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Nature Communications Dec 2023Monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL) regulates endocannabinoid 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) and eicosanoid signalling. MAGL inhibition provides therapeutic opportunities but...
Monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL) regulates endocannabinoid 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) and eicosanoid signalling. MAGL inhibition provides therapeutic opportunities but clinical potential is limited by central nervous system (CNS)-mediated side effects. Here, we report the discovery of LEI-515, a peripherally restricted, reversible MAGL inhibitor, using high throughput screening and a medicinal chemistry programme. LEI-515 increased 2-AG levels in peripheral organs, but not mouse brain. LEI-515 attenuated liver necrosis, oxidative stress and inflammation in a CCl-induced acute liver injury model. LEI-515 suppressed chemotherapy-induced neuropathic nociception in mice without inducing cardinal signs of CB activation. Antinociceptive efficacy of LEI-515 was blocked by CB, but not CB, antagonists. The CB antagonist rimonabant precipitated signs of physical dependence in mice treated chronically with a global MAGL inhibitor (JZL184), and an orthosteric cannabinoid agonist (WIN55,212-2), but not with LEI-515. Our data support targeting peripheral MAGL as a promising therapeutic strategy for developing safe and effective anti-inflammatory and analgesic agents.
Topics: Animals; Mice; Monoacylglycerol Lipases; Monoglycerides; Rimonabant; Endocannabinoids; Analgesics; Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1; Mice, Inbred C57BL
PubMed: 38052772
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-43606-3 -
International Journal of Molecular... Mar 2024The brain is susceptible to oxidative stress, which is associated with various neurological diseases. Edaravone (MCI-186, 3-methyl-1 pheny-2-pyrazolin-5-one), a free... (Review)
Review
The brain is susceptible to oxidative stress, which is associated with various neurological diseases. Edaravone (MCI-186, 3-methyl-1 pheny-2-pyrazolin-5-one), a free radical scavenger, has promising effects by quenching hydroxyl radicals (∙OH) and inhibiting both ∙OH-dependent and ∙OH-independent lipid peroxidation. Edaravone was initially developed in Japan as a neuroprotective agent for acute cerebral infarction and was later applied clinically to treat amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a neurodegenerative disease. There is accumulating evidence for the therapeutic effects of edaravone in a wide range of diseases related to oxidative stress, including ischemic stroke, ALS, Alzheimer's disease, and placental ischemia. These neuroprotective effects have expanded the potential applications of edaravone. Data from experimental animal models support its safety for long-term use, implying broader applications in various neurodegenerative diseases. In this review, we explain the unique characteristics of edaravone, summarize recent findings for specific diseases, and discuss its prospects for future therapeutic applications.
Topics: Animals; Female; Pregnancy; Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis; Antioxidants; Antipyrine; Edaravone; Free Radical Scavengers; Neurodegenerative Diseases; Neuroprotective Agents; Placenta
PubMed: 38474192
DOI: 10.3390/ijms25052945 -
Current Hematologic Malignancy Reports Jun 2024Summarize best practices for management of patients with early myelofibrosis (MF). (Review)
Review
PURPOSE OF REVIEW
Summarize best practices for management of patients with early myelofibrosis (MF).
RECENT FINDINGS
Myelofibrosis is a progressive myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN) that generally produces burdensome symptoms and ultimately leads to worse overall survival than that observed in healthy controls or patients with other MPNs. Several Janus kinase inhibitors and various interferon formulations are now available for treatment of MF, with ruxolitinib notable for extending overall survival in addition to improving MF signs and symptoms. The chronic nature of the disease can lead some patients to avoid immediate treatment in favor of a watch-and-wait approach. This review summarizes the patient management approach taken in my practice, providing guidance and a discussion of best practices with an emphasis on the importance and clinical benefits of active treatment in early MF. In particular, a case is made to consider treatment with ruxolitinib for patients with intermediate-1 risk disease and to minimize delay between diagnosis and treatment initiation for patients with intermediate or high-risk disease.
Topics: Humans; Primary Myelofibrosis; Disease Management; Pyrazoles; Pyrimidines; Nitriles; Janus Kinase Inhibitors; Practice Guidelines as Topic
PubMed: 38441783
DOI: 10.1007/s11899-024-00729-8 -
CNS Neuroscience & Therapeutics Jul 2023The analgesic effect of acupuncture is widely recognized, but the mechanical characteristics of acupuncture for pain relief, compared to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
BACKGROUND
The analgesic effect of acupuncture is widely recognized, but the mechanical characteristics of acupuncture for pain relief, compared to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAIDs) and placebo medication, remain unknown.
AIMS
To compare the modulation effects of acupuncture treatment with NSAIDs and placebo medication on descending pain modulation system (DPMS) in knee osteoarthritis (KOA) patients.
METHODS
This study recruited 180 KOA patients with knee pain and 41 healthy controls (HCs). Individuals with KOA knee pain were divided randomly into groups of verum acupuncture (VA), sham acupuncture (SA), celecoxib (SC), placebo (PB), and waiting list (WT), with 36 patients in each group. VA and SA groups included ten sessions of puncturing acupoints or puncturing non-acupoints acupuncture treatment for two successive weeks. Celecoxib capsules were continuously given orally to patients in the SC group at a dosage of 200 mg daily for 2 weeks. In the PB group, patients received a placebo capsule once a day for 2 weeks at the same dosage as celecoxib capsules. In the WL group, patients did not receive any treatment. Patients underwent a resting-state BOLD-fMRI scan pre- and post-receiving the therapy, whereas HCs only underwent a baseline scan. Seed (ventrolateral periaqueductal gray, vlPAG, a key node in DPMS) based resting-state functional connectivity (rs-FC) was applied in the data analysis.
RESULTS
All groups demonstrated improved knee pain scores relative to the initial state. There was no statistical difference between the VA and SA groups in all clinical outcomes, and vlPAG rs-FC alterations. KOA knee pain individuals reported higher vlPAG rs-FC in the bilateral thalamus than HCs. KOA knee pain patients in the acupuncture group (verum + sham, AG) exhibited increased vlPAG rs-FC with the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and the right angular, which is associated with knee pain improvement. In contrast with the SC and PB group, the AG exhibited significantly increased vlPAG rs-FC with the right DLPFC and angular. Contrary to the WT group, the AG showed greater vlPAG rs-FC with the right DLPFC and precuneus.
CONCLUSIONS
Acupuncture treatment, celecoxib, and placebo medication have different modulation effects on vlPAG DPMS in KOA knee pain patients. Acupuncture could modulate vlPAG rs-FC with brain regions associated with cognitive control, attention, and reappraisal for knee pain relief in KOA patients, compared with celecoxib and placebo medication.
Topics: Humans; Osteoarthritis, Knee; Periaqueductal Gray; Celecoxib; Capsules; Pain; Acupuncture Therapy; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; Magnetic Resonance Imaging
PubMed: 36890655
DOI: 10.1111/cns.14153 -
Targeted Oncology Jul 2023Adavosertib (AZD1775) is a first-in-class, selective, small-molecule inhibitor of Wee1.
A Phase Ib Study Assessing the Safety, Tolerability, and Efficacy of the First-in-Class Wee1 Inhibitor Adavosertib (AZD1775) as Monotherapy in Patients with Advanced Solid Tumors.
BACKGROUND
Adavosertib (AZD1775) is a first-in-class, selective, small-molecule inhibitor of Wee1.
OBJECTIVE
The safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and efficacy of adavosertib monotherapy were evaluated in patients with various solid-tumor types and molecular profiles.
PATIENTS AND METHODS
Eligible patients had the following: confirmed diagnosis of ovarian cancer (OC), triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), or small-cell lung cancer (SCLC); previous treatment for metastatic/recurrent disease; and measurable disease. Patients were grouped into six matched cohorts based on tumor type and presence/absence of biomarkers and received oral adavosertib 175 mg twice a day on days 1-3 and 8-10 of a 21-day treatment cycle.
RESULTS
Eighty patients received treatment in the expansion phase; median total treatment duration was 2.4 months. The most common treatment-related adverse events (AEs) were diarrhea (56.3%), nausea (42.5%), fatigue (36.3%), vomiting (18.8%), and decreased appetite (12.5%). Treatment-related grade ≥ 3 AEs and serious AEs were reported in 32.5% and 10.0% of patients, respectively. AEs led to dose interruptions in 22.5%, reductions in 11.3%, and discontinuations in 16.3% of patients. One patient died following serious AEs of deep vein thrombosis (treatment related) and respiratory failure (not treatment related). Objective response rate, disease control rate, and progression-free survival were as follows: 6.3%, 68.8%, 4.5 months (OC BRCA wild type); 3.3%, 76.7%, 3.9 months (OC BRCA mutation); 0%, 69.2%, 3.1 months (TNBC biomarker [CCNE1/MYC/MYCL1/MYCN] non-amplified [NA]); 0%, 50%, 2 months (TNBC biomarker amplified); 8.3%, 33.3%, 1.3 months (SCLC biomarker NA); and 0%, 33.3%, 1.2 months (SCLC biomarker amplified).
CONCLUSION
Adavosertib monotherapy was tolerated and demonstrated some antitumor activity in patients with advanced solid tumors.
TRIAL REGISTRATION
ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT02482311; registered June 2015.
Topics: Female; Humans; Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms; Pyrimidinones; Pyrazoles; Ovarian Neoplasms; Small Cell Lung Carcinoma; Lung Neoplasms
PubMed: 37278879
DOI: 10.1007/s11523-023-00965-7 -
Pharmaceutical Research Oct 2023Drug repositioning, also known as drug repurposing, reprofiling, or rediscovery, is considered to be one of the most promising strategies to accelerate the development... (Review)
Review
Drug repositioning, also known as drug repurposing, reprofiling, or rediscovery, is considered to be one of the most promising strategies to accelerate the development of new original drug products. Multiple examples of successful rediscovery or therapeutic switching of old molecules that did not show clinical benefits or safety in initial trials encourage the following of the discovery of new therapeutic pathways for them. This review summarizes the efforts that have been made, mostly over the last decade, to identify new therapeutic targets for celecoxib. To achieve this goal, records gathered in MEDLINE PubMed and Scopus databases along with the registry of clinical trials by the US National Library of Medicine at the U.S. National Institutes of Health were explored. Since celecoxib is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug that represents the class of selective COX-2 inhibitors (coxibs), its clinical potential in metronomic cancer therapy, the treatment of mental disorders, or infectious diseases has been discussed. In the end, the perspective of a formulator, facing various challenges related to unfavorable physicochemical properties of celecoxib upon the development of new oral dosage forms, long-acting injectables, and topical formulations, including the latest trends in the pharmaceutical technology, such as the application of mesoporous carriers, biodegradable microparticles, lipid-based nanosystems, or spanlastics, was presented.
Topics: Humans; Celecoxib; Drug Repositioning; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors
PubMed: 37552383
DOI: 10.1007/s11095-023-03571-4 -
Targeted Oncology Nov 2023Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors are a new maintenance therapy option for patients with ovarian cancer (OC).
BACKGROUND
Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors are a new maintenance therapy option for patients with ovarian cancer (OC).
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy and influencing factors of the novel PARP inhibitor niraparib for maintenance treatment of Chinese patients with advanced OC.
PATIENTS AND METHODS
In this retrospective multicenter real-world study patients with advanced OC from 15 hospitals throughout China were enrolled. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS) and the secondary endpoints included the time to treatment discontinuation and safety. Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) regression was used to identify possible risk factors for PFS, after which a prediction model was established to evaluate the likelihood of achieving an 18-month PFS. The relationship between the dose of niraparib and PFS was also evaluated.
RESULTS
The PFS rates of 199 patients at 6, 12, 18, 24, and 30 months were 87.4%, 75.9%, 63.6%, 56.1%, and 51.8%, respectively. LASSO regression model revealed that only age < 65 years (P = 0.011), BRCA mutations (P < 0.001), and R0 status after cytoreductive surgery (P = 0.01) were significant factors associated with prolonged PFS times. Based on the LASSO logistic regression analysis, a clinical prediction formula was developed: - 2.412 + 1.396Age + 2.374BRCA + 1.387R + 0.793Interval + 0.178BMI which yielded a cut-off value of 0.091, an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.839 (0.763-0.916), a sensitivity of 94.3%, and an accuracy of 78.5%. A nomogram was then built to visualize the results. The major treatment-emergent adverse events of ≥ grade 3 included a platelet count decrease (19.1%), white blood cell count decrease (15.1%), neutrophil count decrease (13.1%), and anemia (18.6%). The 18-month PFS rates in patients treated with 200 mg niraparib were somewhat higher than in patients treated with 100 mg after 3-months of therapy.
CONCLUSIONS
For Chinese OC patients, niraparib, particularly at a 200 mg individual starting dose, was an effective therapy with easily manageable safety.
Topics: Humans; Female; Aged; Carcinoma, Ovarian Epithelial; Ovarian Neoplasms; Indazoles; Piperidines
PubMed: 37847485
DOI: 10.1007/s11523-023-00999-x -
Nature Medicine Jan 2024In patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia, Richter transformation (RT) reflects the development of an aggressive lymphoma that is associated with poor response to...
In patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia, Richter transformation (RT) reflects the development of an aggressive lymphoma that is associated with poor response to chemotherapy and short survival. We initiated an international, investigator-initiated, prospective, open-label phase 2 study in which patients with RT received a combination of the PD-1 inhibitor tislelizumab plus the BTK inhibitor zanubrutinib for 12 cycles. Patients responding to treatment underwent maintenance treatment with both agents. The primary end point was overall response rate after six cycles. Of 59 enrolled patients, 48 patients received at least two cycles of treatment and comprised the analysis population according to the study protocol. The median observation time was 13.9 months, the median age was 67 (range 45-82) years. Ten patients (20.8%) had received previous RT-directed therapy. In total, 28 out of 48 patients responded to induction therapy with an overall response rate of 58.3% (95% confidence interval (CI) 43.2-72.4), including 9 (18.8%) complete reponse and 19 (39.6%) partial response, meeting the study's primary end point by rejecting the predefined null hypothesis of 40% (P = 0.008). Secondary end points included duration of response, progression-free survival and overall survival. The median duration of response was not reached, the median progression-free survival was 10.0 months (95% CI 3.8-16.3). Median overall survival was not reached with a 12-month overall survival rate of 74.7% (95% CI 58.4-91.0). The most common adverse events were infections (18.0%), gastrointestinal disorders (13.0%) and hematological toxicities (11.4%). These data suggest that combined checkpoint and BTK inhibition by tislelizumab plus zanubrutinib is an effective and well-tolerated treatment strategy for patients with RT. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04271956 .
Topics: Humans; Middle Aged; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Prospective Studies; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell; Piperidines; Pyrazoles; Pyrimidines; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
PubMed: 38071379
DOI: 10.1038/s41591-023-02722-9 -
Clinical Therapeutics Dec 2023Edaravone is a neuroprotective agent approved as an intravenous treatment for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The intravenous administration of edaravone places a...
PURPOSE
Edaravone is a neuroprotective agent approved as an intravenous treatment for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The intravenous administration of edaravone places a burden on patients and there is a clinical need for oral agents for the treatment of ALS. This report aimed to assess the pharmacokinetics and safety of an edaravone oral suspension in patients with ALS after oral and percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube administration.
METHODS
Two single-dose, open-label phase 1 clinical studies were conducted. Edaravone oral suspension (105 mg of edaravone in 5 mL aqueous suspension) was administered orally and via PEG tube to 9 and 6 Japanese patients with ALS, respectively. Plasma and urinary pharmacokinetics of unchanged edaravone and its metabolites (sulfate and glucuronide conjugates) were determined. Safety was also evaluated.
FINDINGS
After reaching maximum plasma concentration, the mean plasma concentration-time of unchanged edaravone showed a triphasic elimination. Mean plasma concentration-time profiles of the metabolites were higher than those of unchanged edaravone. The mean urinary excretion ratios were higher for the glucuronide conjugate than for either unchanged edaravone or the sulfate conjugate. In patients administered edaravone orally, a single adverse event occurred (blood urine present), which was mild and improved without medical intervention. No adverse drug reactions or serious adverse events were reported. In patients administered edaravone via PEG tube, 5 treatment-emergent adverse events were reported in 3 patients; none were related to the study drug. No adverse drug reactions were reported.
IMPLICATIONS
In patients with ALS, a single dose of edaravone oral suspension was well absorbed and mainly eliminated in urine as the glucuronide conjugate. No safety concerns emerged. Pharmacokinetics were similar to those previously reported in healthy participants following oral administration. This indicates that effective drug concentrations were achieved and edaravone can be successfully administered both orally and via a PEG tube in patients with ALS.
CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION
ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04176224 (oral administration) and NCT04254913 (PEG tube administration), www.
CLINICALTRIALS
gov.
Topics: Humans; Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis; Edaravone; Glucuronides; Neuroprotective Agents; Sulfates
PubMed: 37953075
DOI: 10.1016/j.clinthera.2023.09.025 -
European Journal of Cancer (Oxford,... Oct 2023In patients with non-metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (nmCRPC) in the Androgen Receptor Antagonizing Agent for Metastasis-free Survival (ARAMIS) trial,... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
Efficacy and safety outcomes of darolutamide in patients with non-metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer with comorbidities and concomitant medications from the randomised phase 3 ARAMIS trial.
PURPOSE
In patients with non-metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (nmCRPC) in the Androgen Receptor Antagonizing Agent for Metastasis-free Survival (ARAMIS) trial, darolutamide significantly improved median metastasis-free survival by nearly 2 years and reduced the risk of death by 31% versus placebo, with a favourable safety/tolerability profile. This post hoc analysis of ARAMIS evaluated efficacy and safety in patients by number of comorbidities and concomitant medications.
METHODS
Patients with nmCRPC were randomised 2:1 to darolutamide (n = 955) or placebo (n = 554) while continuing androgen-deprivation therapy. Overall survival (OS) and treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) were evaluated in subgroups by median numbers of ongoing comorbidities and concomitant medications. HRs were determined from univariate analysis using Cox regression.
FINDINGS
Median numbers of comorbidities and concomitant medications were 6 and 10, respectively, with 41.6% of patients having >6 comorbidities and 48.8% taking >10 concomitant medications. For patients with ≤ 6 and >6 comorbidities, darolutamide increased OS versus placebo (hazard ratio [HR] 0.65 and 0.73, respectively), and this benefit was consistent for cardiovascular, metabolic, and other comorbidities (HR range: 0.39-0.88). For patients taking ≤ 10 and >10 concomitant medications, increased OS was also observed with darolutamide versus placebo (HR 0.76 and 0.66, respectively), and the benefit was consistent across medication classes (HR range: 0.45-0.80). Incidences of TEAEs and TEAEs leading to treatment discontinuation with darolutamide were similar to placebo across subgroups by numbers of comorbidities and concomitant medications.
CONCLUSIONS
The OS benefit and safety of darolutamide remained consistent with that observed in the overall ARAMIS population, even in patients with high numbers of comorbidities or concomitant medications.
GOV REGISTRATION
NCT02200614.
TWEETABLE ABSTRACT
Darolutamide increased overall survival versus placebo, and incidences of most adverse events were similar between treatments in patients with ≤ 6 or >6 comorbidities and those taking ≤ 10 or >10 concomitant medications.
Topics: Male; Humans; Androgen Antagonists; Prostatic Neoplasms, Castration-Resistant; Pyrazoles; Patients
PubMed: 37660438
DOI: 10.1016/j.ejca.2023.113258