Samuel F. Sisenwine

Introduction of a Composite Parameter to the Pharmacokinetics of Venlafaxine and its Active O-Desmethyl Metabolite

Venlafaxine is a structurally novel, nontricyclic compound that is being evaluated for the treatment of various depressive disorders. A randomized three‐period crossover study was conducted to obtain pharmacokinetic and dose proportionality data on the drug and its active metabolite, O‐desmethylvenlafaxine. Eighteen healthy young men received single doses of venlafaxine 25, 75, and 150 mg followed by 3 days of administration every 8 hours (q8h). Steady‐state elimination half‐life was 3 to 4 hours for venlafaxine and 10 hours for O‐desmethylvenlafaxine; both were independent of dose. Venlafaxine had a high oral‐dose clearance, ranging from 0.58 to 2.63 L/hr/kg across doses with the lowest mean clearance, 0.98 L/hr/kg, at the highest dose. The apparent clearance of O‐desmethylvenlafaxine was lower than venlafaxine, ranging from 0.21 to 0.66 L/hr/kg, and the lowest mean clearance, 0.33 L/hr/kg, occurred at the lowest dose. The area under the metabolite curve was two to three times greater than that for venlafaxine. Each compound had linear dose proportionality up to 75 mg q8h. A composite parameter incorporating venlafaxine plus O‐desmethylvenlafaxine was introduced (i.e., AUC [area under the curve] + activity factor · AUCm), which extended linearity to 150 mg q8h. In summary, venlafaxine is a high‐clearance drug that forms a metabolite with almost equal activity and demonstrates linear dose‐proportionality.

Metabolic disposition of 14C-venlafaxine in mouse, rat, dog, rhesus monkey and man

1. The metabolic disposition of venlafaxine has been studied in mouse, rat, dog, rhesus monkey and man after oral doses (22, 22, 2, and 10 mg/kg, and 50 mg, respectively) of 14C-venlafaxine as the hydrochloride. 2. In all species, over 85% of the administered radioactivity was recovered in the urine within 72 h, indicating extensive absorption from the GI tract and renal excretion. 3. Venlafaxine was extensively metabolized, with only 13.0, 1.8, 7.9, 0.3 and 4.7% dose appearing as parent compound in urine of mouse, rat, dog, monkey and man, respectively. The metabolite profile varied significantly among species, but primary metabolic reactions were demethylations and the conjugation of phase I metabolites. Hydroxylation of the cyclohexyl ring also occurred in mouse, rat and monkey, and a cyclic product was formed in rat and monkey. Glucuronidation was the primary conjugation reaction, although sulphate conjugates were also detected in mouse urine. 4. While no metabolite constituted more than 20% dose in any species except man, the major urinary metabolites were: mouse, N,O-didesmethyl-venlafaxine glucuronide; rat, cis-1,4-dihydroxy-venlafaxine; dog, O-desmethyl-venlafaxine glucuronide; monkey, N,N,O-tridesmethyl-venlafaxine; and man, O-desmethyl-venlafaxine.

Rapid drug metabolite profiling using fast liquid chromatography, automated multiple-stage mass spectrometry and receptor-binding

Rapid drug metabolite profiling can be achieved using fast chromatographic separation and fast mass spectrometric scanning without compromising the separation efficiency. Fast chromatographic separations of drug and its metabolites can be achieved by eluting from a short narrow-bore guard cartridge column (20 x 2 mm I.D., 3 microns BDS Hypersil C8) at flow-rate of 1.0 ml/min and with a gradient volume greater than 90 column volumes. The need for chromatographic separation is important for automated data dependent multiple-stage mass spectrometry (MSn) experimentation. The total analysis time of 8 min permits profiling of metabolites in a 96-well plate in 13 h. The narrow chromatographic peaks resulting from the high flow-rate require the use of a mass spectrometer capable of fast scan speed due to the need to perform multiple MS experiments within the same chromatographic analysis. A method has been developed for screening potentially biologically active in vitro microsomal metabolites by affinity binding with a receptor. After separation by centrifugal ultrafiltration, the bound ligands are released and characterized by LC-MS. In vitro microsomal metabolites of tamoxifen, raloxifene and adatanserin were screened for potential biological activity using this method. The in vitro metabolites of tamoxifen captured by the receptor include N-demethyltamoxifen and three species of hydroxytamoxifen; these data are consistent with those from a conventional binding study and bioassay. In addition, both hydroxyraloxifene and dihydroxyraloxifene are also recognized by the receptor. The specificity of the molecular recognition process is illustrated by the absence of binding with control microsomal incubate and with adatanserin and its metabolites. Therefore, active metabolites can be rapidly profiled by fast LC, automated MSn, and receptor binding. This information can be obtained quickly and can add value to the drug discovery process.

Pharmacokinetics of venlafaxine and O-desmethylvenlafaxine in laboratory animals.

1. The pharmacokinetics of venlafaxine have been evaluated in mouse, rat, dog and rhesus monkey after i.v. and/or i.g. doses of venlafaxine from 2 to 120 mg/kg either as single or repeated doses. 2. In rat, dog and monkey, venlafaxine is a high clearance compound with a large volume of distribution after i.v. administration. 3. Absolute bioavailability was low in rat and rhesus monkey (12.6 and 6.5%, respectively) and moderate in dog (59.8%). Other species differences were seen, including an elimination half-life of venlafaxine that was longer in dog and rhesus monkey (2-4 h) than in rodent (around 1 h). 4. In mouse, rat and dog, exposure to venlafaxine increased more than proportionally with dose, suggesting saturation of elimination. Exposure of venlafaxine decreased with repeated dosing in mouse and rat, but was unchanged in dog. 5. Exposure of animals to the bioactive metabolite, O-desmethylvenlafaxine (ODV), was less than that of venlafaxine itself. ODV was not detected in dog and not measurable in rhesus monkey receiving venlafaxine.

High Performance Liquid Chromatographic Isolation and Spectroscopic Characterization of Three Major Metabolites from the Plasma of Rats Receiving Rapamycin (Sirolimus) Orally

Abstract Three major metabolites of rapamycin (M2, M3, and M5) were isolated from pooled plasma of orally dosed rats. Metabolites were extracted from the plasma with ethyl acetate/methanol prior to isolation by HPLC using a Supelcosil SPLC-18, 5μm, 10 × 250 mm column. The mobile phase was a methanol/ammonium acetate linear gradient system. The isolated metabolites were characterized by negative ion FAB MS, ion-spray MS and ion-spray MS/MS. Metabolite M2 is oxygenated in the southern portion of rapamycin and the macrolide ring is opened. M3 is a structural isomer of rapamycin where the lactone ring is opened. M5 is O-demethylated on the C41 methoxy moiety and the macrolide ring is intact.

High Performance Liquid Chromatographic Isolation, Spectroscopic Characterization, and Immunosuppressive Activities of Two Rapamycin Degradation Products

Abstract A high performance liquid chromatographic method has been developed for the isolation of two degradation products of rapamycin which is currently under development as an immunosuppressive agent. Prior to isolation, the drug was incubated at 37°C in rat bile or ammonium acetate (pH 8.0). The isolation was achieved by a Supelco, PLC-18 21.2 × 250 mm, 18 μm column using methanol/ammonium acetate gradient mobile phase. After evaporation of methanol, the remaining eluates were lyophilized. The isolated degradation products were characterized by negative ion fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry (FAB MS) and proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H NMR). Degradation product A was found to be a macrolide ring-opened hydrolysis product of rapamycin where the C25 ester bond had been hydrolyzed. Degradation product B was determined to be a ring-opened isomer of rapamycin. B had less than 4% of the potency of rapamycin in a thymocyte proliferation assay, while A had minimal activity at concentra...

A High Performance Liquid Chromatographic Method for the Determination of Rapamycin (Sirolimus) in Rat Serum, Plasma, and Blood and in Monkey Serum

Abstract A high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method was developed for the quantitation of rapamycin, an immunosuppressive agent, in biological specimens. The method employs a 15 cm Supelco LC-18 column (5 μm) interconnected to a 25 cm Supelco LC-18 column (5 μm). The mobile phase is a methanol/water gradient system. The flow rate is 0.51 ml/min and detection is by ultraviolet (UV) absorption at 276 nm. The method was validated for its specificity, precision, linearity and sensitivity in rat serum. Endogenous compounds in rat serum did not interfere with the detection of rapamycin or the internal standard (β-estradiol-3-benzoate). Based on a 1.0 ml serum sample, the assay was linear from 5 to 500 ng/ml. The intra-day coefficients of variation were below 10% and independent of concentration. Inter-day precision values ranged from 5.5 to 13.6%, the difference being independent of concentration. The specificity, linearity and sensitivity of the method was also demonstrated in cynomolgus monkey se...

Metabolic Disposition of 14C-Bromfenac in Healthy Male Volunteers

The metabolic disposition of 14C‐bromfenac, an orally active, potent, nonsteroidal, nonnarcotic, analgesic agent was investigated in six healthy male subjects after a single oral 50‐mg dose. The absorption of radioactivity was rapid, producing a mean maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) of 4.9 ± 1.8 μgṁequiv/mL, which was reached 1.0 ± 0.5 hours after administration. Unchanged drug was the major component found in plasma, and no major metabolites were detected in the plasma. Total radioactivity recovered over a 4‐day period from four of the six subjects averaged 82.5% and 13.2% of the dose in the urine and feces, respectively. Excretion into urine was rapid; most of the radioactivity was excreted during the first 8 hours. Five radioactive chromatographic peaks, a cyclic amide and four polar metabolites, were detected in 0‐ to 24‐hour urine samples. Similarity of metabolite profiles between humans and cynomolgus monkeys permitted use of this animal model to generate samples after a high dose for structure elucidation. Liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) analysis of monkey urine samples indicated that the four polar metabolites were two pairs of diastereoisomeric glucuronides whose molecular weight differed by two daltons. Enzyme hydrolysis, cochromatography, and LC/MS experiments resulted in the identification of a hydroxylated cyclic amide as one of the aglycones, which formed a pair of diastereoisomeric glucuronides after conjugation. Data also suggested that a dihydroxycyclic amide formed by the reduction of the ketone group that joins the phenyl rings formed the second pair of diastereoisomeric glucuronides. Further, incubation of various reference standards in control (blank) urine and buffer with and without creatinine indicated that the hydroxy cyclic amide released from enzyme hydrolysis can undergo ex vivo transformations to a condensation product between creatinine and an α‐keto acid derivative of the hydroxy cyclic amide that is formed by oxidation and ring opening. Further experiments with a dihydroxylated cyclic amide after reduction of the keto function indicated that it too can form a creatinine conjugate.

Determination of 17α-dihydroequilenin in rat, rabbit and monkey plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorimetric detection

A high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method with fluorescence detection for the determination of total (unconjugated and conjugated) 71α-dihydroequilenin in male and female rat rabbit and male rhesus monkey plasma is described here. Plasma sample preparation involved hydrolysis with enzyme (Glusulase), addition of internal standard (14β-equilenin) and solvent extraction. The extracts were chromatographed on a C6, 5-μm reversed-phase HPLC column and detection was accomplished with a fluorescence detector operated at an excitation wavelength of 210 nm and an emission wavelength of 370 nm. The assay was linear over a range of 2.5 to 100 ng/ml in male and female rat plasma, and 5 to 500 ng/ml in female rabbit and male and female monkey plasma. The method was specific, accurate and reproducible (percent differences <14.5; coefficients of variation <9.5%) in all matrices examined. The applicability of this method was successfully tested by quantifying total plasma concentrations of 17α-dihydroequilenin in ovariectomized female rats, ovariectomized female rabbits and a normal female rhesus monkey receiving 2.0, 8.3 and 0.1 mg/kg, respectively, of 17α-dihydroequilenin sulfate intragastrically.

Metabolism of equilin sulfate in the dog

The metabolism of equilin sulfate was determined in female dogs receiving 2.5 mg/kg of [3H]equilin sulfate alone or in a preparation that contained all the components that are present in the conjugated equine estrogen product Premarin. The pharmacokinetic parameters of total radioactivity indicated that the drug is rapidly absorbed and it has a moderate half-life in plasma. The total radioactivity in plasma following administration of [3H]equilin sulfate as part of a mixture of conjugated equine estrogens had significantly lower peak concentration (Cmax), a lower area under the curve (AUC), a longer terminal half-life (t1/2) and a longer mean residence time (MRT) than when [3H]equilin sulfate was given alone, indicating that the other components in the conjugated equine estrogen preparation altered the pharmacokinetics of equilin sulfate. An average of 26.7 +/- 4.4% of the administered radioactive dose was excreted in urine of dogs receiving [3H]equilin sulfate. Again, a significantly lower percentage (21.4 +/- 6.3%, P = 0.023) was eliminated in urine of dogs receiving [3H]equilin sulfate in the conjugated equine estrogen preparation, indicating that the absorption of equilin sulfate was perhaps altered by the other components in the conjugated equine estrogen preparation. Metabolite profiles of plasma and urine were similar. Equilin, equilenin, 17 beta-dihydroequilenin, 17 beta-dihydroequilin, 17 alpha-dihydroequilenin and 17 alpha-dihydroequilin were present in both matrices. 17 beta-Dihydroequilin and equilin were the two major chromatographic peaks in plasma samples. 17 beta-Dihydroequilenin and 17 beta-dihydroequilin were the major metabolites in urine. In conclusion, following oral administration of [3H]equilin sulfate to dogs, the radioactivity is rapidly absorbed. The disposition of equilin sulfate is altered by the other components that are present in the conjugated equine estrogen preparation Premarin. The reduction of the 17-keto group and aromatization of ring-B are the major metabolic pathways of equilin in the dog.