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Safety and nonclinical and clinical pharmacokinetics of PC945, a novel inhaled triazole antifungal agent
  • +12
  • Lindsey Cass,
  • Alison Murray,
  • Amanda Davis,
  • Kathy Woodward,
  • Muna Albayaty,
  • Kazuhiro Ito,
  • Pete Strong,
  • John Ayrton,
  • Charlie Brindley,
  • Jayne Prosser,
  • John Murray,
  • Eddie French,
  • Phillip Haywood,
  • Christopher Wallis,
  • Garth Rapeport
Lindsey Cass
Pulmocide Ltd

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Alison Murray
Pulmocide Ltd
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Amanda Davis
Pulmocide Ltd
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Kathy Woodward
Pulmocide Ltd
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Muna Albayaty
PAREXEL Early Phase Clinical Unit
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Kazuhiro Ito
Pulmocide Ltd
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Pete Strong
Pulmocide Ltd
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John Ayrton
Pulmocide Ltd
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Charlie Brindley
KinetAssist Limited
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Jayne Prosser
Pulmocide Ltd
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John Murray
Pulmocide Ltd
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Eddie French
Pulmocide Ltd
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Phillip Haywood
Pulmocide Ltd
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Christopher Wallis
Pulmocide Ltd
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Garth Rapeport
Pulmocide Ltd
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Abstract

Aims PC945 is a novel antifungal triazole for nebulised delivery to treat lung Aspergillus infections. Pharmacokinetic and safety profiles from nonclinical studies and clinical trials in healthy subjects and subjects with mild asthma were characterised. Methods Toxicokinetics were assessed following daily 2-hour inhalation for 14 days. Drug-drug interactions were evaluated using pooled human liver microsomes. Clinical safety and pharmacokinetics were assessed following (i) single inhaled doses (0.5–10 mg), (ii) 7-day repeat doses (5 mg daily) in healthy subjects; (iii) a single dose (5 mg) in subjects with mild asthma. Results Cmax occurred 4 hours (rats) or immediately (dogs) after a single dose. PC945 lung concentrations were substantially higher (>2000-fold) than those in plasma. PC945 only inhibited CYP3A4/5 substrate metabolism (IC50: 1.33 µM [testosterone] and 0.085 µM [midazolam]). Geometric mean Cmax was 322 pg/mL (healthy subjects) and 335 pg/mL (subjects with mild asthma) 4–5 hours (median tmax) after a single inhalation (5 mg). Following repeat, once daily inhalation (5 mg), Day 7 Cmax was 951 pg/mL (0.0016 µM) 45 minutes after dosing. Increases in Cmax and AUC0–24h were approximately dose proportional (0.5-10 mg). PC945 administration was well tolerated in both healthy subjects and subjects with mild asthma. Treatment-emergent adverse events were mild/moderate and resolved before the study ended. No clinically significant lung function changes were observed. Conclusions PC945 pharmacokinetics translated from nonclinical species to humans showed slow absorption from lungs and low systemic exposure, thereby limiting the potential for adverse side effects and drug interactions commonly seen with systemically delivered azoles.
Feb 2021Published in Pharmacology Research & Perspectives volume 9 issue 1. 10.1002/prp2.690