scholarly journals Antitrypanosomal Activity of Fexinidazole, a New Oral Nitroimidazole Drug Candidate for Treatment of Sleeping Sickness

2011 ◽  
Vol 55 (12) ◽  
pp. 5602-5608 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcel Kaiser ◽  
Michael A. Bray ◽  
Monica Cal ◽  
Bernadette Bourdin Trunz ◽  
Els Torreele ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Oral Treatment ◽  
Sleeping Sickness ◽  
Drug Candidate ◽  
Pharmacokinetic Data ◽  
Parent Molecule ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Trypanocidal Activity ◽  
Parasite Strains

ABSTRACTFexinidazole is a 5-nitroimidazole drug currently in clinical development for the treatment of human sleeping sickness (human African trypanosomiasis [HAT]), caused by infection with species of the protozoan parasiteTrypanosoma brucei. The compound and its two principal metabolites, sulfoxide and sulfone, have been assessed for their ability to kill a range ofT. bruceiparasite strainsin vitroand to cure both acute and chronic HAT disease models in the mouse. The parent molecule and both metabolites have shown trypanocidal activityin vitroin the 0.7-to-3.3 μM (0.2-to-0.9 μg/ml) range against all parasite strains tested.In vivo, fexinidazole is orally effective in curing both acute and chronic diseases in the mouse at doses of 100 mg/kg of body weight/day for 4 days and 200 mg/kg/day for 5 days, respectively. Pharmacokinetic data indicate that it is likely that the sulfoxide and sulfone metabolites provide most, if not all, of thein vivokilling activity. Fexinidazole and its metabolites require up to 48 h exposure in order to induce maximal trypanocidal efficacyin vitro. The parent drug and its metabolites show noin vitrocross-reactivity in terms of trypanocidal activity with either themselves or other known trypanocidal drugs in use in humans. Thein vitroandin vivoantitrypanosomal activities of fexinidazole and its two principal metabolites provide evidence that the compound has the potential to be an effective oral treatment for both theT. b. gambienseandT. b. rhodesienseforms of human sleeping sickness and both stages of the disease.

scholarly journals Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of the Nitroimidazole DNDI-0690 in Mouse Models of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis

2019 ◽  
Vol 63 (9) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gert-Jan Wijnant ◽  
Simon L. Croft ◽  
Raul de la Flor ◽  
Mo Alavijeh ◽  
Vanessa Yardley ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cutaneous Leishmaniasis ◽  
Mouse Models ◽  
Drug Exposure ◽  
Oral Treatment ◽  
Drug Application ◽  
Skin Tissue ◽  
Drug Candidate ◽  
Topical Formulation ◽  
Content Type

ABSTRACT The nitroimidazole DNDI-0690 is a clinical drug candidate for visceral leishmaniasis (VL) that also shows potent in vitro and in vivo activity against cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL). To support further development of this compound into a patient-friendly oral or topical formulation for the treatment of CL, we investigated the free drug exposure at the dermal site of infection and subsequent elimination of the causative Leishmania pathogen. This study evaluates the pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics (PD) of DNDI-0690 in mouse models of CL. Skin microdialysis and Franz diffusion cell permeation studies revealed that DNDI-0690 permeated poorly (<1%) into the skin lesion upon topical drug application (0.063% [wt/vol], 30 μl). In contrast, a single oral dose of 50 mg/kg of body weight resulted in the rapid and nearly complete distribution of protein-unbound DNDI-0690 from the plasma into the infected dermis (ratio of the area under the curve [0 to 6 h] of the free DNDI-0690 concentration in skin tissue to blood [fAUC0-6 h, skin tissue/fAUC0-6 h, blood] is greater than 80%). Based on in vivo bioluminescence imaging, two doses of 50 mg/kg DNDI-0690 were sufficient to reduce the Leishmania mexicana parasite load by 100-fold, while 6 such doses were needed to achieve similar killing of L. major; this was confirmed by quantitative PCR. The combination of rapid accumulation and potent activity in the Leishmania-infected dermis indicates the potential of DNDI-0690 as a novel oral treatment for CL.

scholarly journals A New NonpolarN-Hydroxy Imidazoline Lead Compound with Improved Activity in a Murine Model of Late-Stage Trypanosoma brucei brucei Infection Is Not Cross-Resistant with Diamidines

2014 ◽  
Vol 59 (2) ◽  
pp. 890-904 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlos H. Ríos Martínez ◽  
Florence Miller ◽  
Kayathiri Ganeshamoorthy ◽  
Fabienne Glacial ◽  
Marcel Kaiser ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Trypanosoma Brucei ◽  
Late Stage ◽  
Parent Compound ◽  
Central Nervous System Infection ◽  
Sleeping Sickness ◽  
Intrinsic Activity ◽  
Cross Resistance ◽  
Content Type

ABSTRACTTreatment of late-stage sleeping sickness requires drugs that can cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB) to reach the parasites located in the brain. We report here the synthesis and evaluation of four newN-hydroxy and 12 newN-alkoxy derivatives of bisimidazoline leads as potential agents for the treatment of late-stage sleeping sickness. These compounds, which have reduced basicity compared to the parent leads (i.e., are less ionized at physiological pH), were evaluatedin vitroagainstTrypanosoma brucei rhodesienseandin vivoin murine models of first- and second-stage sleeping sickness. Resistance profile, physicochemical parameters,in vitroBBB permeability, and microsomal stability also were determined. TheN-hydroxy imidazoline analogues were the most effectivein vivo, with 4-((1-hydroxy-4,5-dihydro-1H-imidazol-2-yl)amino)-N-(4-((1-hydroxy-4,5-dihydro-1H-imidazol-2-yl)amino)phenyl)benzamide (14d) showing 100% cures in the first-stage disease, while 15d, 16d, and 17d appeared to slightly improve survival. In addition, 14d showed weak activity in the chronic model of central nervous system infection in mice. No evidence of reduction of this compound with hepatic microsomes and mitochondria was foundin vitro, suggesting thatN-hydroxy imidazolines are metabolically stable and have intrinsic activity againstT. brucei. In contrast to its unsubstituted parent compound, the uptake of 14d inT. bruceiwas independent of known drug transporters (i.e.,T. bruceiAT1/P2 and HAPT), indicating a lower predisposition to cross-resistance with other diamidines and arsenical drugs. Hence, theN-hydroxy bisimidazolines (14d in particular) represent a new class of promising antitrypanosomal agents.

scholarly journals Structure-Activity Relationships of a Series of Echinocandins and the Discovery of CD101, a Highly Stable and Soluble Echinocandin with Distinctive Pharmacokinetic Properties

2016 ◽  
Vol 61 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenneth D. James ◽  
Christopher P. Laudeman ◽  
Navdeep B. Malkar ◽  
Radha Krishnan ◽  
Karen Polowy
Keyword(s):  
Pharmacokinetic Studies ◽  
Pharmacokinetic Data ◽  
Activity Data ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Structure Activity Relationships ◽  
First Line Therapy ◽  
Structure Activity ◽  
Pharmacokinetic Properties

ABSTRACT Echinocandins are a first-line therapy for candidemia and invasive candidiasis. They are generally safe with few drug interactions, but the stability and pharmacokinetic properties of currently approved echinocandins are such that each was developed for daily intravenous infusion. We sought to discover a novel echinocandin with properties that would enable more flexible dosing regimens, alternate routes of delivery, and expanded utility. Derivatives of known echinocandin scaffolds were generated, and an iterative process of design and screening led to the discovery of CD101, a novel echinocandin that has since demonstrated improved chemical stability and pharmacokinetics. Here, we report the structure-activity relationships (including preclinical efficacy and pharmacokinetic data) for the series of echinocandin analogs from which CD101 was selected. In a mouse model of disseminated candidiasis, the test compounds displayed clear dose responses and were generally associated with lower fungal burdens than that of anidulafungin. Single-dose pharmacokinetic studies in beagle dogs revealed a wide disparity in the half-lives and volumes of distribution, with one compound (now known as CD101) displaying a half-life that is nearly 5-fold longer than that of anidulafungin (53.1 h versus 11.6 h, respectively). In vitro activity data against panels of Candida spp. and Aspergillus spp. demonstrated that CD101 behaved similarly to approved echinocandins in terms of potency and spectrum of activity, suggesting that the improved efficacy observed in vivo for CD101 is a result of features beyond the antifungal potency inherent to the molecule. Factors that potentially contribute to the improved in vivo efficacy of CD101 are discussed.

scholarly journals Immunohistochemical Investigations of Treatment with Ro 13-3978, Praziquantel, Oxamniquine, and Mefloquine in Schistosoma mansoni-Infected Mice

2017 ◽  
Vol 61 (12) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gordana Panic ◽  
Marie-Thérèse Ruf ◽  
Jennifer Keiser
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
B Cells ◽  
Schistosoma Mansoni ◽  
Parasite Clearance ◽  
Drug Candidate ◽  
Minimal Cell ◽  
Onset Of Action ◽  
Content Type

ABSTRACT To date, there is only one drug in use, praziquantel, to treat more than 250 million people afflicted with schistosomiasis, a debilitating parasitic disease. The aryl hydantoin Ro 13-3978 is a promising drug candidate with in vivo activity superior to that of praziquantel against both adult and juvenile Schistosoma mansoni organisms. Given the drug's contrasting low activity in vitro and the timing of its onset of action in vivo, it was postulated that immune-assisted parasite clearance could contribute to the drug's in vivo activity. We undertook histopathological studies to investigate this hypothesis. Infected mice were treated with an effective dose of Ro 13-3978 (100 mg/kg of body weight) and were dissected before and after the drug's in vivo onset of action. The veins and livers were excised, paraffin-embedded, and sectioned, and macrophages (IBA-1), neutrophils (Neutro), B cells (CD45R), and T cells (CD3) were stained by immunohistochemistry. For comparison, samples from infected untreated mice and mice treated with effective doses of praziquantel (400 mg/kg), oxamniquine (200 mg/kg), and mefloquine (200 mg/kg) were examined. At 24 h after treatment with Ro 13-3978, significant macrophage recruitment to the veins was observed, along with a modest increase in circulating B cells, and at 48 h, neutrophils and T cells are also present. Treatment with praziquantel and oxamniquine showed similar patterns of recruitment but with comparatively higher cellular levels, whereas mefloquine treatment resulted in minimal cell recruitment until 3 days posttreatment. Our study sheds light on the immediate immune responses to antischistosomal treatment in mice and provides further insight into immune effector mechanisms of schistosome clearance.

scholarly journals In Vitro and In Vivo Studies of Spironolactone as an Antischistosomal Drug Capable of Clinical Repurposing

2018 ◽  
Vol 63 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rafael A. Guerra ◽  
Marcos P. Silva ◽  
Tais C. Silva ◽  
Maria C. Salvadori ◽  
Fernanda S. Teixeira ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Egg Production ◽  
Oral Treatment ◽  
Drug Repurposing ◽  
In Vivo Studies ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Low Concentrations ◽  
Parasitic Flatworm ◽  
And Control

ABSTRACT Schistosomiasis is a parasitic flatworm disease that infects over 200 million people worldwide, especially in poor communities. Treatment and control of the disease rely on just one drug, praziquantel. Since funding for drug development for poverty-associated diseases is very limited, drug repurposing is a promising strategy. In this study, from a screening of 13 marketed diuretics, we identified that spironolactone, a potassium-sparing diuretic, had potent antischistosomal effects on Schistosoma mansoni in vitro and in vivo in a murine model of schistosomiasis. In vitro, spironolactone at low concentrations (<10 µM) is able to alter worm motor activity and the morphology of adult schistosomes, leading to parasitic death. In vivo, oral treatment with spironolactone at a single dose (400 mg/kg) or daily for five consecutive days (100 mg/kg/day) in mice harboring either patent or prepatent infections significantly reduced worm burden, egg production, and hepato- and splenomegaly (P < 0.05 to P < 0.001). Taken together, with the safety profile of spironolactone, supported by its potential to affect schistosomes, these results indicate that spironolactone could be a potential treatment for schistosomiasis and make it promising for repurposing.

scholarly journals PI4 Kinase Is a Prophylactic but Not Radical Curative Target in Plasmodium vivax-Type Malaria Parasites

2016 ◽  
Vol 60 (5) ◽  
pp. 2858-2863 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne-Marie Zeeman ◽  
Suresh B. Lakshminarayana ◽  
Nicole van der Werff ◽  
Els J. Klooster ◽  
Annemarie Voorberg-van der Wel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drug Target ◽  
Rhesus Macaques ◽  
Secondary Infection ◽  
Pharmacokinetic Data ◽  
Radical Cure ◽  
Plasma Exposure ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Plasmodium Cynomolgi

ABSTRACTTwoPlasmodiumPI4 kinase (PI4K) inhibitors, KDU691 and LMV599, were selected forin vivotesting as causal prophylactic and radical-cure agents forPlasmodium cynomolgisporozoite-infected rhesus macaques, based on theirin vitroactivity against liver stages. Animals were infected withP. cynomolgisporozoites, and compounds were dosed orally. Both the KDU691 and LMV599 compounds were fully protective when administered prophylactically, and the more potent compound LMV599 achieved protection as a single oral dose of 25 mg/kg of body weight. In contrast, when tested for radical cure, five daily doses of 20 mg/kg of KDU691 or 25 mg/kg of LMV599 did not prevent relapse, as all animals experienced a secondary infection due to the reactivation of hypnozoites in the liver. Pharmacokinetic data show that LMV599 achieved plasma exposure that was sufficient to achieve efficacy based on ourin vitrodata. These findings indicate thatPlasmodiumPI4K is a potential drug target for malaria prophylaxis but not radical cure. Longerin vitroculture systems will be required to assess these compounds' activity on established hypnozoites and predict radical curein vivo.

scholarly journals 1,4-Azaindole, a Potential Drug Candidate for Treatment of Tuberculosis

2014 ◽  
Vol 58 (9) ◽  
pp. 5325-5331 ◽  
Author(s):  
Monalisa Chatterji ◽  
Radha Shandil ◽  
M. R. Manjunatha ◽  
Suresh Solapure ◽  
Vasanthi Ramachandran ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antitubercular Activity ◽  
Multidrug Resistant ◽  
Antagonistic Activity ◽  
Drug Candidate ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Human Dose ◽  
Safety Risks ◽  
Infection Models

ABSTRACTNew therapeutic strategies against multidrug-resistant (MDR) and extensively drug-resistant (XDR)Mycobacterium tuberculosisare urgently required to combat the global tuberculosis (TB) threat. Toward this end, we previously reported the identification of 1,4-azaindoles, a promising class of compounds with potent antitubercular activity through noncovalent inhibition of decaprenylphosphoryl-β-d-ribose 2′-epimerase (DprE1). Further, this series was optimized to improve its physicochemical properties and pharmacokinetics in mice. Here, we describe the short-listing of a potential clinical candidate, compound 2, that has potent cellular activity, drug-like properties, efficacy in mouse and rat chronic TB infection models, and minimalin vitrosafety risks. We also demonstrate that the compounds, including compound 2, have no antagonistic activity with other anti-TB drugs. Moreover, compound 2 shows synergy with PA824 and TMC207in vitro, and the synergy effect is translatedin vivowith TMC207. The series is predicted to have a low clearance in humans, and the predicted human dose for compound 2 is ≤1 g/day. Altogether, our data suggest that a 1,4-azaindole (compound 2) is a promising candidate for the development of a novel anti-TB drug.

scholarly journals An Improved Small-Molecule Inhibitor of FtsZ with SuperiorIn VitroPotency, Drug-Like Properties, andIn VivoEfficacy

2012 ◽  
Vol 57 (1) ◽  
pp. 317-325 ◽  
Author(s):  
Neil R. Stokes ◽  
Nicola Baker ◽  
James M. Bennett ◽  
Joanne Berry ◽  
Ian Collins ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Small Molecule ◽  
Bacterial Load ◽  
Drug Candidate ◽  
Infection Model ◽  
Antibacterial Drug ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Intravenous And Oral Administration ◽  
Derivatives Of

ABSTRACTThe bacterial cell division protein FtsZ is an attractive target for small-molecule antibacterial drug discovery. Derivatives of 3-methoxybenzamide, including compound PC190723, have been reported to be potent and selective antistaphylococcal agents which exert their effects through the disruption of intracellular FtsZ function. Here, we report the further optimization of 3-methoxybenzamide derivatives towards a drug candidate. Thein vitroandin vivocharacterization of a more advanced lead compound, designated compound 1, is described. Compound 1 was potently antibacterial, with an average MIC of 0.12 μg/ml against all staphylococcal species, including methicillin- and multidrug-resistantStaphylococcus aureusandStaphylococcus epidermidis. Compound 1 inhibited anS. aureusstrain carrying the G196A mutation in FtsZ, which confers resistance to PC190723. Like PC190723, compound 1 acted on whole bacterial cells by blocking cytokinesis. No interactions between compound 1 and a diverse panel of antibiotics were measured in checkerboard experiments. Compound 1 displayed suitablein vitropharmaceutical properties and a favorablein vivopharmacokinetic profile following intravenous and oral administration, with a calculated bioavailability of 82.0% in mice. Compound 1 demonstrated efficacy in a murine model of systemicS. aureusinfection and caused a significant decrease in the bacterial load in the thigh infection model. A greater reduction in the number ofS. aureuscells recovered from infected thighs, equivalent to 3.68 log units, than in those recovered from controls was achieved using a succinate prodrug of compound 1, which was designated compound 2. In summary, optimized derivatives of 3-methoxybenzamide may yield a first-in-class FtsZ inhibitor for the treatment of antibiotic-resistant staphylococcal infections.

scholarly journals The Fungal Cyp51 Inhibitor VT-1129 Is Efficacious in an Experimental Model of Cryptococcal Meningitis

2018 ◽  
Vol 62 (9) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathan P. Wiederhold ◽  
Laura K. Najvar ◽  
Edward P. Garvey ◽  
Stephen R. Brand ◽  
Xin Xu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cryptococcal Meningitis ◽  
Survival Benefit ◽  
Oral Treatment ◽  
Immunocompromised Patients ◽  
Once Daily ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Fungal Burden ◽  
The Brain

ABSTRACTCryptococcal meningitis is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised patients. VT-1129 is a novel fungus-specific Cyp51 inhibitor with potentin vitroactivity againstCryptococcusspecies. Our objective was to evaluate thein vivoefficacy of VT-1129 against cryptococcal meningitis. Mice were inoculated intracranially withCryptococcus neoformans. Oral treatment with VT-1129, fluconazole, or placebo began 1 day later and continued for either 7 or 14 days, and brains and plasma were collected on day 8 or 15, 1 day after therapy ended, and the fungal burden was assessed. In the survival study, treatment continued until day 10 or day 28, after which mice were monitored off therapy until day 30 or day 60, respectively, to assess survival. The fungal burden was also assessed in the survival arm. VT-1129 plasma and brain concentrations were also measured. VT-1129 reached a significant maximal survival benefit (100%) at a dose of 20 mg/kg of body weight once daily. VT-1129 at doses of ≥0.3 mg/kg/day and each dose of fluconazole significantly reduced the brain tissue fungal burden compared to that in the control after both 7 and 14 days of dosing. The fungal burden was also undetectable in most mice treated with a dose of ≥3 mg/kg/day, even ≥20 days after dosing had stopped, in the survival arm. In contrast, rebounds in fungal burden were observed with fluconazole. These results are consistent with the VT-1129 concentrations, which remained elevated long after dosing had stopped. These data demonstrate the potential utility of VT-1129 to have a marked impact in the treatment of cryptococcal meningitis.

scholarly journals TheREnantiomer of the Antitubercular Drug PA-824 as a Potential Oral Treatment for Visceral Leishmaniasis

2013 ◽  
Vol 57 (10) ◽  
pp. 4699-4706 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen Patterson ◽  
Susan Wyllie ◽  
Laste Stojanovski ◽  
Meghan R. Perry ◽  
Frederick R. C. Simeons ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Visceral Leishmaniasis ◽  
Phase Ii ◽  
Leishmania Donovani ◽  
Oral Treatment ◽  
Parasite Burden ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Phase Ii Clinical Trials

ABSTRACTThe novel nitroimidazopyran agent (S)-PA-824 has potent antibacterial activity againstMycobacterium tuberculosisin vitroandin vivoand is currently in phase II clinical trials for tuberculosis (TB). In contrast toM. tuberculosis, where (R)-PA-824 is inactive, we report here that both enantiomers of PA-824 show potent parasiticidal activity againstLeishmania donovani, the causative agent of visceral leishmaniasis (VL). In leishmania-infected macrophages, (R)-PA-824 is 6-fold more active than (S)-PA-824. Both des-nitro analogues are inactive, underlining the importance of the nitro group in the mechanism of action. Although thein vitroandin vivopharmacological profiles of the two enantiomers are similar, (R)-PA-824 is more efficacious in the murine model of VL, with >99% suppression of parasite burden when administered orally at 100 mg kg of body weight−1, twice daily for 5 days. InM. tuberculosis, (S)-PA-824 is a prodrug that is activated by a deazaflavin-dependent nitroreductase (Ddn), an enzyme which is absent inLeishmaniaspp. Unlike the case with nifurtimox and fexinidazole, transgenic parasites overexpressing the leishmania nitroreductase are not hypersensitive to either (R)-PA-824 or (S)-PA-824, indicating that this enzyme is not the primary target of these compounds. Drug combination studiesin vitroindicate that fexinidazole and (R)-PA-824 are additive whereas (S)-PA-824 and (R)-PA-824 show mild antagonistic behavior. Thus, (R)-PA-824 is a promising candidate for late lead optimization for VL and may have potential for future use in combination therapy with fexinidazole, currently in phase II clinical trials against VL.

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