also valid for a broad plasma concentration range and can be proposed as an excellent method for routine pharmacokinetic studies, therapeutic drug monitoring, clinical analysis, and detection and quantitation of AMA remnants in raw meat as a standard quality control test for human consumption.

Pharmacokinetics of ebeiedinone in mouse blood by UPLC–MS/MS

An ultra-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC–MS/MS) method was established to determine ebeiedinone in mouse blood, and the pharmacokinetics of ebeiedinone after intravenous (0.5 mg/kg) and oral (2, 4, and 8 mg/kg) administration was studied. Twenty-four mice were randomly divided into 4 groups, 1 group was for intravenous administration (0.5 mg/kg), and other 3 groups were for oral administration (2, 4, and 8 mg/kg), with 6 rats in each group. Yubeinine was used as an internal standard. Multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode was used to quantitatively analyzed ebeiedinone m/z 414.4 → 91.1 and the internal standard m/z 430.4 → 412.3 in the electrospray ionization (ESI) positive interface. In the concentration range of 1–2000 ng/mL, the ebeiedinone in the mouse blood was linear (r2 > 0.995), and the lower limit of quantification was 1.0 ng/mL. In the mouse blood, the intra-day precision coefficient of variation (CV) was less than 15%, and the inter-day precision CV was less than 15%. The accuracy ranged from 85.4% to 114.6%, and the average recovery was higher than 61.3%. The matrix effect was between 87.0% and 106.5%. These data met the pharmacokinetic study requirements of ebeiedinone. The UPLC–MS/MS method was sensitive, rapid, and selective and was successfully applied to the pharmacokinetic study of ebeiedinone in mice. The absolute bioavailability of ebeiedinone was 30.6%.

Validation of Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry Coupled with Electrospray Ionization Method for Quantitative Determination of Ornidazole in Solid Dispersion

Background and Objective:

The present study describes the UPLC-MS/MS method validation for the analysis of ornidazole in solid dispersion.

Methods:

The proposed UPLC-MS/MS method utilizes BEH Shield RP18 column (2.1 mm 100 mm, 1.7 μm) with a gradient programmed mobile phase composed of water and acetonitrile at a flow rate of 0.4 mL/min which varies with time program. Ornidazole was detected by UPLC-MS/MS with three proton adducts at m/z 82.04, 128.05 as daughter ions and 220.03 as a parent ion in Multiple Reaction Monitoring (MRM) operated in positive mode.

Results:

Adducts at m/z 128.05 was found to be the most stable and showed higher intensity was selected for quantification of ornidaozle in solid dispersion. In the method, validation linearity was determined at concentration range of 10-100ng/mL and a correlation coefficient was found (r2) ≥0.9994. The limit of detection and limit of quantification were found to be 1.5 and 4 ng/mL, respectively. Inter and Intra-day precision was found within 0.33 and 0.11% and accuracy within 100.08% and 100.04%.

Conclusion:

A sensitive and selective UPLC-MS/MS method had been validated for the analysis of ornidazole in solid dispersion. The proposed method of analysis of ornidazole in solid dispersion can be used in quality control laboratories.

Glucuronidation: driving factors and their impact on glucuronide disposition

Glucuronidation is a well-recognized phase II metabolic pathway for a variety of chemicals including drugs and endogenous substances. Although it is usually the secondary metabolic pathway for a compound preceded by phase I hydroxylation, glucuronidation alone could serve as the dominant metabolic pathway for many compounds, including some with high aqueous solubility. Glucuronidation involves the metabolism of parent compound by UDP-glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs) into hydrophilic and negatively charged glucuronides that cannot exit the cell without the aid of efflux transporters. Therefore, elimination of parent compound via glucuronidation in a metabolic active cell is controlled by two driving forces: the formation of glucuronides by UGT enzymes and the (polarized) excretion of these glucuronides by efflux transporters located on the cell surfaces in various drug disposition organs. Contrary to the common assumption that the glucuronides reaching the systemic circulation were destined for urinary excretion, recent evidences suggest that hepatocytes are capable of highly efficient biliary clearance of the gut-generated glucuronides. Furthermore, the biliary- and enteric-eliminated glucuronides participate into recycling schemes involving intestinal microbes, which often prolong their local and systemic exposure, albeit at low systemic concentrations. Taken together, these recent research advances indicate that although UGT determines the rate and extent of glucuronide generation, the efflux and uptake transporters determine the distribution of these glucuronides into blood and then to various organs for elimination. Recycling schemes impact the apparent plasma half-life of parent compounds and their glucuronides that reach intestinal lumen, in addition to prolonging their gut and colon exposure.

Pharmacokinetic study of ardisiacrispin A in rat plasma after intravenous administration by UPLC-MS/MS

In this work, a sensitive and selective UPLC-MS/MS method for determination of ardisiacrispin A in rat plasma was developed. Cyasterone used as an internal standard (IS) and protein precipitation by acetonitrile-methanol (9:1, v/v) was used to prepare samples. Chromatographic separation was achieved on a UPLC BEH C₁₈ column (2.1 × 100 mm, 1.7 μm) with 0.1% formic acid and acetonitrile as the mobile phase with gradient elution. An electrospray ionization source was applied and operated in positive ion mode; multiple reaction monitoring mode was used for quantification using target fragment ions m/z 1083.5 → 407.1 for ardisiacrispin A and m/z 521.3 → 485.2 for IS. Calibration plots were linear throughout the range 5-2000 ng/mL for ardisiacrispin A in rat plasma. Mean recoveries of ardisiacrispin A in rat plasma ranged from 80.4 to 92.6%. The values of RSD of intra- and inter-day precision were both <11%. The accuracy of the method was between 97.3 and 105.6%. The method was successfully applied to pharmacokinetic study of ardisiacrispin A after intravenous administration in rats.

Pharmacokinetic study of dendrobine in rat plasma by ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry

Dendrobine, considered as the major active alkaloid compound, has been used for the quality control and discrimination of Dendrobium which is documented in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia. In this work, a sensitive and simple ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) method for determination of dendrobine in rat plasma is developed. After addition of caulophyline as an internal standard (IS), protein precipitation by acetonitrile-methanol (9:1, v/v) was used to prepare samples. Chromatographic separation was achieved on a UPLC BEH C18 (2.1 ×100 mm, 1.7 µm) column with acetonitrile and 0.1% formic acid as the mobile phase with gradient elution. An electrospray ionization source was applied and operated in positive ion mode; multiple reaction monitoring mode was used for quantification using target fragment ions m/z 264.2 → 70.0 for dendrobine and m/z 205.1 → 58.0 for IS. Calibration plots were linear throughout the range 2-1000 ng/mL for dendrobine in rat plasma. The RSDs of intra-day and inter-day precision were both <13%. The accuracy of the method was between 95.4 and 103.9%. The method was successfully applied to pharmacokinetic study of dendrobine after intravenous administration. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

A new pharmacological effect of levornidazole: Inhibition of NLRP3 inflammasome activation

Levornidazole, which was originally used to inhibit anaerobic and protozoal infections, is currently known to possess a novel pharmacological effect. In this study, we investigated the possible modulation by levornidazole of NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome-mediated IL-1β and IL-18 release from macrophages. The NLRP3 inflammasome could be activated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) plus ATP or monosodium urate (MSU) in PMA-pretreated THP-1 macrophages. Surprisingly, an in vitro study showed that levornidazole suppressed IL-1β and IL-18 secretion by blocking the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome. However, dextrornidazole barely suppressed the NLRP3 inflammasome. Levornidazole displays activity similar to that of dextrornidazole against clinical anaerobic bacteria, and they possess the same pharmacokinetic properties. Moreover, both of these compounds were unable to ameliorate T cell-mediated inflammation. Therefore, we used the widely applied NLRP3 inflammasome-related models of dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis and LPS-induced endotoxin shock to confirm the novel pharmacological effect of levornidazole in vivo. The in vivo studies verified the novel activity of levornidazole because the inhibition of NLRP3 inflammasome by levornidazole contributed to a better ameliorating effect than that of dextrornidazole in the in vivo models tested. Furthermore, this inhibitory effect of levornidazole was found to be at least partially achieved by decreasing the mitochondrial ROS generation without inhibiting NF-κB activation. In summary, these data describe a new pharmacological effect of levornidazole as an inhibitor of NLRP3 inflammasome activation.

Determination of N-methylcytisine in rat plasma by UPLC-MS/MS and its application to pharmacokinetic study

In this work, a sensitive and selective UPLC-MS/MS method for determination of N-methylcytisine in rat plasma is developed. After addition of hordenine as an internal standard (IS), protein precipitation by acetonitrile-methanol (9:1, v/v) was used to prepare samples. Chromatographic separation was achieved on a UPLC BEH HILIC (2.1 mm×100mm, 1.7μm) with acetonitrile (containing 10mM ammonium formate) and water (containing 0.1% formic acid and 10mM ammonium formate) as the mobile phase with gradient elution. An electrospray ionization source was applied and operated in positive ion mode; multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode was used for quantification using target fragment ions m/z 205.1→58.0 for N-methylcytisine, and m/z 166.1→121.0 for IS. Calibration plots were linear throughout the range 2-2000ng/mL for N-methylcytisine in rat plasma. Mean recoveries of N-methylcytisine in rat plasma ranged from 86.1% to 94.8%. RSD of intra-day and inter-day precision were both<13%. The accuracy of the method was between 94.5% and 109.4%. The method was successfully applied to pharmacokinetic study of N-methylcytisine after either oral or intravenous administration. For the first time, the absolute bioavailability of N-methylcytisine was reported as high as 55.5%.