title: The histamine H₄ receptor antagonist, JNJ 39758979, is effective in reducing histamine-induced pruritus in a randomized clinical study in healthy subjects.
abstract: The histamine H4 receptor (H4R) is a promising target for the treatment of pruritus. A clinical study was conducted to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the H4R antagonist, JNJ 39758979 [(R)-4-(3-amino-pyrrolidin-1-yl)-6-isopropyl-pyrimidin-2-ylamine], on histamine-induced pruritus in healthy subjects. A single oral dose of 600 mg JNJ 39758979, 10 mg cetirizine, or placebo was administered in a randomized, three-period, double-blind, crossover study. Treatment periods were separated by 22-day washout periods. A histamine challenge was administered on day -1 and at 2 and 6 hours postdose on day 1 of each treatment period. The primary efficacy endpoint was the area under the curve (AUC) of pruritus score 0-10 minutes after the histamine challenge. Secondary efficacy endpoints included wheal and flare areas assessed 10 minutes after the histamine challenge. Safety was assessed for all subjects. Of the 24 enrolled subjects, 23 individuals completed the study. One subject withdrew after completing two treatment periods. Due to a carryover effect of JNJ 39758979, only treatment period 1 was used for pruritus-related evaluations. Compared with placebo, the reduction of the AUC of pruritus score was significant for JNJ 39758979 at 2 hours (P = 0.0248) and 6 hours (P = 0.0060), and for cetirizine at 6 hours (P = 0.0417). In all treatment periods, JNJ 39758979 did not demonstrate a significant decrease in wheal or flare at either time point, although a significant reduction was achieved with cetirizine at 2 and 6 hours (P < 0.0001). Adverse eventss reported in >1 patient with JNJ 39758979 were headache (9%) and nausea (13%). In conclusion, JNJ 39758979 was effective in inhibiting histamine-induced pruritus in healthy subjects.
authors.affiliation: Janssen Research & Development, LLC, San Diego, California (A.K., B.C., P.J.D., A.J.G., X.L.X., R.L.T.); Parexel International, London, United Kingdom (K.F.); and Janssen Research & Development, LLC, Spring House, Pennsylvania (Y.X., B.Z.).
authors.forename: Alexa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kollmeier
authors.affiliation: Janssen Research & Development, LLC, San Diego, California (A.K., B.C., P.J.D., A.J.G., X.L.X., R.L.T.); Parexel International, London, United Kingdom (K.F.); and Janssen Research & Development, LLC, Spring House, Pennsylvania (Y.X., B.Z.).
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Francke
authors.affiliation: Janssen Research & Development, LLC, San Diego, California (A.K., B.C., P.J.D., A.J.G., X.L.X., R.L.T.); Parexel International, London, United Kingdom (K.F.); and Janssen Research & Development, LLC, Spring House, Pennsylvania (Y.X., B.Z.).
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Janssen Research & Development, LLC, San Diego, California (A.K., B.C., P.J.D., A.J.G., X.L.X., R.L.T.); Parexel International, London, United Kingdom (K.F.); and Janssen Research & Development, LLC, Spring House, Pennsylvania (Y.X., B.Z.).
authors.forename: Paul J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Dunford
authors.affiliation: Janssen Research & Development, LLC, San Diego, California (A.K., B.C., P.J.D., A.J.G., X.L.X., R.L.T.); Parexel International, London, United Kingdom (K.F.); and Janssen Research & Development, LLC, Spring House, Pennsylvania (Y.X., B.Z.).
authors.forename: Andrew J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Greenspan
authors.affiliation: Janssen Research & Development, LLC, San Diego, California (A.K., B.C., P.J.D., A.J.G., X.L.X., R.L.T.); Parexel International, London, United Kingdom (K.F.); and Janssen Research & Development, LLC, Spring House, Pennsylvania (Y.X., B.Z.).
authors.forename: Yichuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.affiliation: Janssen Research & Development, LLC, San Diego, California (A.K., B.C., P.J.D., A.J.G., X.L.X., R.L.T.); Parexel International, London, United Kingdom (K.F.); and Janssen Research & Development, LLC, Spring House, Pennsylvania (Y.X., B.Z.).
authors.forename: Xie L
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Janssen Research & Development, LLC, San Diego, California (A.K., B.C., P.J.D., A.J.G., X.L.X., R.L.T.); Parexel International, London, United Kingdom (K.F.); and Janssen Research & Development, LLC, Spring House, Pennsylvania (Y.X., B.Z.).
authors.forename: Bei
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Janssen Research & Development, LLC, San Diego, California (A.K., B.C., P.J.D., A.J.G., X.L.X., R.L.T.); Parexel International, London, United Kingdom (K.F.); and Janssen Research & Development, LLC, Spring House, Pennsylvania (Y.X., B.Z.) rthurmon@its.jnj.com.
authors.forename: Robin L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Thurmond
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017332:Cetirizine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006632:Histamine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006633:Histamine Antagonists / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011537:Pruritus / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011759:Pyrrolidines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D011968:Receptors, Histamine; D000074040:Receptors, Histamine H4; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C000590929:4-(3-aminopyrrolidin-1-yl)-6-isopropylpyrimidin-2-ylamine; C418607:HRH4 protein, human; D006633:Histamine Antagonists; D011743:Pyrimidines; D011759:Pyrrolidines; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; D011968:Receptors, Histamine; D000074040:Receptors, Histamine H4; D006632:Histamine; D017332:Cetirizine