Single and multiple ascending dose studies of a novel tissue-selective oestrogen receptor modulator, CHF 4227, in healthy postmenopausal women.

AIMS: We evaluated the tolerability, adverse events profile, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of CHF 4227, a new selective oestrogen receptor modulator (SERM), in healthy postmenopausal women. METHODS: Two phase I studies were conducted according to a double-bind, placebo-controlled design. Subjects were randomized to receive six single (5-400 mg) or five multiple oral doses of CHF 4227 for 28 days (5-100 mg). RESULTS: No vaginal bleeding and no changes in either endometrial thickness or the placenta protein 14 marker were found after 4 weeks of treatment. The compound did not induce negative effects on the fibrinolytic system. After 28 days of treatment, CHF 4227 decreased both total and LDL cholesterol concentrations (maximum decreases from baseline of 17.4% (95% CI 7.0, 27.7) and 27.6% (95% CI 9.0, 46.3), respectively). Decreases in both serum and urinary type-I C-terminal collagen telopeptide were also observed producing maximum changes of 40.6% (95% CI 29.5, 51.7), and 41.7% (95% CI 20.3, 56.8), respectively. CHF4227 (5 and 10 mg) induced near maximal oestrogen-like effects on bone markers and serum lipids without causing hot flushes. The pharmacokinetics of CHF 4227 were characterized by a slow absorption, a long elimination half-life (31-42 h after single administration) and dose linearity with respect to C(max) and AUC up to 100 mg. CONCLUSIONS: CHF 4227 is a well-tolerated SERM when administered once daily for 28 days. It is potentially active on bone resorption and serum lipids, without affecting the endometrium and without worsening hot flushes. CHF 4227 is a promising agent for the treatment of several conditions in postmenopausal women.

Synthesis and biological activity of flurbiprofen analogues as selective inhibitors of beta-amyloid(1)(-)(42) secretion.

Flurbiprofen, a nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug (NSAID), has been recently described to selectively inhibit beta-amyloid(1)(-)(42) (Abeta42) secretion, the most toxic component of the senile plaques present in the brain of Alzheimer patients. The use of this NSAID in Alzheimer's disease (AD) is hampered by a significant gastrointestinal toxicity associated with cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibition. New flurbiprofen analogues were synthesized, with the aim of increasing Abeta42 inhibitory potency while removing anti-COX activity. In vitro ADME developability parameters were taken into account in order to identify optimized compounds at an early stage of the project. Appropriate substitution patterns at the alpha position of flurbiprofen allowed for the complete removal of anti-COX activity, while modifications at the terminal phenyl ring resulted in increased inhibitory potency on Abeta42 secretion. In rats, some of the compounds appeared to be well absorbed after oral administration and to penetrate into the central nervous system. Studies in a transgenic mice model of AD showed that selected compounds significantly decreased plasma Abeta42 concentrations. These new flurbiprofen analogues represent potential drug candidates to be developed for the treatment of AD.

Safety, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of CHF 3381, a novel N-methyl-D-aspartate antagonist, after single oral doses in healthy subjects.

A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study was performed to assess the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of single oral doses of CHF 3381 in 56 young healthy male volunteers. The central nervous system effects of CHF 3381 were also evaluated, as well as the effect of food on the rate and extent of CHF 3381 absorption. Seven doses of CHF 3381 (25, 50, 100, 200, 300, 450, and 600 mg) were evaluated in an escalating order. At each dose level, 6 subjects were given CHF 3381, and 2 subjects were given placebo. Safety and tolerability evaluation included adverse events, physical examination, vital functions, electrocardiogram, laboratory tests, and 24-hour Holter (100-mg and 450-mg dose panels). Plasma and urinary concentrations of CHF 3381 and its two main metabolites (CHF 3567 and 2-aminoindane) were measured with a validated high-performance liquid chromatography method. Central nervous system effects were evaluated with the simple reaction time (SRT); learning memory task (LMT); Bond & Lader Visual Analog Scale for alertness, contentedness, and calmness; Addiction Research Center Inventory (ARCI); and electroencephalogram. There were no serious adverse events; the most frequent adverse events were dizziness, abnormal thinking, and asthenia. The number of adverse events with moderate intensity increased sharply with the dose, with no or few events up to 450 mg and 17 events with 600 mg. Therefore, 600 mg was defined as the maximum tolerated dose. There were no significant treatment effects on cardiovascular function and electrocardiogram parameters at any CHF 3381 dose or on oral temperature or laboratory tests. There were no clinically significant changes in laboratory variables. CHF 3381 was absorbed rapidly (tmax = 0.5-2 h) and cleared from plasma with a half-life of 3 to 4 hours. Plasma levels of CHF 3381 and its two major metabolites were found to be proportional to the dose. 2-Aminoindane formed slowly and reached much lower concentrations compared to the parent compound and the other metabolite (CHF 3567). Within 48 hours after dosing, 2% to 6% of the administered dose was found in the urine as unchanged drug, about 50% to 55% as the acid derivative (CHF 3567), and 2% to 3% as 2-aminoindane. Ingestion of food did not affect the extent of absorption of the drug, while the rate of absorption was considerably reduced (tmax = 4 h). No significant effects of CHF 3381 were observed on attention (SRT) or memory (LMT). Visual analog scales revealed a decreasing effect of CHF 3381 on alertness at 1 hour that reached statistical significance at 300 and 600 mg. EEG spectral analysis revealed minor decreasing effects of the 200-mg dose on total electric power measured at 2 hours. A stimulant effect was detected by the ARCI scale 24 hours after the 300-mg dose and might be related to the slow formation of the 2-aminoindane metabolite. In conclusion, this study has shown that the maximum tolerated dose of CHF 3381 after single oral administration in young healthy male volunteers is 600 mg. CHF 3381 displays linear pharmacokinetics in the dose range of 25 to 600 mg. The compound is rapidly absorbed and cleared from plasma with a half-life of 3 to 4 hours. The ingestion of food seems to not affect the extent of absorption of the drug. Minor effects on the central nervous system were detected at doses equal to or greater than 300 mg.

Antinociceptive activity of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist N-(2-Indanyl)-glycinamide hydrochloride (CHF3381) in experimental models of inflammatory and neuropathic pain.

N-(2-Indanyl)-glycinamide hydrochloride (CHF3381) is a novel low-affinity, noncompetitive N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor antagonist. The current study compared the antinociceptive effects of CHF3381 with those of gabapentin and memantine in in vitro and in vivo models of pain. In isolated rat spinal cord, CHF3381 and memantine, but not gabapentin, produced similar inhibition of the wind-up phenomenon. CHF3381 suppressed the maintenance of carrageenan-induced thermal and mechanical hyperalgesia in the rat with a minimum significantly effective dose (MED) of 30 mg/kg p.o. Memantine produced a partial reversal of both thermal and mechanical hyperalgesia (MED = 10 and 15 mg/kg i.p., respectively). Gabapentin reversed mechanical hyperalgesia (MED = 10 mg/kg s.c.), but did not affect thermal hyperalgesia. In the mouse formalin test, CHF3381 and memantine preferentially inhibited the late phase (MED = 30 and 20 mg/kg i.p., respectively); gabapentin inhibited only the late phase (MED = 30 mg/kg s.c.). Unlike morphine, CHF3381 chronic administration was not accompanied by the development of tolerance in the formalin test. Furthermore, morphine tolerance did not cross-generalize to CHF3381. In rats with a sciatic nerve injury, CHF3381 relieved both cold and mechanical allodynia (MED = 100 mg/kg p.o.). In contrast, memantine was inactive. Gabapentin blocked cold allodynia (MED = 30 mg/kg s.c.), but had marginal effects on mechanical allodynia. In diabetic neuropathy, CHF3381 reversed mechanical hyperalgesia (MED = 50 mg/kg p.o.). Memantine (15 mg/kg i.p.) produced an antinociceptive effect, whereas gabapentin (100 mg/kg p.o.) had no significant effect. Thus, CHF3381 may be useful for the therapy of peripheral painful neuropathies.