Design, synthesis, and bioavailability evaluation of coumarin-based prodrug of meptazinol

Based on the known coumarin-based prodrug system, a new meptazinol (Z)-3-[2-(propionyloxy) phenyl]-2-propenoic ester (3) was designed and synthesized as prodrug to minimize the first-pass effect of meptazinol (1) and improve the oral bioavailability. The prodrug (3) showed a 4-fold increase in oral bioavailability over the parent drug meptazinol in rats.     

Orally active factor Xa inhibitors: investigation of a novel series of 3-amidinophenylsulfonamide derivatives using an amidoxime prodrug strategy

A series of novel and potent 3-amidinophenylsulfonamide derivatives of factor Xa inhibitors were designed and synthesized using an amidoxime prodrug strategy. We focused on systemic clearance of parent compounds in rats, and performed in vivo pharmacokinetic screening. Incorporation of a carboxymethoxy group markedly improved systemic clearance (compound 43), and the related amidoxime 44 showed sufficient prodrug conversion. Compound 45, the double prodrug of 43, exhibited practicable bioavailability after oral administration in rats. Among the various compounds under investigation, KFA-1982 was selected for clinical development.     

Design and synthesis of factor Xa inhibitors and their prodrugs

In addition to our previously reported fluoro acrylamides Xa inhibitors 2 and 3, a series of potent and novel cyclic diimide amidine compounds has been identified. In efforts to improve their oral bioavailability, replacement of the amidine group with methyl amidrazone gives compounds of moderate potency (14, IC(50)=0.028 microM). In the amidoxime prodrug approach, the amidoxime compounds show good oral bioavailability in rats and dogs. High plasma level of prodrug 26 and significant concentration of active drug 26a were obtained upon oral administration of prodrug 26 in rats.     

美普他酚及其同分异构体对角叉菜胶引起的炎症大鼠具有抗热痛敏作用

实验以清醒大鼠的缩腿潜伏期为指标,观察了腹腔注射美普他酚及其同分异构体112824和112825对角叉菜胶引起的热痛敏的影响.外周炎症由单侧足底注射角叉菜胶(2 mg/100 μl)引起.注射角叉菜胶3 h后,注射侧后肢局部红肿及热痛过敏反应达到高峰,持续数小时.腹腔注射0.1 mg/kg美普他酚对炎症和非炎症侧后肢的缩腿潜伏期无明显影响(P＞0.05,n=8).腹腔注射1mg/kg和10 mg/kg美普他酚对炎症和非炎症侧后肢产生明显的抗痛敏和抗伤害效应,且对炎症侧缩腿反应的抑制(抗痛敏)作用明显强于非炎症侧(抗伤害)(P＜0.05,n=8～11).预先腹腔注射1.5 mg/kg纳洛酮明显阻断美普他酚引起的抗伤害和抗痛敏效应.腹腔注射美普他酚的同分异构体112824(1 mg/kg)和112825(1.5 ms/kg)可产生与美普他酚类似的抗痛敏作用,该效应可被预先腹腔注射1.5 mg/kg纳洛酮完全阻断.提示美普他酚及其同分异构体具有明显抗伤害和抗痛敏作用,且以后者为强.该作用主要通过mu阿片受体介导.本研究为扩展美普他酚及其同分异构体在临床上的应用提供了依据.     

新型大豆异黄酮磺酸酯的临床前药物动力学

为寻找新的大豆异黄酮前药,采用建立的生物样品中药物浓度测定的液相色谱法对新型大豆异黄酮染料木素磺酸酯(GBS)进行前药判定以及大鼠体内药物动力学研究,以考察前药中染料木素(GE)的口服相对生物利用度是否改善。在大鼠体内药物代谢实验中,灌胃给予的大鼠血浆中能检测到GE的存在。在临床前药物动力学实验中,该前体药以40mg/kg GE在大鼠体内的动力学过程符合一室模型。GBS中GE的相对口服生物利用度为原药的198.6%。结果表明:相对于原药GE,前药中GE的相对口服生物利用度得到极大地改善。该前药有进一步研究的意义。     

Factor VIIa inhibitors: a prodrug strategy to improve oral bioavailability

We have developed a series of potent and selective factor VIIa inhibitors based on the 2-[5-(5-carbamimidoyl-1H-benzoimidazol-2-yl)-6-hydroxy-biphenyl-3-yl]-succinic acid scaffold. These amidine-containing compounds have low oral bioavailability. Herein, we describe our efforts to improve the oral bioavailability of the parent amidine via a prodrug strategy where the amidine basicity and polarity were reduced with either an alkoxy-amidine or a carbamate prodrug.     

Discovery of potent and orally bioavailable 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 3 inhibitors

We have previously reported the discovery of a new class of potent inhibitors of 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 3 (17β-HSD3) derived from benzylidene oxazolidinedione and thiazolidinedione scaffolds. In this study, these analogs were designed, synthesized, and evaluated in a human cell-based assay. The detailed structure-activity relationship (SAR) surrounding this pharmacophore were developed, and consequently a number of compounds from this series demonstrated single-digit nanomolar 17β-HDS3 inhibitory activity in vitro. Subsequent optimization work in pursuit of the improvement of oral bioavailability demonstrated in vivo proof-of-concept by prodrug strategy based on phosphate esters for these 17β-HSD3 inhibitors. When a phosphate ester 16 was administered orally at a high dose of 100mg/kg, 16 showed approximately two times more potent testosterone (T)-lowering effect against a positive control in the luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LH-RH)-induced T production assay. The T-lowering effect continued at ca 10% level of control over 4h after administration. The nonsteroidal molecules based on this series have the potential to provide unique and effective clinical opportunities for treatment of prostate cancer.     

Synthesis and biological activation of an ethylene glycol-linked amino acid conjugate of cyclic cidofovir

Cidofovir (HPMPC) is a broad-spectrum anti-viral agent whose potential, particularly in biodefense scenarios, is limited by its low oral bioavailability. Two prodrugs (3 and 4) created by conjugating ethylene glycol-linked amino acids (L-Val, L-Phe) with the cyclic form of cidofovir (cHPMPC) via a P-O ester bond were synthesized and their pH-dependent stability (3 and 4), potential for in vivo reconversion to drug (3), and oral bioavailability (3) were evaluated. The prodrugs were stable in buffer between pH 3 and 5, but underwent rapid hydrolysis in liver (t(1/2) = 3.7 min), intestinal (t(1/2) = 12.5 min), and Caco-2 cell homogenates (t(1/2) = 20.2 min). In vivo (rat), prodrug 3 was >90% reconverted to cHPMPC. The prodrug was 4x more active than ganciclovir (IC50 value, 0.68 microM vs 3.0 microM) in a HCMV plaque reduction assay. However, its oral bioavailability in a rat model was similar to the parent drug. The contrast between the promising activation properties and unenhanced transport of the prodrug is briefly discussed.     

新型染料木素磺酸酯的前药判定与大鼠体内生物利用度

为寻找染料木素(GE)新的前药,采用建立的生物样品中药物浓度测定的液相色谱法对新型大豆异黄酮染料木素磺酸酯(GB)进行前药判定以及大鼠体内药物动力学研究,以考察前药中染料木素的口服生物利用度是否改善.在大鼠体内药物代谢实验中,灌胃给予GB的大鼠血浆中能检测到明显的GE.在临床前药物动力学实验中,该前体静注给药和以40 mg/kg灌胃药后,GE在大鼠体内的动力学过程均符合一室模型.GB中GE的相对口服生物利用度为原药的110.9％.研究表明,相对于原药GE,前药中GE的相对口服生物利用度达到预期的改善,该前药有进一步研究意义.     

PHARMACOKINETICS OF SALICYLATE ESTER PRODRUGS OF CYCLIC HPMPC IN DOGS

A series of aryl ester prodrugs of cyclic HPMPC have been synthesized and their physicochemical properties, pharmacokinetics and metabolism have been evaluated. Chemical stability was dependent on the orientation of the exo-cyclic ligand; the equatorial isomers were 5.4 to 9.4 fold more reactive than the axial isomers. The oral bioavailability of cyclic HPMPC from the aryl ester prodrugs ranged from 11.2% for o-pentylphenyl cyclic HPMPC to 46.3% for butylsalicylyl cyclic HPMPC. Cyclic HPMPC was the major metabolite observed for all the salicylyl ester prodrugs. Cidofovir accounted for 2 to 12% of the total plasma AUC for butyl-, cyclohexyl- and phenethyl-salicylyl esters of cyclic HPMPC. Intact prodrug or the corresponding monosalicylyl esters of cidofovir each accounted for less than 10% of the total AUC for salicylyl ester prodrugs.     

Discovery of olmesartan hexetil: A new potential prodrug of olmesartan

Synthesis of a new ester prodrug of olmesartan, olmesartan hexetil (1), is described. It is in vitro stabilities and in vivo pharmacokinetics (PK) were evaluated. It showed high stability in simulated gastric juice, and was rapidly hydrolyzed to olmesartan in rat liver microsomes and rat plasma in vitro. C_max and AUC_last for olmesartan were significantly increased in case of hexetil prodrug, compared with olmesartan medoxomil. Olmesartan hexetil is proposed to be an efficient prodrug of olmesartan with markedly increased oral bioavailability.     

In vitro solubility,stability and permeability of novel quercetin–amino acid conjugates

In order to discover a quercetin prodrug with improved bioavailability, we synthesized nine quercetin–amion acid conjugates and estimated their pharmacokinetic properties including water solubility, stability against chemical or enzymatic hydrolysis, and cell permeability. Among the synthesized quercetin prodrugs, quercetin–glutamic acid conjugate Qu-E (4g/5g) showed remarkable increases in water solubility, stability, and cell permeability compared with quercetin, which warrants further development as a quercetin prodrug.     

Pharmacokinetics of salicylate ester prodrugs of cyclic HPMPC in dogs

A series of aryl ester prodrugs of cyclic HPMPC have been synthesized and their physicochemical properties, pharmacokinetics and metabolism have been evaluated. Chemical stability was dependent on the orientation of the exo-cyclic ligand; the equatorial isomers were 5.4 to 9.4 fold more reactive than the axial isomers. The oral bioavailability of cyclic HPMPC from the aryl ester prodrugs ranged from 11.2% for o-pentylphenyl cyclic HPMPC to 46.3% for butylsalicylyl cyclic HPMPC. Cyclic HPMPC was the major metabolite observed for all the salicylyl ester prodrugs. Cidofovir accounted for 2 to 12% of the total plasma AUC for butyl-, cyclohexyl- and phenethyl-salicylyl esters of cyclic HPMPC. Intact prodrug or the corresponding monosalicylyl esters of cidofovir each accounted for less than 10% of the total AUC for salicylyl ester prodrugs.     

Prodrugs of 3-(3,4-dichlorobenzyloxy)-2-amino-6-fluorobicyclo[3.1.0]hexane-2,6-dicarboxylic acid (MGS0039): a potent and orally active group II mGluR antagonist with antidepressant-like potential

3-(3,4-Dichlorobenzyloxy)-2-amino-6-fluorobicyclo[3.1.0]hexane-2,6-dicarboxylic acid 5 (MGS0039) is a highly selective and potent group II metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR) antagonist (antagonist activities for mGluR2; IC50=20.0 nM, mGluR3; IC50=24.0 nM) and is detected in both plasma (492 ng/mL) and brain (13.2 ng/g) at oral administration of 10 ng/mL [J. Med. Chem.2004, 47, 4750], but the oral bioavailability of 5 was 10.9%. In order to improve the oral bioavailability of 5, prodrugs of 5 were discovered by esterification of carboxyl group on C6-position of bicyclo[3.1.0]hexane ring. Among these compounds, 6-alkyl esters exhibited approximately 10-fold higher concentrations of 5 in the plasma and brain of rats after oral administration (e.g., ethyl ester of 5; plasma, Cmax=20.7+/-1.3 microM) compared to oral administration of 5 (plasma, Cmax=2.46+/-0.62 microM). 3-(3,4-Dichlorobenzyloxy)-2-amino-6-fluorobicyclo[3.1.0]hexane-2,6-dicarboxylic acid 6-heptyl ester (7ao), a prodrug of MGS0039, showed antidepressant-like effects in rat forced swimming test and mouse tail suspension test following oral administration. Moreover, following oral administration of 7ao in mice, high concentrations of MGS0039 were detected in both the brain and plasma, while 7ao was barely detected. In this paper, we report the synthesis, in vitro metabolic stabilities, and pharmacokinetic profiles of the prodrugs of 5, and the antidepressant-like effects of 7ao.     

Synthesis of phosphonate 3-phthalidyl esters as prodrugs for potential intracellular delivery of phosphonates.

A new prodrug approach for intracellular delivery of phosphonates was developed via the synthesis of 3-phthalidyl esters of 1-naphthalenemethylphosphonate. This approach is advantageous over the traditional acyloxymethyl phosphonate prodrugs, because these prodrugs do not generate formaldehyde and have improved plasma half-lives.     

Prodrug Approaches for Enhancing the Bioavailability of Drugs with Low Solubility

Low water solubility and low bioavailability are frequent problems in drug development, particularly in the area of central nervous system (CNS) drugs. This short review describes selected prodrug approaches which have been developed to enhance the bioavailability of drugs, especially that of poorly soluble drugs. Some of the most successful drugs on the market are prodrugs. With a better understanding of active‐transport processes at cell membranes in the gut as well as at the blood–brain barrier, the importance of prodrug approaches will further increase in the future. Prodrug approaches will already be considered in the early phase of drug discovery.     

Diglyceride prodrug strategy for enhancing the bioavailability of norfloxacin

Prodrug approach using diglyceride as a promoiety is a promising strategy to improve bioavailability of poorly absorbed drugs and the same was explored in the present work to improve oral bioavailability of norfloxacin; a second generation fluoroquinolone antibacterial. The prodrug was synthesized by standard procedures using dipalmitine as a carrier and the structure was confirmed by spectral analysis. Higher Log P indicated improved lipophilicity. The ester linkage between norfloxacin and dipalmitine would be susceptible to hydrolysis by lipases to release the parent drug and carrier in the body. In vivo kinetic studies in rats indicated 53% release of norfloxacin in plasma at the end of 8 h. The prodrug exhibited improved pharmacological profile than the parent compound at equimolar dose that indirectly indicated improved bioavailability.     

Enzyme-catalyzed prodrug approaches for the histamine H3-receptor agonist (R)-alpha-methylhistamine

Five novel prodrug types of the potent and selective histamine H3-receptor agonist (R)-alpha-methylhistamine (1) were prepared and pharmacologically tested in vitro as well as in vivo. In particular, an amide of fatty acid, mono- and dicarbamates, an (acyloxy)alkylcarbamate, and a diphthalidyl derivative were synthesized, all of which require initial prodrug activation through an enzyme-catalyzed reaction in contrast to formerly developed azomethine prodrugs which are cleaved by chemical hydrolysis only. Further drug liberation may ensue spontaneously in a cascade to give 1. Since they have diverse stabilities the prodrugs were investigated for drug liberation in vitro under neutral, acidic, and basic conditions at different temperatures as well as with liver homogenates. In vivo investigation of prodrugs after oral administration to mice proved that the fatty amide 2, the Nalpha-methylcarbamate 4a, and the Nalpha-(1-(acetyloxy)ethylcarbamate) 5 showed moderate to high plasma levels of 1. Compound 5 displayed even more than 2.5 times the AUC for 1 than that of the reference azomethine prodrug BP2.94 in the periphery and also displayed a detectable drug level in the central nervous system. It was shown that prodrug approaches based on an initial enzyme-catalyzed liberation step are successfully applicable to different pro-moieties for improved bioavailability and prolonged half-live. These approaches may also be used for other aminergic compounds of this class to optimize pharmacokinetic behavior.     

Synthesis and in vitro/in vivo evaluation of novel oral N-alkyl- and N,N-dialkyl-carbamate esters of entacapone

Entacapone has a relatively low oral bioavailability which may, in part, be due to its low aqueous solubility at low pH and/or its hydrophilic character at neutral pH. Various novel N-alkyl and N,N-dialkyl carbamate esters of entacapone were synthesized as possible prodrugs of entacapone in order to increase its aqueous solubility at an acidic pH and to increase its lipophilicity at neutral pH. Oral bioavailability of entacapone and selected carbamate esters were investigated in rats. Both N-alkyl and N,N-dialkyl carbamate esters were relatively stable against chemical hydrolysis at pH 7.4 (t1/2 = 14.9-20.7 h), but hydrolyzed rapidly (t1/2 = 0.8-2.7 h) in human serum. However, in contrast to N-alkyl carbamates, N,N-dialkyl carbamates did not release entacapone in in vitro enzymatic hydrolysis (human serum) studies. N-Alkyl carbamates, 2a-c, showed increased aqueous solubility at pH 7.4, of which 2a and 2c also show increased aqueous solubility at pH 5.0, compared to entacapone. In addition to increased aqueous solubility, 2c showed increased lipophilicity at pH 7.4. However, two N-alkyl carbamates of entacapone did not increase the oral bioavailability of the parent drug in rats. Thus, it can be concluded that the relatively low lipophilicity of entacapone is not the cause of its low bioavailability.     

Quantitative autoradiographic distribution of meptazinol-sensitive binding sites in rat brain

1. Meptazinol is an interesting opioid-producing naloxone-reversible analgesia with few cardiovascular and respiratory effects. Recent studies indicate that mu 1 opioid receptors mediate meptazinol analgesia. Using a computerized autoradiographic subtraction technique, we have examined the regional distribution of meptazinol-sensitive [3H][D-Ala2,MePhe4,Gly(ol)5]enkephalin (DAGO) binding and compared this with the distribution of mu 1 binding determined by competition with low [D-Ala2,D-Leu5]enkephalin (DADL) concentrations. 2. Meptazinol and DADL lowered [3H]DAGO to similar extents in most brain regions studied. The greatest levels of inhibition were observed in the periaqueductal gray, interpeduncular nucleus, thalamus, hypothalamus, and hippocampus. Low levels of inhibition were found in the temporal and frontal cortex. The correlation between the inhibition of [3H]DAGO binding by meptazinol and that by DADL was high (r = 0.83), consistent with the binding of meptazinol to mu 1 sites.