Atorvastatin glucuronidation is minimally and nonselectively inhibited by the fibrates gemfibrozil, fenofibrate, and fenofibric acid.
Gemfibrozil coadministration generally results in plasma statin area under the curve (AUC) increases, ranging from moderate (2- to 3-fold) with simvastatin, lovastatin, and pravastatin to most significant with cerivastatin (5.6-fold). Inhibition of statin glucuronidation has been postulated as a potential mechanism of interaction (Drug Metab Dispos 30:1280-1287, 2002). This study was conducted to determine the in vitro inhibitory potential of fibrates toward atorvastatin glucuronidation. [(3)H]Atorvastatin, atorvastatin, and atorvastatin lactone were incubated with human liver microsomes or human recombinant UDP-glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs) and characterized using liquid chromatography (LC)/tandem mass spectrometry and LC/UV/beta-radioactivity monitor/mass spectrometry. [(3)H]Atorvastatin yields a minor ether glucuronide (G1) and a major acyl glucuronide (G2) with subsequent pH-dependent lactonization of G2 to yield atorvastatin lactone. Atorvastatin lactonization best fit substrate inhibition kinetics (K(m) = 12 microM, V(max) = 74 pmol/min/mg, K(i) = 75 microM). Atorvastatin lactone yields a single ether glucuronide (G3). G3 formation best fit Michaelis-Menten kinetics (K(m) = 2.6 microM, V(max) = 10.6 pmol/min/mg). Six UGT enzymes contribute to atorvastatin glucuronidation with G2 and G3 formation catalyzed by UGTs 1A1, 1A3, 1A4, 1A8, and 2B7, whereas G1 formation was catalyzed by UGTs 1A3, 1A4, and 1A9. Gemfibrozil, fenofibrate, and fenofibric acid inhibited atorvastatin lactonization with IC(50) values of 346, 320, and 291 microM, respectively. Based on unbound fibrate concentrations at the inlet to the liver, these data predict a small increase in atorvastatin AUC (approximately 1.2-fold) after gemfibrozil coadministration and no interaction with fenofibrate. This result is consistent with recent clinical reports indicating minimal atorvastatin AUC increases ( approximately 1.2- to 1.4-fold) with gemfibrozil.
Goosen
Theunis C
TC
Department of Pharmacokinetics, Dynamics and Metabolism, Pfizer Global Research and Development, 2800 Plymouth Rd., Ann Arbor, MI 48105, USA. theunis.goosen@pfizer.com
Bauman
Jonathan N
JN
Davis
John A
JA
Yu
Chongwoo
C
Hurst
Susan I
SI
Williams
J Andrew
JA
Loi
Cho-Ming
CM
D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D019540:Area Under Curve; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D002384:Catalysis / Q000187:drug effects; D004347:Drug Interactions; D011345:Fenofibrate / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015248:Gemfibrozil / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020723:Glucuronic Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D020719:Glucuronides / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D014453:Glucuronosyltransferase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006538:Heptanoic Acids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D007700:Kinetics; D007783:Lactones / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D008862:Microsomes, Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008954:Models, Biological; D015394:Molecular Structure; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D053719:Tandem Mass Spectrometry; D014535:Uridine Diphosphate Glucuronic Acid / Q000378:metabolism
D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D020719:Glucuronides; D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D007783:Lactones; D011758:Pyrroles; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C019787:bilirubin glucuronoside glucuronosyltransferase; D014535:Uridine Diphosphate Glucuronic Acid; D020723:Glucuronic Acid; D000069059:Atorvastatin; C006012:fenofibric acid; C122075:UDP-glucuronosyltransferase, UGT1A3; D014453:Glucuronosyltransferase; D015248:Gemfibrozil; D011345:Fenofibrate