title: Ghrelin agonist (TZP-101): safety, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamic evaluation in healthy volunteers: a phase I, first-in-human study.
abstract: The authors evaluate the human safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of TZP-101, an agonist of the hGHS-R1a (ghrelin) receptor. Healthy subjects were randomized to either single-dose TZP-101 (20-600 microg/kg) or placebo by 30-minute intravenous infusion. Subjects underwent continuous cardiac monitoring, 12-lead electrocardiograms, and assessment for orthostatic hypotension, injection site tolerability, vital signs, and adverse events during the 24-hour postdose period. Blood and urine samples were collected for pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic assessment for 24 hours. Forty-eight subjects randomly received 1 of 6 TZP-101 doses or placebo. TZP-101 was well tolerated, with single episodes each of headache, lower abdominal pain, diarrhea, and dizziness. At the highest dose, 2 subjects experienced bradycardia. All events were self-limited. Mean arterial blood pressure and heart rate decreased from baseline approximately 45 to 60 minutes after infusion start at higher doses. No other significant changes were observed. Pharmacokinetic analysis revealed less than dose-proportional behavior of drug with low clearance (approximately 7 mL/h/kg), small volume of distribution (approximately 114 mL/kg), and half-life values of approximately 13 hours, which were independent of dose. Pharmacodynamic analyses suggested TZP-101, at doses as low as 40 microg/kg, expressed activity at the receptor. TZP-101 displayed a promising pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic, and safety profile for use in gastrointestinal motility disorders.
authors.affiliation: Pharmanet Development Group, Inc., Miami, Florida, USA.
authors.forename: Kenneth C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Lasseter
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Shaughnessy
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cummings
authors.forename: John C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Pezzullo
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wargin
authors.forename: Rene
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gagnon
authors.forename: Jesus
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Oliva
authors.forename: Gordana
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kosutic
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D019540:Area Under Curve; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D001919:Bradycardia / Q000139:chemically induced; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000139:chemically induced; D004244:Dizziness / Q000139:chemically induced; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D054439:Ghrelin / Q000819:agonists*; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006207:Half-Life; D006261:Headache / Q000139:chemically induced; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000032:analysis; D047028:Macrocyclic Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D054439:Ghrelin; D007328:Insulin; D047028:Macrocyclic Compounds; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D013006:Growth Hormone; C528884:ulimorelin