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Biomedical subjects

Graham Lappin

Publications and source records attributed to Graham Lappin.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

Use of microdosing to predict pharmacokinetics at the therapeutic dose: experience with 5 drugs.

OBJECTIVES: A volunteer trial was performed to compare the pharmacokinetics of 5 drugs--warfarin, ZK253 (Schering), diazepam, midazolam, and erythromycin--when administered at a microdose or pharmacologic dose. Each compound was chosen to represent a situation in which prediction of pharmacokinetics from either animal or in vitro studies (or both) was or is likely to be problematic. METHODS: In a crossover design volunteers received (1) 1 of the 5 compounds as a microdose labeled with radioactive carbon (carbon 14) (100 microg), (2) the corresponding (14)C-labeled therapeutic dose on a separate occasion, and (3) simultaneous administration of an intravenous (14)C-labeled microdose and an oral therapeutic dose for ZK253, midazolam, and erythromycin. Analysis of (14)C-labeled drugs in plasma was done by use of HPLC followed by accelerator mass spectrometry. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry was used to measure plasma concentrations of ZK253, midazolam, and erythromycin at therapeutic concentrations, whereas HPLC-accelerator mass spectrometry was used to measure warfarin and diazepam concentrations. RESULTS: Good concordance between microdose and therapeutic dose pharmacokinetics was observed for diazepam (half-life [t((1/2))] of 45.1 hours, clearance [CL] of 1.38 L/h, and volume of distribution [V] of 90.1 L for 100 microg and t((1/2)) of 35.7 hours, CL of 1.3 L/h, and V of 123 L for 10 mg), midazolam (t((1/2)) of 4.87 hours, CL of 21.2 L/h, V of 145 L, and oral bioavailability [F] of 0.23 for 100 microg and t((1/2)) of 3.31 hours, CL of 20.4 L/h, V of 75 L, and F of 0.22 for 7.5 mg), and development compound ZK253 (F = <1% for both 100 microg and 50 mg). For warfarin, clearance was reasonably well predicted (0.17 L/h for 100 microg and 0.26 L/h for 5 mg), but the discrepancy observed in distribution (67 L for 100 microg and 17.9 L for 5 mg) was probably a result of high-affinity, low-capacity tissue binding. The oral microdose of erythromycin failed to provide detectable plasma levels as a result of possible acid lability in the stomach. Absolute bioavailability for the 3 compounds examined yielded excellent concordance with data from the literature or data generated in house. CONCLUSION: Overall, when used appropriately, microdosing offers the potential to aid in early drug candidate selection.

Administration, Oral↗

The use of isotopes in the determination of absolute bioavailability of drugs in humans.

Absolute bioavailability studies in humans are not routinely performed as part of the drug registration process. They tend to be reasonably demanding, not least because toxicology data are required to support intravenous administration of a drug. Moreover, the classical crossover design of an absolute bioavailability study can suffer from artefacts caused by concentration-dependent pharmacokinetics. Many of the problems associated with absolute bioavailability studies can be alleviated using isotopically labelled drugs. Stable isotopes have been used in the performance of absolute bioavailability studies in humans for > 30 years. More recently, the advantages of using radiolabelled drugs have been expanded by using the ultrasensitive technology of accelerator mass spectrometry. Isotopic labelling not only allows for the accurate and efficient determination of absolute bioavailability, but can also provide information on first-pass effects and other pharmacokinetic parameters.

Administration, Intravesical↗

The application of accelerator mass spectrometry to absolute bioavailability studies in humans: simultaneous administration of an intravenous microdose of 14C-nelfinavir mesylate solution and oral nelfinavir to healthy volunteers.

The absolute bioavailability of nelfinavir was determined in 6 healthy volunteers following simultaneous administration of 1250 mg oral nelfinavir and an intravenous infusion of (14)C-nelfinavir mesylate on day 1 and at steady state. Nelfinavir oral bioavailability decreased from 0.88 to 0.47 over the 11-day study period. The moderate bioavailability of nelfinavir was due to significant first-pass metabolism rather than low absorption, limiting the potential of formulation improvement to decrease pill burden. Human absolute bioavailability studies with accelerator mass spectrometry microdosing, in which an intravenous microdose is given along with a conventional oral dose of the same drug, can differentiate between gastrointestinal absorption and the first-pass metabolism of new drug candidates. Accelerator mass spectrometry allowed a several thousand-fold dose reduction of (14)C-nelfinavir relative to that required for liquid scintillation counting. Accelerator mass spectrometry microdosing reduces potential safety issues around dosing radioactivity to humans and prevents the need to formulate high intravenous doses.

Administration, Oral↗

The use of accelerator mass spectrometry to obtain early human ADME/PK data.

There is an increasing recognition within the pharmaceutical industry of the importance of the ADME studies in drug registration. Consequently, there has been a drive in recent times to conduct the ADME studies as early as possible in the development programme. There are, however, regulatory barriers, particularly in the administration of radiotracers to human volunteers, which place limitations on the timing of the ADME studies. Accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS), a technology new to the pharmaceutical industry, is an ultrasensitive technique for measuring tracers such as (14)C. Using AMS, it is possible to lower the radioactive dose administered to humans to a point where many regulatory authorities consider it insignificant. With the removal of the regulatory hurdles, ADME data can be obtained much earlier in the development process. Tracers such as (14)C can be administered in minute amounts in the first in man studies (Phase I), or even in a preregulatory study known as microdosing (or human Phase 0). AMS also enables other studies such as absolute bioavailability to be conducted earlier if required.

Chromatography, Liquid↗

Current perspectives of 14C-isotope measurement in biomedical accelerator mass spectrometry.

Accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) is an extremely sensitive nuclear physics technique developed in the mid-70's for radiocarbon dating of historical artefacts. The technique centres round the use of a tandem Van de Graaff accelerator to generate the potential energy to permit separation of elemental isotopes at the single atom level. AMS was first used in the early 90's for the analysis of biological samples containing enriched 14C for toxicology and cancer research. Since that time biomedical AMS has been used in the study of (1) metabolism of xenobiotics in animals and humans (2) pathways of drug metabolism (3) biomarkers (4) metabolism of endogenous molecules including vitamins (5) DNA and protein binding studies and (6) clinical diagnosis. A new drug development concept which relies on the ultrasensitivity of AMS known as human microdosing (Phase 0) is being used to obtain early human metabolism information of candidate drugs arising out of discovery. These various aspects of AMS are reviewed in this article and a perspective on future applications of AMS provided.

Journal Article↗

Sulforaphane and quercetin modulate PhIP-DNA adduct formation in human HepG2 cells and hepatocytes.

The formation of DNA adducts in human HepG2 cells and human hepatocytes exposed to 14C-labelled 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP) was examined using Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS). PhIP generated DNA adducts in a linear dose-dependent manner between 100 pM and 20 micro M. Co-treatment with the dietary isothiocyanate, sulforaphane (SFN, 1-10 micro M), or the flavonoid, quercetin (5-20 micro M), significantly reduced the level of PhIP-DNA adducts in a dose-dependent manner. The degree of protection was dependent on PhIP concentration, i.e. after 100 pM PhIP exposure, SFN or quercetin reduced adduct levels to below the limit of detection (0.15 amol PhIP/ micro g DNA) but at higher PhIP exposure (10 nM and 1 micro M), the protection was 60 and 10%, respectively. The involvement of phase I, phase II and DNA repair enzymes in this protection against PhIP-DNA adduct formation was investigated using real-time RT-PCR and enzyme activity assays. In intact HepG2 cells, quercetin inhibited cytochrome P450 (CYP)1A2, the main phase I enzyme responsible for PhIP bioactivation. In contrast, SFN induced phase II detoxification enzymes, UDP-glucuronosyltransferase 1A1 and glutathione S-transferase A1 mRNA expression. SFN and quercetin showed no effect on DNA repair, neither in terms of the level of PhIP-DNA adducts, when cells were treated with phytochemicals after the carcinogen exposure, nor the regulation of mRNA expression of two DNA repair enzymes, apurinic endonuclease and DNA polymerase beta. This study indicates that dietary isothiocyanates and flavonoids modulate phase I and phase II enzyme expression, hence increasing the rate of detoxification of the dietary carcinogen PhIP in human HepG2 cells but do not affect the rate of PhIP-DNA adduct repair. The formation of PhIP-DNA adducts in human hepatocytes was also dose-dependent with PhIP-concentration and the levels of protection by SFN or quercetin were up to 60% after 10 nM PhIP treatment, but showed large inter-individual variation with no observed protection in some individuals.

Anticarcinogenic Agents↗

Big physics, small doses: the use of AMS and PET in human microdosing of development drugs.

The process of early clinical drug development has changed little over the past 20 years despite an up to 40% failure rate associated with inappropriate drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics of candidate molecules. A new method of obtaining human metabolism data known as microdosing has been developed which will permit smarter candidate selection by taking investigational drugs into humans earlier. Microdosing depends on the availability of two ultrasensitive 'big-physics' techniques: positron emission tomography (PET) can provide pharmacodynamic information, whereas accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) provides pharmacokinetic information. Microdosing allows safer human studies as well as reducing the use of animals in preclinical toxicology.

Animals↗

Chemical toxins and body defences.

Without realising it, we are all exposed to a wide range of toxins every day. Some are a natural part of our diet and environment and some are man-made. Over evolutionary time, biochemical pathways are developed that have allowed our bodies to cope with this onslaught. It is only in recent times, however, that we have really begun to understand how these mechanisms work.

Acetaminophen↗