Sharon K. Rudolph

Pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic correlation from mouse to human with pazopanib, a multikinase angiogenesis inhibitor with potent antitumor and antiangiogenic activity

With the development of targeted therapeutics, especially for small-molecule inhibitors, it is important to understand whether the observed in vivo efficacy correlates with the modulation of desired/intended target in vivo. We have developed a small-molecule inhibitor of all three vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptors (VEGFR), platelet-derived growth factor receptor, and c-Kit tyrosine kinases, pazopanib (GW786034), which selectively inhibits VEGF-induced endothelial cell proliferation. It has good oral exposure and inhibits angiogenesis and tumor growth in mice. Because bolus administration of the compound results in large differences in Cmax and Ctrough, we investigated the effect of continuous infusion of a VEGFR inhibitor on tumor growth and angiogenesis. GW771806, which has similar enzyme and cellular profiles to GW786034, was used for these studies due to higher solubility requirements for infusion studies. Comparing the pharmacokinetics by two different routes of administration (bolus p.o. dosing and continuous infusion), we showed that the antitumor and antiangiogenic activity of VEGFR inhibitors is dependent on steady-state concentration of the compound above a threshold. The steady-state concentration required for these effects is consistent with the concentration required for the inhibition of VEGF-induced VEGFR2 phosphorylation in mouse lungs. Furthermore, the steady-state concentration of pazopanib determined from preclinical activity showed a strong correlation with the pharmacodynamic effects and antitumor activity in the phase I clinical trial. [Mol Cancer Ther 2007;6(7):2012–21]

Discovery of 5-[[4-[(2,3-dimethyl-2H-indazol-6-yl)methylamino]-2-pyrimidinyl]amino]-2-methyl-benzenesulfonamide (Pazopanib), a novel and potent vascular endothelial growth factor receptor inhibitor.

Inhibition of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signaling pathway has emerged as one of the most promising new approaches for cancer therapy. We describe herein the key steps starting from an initial screening hit leading to the discovery of pazopanib, N(4)-(2,3-dimethyl-2H-indazol-6-yl)-N(4)-methyl-N(2)-(4-methyl-3-sulfonamidophenyl)-2,4-pyrimidinediamine, a potent pan-VEGF receptor (VEGFR) inhibitor under clinical development for renal-cell cancer and other solid tumors.

Immunogenicity of Thrombopoietin Mimetic Peptide GW395058 in BALB/c Mice and New Zealand White Rabbits: Evaluation of the Potential for Thrombopoietin Neutralizing Antibody Production in Man

Administration of exogenous proteins and peptides as therapeutics carries with it the potential for immune system recognition and the development of neutralizing antibodies to endogenous regulatory proteins. PEGylation of proteins typically reduces their immunogenicity in vivo. GW395058 is a PEGylated peptide thrombopoietin receptor (TPOr) agonist being evaluated for the treatment of chemotherapy‐induced thrombocytopenia. Although GW395058 shares no homology with TPO, it does compete with TPO for binding to a common receptor, and a similarity in local structure could result in shared epitopes. Thus GW395058 could elicit TPO‐neutralizing antibodies. In this study, we evaluated the immunogenicity of GW395058 in mice, the potential of rabbit antibodies elicited by immunizations with the non‐PEGylated parent peptide AF15705 to cross‐react with recombinant human (rHu) TPO, and the potential of mouse anti‐rHuTPO antibodies elicited by repeated dosing with rHuTPO to cross‐react with AF15705. GW395058‐dosed mice failed to produce antibodies to AF15705 or rHuTPO. Mouse anti‐rHuTPO did not cross‐react with AF15705 and rabbit anti‐AF15705 antibodies failed to cross‐react with rHuTPO. GW395058 caused no immune‐mediated lesions in mice, but rHuTPO suppressed megakaryocytopoiesis and caused B‐lymphocyte hyperplasia in lymphoid tissues consistent with antigenic stimulation. These data suggest that the potential for an immune response to GW395058 in man would be low.