Specific radioimmunoassays for the measurement of stavudine in human plasma and urine.

Sensitive and specific radioimmunoassays (RIAs) have been developed and validated for the determination of stavudine, a nucleoside analog possessing anti-human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) activity, in human plasma and urine. The hemisuccinate of stavudine was conjugated with histamine and radioiodinated to yield the radiotracer. Antisera were produced by injecting the immunogen, stavudine-hemisuccinate-bovine thyroglobulin, into rabbits. The antisera exhibited high specificity for stavudine as the structurally related analogs and other anti-HIV agents did not interfere in the assays. The methods could reliably quantitate stavudine in plasma from 2.5-100 ng ml-1 and in urine from 5.0-1000 ng ml-1 (after 2.5-fold dilution) with good accuracy and precision. The lower limits of quantitation were 2.5 ng ml-1 in human plasma and 5.0 ng ml-1 in urine (after 2.5-fold dilution). The RIA methods were applied to the analysis of stavudine in plasma and urine obtained from HIV-infected patients receiving the drug in clinical trials.

3-Hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase inhibitors: oxime ether analogs of pravastatin.

Pravastatin, a potent anti-hypercholesteremic drug, has been developed by Bristol-Myers Squibb for treatment of hypercholesterolemia and other related diseases. Several structurally related compounds (SQ 31,554, SQ 31,879, SQ 31,947, SQ 32,391, SQ 32,770, SQ 32,390 and SQ 32,469) modified at the 3-position of the hexahydronaphthalene ring system of pravastatin were prepared in the course of developing the basic reagents for a radioimmunoassay of the parent drug. The biological activity of these analogs was comparable to pravastatin itself. Indeed, one member of this series was found to be several times more potent than pravastatin.

Radioimmunoassay for hydroxyphosphinyl-3-hydroxybutanoic acid (SQ 33,600), a hypocholesterolemia agent.

A specific and sensitive radioimmunoassay (RIA) for the measurement of SQ 33,600 in biological fluids has been developed. The assay utilizes a SQ 33,600 polyclonal antibody, [125I]iodohistamine-SQ 33,600 radiolabel, and standards in serum. Satisfactory zero binding and sensitivity were obtained after an overnight incubation at 4 degrees C. Separation of the antibody-bound and free radiolabel was achieved by employing polyethylene glycol-goat anti-rabbit gamma-globulin (PEG-GARG) separant. A quantitative recovery in serum and urine of the exogenous analyte was obtained at all concentrations of SQ 33,600 tested. Intra-assay coefficients of variation (CVs) were 6.19 and 5.57% for the low and high controls, respectively. Interassay CVs were 6.64 and 6.06% for the low and medium controls, respectively. Results from the parallelism studies were acceptable for both serum and urine samples. Comparison of results from samples which were assayed by RIA and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) demonstrated a significant correlation (r = 0.994; HPLC = 1.09 RIA + 57.98; n = 45). The present RIA has been successfully used to assay clinical specimens from pharmacokinetic studies.

A radioimmunoassay for the new antiviral agent 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosyl-E-5-(2-bromovinyl)uracil.

A specific and sensitive radioimmunoassay (RIA) for the measurement of 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosyl-E-5-(2-bromovinyl)uracil (BV-araU) in biological fluids has been developed. The assay has a range of 2.5-1,000 ng/ml and 10-1,000 ng/ml for serum and urine, respectively, and has the sensitivity to detect 2.5 and 25 ng/ml of BV-araU in serum and urine, respectively. A satisfactory zero binding and sensitivity were obtained after an overnight incubation at 4 degrees C. Separation of the antibody-bound and free ligand was achieved by employing polyethylene glycol-goat anti-rabbit gamma globulin separant. A quantitative recovery of the exogenous analyte was obtained at all concentrations of BV-araU tested. The assay is specific for the parent drug and is not affected by the presence of its metabolite, BV-U (bromovinyl uracil) or serum components (nucleotides, nucleosides, or sugars). Intraassay coefficients of variation were 3.1-4.4% and 2.5-4.2% for serum and urine controls, respectively. Interassay variability was < 8.6% for all serum and urine controls. Linear regression analysis showed that the correlation between RIA and high-pressure liquid chromatography was excellent (r = 0.997). The ascending dosage studies have been analyzed by the BV-araU RIA, and results indicate that the values of area under the serum concentration-time curve increased proportionally with the administered dose of BV-araU up to 80 mg. Cumulative urinary excretion data showed that approximately 50% of unchanged BV-araU was excreted in the urine within 24 h.

Radioimmunoassay for ceronapril, a new angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, and its application to a pharmacokinetic study in healthy male volunteers.

Ceronapril is a member of a new chemical class of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors being developed by The Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharmaceutical Research Institute. A radioimmunoassay (RIA) has been developed for the measurement of ceronapril in biological fluids. The RIA has a range of 0 to 500 ng/ml and has the sensitivity to detect 1.0 ng/ml of ceronapril. Satisfactory zero binding and sensitivity were obtained after a 2-h incubation at room temperature or overnight at 4 degrees C. Separation of the antibody-bound and free radiolabel was achieved by employing polyethylene glycol-goat anti-rabbit gamma-globulin separant. A quantitative recovery of the exogenous analyte was obtained at all concentrations of ceronapril tested. Intraassay coefficients of variance (CV's) were 3.9% and 4.6% for the low and medium controls, respectively. A highly significant statistical correlation between RIA and [14C]TLRC was observed for both plasma and urine samples. Clinical samples from the ascending dosage studies have been analyzed by the ceronapril RIA. The maximum concentration and the area under the plasma concentration-time curve did not increase in a dose-proportional manner for doses above 100 mg.