Toxicokinetic evaluation of atrasentan in mice utilizing serial microsampling: validation and sample analysis in GLP study.

Background: A semi-automated 96-well protein precipitation followed by HPLC-MS/MS method for the determination of atrasentan (2R-[4-methoxyphenyl]-4S-[1,3-benzodioxol-5-yl]-1-[N,N-di-(N-butyl)-aminocarbonyl-methyl]-pyrrolidine-3R-carboxylic acid) in mouse whole blood was developed, validated and utilized in GLP toxicokinetic evaluations. Six 40-µl whole blood samples were collected from a single mouse over the course of a 12 h blood collection window. To avoid sample volume losses, whole blood was selected as the matrix in place of the more typically used plasma.

Implementing DBS methodology for the determination of Compound A in monkey blood: GLP method validation and investigation of the impact of blood spreading on performance.

Background: This article describes validation work for analysis of an Abbott investigational drug (Compound A) in monkey whole blood with dried blood spots (DBS). The impact of DBS spotting volume on analyte concentration was investigated.

Results: The quantitation range was between 30.

Effect of sample collection tubing type used in a clinical study on quantitation of pharmaceutical compounds in CSF by LC-MS/MS.

Background: plasma/cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) ratio of compound K was determined to be lower than predicted during the conduct of clinical study. This triggered the evaluation of nonspecific binding of drug K and an additional ten compounds in CSF to collection tubing. Physiochemical properties such as pKa and log D values were correlated to the quantified results.

Quantitative Determination of ABT-925 in Human Plasma by On-Line SPE and LC-MS/MS: Validation and Sample Analysis in Phase II Studies.

A fully automated 96-well On-Line Solid Phase Extraction (SPE) followed by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)-Tandem Mass Spectrometric (MS/MS) method for the determination of ABT-925 (2-{3-[4-(2-tert-Butyl-6-trifluoromethyl-pyrimidin-4-yl)-piperazin-1-yl)-propyl-sulfanyl}-3H-pyrimidin-4-one fumarate) in human plasma was developed, validated and utilized in Phase II clinical studies. 50 µL of plasma sample was fortified with internal standard (IS, d8-ABT-925) and extracted on-line with Cohesive Turbo Flow Cyclone P HTLC column. The chromatographic separation was performed on Aquasil C18 (3 μm 50 × 3 mm) HPLC column with a mobile phase consisting of 50/50/0.

Strategies for Developing Sensitive and Automated LC-MS/MS Assays of a Pharmaceutical Compound and Its Metabolite from Whole Blood Matrix.

When compared with biological samples in other matrices (plasma, urine, etc.) that are typically seen in bioanalytical applications, whole blood samples present unique challenges in method development, because of the viscous nature of blood and complexity of its constituents. In this article, we have developed and validated a series of quantitative bioanalytical methods for the determination of a pharmaceutical compound, Compound A, and its phosphate metabolite from whole blood matrices using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry.

High-throughput salting-out assisted liquid/liquid extraction with acetonitrile for the simultaneous determination of simvastatin and simvastatin acid in human plasma with liquid chromatography.

Simvastatin (SS) is an effective cholesterol-lowering medicine, and is hydrolyzed to simvastatin acid (SSA) after oral administration. Due to SS and SSA inter-conversion and its pH and temperature dependence, SS and SSA quantitation is analytically challenging. Here we report a high-throughput salting-out assisted liquid/liquid extraction (SALLE) method with acetonitrile and mass spectrometry compatible salts for simultaneous LC-MS/MS analysis of SS and SSA.

Rapid, simultaneous determination of lopinavir and ritonavir in human plasma by stacking protein precipitations and salting-out assisted liquid/liquid extraction, and ultrafast LC-MS/MS.

Lopinavir and ritonavir are co-formulated in Kaletra approved for the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus infection. A validated analytical method is mandatory for clinical development and therapeutic drug monitoring. Here we are reporting a method for rapid, simultaneous determination of lopinavir and ritonavir in human plasma with stacked protein precipitations and salting-out assisted extraction (SALLE), and ultrafast LC-MS/MS detection.

High-throughput salting-out assisted liquid/liquid extraction and ultrafast LC for same-day delivery of first-in-human bioanalytical data.

Background: With the need of fast-paced drug development, rapid delivery of bioanalytical data becomes a trend. Here, we present a strategy to demonstrate same-day data delivery.

Results: A novel salting-out assisted liquid/liquid extraction (SALLE) with acetonitrile and a MS-friendly salt was used to extract analyte from the first-in-human study plasma samples and the extract was successfully injected into ultrafast chromatography.

Highly sensitive LC-MS-MS analysis of a pharmaceutical compound in human plasma using monolithic phase-based on-line extraction.

Monolithic columns have been used in recent years for fast chromatographic separation due to their high permeability and low backpressure. We have explored the potential of monolithic material as sample preparation tool in bioanalytical applications. By taking advantage of monolithic columns' online concentration capability, we have developed a highly sensitive liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry assay for quantitative determination of a pharmaceutical compound in human plasma.

Bioanalytical hydrophilic interaction chromatography: recent challenges, solutions and applications.

Hydrophilic interaction chromatography (HILIC) has, in recent years, been shown to be an important supplement to reversed-phase liquid chromatography for polar analytes. HILIC, in conjunction with tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS), has been steadily gaining acceptance in the analysis of polar compounds from complex biological matrices. This hyphenated technique offers the advantages of improved sensitivity by employing high organic content in the mobile phase, shortened sample preparation time with direct injection of the organic-solvent extracts of biological samples and the potential for ultra-fast analysis because of low-column backpressure.

Salting-out assisted liquid/liquid extraction with acetonitrile: a new high throughput sample preparation technique for good laboratory practice bioanalysis using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry.

Acetonitrile, an organic solvent miscible with aqueous phase, has seen thousands of publications in the literature as an efficient deproteinization reagent. The use of acetonitrile for liquid-liquid extraction (LLE), however, has seen very limited application due to its miscibility with aqueous phase. The interest in LLE with acetonitrile has been pursued and reported in the literature by significantly lowering the temperature of the mixture or increasing the salt concentration in the mixture of acetonitrile and aqueous phase, resulting in the separation of the acetonitrile phase from aqueous phase, as observed in conventional LLE.

Simultaneous determination of a hydrophobic drug candidate and its metabolite in human plasma with salting-out assisted liquid/liquid extraction using a mass spectrometry friendly salt.

In previously reported applications of salting-out assisted liquid/liquid extraction (SALLE) with acetonitrile, only inorganic salts were evaluated and implemented as the salting-out reagents. A potential concern of the method for the subsequent LC-MS analysis of biological samples was that a portion of the added salt (typically of high concentration) might be extracted and affect the chromatography separation and ionization of chromatography effluents in a mass spectrometer. Here we report, for the first time, the use of a mass spectrometry friendly organic salt, ammonium acetate, as a salting-out reagent in SALLE with acetonitrile for the simultaneous quantitation of an Abbott investigational new drug ABT-869 and its hydrophilic metabolite in human plasma.

HPLC-MS/MS determination of a hardly soluble drug in human urine through drug-albumin binding assisted dissolution.

ABT-263 is under development for treatment of cancer. In order to support clinical trials, an analytical method for ABT-263 quantification in human urine became necessary. Due to the extremely poor solubility of ABT-263 in aqueous and most common organic solvents, a critical step was to dissolve the drug into urine matrix.

Simultaneous LC-MS/MS quantitation of a highly hydrophobic pharmaceutical compound and its metabolite in urine using online monolithic phase-based extraction.

This article describes the use of monolithic material as extraction support in simultaneous LC-MS/MS quantitation of a highly hydrophobic pharmaceutical compound and its hydroxylated metabolite in urinary matrix. DMSO was added to urine samples to aid the solubilization of analytes during storage and transfer. Samples were then diluted and injected onto an online extraction system for high-throughput analysis in an automated fashion.

A strategy for high-throughput analysis of levosimendan and its metabolites in human plasma samples using sequential negative and positive ionization liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometric detection.

Levosimendan (Simdax) is an approved drug in approximately 40 countries and currently in phase III clinical studies in the USA and Europe. An accurate, high-throughput and rugged assay is critical to support these clinical trials. Due to the mechanism of drug metabolism, the drug and its active metabolites often have significant differences in their chemical properties.

Determination of sirolimus in rabbit arteries using liquid chromatography separation and tandem mass spectrometric detection.

Sirolimus, an effective immunosuppressive agent, is used for drug eluting stents. During stent development, an analytical method for the determination of sirolimus in tissue needs to be established. Normally, tissue samples are homogenized and then analyzed against the calibration standards prepared in a tissue homogenate.

LC-MS/MS determination of 2-(4-((2-(2S,5R)-2-Cyano-5-ethynyl-1-pyrrolidinyl)-2-oxoethylamino)-4-methyl-1-piperidinyl)-4-pyridinecarboxylic acid (ABT-279) in dog plasma with high-throughput protein precipitation sample preparation.

As an effective DPP-IV inhibitor, 2-(4-((2-(2S,5R)-2-Cyano-5-ethynyl-1-pyrrolidinyl)-2-oxoethylamino)-4-methyl-1-piperidinyl)-4-pyridinecarboxylic acid (ABT-279), is an investigational drug candidate under development at Abbott Laboratories for potential treatment of type 2 diabetes. In order to support the development of ABT-279, multiple analytical methods for an accurate, precise and selective concentration determination of ABT-279 in different matrices were developed and validated in accordance with the US Food and Drug Administration Guidance on Bioanalytical Method Validation. The analytical method for ABT-279 in dog plasma was validated in parallel to other validations for ABT-279 determination in different matrices.

Recent advances in high-throughput quantitative bioanalysis by LC-MS/MS.

Liquid chromatography linked to tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) has played an important role in pharmacokinetics and metabolism studies at various drug development stages since its introduction to the pharmaceutical industry. This article reviews the most recent advances in sample preparation, separation, and the mass spectrometric aspects of high-throughput quantitative bioanalysis of drug and metabolites in biological matrices. Newly introduced techniques such as ultra-performance liquid chromatography with small particles (sub-2 microm) and monolithic chromatography offer improvements in speed, resolution and sensitivity compared to conventional chromatographic techniques.

Accurate determination of an immunosuppressant in stented swine tissues with LC-MS/MS.

During stent development, accurate monitoring of the drug concentration in animal tissues can provide critical information on how the drug is released into the circulation and the surrounding tissues. To establish the relationship between the drug concentration and the distance from the stent to the target tissue, a comprehensive strategy was developed for sample collection, sample homogenization and sample storage as well as sample analysis. This strategy was developed with the analytical chemists and animal surgical specialists working together as a team.

Evaluation of 384-well formatted sample preparation technologies for regulated bioanalysis.

The capabilities and limitations of 384-well formatted sample preparation technologies applied to regulated bioanalysis were evaluated by developing two assays for the simultaneous quantitation of lopinavir and ritonavir, the active ingredients of Kaletra. One method used liquid-liquid extraction (LLE), and the other used solid-phase extraction (SPE). The steps and apparatuses employed by the two methods covered most of those used for bioanalysis.

Developing multiple high-throughput GLP methods for an investigational drug candidate in various matrices within a 96-well plate.

In early pharmaceutical product development, an investigational drug candidate is typically dosed to various species for toxicological and pharmacokinetic studies. Most of these studies require multiple analytical methods that have to be validated with good laboratory practice (GLP) prior to the application in regulated studies. Usually, these analytical methods are developed in either a serial or parallel approach.

A high-throughput liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry method for simultaneous quantification of a hydrophobic drug candidate and its hydrophilic metabolite in human urine with a fully automated liquid/liquid extraction.

ABT-869 (A-741439) is an investigational new drug candidate under development by Abbott Laboratories. ABT-869 is hydrophobic, but is oxidized in the body to A-849529, a hydrophilic metabolite that includes both carboxyl and amino groups. Poor solubility of ABT-869 in aqueous matrix causes simultaneous analysis of both ABT-869 and its metabolite within the same extraction and injection to be extremely difficult in human urine.

A sample preparation process for LC-MS/MS analysis of total protein drug concentrations in monkey plasma samples with antibody.

The determination of protein concentrations in plasma samples often provides essential information in biomedical research, clinical diagnostics, and pharmaceutical discovery and development. Binding assays such as ELISA determine meaningful free analyte concentrations by using specific antigen or antibody reagents. Concurrently, mass spectrometric technology is becoming a promising complementary method to traditional binding assays.

Method development and validation for zotarolimus concentration determination in stented swine arteries by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry detection.

Drug-eluting stents have attracted significant attention in the medical community and pharmaceutical industry due to their proven success in significantly reducing restenosis. Abbott Laboratories is developing a drug-eluting stent coated with zotarolimus and swine was recently used as an animal model for the pre-clinical study of stent implantation. In this article, we present a detailed experimental design and results for the validation and sample analysis of zotarolimus drug concentration in stented swine artery samples.

A high-throughput, fully automated liquid/liquid extraction liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry method for the quantitation of a new investigational drug ABT-869 and its metabolite A-849529 in human plasma samples.

ABT-869 is a novel ATP-competitive inhibitor for all the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs). It is one of the oncology drugs in development at Abbott Laboratories and has great potential for enhanced anti-tumor efficacy as well as activity in a broad range of human cancers. We report here an accurate, precise and rugged liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) assay for the quantitative measurement of ABT-869 and its acid metabolite A-849529.