Enhancement of intestinal absorption of 2-methyl cytidine prodrugs.
The purpose of this study was to investigate the in vivo absorption enhancement of a nucleoside (phosphoramidate prodrug of 2'-methyl-cytidine) anti-viral agent of proven efficacy by means of intestinal permeation enhancers. Natural nucleosides are hydrophilic molecules that do not rapidly penetrate cell membranes by diffusion and their absorption relies on specialized transporters. Therefore, the oral absorption of nucleoside prodrugs and the target organ concentration of the biologically active nucleotide can be limited due to poor permeation across the intestinal epithelium. In the present study, the specificity, concentration dependence, and effect of four classes of absorption promoters, i.e. fatty acids, steroidal detergents, mucoadhesive polymers, and secretory transport inhibitors, were evaluated in a rat in vivo model. Sodium caprate and alpha-tocopheryl-polyethyleneglycol-1000-succinate (TPGS) showed a significant effect in increasing liver concentration of nucleotide (5-fold). These results suggested that both excipients might be suited in a controlled release matrix for the synchronous release of the drug and absorption promoter directly to the site of absorption and highlights that the effect is strictly dependent on the absorption promoter dose. The feasibility of such a formulation approach in humans was evaluated with the aim of developing a solid dosage form for the peroral delivery of nucleosides and showed that these excipients do provide a potential valuable tool in pre-clinical efficacy studies to drive discovery programs forward.
IRBM, Merck Research Laboratories, Via Pontina Km 30600, 00040, Pomezia (RM), Italy. simona.cianetti@novartis.com
Simona
S
Cianetti
Vincent Brett
VB
Cooper
Barbara
B
Attenni
Vincenzo
V
Pucci
Fabrizio
F
Fiore
Claudio
C
Giuliano
Ralph
R
Laufer
Cristina
C
Gardelli
Edith
E
Monteagudo
Frank
F
Narjes
Gareth Edward
GE
Pearce
Michael
M
Rowley
D000818:Animals; D018938:Caco-2 Cells; D003562:Cytidine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D004357:Drug Synergism; D006801:Humans; D007408:Intestinal Absorption / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D011355:Prodrugs / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
D011355:Prodrugs; C513402:2'-C-methylcytidine; D003562:Cytidine