title: Safety and pharmacological characterization of the molecular tweezer CLR01 - a broad-spectrum inhibitor of amyloid proteins' toxicity.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The "molecular tweezer" CLR01 is a broad-spectrum inhibitor of abnormal protein self-assembly, which acts by binding selectively to Lys residues. CLR01 has been tested in several in vitro and in vivo models of amyloidoses all without signs of toxicity. With the goal of developing CLR01 as a therapeutic drug for Alzheimer's disease and other amyloidoses, here we studied its safety and pharmacokinetics.
  
  
  METHODS
  Toxicity studies were performed in 2-m old wild-type mice. Toxicity was evaluated by serum chemical analysis, histopathology analysis, and qualitative behavioral analysis. Brain penetration studies were performed using radiolabeled CLR01 in both wild-type mice and a transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer's disease at 2-m, 12-m, and 22-m of age. Brain levels were measured from 0.5 - 72 h post administration.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Examination of CLR01's effect on tubulin polymerization, representing normal protein assembly, showed disruption of the process only when 55-fold excess CLR01 was used, supporting the compound's putative "process-specific" mechanism of action.A single-injection of 100 mg/kg CLR01 in mice - 2,500-fold higher than the efficacious dose reported previously, induced temporary distress and liver injury, but no mortality. Daily injection of doses up to 10 mg/kg did not produce any signs of toxicity, suggesting a high safety margin.The brain penetration of CLR01 was found to be 1 - 3% of blood levels depending on age. Though CLR01 was almost completely removed from the blood by 8 h, unexpectedly, brain levels of CLR01 remained steady over 72 h.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Estimation of brain levels compared to amyloid β-protein concentrations reported previously suggest that the stoichiometry obtained in vitro and in vivo is similar, supporting the mechanism of action of CLR01.The favorable safety margin of CLR01, together with efficacy shown in multiple animal models, support further development of CLR01 as a disease-modifying agent for amyloidoses.
authors.forename: Aida
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Attar
authors.forename: Wai-Ting Coco
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Frank-Gerrit
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Klärner
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Schrader
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095-7334, USA. gbitan@mednet.ucla.edu.
authors.forename: Gal
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bitan
mesh_terms: D000544:Alzheimer Disease; D058227:Amyloidogenic Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D001812:Blood-Brain Barrier / Q000378:metabolism; D001952:Bridged-Ring Compounds / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000633:toxicity; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D010755:Organophosphates / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000633:toxicity; D014404:Tubulin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D058227:Amyloidogenic Proteins; D001952:Bridged-Ring Compounds; C583031:CLR01 compound; D010755:Organophosphates; D014404:Tubulin
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