1. Academic Validation
  2. Pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and safety of the inverse retinoic acid-related orphan receptor γ agonist AZD0284

Pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and safety of the inverse retinoic acid-related orphan receptor γ agonist AZD0284

  • Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2020 Jul;86(7):1398-1405. doi: 10.1111/bcp.14253.
Sara Asimus 1 Robert Palmér 2 Muna Albayaty 3 Henrik Forsman 4 Christina Lundin 4 Marita Olsson 5 Rikard Pehrson 6 John Mo 7 Muir Russell 8 Sara Carlert 9 David Close 10 David Keeling 6
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Clinical Pharmacology & Quantitative Pharmacology, Clinical Pharmacology & Safety Sciences, R&D, AstraZeneca Gaithersburg, MD, USA.
  • 2 Clinical Pharmacology & Quantitative Pharmacology, Clinical Pharmacology & Safety Sciences, R&D, AstraZeneca Gothenburg, Sweden.
  • 3 Early Phase Clinical Unit, Parexel, London, UK.
  • 4 Clinical Development, Research and Early Development, Respiratory, Inflammation and Autoimmune, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Sweden.
  • 5 Early Biostats and Statistical Innovation, Data Science and AI, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Sweden.
  • 6 Research and Early Development, Respiratory, Inflammation and Autoimmune, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Sweden.
  • 7 Patient Safety, Respiratory, Inflammation and Autoimmunity, Chief Medical Office, R&D, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Sweden.
  • 8 Study Delivery, Early Oncology Clinical, Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK.
  • 9 Early Product Development, Pharmaceutical Sciences, R&D, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Sweden.
  • 10 Clinical Development, Research and Early Development, Respiratory, Inflammation and Autoimmune, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK.
Abstract

Aims: Retinoic acid-related orphan receptor γ (RORγ), a master regulator of T-helper 17 (Th17) cell function and differentiation, is an attractive target for treatment of Th17-driven diseases. This first-in-human study aimed to investigate the pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, safety and tolerability of the inverse RORγ Agonist AZD0284.

Methods: We conducted a phase I, randomized, single-blind, placebo-controlled, two-part, first-in-human study with healthy subjects receiving single (4-238 mg) or multiple (12-100 mg) oral doses of AZD0284 or placebo after overnight fasting. Subjects in the one single dose cohort additionally received a single dose of AZD0284 after a high-calorie meal. AZD0284 plasma concentrations, as well as inhibition of ex vivo-stimulated interleukin (IL)-17A release in whole blood, were frequently measured after both single and multiple dosing.

Results: Eighty-three men participated in the study. AZD0284 was absorbed rapidly into plasma after oral dosing and exhibited a terminal half-life of 13-16 hours. Both the area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) and maximum concentration (Cmax ) increased subproportionally with increasing dose (95% confidence intervals of slope parameter were 0.71-0.84 and 0.72-0.88 for AUC and Cmax , respectively). Food intake delayed the absorption of AZD0284 but did not affect the overall exposure or half-life. AZD0284 showed dose-dependent reduction of ex vivo-stimulated IL-17A release after both single and multiple doses. No significant safety concerns were identified in the study.

Conclusions: AZD0284 was well tolerated, rapidly and dose-dependently absorbed, and reduced stimulated IL-17A release after single and multiple dosing. The results of this study support further clinical development of AZD0284.

Keywords

RORγ; Th17 cells; autoimmune disease; phase I clinical trial; psoriasis.

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