Kim A. Johnson

METABOLISM AND EXCRETION OF ERLOTINIB, A SMALL MOLECULE INHIBITOR OF EPIDERMAL GROWTH FACTOR RECEPTOR TYROSINE KINASE, IN HEALTHY MALE VOLUNTEERS

Metabolism and excretion of erlotinib, an orally active inhibitor of epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase, were studied in healthy male volunteers after a single oral dose of [14C]erlotinib hydrochloride (100-mg free base equivalent, ∼91 μCi/subject). The mass balance was achieved with ∼91% of the administered dose recovered in urine and feces. The majority of the total administered radioactivity was excreted in feces (83 ± 6.8%), and only a low percentage of the dose was recovered in urine (8.1 ± 2.8%). Only less than 2% of what was recovered in humans was unchanged erlotinib, which demonstrates that erlotinib is eliminated predominantly by metabolism. In plasma, unchanged erlotinib represented the major circulating component, with the pharmacologically active metabolite M14 accounting for ∼5% of the total circulating radioactivity. Three major biotransformation pathways of erlotinib are O-demethylation of the side chains followed by oxidation to a carboxylic acid, M11 (29.4% of dose); oxidation of the acetylene moiety to a carboxylic acid, M6 (21.0%); and hydroxylation of the aromatic ring to M16 (9.6%). In addition, O-demethylation of M6 to M2, O-demethylation of the side chains to M13 and M14, and conjugation of the oxidative metabolites with glucuronic acid (M3, M8, and M18) and sulfuric acid (M9) play a minor role in the metabolism of erlotinib. The identified metabolites accounted for >90% of the total radioactivity recovered in urine and feces. The metabolites observed in humans were similar to those found in the toxicity species, rats and dogs.

Metabolism, pharmacokinetics, and excretion of a cholesteryl ester transfer protein inhibitor, torcetrapib, in rats, monkeys, and mice: characterization of unusual and novel metabolites by high-resolution liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry and 1H nuclear magnetic resonance.

The disposition of torcetrapib {(–)-[2R,4S] 4-[(3,5-bis-trifluoromethylbenzyl)-methoxycarbonyl-amino]-2-ethyl-6-trifluoromethyl-3,4-dihydro-2H-quinoline-1-carboxylic acid ethyl ester}, a cholesteryl ester transfer protein inhibitor, was studied in rats, monkeys, and mice after oral administration of a single dose of [14C]torcetrapib. Total mean recoveries of the radiocarbon were 90.9, 93.4, and 86.8% from mice, rats, and monkeys, respectively. Excretion of radioactivity was rapid and nearly complete within 48 h after dosing, with a majority excreted in the feces in all species. Torcetrapib was not detected in the urine and/or bile across species, suggesting that it is primarily cleared by metabolism in these species. More than 28 metabolites were identified in all species and were products of oxidation and conjugation pathways. The primary metabolic pathways of torcetrapib involved hydrolysis of the carbamate ester (M2) and the oxidation of the ethyl moieties. M2 was subsequently metabolized in parallel by oxidative cleavage to novel and unusual quinoline metabolites (M3, M4, M5, M9, and M17), M1 (bis trifluoromethyl benzoic acid), and M28 [3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl-(methoxycarbonyl)methanesulfonic acid]. The structures of several metabolites were established by high-resolution liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry and 1H NMR. The major circulating and excretory metabolites in mice, rats and monkeys were species-dependent; however, several common metabolites were observed in more than one species. In addition to parent torcetrapib, M1, M3, and M4 in rats, M4 and M17 in mice, and M3 and M8 in monkeys were detected as the major circulating metabolites. A mechanism for the formation of an unusual metabolite M28 has been proposed.

Disposition of Lasofoxifene, a Next-Generation Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulator, in Healthy Male Subjects

Disposition of lasofoxifene, a next-generation selective estrogen receptor modulator, was investigated in male volunteers after p.o. administration of a single 20-mg dose of [14C]lasofoxifene. Approximately 72% of the administered dose was recovered from the urine and feces, with majority of dose excreted in the feces, probably via bile. The absorption of lasofoxifene in humans was slow with Tmax values typically exceeding 6 h. The Cmax and area under plasma concentration–time profile from time 0 to the last quantifiable time point values of lasofoxifene were lower than those determined for total radioactivity, indicating presence of circulating metabolites. The primary clearance mechanisms for lasofoxifene in humans were direct conjugation (glucuronide and sulfate conjugates) and phase I oxidation, each accounting for about half of the metabolism. Several oxidative metabolites were identified by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry. The primary phase I metabolites were the result of hydroxylations on the tetraline moiety and the phenyl rings attached to the tetraline, and oxidation on the pyrrolidine moiety. Considering the numerous metabolites seen in vivo, additional in vitro studies using human liver and intestinal microsomes, recombinant cytochromes P450 (P450s), and UDP glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs) were performed. The turnover of lasofoxifene was very slow in liver microsomes, and only two metabolites were identified as two regioisomers of the catechol metabolite. The results from in vitro experiments with recombinant isoforms and P450 isoform-selective inhibitors suggested that the oxidative metabolism of lasofoxifene is catalyzed primarily by CYP3A and CYP2D6. In addition, its glucuronidation is catalyzed by UGTs that are expressed in both the liver (UGT1A1, UGT1A3, UGT1A6, and UGT1A9) and the intestine (UGT1A8 and UGT1A10).

CYP2C8 AND CYP3A MEDIATED C-DEMETHYLATION OF (3-{[4-TERT-BUTYL-BENZYL)-(PYRIDINE-3- SULFONYL)-AMINO]-METHYL}-PHENOXY)ACETIC ACID (CP-533,536), AN EP2 RECEPTOR-SELECTIVE PROSTAGLANDIN E2 AGONIST: CHARACTERIZATION OF METABOLITES BY HIGH RESOLUTION LC-MS/MS AND LC/MS-NMR

CP-533,536, (3-{[(4-tert-butyl-benzyl)-(pyridine-3-sulfonyl)-amino]-methyl}-phenoxy)-acetic acid (1), an EP2 receptor-selective prostaglandin E2 agonist, is being developed to aid in the healing of bone fractures. To support the development of this program, in vitro metabolism of 1 was investigated in human liver microsomes and major recombinant human cytochrome P450 (P450) isoforms. 1 was metabolized in vitro by at least three recombinant human P450s: CYP3A4, CYP3A5, and CYP2C8. The turnover of 1 was NADPH-dependent and was completely inhibited by ketoconazole and quercetin in the CYP3A4/5 and CYP2C8 incubations, respectively. The major metabolic pathways were caused by oxidation of the tert-butyl moiety to form the ω-hydroxy metabolite (M4), oxidation of the pyridine moiety, and/or N-dealkylation of the methylphenoxy acetic acid moiety. The alcohol metabolite M4 was further oxidized to the corresponding carboxylic acid M3. In addition to these pathways, three unusual metabolites (M22, M23, and M26) resulting from C-demethylation of the tert-butyl group were identified using high-resolution liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry/NMR. The C-demethylated metabolites were not detected on incubation of carboxylic acid metabolite M3 with either human liver microsomes or CYP3A/2C8 isoforms, suggesting that these metabolites were not derived from decarboxylation of M3. A possible mechanism for C-demethylation may involve the oxidation of M4 to form an aldehyde metabolite (M24), followed by P450-mediated deformylation, to give an unstable carbon-centered radical and formic acid. The carbon-centered radical intermediate then undergoes either oxygen rebound to form an alcohol metabolite M23 or hydrogen abstraction leading to an olefin metabolite M26.

CYP2C8- and CYP3A-mediated C-demethylation of (3-{[(4-tert-butylbenzyl)-(pyridine-3-sulfonyl)-amino]-methyl}-phenoxy)-acetic acid (CP-533,536), an EP2 receptor-selective prostaglandin E2 agonist: characterization of metabolites by high-resolution liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry-nuclear magnetic resonance.

CP-533,536, (3-{[(4-tert-butyl-benzyl)-(pyridine-3-sulfonyl)-amino]-methyl}-phenoxy)-acetic acid (1), an EP2 receptor-selective prostaglandin E2 agonist, is being developed to aid in the healing of bone fractures. To support the development of this program, in vitro metabolism of 1 was investigated in human liver microsomes and major recombinant human cytochrome P450 (P450) isoforms. 1 was metabolized in vitro by at least three recombinant human P450s: CYP3A4, CYP3A5, and CYP2C8. The turnover of 1 was NADPH-dependent and was completely inhibited by ketoconazole and quercetin in the CYP3A4/5 and CYP2C8 incubations, respectively. The major metabolic pathways were caused by oxidation of the tert-butyl moiety to form the ω-hydroxy metabolite (M4), oxidation of the pyridine moiety, and/or N-dealkylation of the methylphenoxy acetic acid moiety. The alcohol metabolite M4 was further oxidized to the corresponding carboxylic acid M3. In addition to these pathways, three unusual metabolites (M22, M23, and M26) resulting from C-demethylation of the tert-butyl group were identified using high-resolution liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry/NMR. The C-demethylated metabolites were not detected on incubation of carboxylic acid metabolite M3 with either human liver microsomes or CYP3A/2C8 isoforms, suggesting that these metabolites were not derived from decarboxylation of M3. A possible mechanism for C-demethylation may involve the oxidation of M4 to form an aldehyde metabolite (M24), followed by P450-mediated deformylation, to give an unstable carbon-centered radical and formic acid. The carbon-centered radical intermediate then undergoes either oxygen rebound to form an alcohol metabolite M23 or hydrogen abstraction leading to an olefin metabolite M26.

Metabolism, Distribution, and Excretion of a Next Generation Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulator, Lasofoxifene, in Rats and Monkeys

Disposition of lasofoxifene (LAS; 6-phenyl-5-[4-(2-pyrrolidin-1-yl-ethoxy)-phenyl]-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-naphthalen-2-ol. tartrate) was investigated in rats and monkeys after oral administration of a single oral dose of [14C]LAS. Total mean recoveries of the radiocarbon were 96.7 and 94.3% from rats and monkeys, respectively. The major route of excretion in both species was the feces, and based on a separate study in the bile duct-cannulated rat, this likely reflects excretion in bile rather than incomplete absorption. Whole-body autoradioluminography suggested that [14C]LAS radioequivalents distributed rapidly in the rat with most tissues achieving maximal concentrations at 1 h. Half-life of radioactivity was longest in the uvea (124 h) and shortest in the spleen (∼3 h). LAS was extensively metabolized in both rats and monkeys because no unchanged drug was detected in urine and/or bile. Based on area under the curve(0–24) values, >78% of the circulating radioactivity was due to the metabolites. A total of 22 metabolites were tentatively identified by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Based on the structures of the metabolites, six metabolic pathways of LAS were identified: hydroxylation at the tetraline ring, hydroxylation at the aromatic ring attached to tetraline, methylation of the catechol intermediates by catechol-O-methyl transferase, oxidation at the pyrrolidine ring, and direct conjugation with glucuronic acid and sulfuric acid. LAS and its glucuronide conjugate (M7) were the major circulating drug-related moieties in both rats and monkeys. However, there were notable species-related qualitative and quantitative differences in the metabolic profiles. The catechol (M21) and its sulfate conjugate (M10) were observed only in monkeys, whereas the glucuronide conjugate of the methylated catechol (M8) and hydroxy-LAS (M9) were detected only in rats.