Crystal structure of a 1:1 co-crystal of quabodepistat (OPC-167832) with 2,5-di-hydroxy-benzoic acid using microcrystal electron diffraction.

Quabodepistat [(5-{[(3R,4R)-1-(4-chloro-2,6-di-fluoro-phen-yl)-3,4-di-hydroxy-piperidin-4-yl]meth-oxy}-8-fluoro-3,4-di-hydro-quinolin-2(1H)-one); C21H20ClF3N2O4] and 2,5-di-hydroxy-benzoic acid (2,5DHBA; C7H6O4) were successfully co-crystallized. Given the small size of the crystals (1 × 0.2 × 0.2 µm) the structure was solved via microcrystal electron diffraction (MicroED). The C-O and C=O bond-length ratio of the carb-oxy-lic group in 2,5DHBA is 1.08 (1.34 Å/1.24 Å), suggesting that 2,5DHBA remains protonated. Therefore, the material is a co-crystal rather than a salt. The amide group of quabodepistat participates in a cyclic hydrogen bond with the carb-oxy-lic group of the 2,5DHBA. Additional hydrogen bonds involving the quabodepistat amide and hydroxyl groups result in a three-dimensional network.

Four Novel Pharmaceutical Cocrystals of Oxyresveratrol, Including a 2 : 3 Cocrystal with Betaine.

Cocrystal engineering can alter the physicochemical properties of a drug and generate a superior drug candidate for formulation design. Oxyresveratrol (ORV) exhibits a poor solubility in aqueous environments, thereby resulting in a poor bioavailability. Extensive cocrystal screening of ORV with 67 cocrystal formers (coformers) bearing various functional groups was therefore conducted using grinding, liquid-assisted grinding, solvent evaporation, and slurry methods. Six cocrystals (ORV with betaine (BTN), L-proline (PRL), isonicotinamide, nicotinamide, urea, and ethyl maltol) were found, including four novel cocrystals. Powder X-ray diffraction, low frequency Raman spectroscopy, and thermal analysis revealed unique crystal forms in all obtained samples. Conventional Raman and infrared data differentiated the cocrystals by the presence or absence of a hydrogen bond interacting with the aromatic ring of ORV. The crystal structures were then elucidated by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Two new cocrystals consisting of ORV : BTN (2 : 3) and ORV : PRL : H2O (1 : 2 : 1) were identified, and their crystal structures were solved. We report novel cocrystalline solids of ORV with improved aqueous solubilities and the unique cage-like crystal structures.

[Pharmaceutical Properties of Anti-inflammatory Analgesic Patches Using Acrylic Polymer].

The mock patches were prepared with novel acrylic polymers as adhesive layer where biphenyl-4-ylacetic acid (BAA) or 2-(2-fluorobiphenyl-4-yl) propanoic acid (FPA) was used as model active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). In addition, the mock patches were formulated with typical ester ingredients for transdermal dosage forms. The molecular state of the model APIs in the adhesive layer was observed by polarized microscope and microscopic Raman spectroscopy, which contains both conventional and low frequency (LF) region. Crystallization behavior would be depended on the interaction between API and polymers in the adhesive layer. In particular, LF Raman measurement was useful to discriminate API polymorphs. The pharmaceutical properties including dissolution and skin permeation of APIs were also evaluated for mock patches. The drug release and transdermal permeation were enhanced with the ester ingredients such as isopropyl myristate and diethyl sebacate due to their diffusion to the test solution or the skin stratum corneum as well as reducing the interaction between API and polymers. Further, the tack strength was not changed, but the peel strength was weakened by the additives. Thus, the adhesive properties were controllable by formulation with the additives. These findings could enable to evaluate the interaction between API and the polymers for adhesive layer and select the appropriate polymer and additives for used APIs when designing the drug products.

Distinct properties of telmisartan on agonistic activities for peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ among clinically used angiotensin II receptor blockers: drug-target interaction analyses.

A proportion of angiotensin II type 1 receptor blockers (ARBs) improves glucose dyshomeostasis and insulin resistance in a clinical setting. Of these ARBs, telmisartan has the unique property of being a partial agonist for peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ). However, the detailed mechanism of how telmisartan acts on PPARγ and exerts its insulin-sensitizing effect is poorly understood. In this context, we investigated the agonistic activity of a variety of clinically available ARBs on PPARγ using isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) system. Based on physicochemical data, we then reevaluated the metabolically beneficial effects of telmisartan in cultured murine adipocytes. ITC and SPR assays demonstrated that telmisartan exhibited the highest affinity of the ARBs tested. Distribution coefficient and parallel artificial membrane permeability assays were used to assess lipophilicity and cell permeability, for which telmisartan exhibited the highest levels of both. We next examined the effect of each ARB on insulin-mediated glucose metabolism in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. To investigate the impact on adipogenesis, 3T3-L1 preadipocytes were differentiated with each ARB in addition to standard inducers of differentiation for adipogenesis. Telmisartan dose-dependently facilitated adipogenesis and markedly augmented the mRNA expression of adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein (aP2), accompanied by an increase in the uptake of 2-deoxyglucose and protein expression of glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4). In contrast, other ARBs showed only marginal effects in these experiments. In accordance with its highest affinity of binding for PPARγ as well as the highest cell permeability, telmisartan superbly activates PPARγ among the ARBs tested, thereby providing a fresh avenue for treating hypertensive patients with metabolic derangement.

Quantitative prediction of intestinal metabolism in humans from a simplified intestinal availability model and empirical scaling factor.

This study aimed to establish a practical and convenient method of predicting intestinal availability (F(g)) in humans for highly permeable compounds at the drug discovery stage, with a focus on CYP3A4-mediated metabolism. We constructed a "simplified F(g) model," described using only metabolic parameters, assuming that passive diffusion is dominant when permeability is high and that the effect of transporters in epithelial cells is negligible. Five substrates for CYP3A4 (alprazolam, amlodipine, clonazepam, midazolam, and nifedipine) and four for both CYP3A4 and P-glycoprotein (P-gp) (nicardipine, quinidine, tacrolimus, and verapamil) were used as model compounds. Observed fraction of drug absorbed (F(a)F(g)) values for these compounds were calculated from in vivo pharmacokinetic (PK) parameters, whereas in vitro intestinal intrinsic clearance (CL(int,intestine)) was determined using human intestinal microsomes. The CL(int,intestine) for the model compounds corrected with that of midazolam was defined as CL(m,index) and incorporated into a simplified F(g) model with empirical scaling factor. Regardless of whether the compound was a P-gp substrate, the F(a)F(g) could be reasonably fitted by the simplified F(g) model, and the value of the empirical scaling factor was well estimated. These results suggest that the effects of P-gp on F(a) and F(g) are substantially minor, at least in the case of highly permeable compounds. Furthermore, liver intrinsic clearance (CL(int,liver)) can be used as a surrogate index of intestinal metabolism based on the relationship between CL(int,liver) and CL(m,index). F(g) can be easily predicted using a simplified F(g) model with the empirical scaling factor, enabling more confident selection of drug candidates with desirable PK profiles in humans.

Effect of water content on the solid-state stability in two isomorphic clathrates of cephalosporin: cefazolin sodium pentahydrate (alpha form) and FK041 hydrate.

This study clearly demonstrates that clathrated water molecules can contribute to both chemical stabilization and destabilization of clathrates. The solid-state stabilities for two isomorphic clathrates of cephalosporin, cefazolin sodium and FK041, were investigated in terms of the effects of water content. The isomorphic ranges of water content were estimated to be 3.5-5 mol/mol for alpha-form cefazolin sodium and 2-4 mol/mol for FK041 hydrate. Upon the isomorphic dehydration, alpha-form cefazolin sodium was destabilized as the water content decreased below 4.25 mol/mol owing to the disruption of hydrogen bonding network in lattice channels. In this case, the hydration of clathrated water up to 4.25 mol/mol contributed to the physical and chemical stability of the crystals. On the contrary, the isomorphic hydration in FK041 hydrate contributed to the chemical destabilization owing to the high water activity. The difference in water activity between alpha-form cefazolin sodium and FK041 hydrate could be attributed to the size of water channels.