Pharmacokinetics and Biochemical Efficacy of an α-Proteinase Inhibitor (Aralast NP) in α-Antitrypsin Deficiency: a Cross-Product Retrospective Comparability Analysis.

Introduction: Augmentation therapy with plasma-derived α-proteinase inhibitor (A1PI) products is currently the only approved disease-specific therapy for α-antitrypsin deficiency (AATD), a genetic disorder associated with decreased levels of A1PI. Systemic trough levels of A1PI in plasma or serum are widely accepted as a biochemical efficacy endpoint in clinical trials for A1PI products.

Methods: Retrospective analyses utilizing data from three clinical studies in patients with AATD were conducted to evaluate the pharmacokinetic(s) (PK) and biochemical efficacy comparability of Aralast NP and two other A1PI augmentation therapies, Aralast and Prolastin.

Comparative biochemical efficacy analysis of an alpha-proteinase inhibitor (Glassia®) in patients with alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency.

Alpha-proteinase inhibitor (A1PI) augmentation is the only specific treatment targeting the underlying deficiency in alpha-antitrypsin deficiency (AATD). The demonstration of efficacy has been based on maintaining the biochemical surrogate endpoints of plasma antigenic and functional A1PI levels above >11 μM. Here we report a biochemical comparability analysis based on data from a phase 2/3, randomized, double-blind, two-arm study with partial crossover of Glassia® (Baxalta US Inc.

Prenatal nicotine sex-dependently alters adolescent dopamine system development.

Despite persistent public health initiatives, many women continue to smoke during pregnancy. Since maternal smoking has been linked to persisting sex-dependent neurobehavioral deficits in offspring, some consider nicotine to be a safer alternative to tobacco during pregnancy, and the use of electronic nicotine delivery systems is on the rise. We presently show, however, that sustained exposure to low doses of nicotine during fetal development, approximating plasma levels seen clinically with the nicotine patch, produces substantial changes in developing corticostriatal dopamine systems in adolescence.

Pooled post hoc analysis of population pharmacokinetics of oxycodone and acetaminophen following a single oral dose of biphasic immediate-release/extended-release oxycodone/acetaminophen tablets.

This analysis evaluated the single-dose population pharmacokinetics (PK) of biphasic immediate-release (IR)/extended-release (ER) oxycodone (OC)/acetaminophen (APAP) 7.5/325 mg tablets administered under fasted conditions and the effects of a meal on their single-dose population PK. Data were pooled from four randomized, single-dose crossover trials enrolling healthy adult (18-55 years old) participants (three trials) and nondependent recreational users of prescription opioids (one trial) with a body weight of ≥59 kg.

Proximal tubular secretion of creatinine by organic cation transporter OCT2 in cancer patients.

Purpose: Knowledge of transporters responsible for the renal secretion of creatinine is key to a proper interpretation of serum creatinine and/or creatinine clearance as markers of renal function in cancer patients receiving chemotherapeutic agents.

Experimental Design: Creatinine transport was studied in transfected HEK293 cells in vitro and in wild-type mice and age-matched organic cation transporter 1 and 2-deficient [Oct1/2(-/-)] mice ex vivo and in vivo. Clinical pharmacogenetic and transport inhibition studies were done in two separate cohorts of cancer patients.

Transcellular movement of hydroxyurea is mediated by specific solute carrier transporters.

Objective: Hydroxyurea has proven laboratory and clinical therapeutic benefits for sickle cell anemia and other diseases, yet many questions remain about its in vivo pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profiles. Previous reports suggest that hydroxyurea passively diffuses across cells, but its observed rapid absorption and distribution are more consistent with facilitated or active transport. We investigated the potential role of solute carrier (SLC) transporters in cellular uptake and accumulation of hydroxyurea.

Cisplatin-induced downregulation of OCTN2 affects carnitine wasting.

Purpose: Carnitine is an essential cofactor for mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation that is actively reabsorbed by the luminal transporter Octn2 (Slc22a5). Because the nephrotoxic agent cisplatin causes urinary loss of carnitine in humans, we hypothesized that cisplatin may affect Octn2 function.

Experimental Design: Excretion of carnitine and acetylcarnitine was measured in urine collected from mice with or without cisplatin administration.

Castration-dependent pharmacokinetics of docetaxel in patients with prostate cancer.

Purpose: To assess whether the low incidence of severe neutropenia in castrated men with prostate cancer treated with docetaxel is the result of changes in systemic clearance.

Patients And Methods: A total of 10 noncastrated and 20 castrated men with prostate cancer were studied to achieve 80% power (α = .05) to detect at least a 25% change in the clearance of docetaxel.

Influence of Oct1/Oct2-deficiency on cisplatin-induced changes in urinary N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase.

Purpose: This study aimed to test the influence of functional renal organic cation transporters (OCT2 in humans, Oct1 and Oct2 in mice) on biomarkers of cisplatin nephrotoxicity, such as urinary activity of N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG).

Experimental Design: Temporal cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity was assessed by histopathology and biomarkers. Cisplatin-mediated NAG changes and survival were determined in wild-type and Oct1/2(-/-) mice.

Pharmacogenetics of the organic anion transporting polypeptide 1A2.

The solute carrier, human organic anion transporting polypeptide 1A2 (OATP1A2, OATP-A, OATP1 and OATP) is highly expressed in the intestine, kidney, cholangiocytes and the blood-brain barrier. This localization suggests that OATP1A2 may be vitally important in the absorption, distribution and excretion of a broad array of clinically important drugs. Several nonsynonymous polymorphisms have been identified in the gene encoding OATP1A2, SLCO1A2 (SLC21A3), with some of these variants demonstrating functional changes in the transport of OATP1A2 substrates.

Prenatal nicotine exposure changes natural and drug-induced reinforcement in adolescent male rats.

Clinical studies have demonstrated an increased incidence of substance misuse and obesity in adolescents whose mothers smoked during pregnancy. Although dopamine systems that mediate natural and drug-induced reinforcement have been shown in animal studies to be altered by gestational nicotine treatment, it is not clear whether there are concomitant changes in reinforcement sensitivity. To test whether prenatal nicotine exposure influences sensitivity to natural and drug rewards, timed pregnant rats were implanted with osmotic minipumps delivering saline or nicotine (3 mg/kg/day) from gestational day 4 to 18.

Interaction of imatinib with human organic ion carriers.

Purpose: The activity of imatinib in leukemia has recently been linked with expression of the organic cation transporter 1 (OCT1) gene SLC22A1. Here, we characterized the contribution of solute carriers to imatinib transport in an effort to further understand mechanisms involved in the intracellular uptake and retention (IUR) of the drug.

Experimental Design: IUR of [3H]imatinib was studied in Xenopus laevis oocytes and HEK293 cells expressing OATP1A2, OATP1B1, OATP1B3, OCT1-3, OCTN1-2, or OAT1-3.

Gestational exposure to nicotine and monoamine oxidase inhibitors influences cocaine-induced locomotion in adolescent rats.

Rationale: Many pregnant women continue to smoke, despite a strong association between maternal smoking and neurobehavioral deficits in the offspring. Although gestational nicotine (GN) treatment in rodents is used as the primary animal model of maternal smoking, tobacco smoke contains more than 4,000 constituents, including monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs).

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine whether there are interactions between the effects of gestational exposure to nicotine and MAOIs on cocaine-induced locomotor sensitization in adolescent rats.