Pharmacokinetics of natural mistletoe lectins after subcutaneous injection.

PURPOSE: Knowledge of natural mistletoe lectins (nML) pharmacokinetics can be regarded as essential for further rational studies with mistletoe preparations. Studies with intravenous application of a recombinant type II ribosome inactivating protein (rML) analogous to nML revealed a short half-life of about 13 min in cancer patients. This open-label, phase I, monocenter clinical trial was performed in order to describe the pharmacokinetics of nML. METHODS: In 15 healthy male volunteers aged 18-42 years, nML were detected with a modified sandwich immuno-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique (Imperacer, Chimera Biotec) after single subcutaneous injection of a mistletoe extract (abnobaVISCUM(R) Fraxini 20 mg) with marketing authorization containing about 20 microg nML/ml. Secondary objectives were safety and the number of activated natural killer cells (CD54(+)/CD94(+)). RESULTS: In none of the volunteers were nML detectable before the injection, and in all volunteers, nML were detected in serum samples after injection. Individual variability, however, was large. Mean and median peak concentrations were reached 1 and 2 h after injection, respectively. In some volunteers, nML were still detectable at the final investigation 2 weeks after injection. The injection resulted in fever and flu-like symptoms in all volunteers, but no serious adverse events occurred. All symptoms and local reactions at the injection site completely disappeared within a range of 4-95 days. The number of activated natural killer (NK) cells did not change. CONCLUSIONS: Natural ML from abnobaVISCUM Fraxini 20 mg are detectable in serum after a single subcutaneous injection. Detectability is considerably longer compared with intravenously administered rML. The subcutaneous injection of this preparation without usual pretreatment with lower doses results in short-lasting fever and other flu-like symptoms.

Safety and pharmacokinetics of multiple doses of aclidinium bromide, a novel long-acting muscarinic antagonist for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, in healthy participants.

Systemic exposure to anticholinergics used for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) may lead to side effects. This study assessed safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of multiple doses of aclidinium bromide, a novel, long-acting antimuscarinic. Sixteen healthy participants received aclidinium bromide 200, 400, or 800 microg or placebo by dry-powder inhaler for 5 days, with > or =7 days washout. Aclidinium bromide and metabolite pharmacokinetics were assessed. Aclidinium bromide plasma levels were below the lower limit of quantification (LLOQ: 0.05 ng/mL) after 200 microg and in most participants after 400 microg. Plasma levels in all participants were below the LLOQ at all doses, including the highest dose, beyond 1 hour postdose. AUC(0-t) and C(max) at steady state were, respectively, 0.08 ng.h/mL and 0.12 ng/mL (aclidinium bromide), 0.40 ng.h/mL and 0.14 ng/mL (alcohol metabolite), and 13.47 ng.h/mL and 2.26 ng/mL (acid metabolite). The t(max) for aclidinium bromide 800 microg was 15 minutes (first kinetic time point). Adverse event frequency was comparable between treatment groups and placebo. The most commonly reported adverse events, probably treatment related, were coughing (n = 2) and dysphagia (n = 1); 94% of adverse events were mild. These data suggest a low systemic bioavailability and favorable safety profile for aclidinium bromide with repeated dosing for COPD.