Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety/tolerability, and pharmacokinetics (PKs) of rhEGF eyedrops after administration of a single and multiple doses in healthy subjects. Methods: A phase 1, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, and single ascending dose (SAD) and multiple ascending dose (MAD) study were conducted in 3 dose groups (10, 50, and 100 μg/mL). The subjects randomly received rhEGF eyedrops or their placebo in a 3:1 ratio. Serial blood and tear samples for PK analysis were collected up to 36 h and 180 h post-dose in SAD and MAD study, respectively. In addition, the serum and tear EGF concentrations were measured. Immunogenicity evaluations were conducted using serum anti-EGF antibody level. Results: A total of 50 subjects were enrolled and 48 subjects completed the study. Adverse drug reactions were mild and transient. There were no serious adverse events in this study. The tear EGF concentrations rapidly increased and returned to baseline after 4 hours without serum EGF level change after the administration of rhEGF eyedrops. Conclusion: rhEGF eyedrops were safe and well-tolerated in healthy subjects in a dose range of 10-100 μg/mL, which indicated it was suitable for further studies for corneal injury patients.

DWP16001 is a novel sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitor under development for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. This study was conducted to evaluate the pharmacokinetics (PK), pharmacodynamics (PD), and safety of DWP16001 after single and multiple doses in healthy subjects. A randomized, double-blind, placebo- and active-controlled, single- and multiple-dose study was conducted. Twelve subjects in each dose group received a single dose (0.2, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, or 5.0 mg) or multiple doses (0.1, 0.3, 0.5, 1.0, or 2.0 mg once daily for 15 consecutive days) of DWP16001, dapagliflozin 10 mg, or placebo, in a ratio of 8:2:2. Serial blood samples and interval urine samples were collected for PK and PD analyses. Safety and tolerability were assessed throughout the study period. A dose-dependent increase in urinary glucose excretion (UGE) was observed after a single dose, and the steady-state UGE was 50–60 g/day after multiple doses in the dose range of 0.3 – 2.0 mg. DWP16001 was rapidly absorbed with the time to peak plasma concentration of 1.0 – 3.0 hours, and eliminated with a mean elimination half-life of 13 - 29 hours. The systemic exposure of DWP16001 increased proportionally with the dose after multiple administrations in the range of 0.1 – 2.0 mg. DWP16001 was well tolerated in all dose groups. DWP16001 caused glucosuria in a dose-dependent manner, and systemic exposure was observed after multiple doses. DWP16001 was well tolerated up to 5.0 mg after a single oral dose and up to 2.0 mg after multiple oral administration

Aims: Evogliptin is a newly developed oral glucose-lowering medication of dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP-4) inhibitor class for type 2 diabetes mellitus. Combination of DPP-4 inhibitor with pioglitazone is a promising therapeutic option. The aim of present study was to evaluate pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic interaction between evogliptin and pioglitazone. Methods: A randomized, open-label, multiple-dose, three-treatment, three-period, six-sequence crossover study was conducted in healthy Korean male subjects. All subjects received evogliptin 5 mg once daily for 7 days (EVO), pioglitazone 30 mg once daily for 7 days (PIO) and co-administration of evogliptin 5 mg and pioglitazone 30 mg once daily for 7 days (EVO+PIO) according to the assigned sequence and period. Serial blood samples were collected for 24 hours for pharmacokinetic analysis and 3 hours after oral glucose tolerance test for pharmacodynamic analysis. Results: Thirty-four subjects completed the study. EVO+PIO and EVO showed similar maximum plasma concentration at steady state (Cmax,ss) and the area under the concentration-time curve during dosing interval at steady state (AUCτ,ss) of evogliptin, with geometric mean ratios (GMRs) (90% confidence interval (CI)) of 1.01 (0.97-1.05) and 1.01 (0.98-1.04), respectively. EVO+PIO and PIO showed similar Cmax,ss and AUCτ,ss of pioglitazone, with GMRs (90% CI) of 1.07 (0.99-1.17) and 1.08 (0.99-1.17), respectively. Reduction of glucose level after EVO+PIO was larger compared to PIO, and similar with EVO. Conclusion: Concomitant administration of evogliptin and pioglitazone showed similar glucose lowering effects with those of evogliptin alone without pharmacokinetic interactions when compared to intake of each drug alone.

Aims: Evogliptin, a dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitor and glimepiride, a sulfonylurea, have been used to treat type 2 diabetes mellitus. This study aimed at evaluating the pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic (PD) interactions between evogliptin and glimepiride. Methods: A randomized, open-label, 3-period, 3-treatment, 2-sequence crossover study was conducted in healthy male subjects. During each period, subjects received multiple doses of evogliptin 5 mg alone (EVO), glimepiride 4 mg alone (GLI), or co-administration of the two (EVO+GLI). Serial blood and urine samples for PK and PD analyses were collected 168 and 24 hours post-dosing, respectively. Results: Thirty-four subjects completed the study. Co-administration of evogliptin and glimepiride did not alter their plasma and urine PK profiles. For evogliptin, the geometric mean ratio (GMR) (90% confidence intervals) for the maximum plasma concentrations at steady-state (Cmax,ss) and the area under the curve during dosing interval at steady-state (AUCτ,ss) of EVO+GLI to E were 1.02 (0.98 – 1.06) and 0.97 (0.95 – 1.00), respectively. For glimepiride, the corresponding values of EVO+GLI to GLI were 1.08 (1.01 – 1.17) and 1.08 (1.02 – 1.14), respectively. All values were within the regulatory bioequivalence criteria of 0.80 – 1.25. Administration of EVO+GLI decreased the glucose excursion compared to evogliptin and glimepiride monotherapy, respectively. Conclusion: Evogliptin and glimepiride had no PK interactions when co-administered, while combination therapy showed an additive glucose lowering effect compared to those of evogliptin or glimepiride monotherapy.