Jamie J. Zhao

Pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of montelukast sodium (MK-0476) in healthy young and elderly volunteers

A study was conducted to (i) characterize the multiple‐dose pharmacokinetics of oral montelukast sodium (MK‐0476), 10 mg d−1 in healthy young subjects (N =12), (ii) evaluate the pharmacokinetics of montelukast in healthy elderly subjects (N =12), and (iii) compare the pharmacokinetics and oral bioavailability of montelukast between elderly and young subjects. Following oral administration of montelukast sodium, 10 mg d−1 (the therapeutic regimen for montelukast sodium) for 7 d, there was little difference in the plasma concentration–time profiles of montelukast in young subjects between day 1 and day 7 dosing. On average, trough plasma concentrations of montelukast were nearly constant, ranging from 18 to 24 ng mL−1 on days 3–7, indicating that the steady state of montelukast was attained on day 2. The mean accumulation ratio was 1·14, indicating that this dose regimen results in a 14% accumulation of montelukast. In elderly subjects, mean values of plasma clearance (Cl), steady‐state volume of distribution (Vss), plasma terminal half‐life (t1/2), and mean residence time in the body (MRTIV) following a 7 mg intravenous (5 min infusion) administration of montelukast sodium in the elderly were 30·8 mL min−1, 9·7 L, 6·7 h, and 5·4 h, respectively. Following a 10 mg oral dose, the bioavailability of montelukast in healthy elderly averaged 61%, very close to that (62%) determined previously in healthy young subjects. Also following the 10 mg oral administration, the mean values of AUC0→∞, Cmax, tmax, and t1/2, and the mean plasma concentration–time profile of montelukast in the elderly, were generally similar to those in young subjects, indicating that age has little or no effect on the pharmacokinetics of montelukast. There is no need to modify dosage as a function of age.

Quantitation of simvastatin and its β-hydroxy acid in human plasma by liquid–liquid cartridge extraction and liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry

A sensitive and reliable procedure for the simultaneous determination of simvastatin (SV) and its active beta-hydroxy acid metabolite (SVA) in human plasma was developed and validated. The analytes were extracted simultaneously from 0.5 ml aliquots of human plasma samples by methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) via Chem Elut cartridge extraction [also called liquid-solid extraction (LSE) or liquid-liquid cartridge extraction (LLCE)], separated through a Kromasil C(18) column (50 x 2 mm i.d. 5 microm) and detected by tandem mass spectrometry with a turbo ionspray interface. Stable isotope-labeled SV and SVA, (13)CD(3)-SV and (13)CD(3)-SVA, were used as internal standards. SV and SVA were detected in positive and negative ion modes, respectively, via within-run polarity switching. The use of Chem Elut cartridges not only provided a simple and efficient means of plasma sample extraction but also successfully reduced the interconversion between SV and SVA to an undetectable (for lactonization of SVA) or negligible (<0.07%, for hydrolysis of SV) level. The method showed excellent reproducibility, with intra- and inter-assay precisions <4.5% (RSD), and intra- and inter-assay accuracy between 94% and 107% of nominal values, for both analytes. The extraction recoveries were 78% and 87% on average for SV and SVA, respectively. The analyte was found to be stable in plasma through three freeze (-70 degrees C)-thaw (4 degrees C) cycles and for at least 3 h under bench-top storage condition in an ice-bath (4 degrees C), and also in the reconstitution solution at 4 degrees C for at least 24 h. The method has a lower limit of quantitation (LOQ) of 50 pg ml(-1) with a linear calibration range of 0.05-50 ng ml(-1) for both analytes, and has proved to be very reliable for the analysis of clinical samples.

Determination of montelukast (MK-0476) and its S-enantiomer in human plasma by stereoselective high-performance liquid chromatography with column-switching

A steoreoselective high-performance liquid chromatographic method was developed for the quantification of montelukast (free acid of Singulair, or MK-0476), a potent and selective leukotriene D4 (cysLT1) receptor antagonist, and it S-enantiomers (L-768,232). The method involves protein precipitation and fluorescence detection. Chromatographic separation of the enantiomers from endogenous components in plasma and chiral resolution of the enantiomers are achieved by using column switching HPLC and an alpha-acid glycoprotein chiral column. The assay is linear in the range of 28.9-386 ng ml-1 of free acids of montelukast and L-768,232. The intraday precision (% relative standard deviation) values of this method were in the range of 2.5-9.1% for montelukast, and 2.4-6.8% for L-768,232, while the intraday accuracy values were in the range of 97-103% for montelukast and 96-104% for L-768,232. The interday precision values of this method at 48.2 and 193 ng ml-1 were 5.3 and 3.6%, respectively, for montelukast, and 4.2 and 3.7%, respectively, for L-768,232, while the interday accuracy values at these concentrations were 97 and 103%, respectively, for montelukast and 99 and 102%, respectively, for L-768,232. The utility of the methodology was demonstrated by analysis of plasma samples from a study in which healthy volunteers received 10 mg per day of montelukast orally for 7 days. Results of this study indicate that there is no apparent bioinversion of montelukast to its S-enantiomer in humans.

Sensitive method for the quantitative determination of gemfibrozil in dog plasma by liquid-liquid cartridge extraction and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

A sensitive LC-MS/MS assay for the quantitative determination of gemfibrozil in dog plasma has been developed and validated and is described in this work. The assay involved the extraction of the analyte from 0.5-ml aliquots of dog plasma using Chem Elut cartridges and methyl tert.-butyl ether (MTBE). Chromatography was performed on a Metasil Basic column (50 x 2 mm I.D., 3 microm) using a mobile phase that consisted of 70:30 acetonitrile-ammonium acetate (1 mM, pH 5.0) with a flow-rate of 0.2 ml min(-1). The method showed excellent reproducibility with an inter- and intra-assay precision of <8.9% (%RSD), as well as excellent accuracy with an inter- and intra-assay accuracy between 99 and 101%. This method has a lower limit of quantitation (LLOQ) of 1.0 ng ml(-1) with a linear calibration range from 1.0 to 250 ng ml(-1). This new assay offers higher sensitivity and a much shorter run time over earlier methods.

An in vivo microdialysis coupled with liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry study of cortisol metabolism in monkey adipose tissue

It is postulated that elevated tissue concentrations of cortisol may be associated with the development of metabolic syndrome, obesity, and type 2 diabetes. The 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11beta-HSD1) enzyme regenerates cortisol from inactive cortisone in tissues such as liver and adipose. To better understand the pivotal role of 11beta-HSD1 in disease development, an in vivo microdialysis assay coupled with liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) analysis using stable isotope-labeled (SIL) cortisone as a substrate was developed. This assay overcomes the limitations of existing methodologies that suffer from radioactivity exposure and analytical assay sensitivity and specificity concerns. Analyte extraction efficiencies (E(d)) were evaluated by retrodialysis. The conversion of SIL-cortisone to SIL-cortisol in rhesus monkey adipose tissue was studied. Solutions containing 100, 500, and 1000 ng/mL SIL-cortisone were locally delivered through an implanted 30-mm microdialysis probe in adipose tissue. At the delivery rate of 1.0 and 0.5 microL/min, E(d) values for SIL-cortisone were between 58.7+/-5.6% (n=4) and 72.7+/-1.3% (n=4), whereas at 0.3 microL/min E(d) reached nearly 100%. The presence of 11beta-HSD1 activities in adipose tissue was demonstrated by production of SIL-cortisol during SIL-cortisone infusion. This methodology could be applied to cortisol metabolism studies in tissues of other mammalian species.

Determination of L-753,037 in human plasma by liquid chromatography/turbo ionspray tandem mass spectrometry.

A liquid chromatographic/turbo ionspray tandem mass spectrometric (LC/MS/MS) method was developed and validated for the determination of L-753,037, a potent endothelin receptor antagonist currently under development for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, in human plasma. L-753,037 is extracted from 0.5 ml of human plasma using liquid-liquid extraction and analyzed by LC/MS/MS with a turbo ionspray interface. Method validation results showed that this method is very sensitive, reliable, selective and reproducible. L-753,048, an ethoxy analogue of L-753,037, was used as the internal standard. The method has a lower limit of quantitation (LOQ) of 50 pg ml(-1) with a linear calibration range of 0.05-50 ng ml(-1). The intra-day precision and accuracy (n = 5) were measured to be below 10% relative standard deviation (RSD) and between 97.4 and 102.8% of the nominal values, respectively, for all calibration standard concentrations within the calibration curve range. The inter-day precision and accuracy (n = 3 days, 5 replicates per day) were measured to be below 6.5% RSD and between 99.3 and 102.0% of the nominal values, respectively, for all quality control concentrations. The extraction recovery was determined to be approximately 99% on average. The analyte was found to be stable in plasma through three freeze-thaw cycles, for at least 4 h at ambient temperature and for up to 40 days under -20 degrees C freezer storage conditions. The analyte was also shown to be stable for at least 24 h in the reconstitution solution at room temperature and for up to 3 days as a dried extract at 4 degrees C. Additional variations in plasma concentration of the analyte due to the use of different sources of plasma were also evaluated.