A DBS method for quantitation of the new oral trypanocidal drug fexinidazole and its active metabolites.

Aim: Fexinidazole (FEX) is a nitroimidazole being developed as a new trypanocide treatment for human African trypanosomiasis/sleeping sickness. Its main metabolites, fexinidazole sulfoxide (M1) and fexinidazole sulfone (M2), show the same in vitro pharmacological activity as FEX.

Methods & Results: An LC-MS/MS assay was developed for quantitation of FEX in DBS, collected via finger-prick from healthy subjects.

Evaluation of novel biomarkers of nephrotoxicity in Cynomolgus monkeys treated with gentamicin.

Most studies to evaluate kidney safety biomarkers have been performed in rats. This study was conducted in Cynomolgus monkeys in order to evaluate the potential usefulness of novel biomarkers of nephrotoxicity in this species. Groups of 3 males were given daily intramuscular injections of gentamicin, a nephrotoxic agent known to produce lesions in proximal tubules, at dose-levels of 10, 25, or 50mg/kg/day for 10days.

Dried Blood Spot Methodology in Combination With Liquid Chromatography/Tandem Mass Spectrometry Facilitates the Monitoring of Teriflunomide.

Background: Teriflunomide, a once-daily oral immunomodulator approved for treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis, is eliminated slowly from plasma. If necessary to rapidly lower plasma concentrations of teriflunomide, an accelerated elimination procedure using cholestyramine or activated charcoal may be used. The current bioanalytical assay for determination of plasma teriflunomide concentration requires laboratory facilities for blood centrifugation and plasma storage.

Pharmacokinetics of ferroquine, a novel 4-aminoquinoline, in asymptomatic carriers of Plasmodium falciparum infections.

Ferroquine (SSR97193), a ferrocene-quinoline conjugate, is a promising novel antimalarial currently undergoing clinical evaluation. This study characterizes its pharmacokinetic properties. Young male African volunteers with asymptomatic Plasmodium falciparum infection were administered a single oral dose (n = 40) or a repeated oral dose (n = 26) given over 3 days of ferroquine in two dose-escalation, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trials.

Heparin-like glycosaminoglycan/amine salt-bridge interactions: a new potential tool for HLGAGs analysis using mass spectrometry.

Characterization of glycosaminoglycans poses a challenge for current analytical techniques, as they are highly acidic, polydisperse and heterogeneous compounds. The purpose of this study is the separation and analysis of a partially depolymerized heparin-like glycosaminoglycan by on-line ion-pairing reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography/electrospray mass spectrometry. The gas-phase behavior of two synthesized glycosaminoglycans has been investigated.

Bioavailability of a co-formulated combination of amodiaquine and artesunate under fed and fasted conditions. A randomised, open-label crossover study.

Objectives: To assess the effect of food on the pharmacokinetics of the anti-malarial amodiaquine (AQ, CAS 6398-98-7) and artesunate (AS, CAS 182824-33-5) and their active metabolites [desethylamodiaquine (DSA, CAS 81496-81-3) and dihydroartemisinin (DHA, CAS79352-78-6), respectively] in healthy volunteers.

Methods: In an open, two-way crossover study, 22 healthy male volunteers fasted overnight and were randomised to receive a single oral administration of 4 tablets of a fixed-dose combination containing 135 mg AQ and 50 mg AS in the absence or presence of a standardised high-fat breakfast, administered 30 min before drug administration. Blood samples were collected up to Day 10 and AQ, DSA, AS and DHA were assayed by an LC/MS/MS method.