Preclinical assessment of novel BRAF inhibitors: integrating pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic modelling in the drug discovery process

Xenobiotica. 2011 Dec;41(12):1076-87. doi: 10.3109/00498254.2011.603384. Epub 2011 Aug 25.

Abstract

The objective of these studies were to determine the preclinical disposition of the two BRAF inhibitors, G-F and G-C, followed by pharmacokinetic (PK)-pharmacodynamic (PD) modelling to characterize the concentration-efficacy relationship of these compounds in the Colo205 mouse xenograft model. With G-F, the relationship of pERK inhibition to concentration was also characterized. Compounds G-F and G-C were administered to mice, rats and dogs and the pharmacokinetics of G-F and G-C was determined. In addition, using indirect response models the concentration-efficacy relationship was described. The clearance of G-F was low; 0.625 and 4.65 mL/min/kg in rat and dog respectively. Similarly, the clearance of G-C was low in rat and dog, 0.490 and 4.43 mL/min/kg, respectively. Both compounds displayed low volumes of distribution (0.140-0.267 L/kg), resulting in moderate half-lives across species (~2.5 to 4 h). Bioavailability was formulation dependent and decreased with increasing dose. Using the indirect response models, the KC(50) (50% K(max); maximal response) value for tumor growth inhibition for G-F and G-C were 84.5 and 19.2 μM, respectively. The IC(50) for pERK inhibition in Colo205 tumors by G-F was estimated to be 29.2 μM. High exposures of G-F and G-C were required for efficacy. Despite good PK properties of low CL and moderate half-life, limitations in obtaining exposures adequate for safety testing in rat and dog resulted in development challenges.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Area Under Curve
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / blood
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / pathology
  • Dogs
  • Drug Evaluation, Preclinical / methods*
  • Female
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Models, Biological*
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / blood
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / chemistry
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / pharmacokinetics*
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf / metabolism
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf