Yu-Ying Liu

Pharmacokinetics of [18F]fleroxacin in healthy human subjects studied by using positron emission tomography.

Positron emission tomography (PET) with [18F]fleroxacin was used to study the pharmacokinetics of fleroxacin, a new broad-spectrum fluoroquinolone, in 12 healthy volunteers (9 men and 3 women). The subjects were infused with a standard therapeutic dose of fleroxacin (400 mg) supplemented with approximately 20 mCi of [18F]fleroxacin. Serial PET images were made and blood samples were collected for 8 h, starting at the initiation of the infusion. The subjects were then treated with unlabeled drug for 3 days (400 mg/day). On the fifth day, infusion of radiolabeled drug, PET imaging, and blood collection were repeated. In most organs, there was rapid accumulation of radiolabeled drug, with stable levels achieved within 1 h after completion of the infusion. Especially high peak concentrations (in micrograms per gram) were achieved in the kidney (> 34), liver (> 25), lung (> 20), myocardium (> 19), and spleen (> 18). Peak concentrations of drug more than two times the MIC for 90% of Enterobacteriaceae strains tested (> 10-fold for most organisms) were achieved in all tissues except the brain and remained above this level for more than 6 to 8 h. The plateau concentrations in tissues (2 to 8 h, in micrograms per gram +/- standard error of the mean) of drug were as follows: brain, 0.83 +/- 0.032; myocardium, 4.53 +/- 0.24; lung, 5.80 +/- 0.48; liver, 7.31 +/- 0.33; spleen, 6.00 +/- 0.47; bowel, 3.53 +/- 0.74; kidney, 8.85 +/- 0.64; bone, 2.87 +/- 0.29; muscle, 4.60 +/- 0.33; prostate, 4.65 +/- 0.48; uterus, 3.87 +/- 0.39; breast, 2.68 +/- 0.11; and blood, 2.35 +/- 0.09. Concentrations of fleroxacin in tissue were similar in males and females, before and after pretreatment with unlabeled drug. Images

Pharmacokinetics of 18F-labeled fleroxacin in rabbits with Escherichia coli infections, studied with positron emission tomography.

18F-labeled fleroxacin was used to measure the pharmacokinetics of fleroxacin in healthy and infected animals by positron emission tomography (PET) and tissue radioactivity measurements. In all experiments, a pharmacological dose of unlabeled drug (10 mg/kg) was coinjected with the tracer. The pharmacokinetics of [18F]fleroxacin was measured in groups of healthy mice (n = six per group) at 10, 30, 60, and 120 min after injection and in groups of rats with Escherichia coli thigh infections (n = six per group) at 60 and 120 min after injection by radioactivity measurements in excised tissues. In healthy rabbits (n = 4) and in rabbits with E. coli thigh infections (n = 4), tissue concentrations of drug were determined by serial PET imaging over 2 h; after the final image was acquired, animals were sacrificed and concentrations measured by PET were compared with the results of tissue radioactivity measurements. In all three species, there was rapid equilibration of [18F]fleroxacin to significant concentrations in most peripheral organs; low concentrations of drug were detected in the brain. Accumulations of radiolabeled drug in infected and healthy thigh muscles were similar. Peak concentrations of drug of more than three times the MIC for 90% of members of the family Enterobacteriaceae (greater than 100-fold for most organisms) were achieved in all tissues except brain and remained above this level for more than 2 h. Especially high peak concentrations were achieved in the kidney (greater than 75 micrograms/g), liver (greater than 50 micrograms/g), blood (greater than 25 micrograms/g), and bone and lung (greater than 10 micrograms/g).Since the MICs for 90% of all Enterobacteriaceae are <2 micrograms/ml, fleroxacin should be particularly useful in treating gram-negative infections affecting these tissues. In contrast, the low concentration of drug delivered to the brain should limit the toxicity of the drug for the central nervous system. Images

Synthesis and biodistribution of 18F-labeled Fleroxacin

[18F]Fleroxacin (6,8-difluoro-1,4-dihydro-1-(2-[18F]fluoroethyl)-4- oxo-7-(4-methyl-1-piperazinyl)-3-quinolinecarboxylic acid) was synthesized from its methylsulfonyl ester precursor. 6,7,8-Trifluoro-4-hydroxyquinoline-3-carboxylic acid ethyl ester (Ro 19-7423) was alkylated with 2-bromoethanol to produce 6,7,8-trifluoro-1,4-dihydro-1-(2-hydroxyethyl)-4-oxo-3-quinolinecarboxyl ic acid ethyl ester in 76% yield which was then condensed with 1-methyl-piperazine to produce 6,8-difluoro-1,4-dihydro-1-(2-hydroxyethyl)-7-(4-methyl-1-piperazinyl)4- oxo-3- quinolinecarboxylic acid ethyl ester in 67% yield. This product was reacted with methanesulfonyl chloride to produce the mesylate precursor of fleroxacin in 66% yield. Nucleophilic substitution of the mesylate with 18F- in the presence of Kryptofix 2.2.2 followed by basic hydrolysis produced [18F]fleroxacin with a radiochemical yield of 5-8% [EOS] within 90 min. The pattern of biodistribution of [18F]fleroxacin was similar to the 14C-labeled drug.

Tissue pharmacokinetics of fleroxacin in humans as determined by positron emission tomography

The delivery of fleroxacin, a new broad-spectrum fluoroquinolone, to the major organs of the body was studied in 12 normal human volunteers (nine men and three women), utilizing positron emission tomography (PET). Following the infusion of 20 mCi of [(18)F]fleroxacin in conjuction with a standard therapeutic dose of 400 mg, images were acquired over 8 h. Beginning the next day, the subjects received unlabeled drug at a dose of 400 mg/day for 3 days, with a repeat PET study on the fifth day. Fleroxacin is distributed widely throughout the body, with the notable exception of the central nervous system, with stable levels achieved within 1 h after completion of the infusion. Especially high peak concentrations (18 mug/g) were achieved in the kidney, liver, lung myocardium, and spleen. The mean plateau concentrations (2-8 h post-infusion, mug/g) were: brain 0.83; myocardium, 4.53; lung, 5.80, liver, 7.31; spleen, 6.00; bowel, 3.53; kidney, 8.85; bone, 2.87; muscle, 4.60; prostate, 4.65; uterus, 3.87; breast, 2.68; and blood, 2.35. Repetitive dosing had no significant effect on the pharmacokinetics of the drug. Since the MIC(90)s of the family Enterobacterioaceae and Neisseria gonorrhoeae are <2 mug/ml, with the great majority of the individual species 1 mug/ml, these results suggest that a single daily dose of 400 mg of fleroxacin should be effective in the treatment of infections such as urinary tract infection and gonorrhea.

Selective reduction of a carboxyl group with diborane. Synthesis of specifically carbon-14 labelled D,L-2-Amino-4-(2-aminoethoxy)butanoic acid

Specific labelling of the title compound was achieved through intermediate 3a, methyl 2-(2-phthalimidoethoxy)acetate, derived from methyl bromoacetate-2-14C. Conversion to the corresponding acid (4) was followed with selective diborane reduction which provided 2-(2-phthalimidoethoxy)ethanol-2-14C (5). Treatment with thionyl chloride yielded the chloride 6 which is identical with the intermediate used in the nonlabelled synthesis and reaction with sodium ethyl phthalimidomalonate provided the title compound after hydrolytic work-up.