An Effective Prodrug Strategy to Selectively Enhance Ocular Exposure of a Cannabinoid Receptor (CB1/2) Agonist
摘要:
Glaucoma is a leading cause of vision loss and blindness with increased intraocular pressure (IOP) a prominent risk factor. IOP can be efficaciously reduced by administration of topical agents. However, the repertoire of approved IOP-lowering drug classes is limited, and effective new alternatives are needed. Agonism of the cannabinoid receptor's CB1/2 significantly reduces IOP clinically and experimentally. However, development of CB1/2 agonists has been complicated by the need to avoid cardiovascular and psychotropic side effects. 1 is a potent CB1/2 agonist that is highly excluded from the brain. In a phase I study, compound 1 eyedrops were well tolerated and generated an IOP-lowering trend but were limited in dose and exposure due to poor soluhility and ocular absorption. Here we present an innovative strategy to rapidly identify compound 1 prodrugs that are efficiently metabolized to the parent compound for improved solubility and ocular permeability while maintaining low systemic exposures.
An Effective Prodrug Strategy to Selectively Enhance Ocular Exposure of a Cannabinoid Receptor (CB<sub>1/2</sub>) Agonist
作者:Nello Mainolfi、James Powers、Jakal Amin、Debby Long、Wendy Lee、Margaret E. McLaughlin、Bruce Jaffee、Christopher Brain、Jason Elliott、Jeremy M. Sivak
DOI:10.1021/jm4004939
日期:2013.7.11
Glaucoma is a leading cause of vision loss and blindness with increased intraocular pressure (IOP) a prominent risk factor. IOP can be efficaciously reduced by administration of topical agents. However, the repertoire of approved IOP-lowering drug classes is limited, and effective new alternatives are needed. Agonism of the cannabinoid receptor's CB1/2 significantly reduces IOP clinically and experimentally. However, development of CB1/2 agonists has been complicated by the need to avoid cardiovascular and psychotropic side effects. 1 is a potent CB1/2 agonist that is highly excluded from the brain. In a phase I study, compound 1 eyedrops were well tolerated and generated an IOP-lowering trend but were limited in dose and exposure due to poor soluhility and ocular absorption. Here we present an innovative strategy to rapidly identify compound 1 prodrugs that are efficiently metabolized to the parent compound for improved solubility and ocular permeability while maintaining low systemic exposures.