Abstract

Aims

To asses the safety and pharmacokinetics of a new synthetic ozonide antimalarial, OZ439, in a first-in-man, double-blind study in healthy volunteers.

Methods

OZ439 was administered as single oral daily doses of a capsule formulation (50-1200 mg) or an oral dispersion (400-1600 mg, fed and fasted states) for up to 3 days as an oral dispersion (200-800 mg/day). Plasma concentrations of OZ439 and its metabolites were measured by LC-MS.

Results

The pharmacokinetic (PK) profile of OZ439 was characterised by a t_max of around 3 hours, followed by multiphasic profile with a terminal half-life of 25-30 hours. The PK parameters were approximately dose proportional for each group, and profiles of the metabolites followed a similar pattern to that of the parent compound. Following dosing for 3 days, accumulation was less than 2-fold but steady state was not achieved. In the presence of food, no effect was observed on the t_1/2 of OZ439 while the exposure was increased by 3 to 4.5-fold. Exposure was higher and inter-subject variability was reduced when OZ439 was administered as an oral dispersion compared to a capsule. The urinary clearance of OZ439 and its metabolites was found to be negligible, and OZ439 did not induce CYP3A4. The antimalarial activity profiles of a subset of serum samples suggested that the major antimalarial activity originated from OZ439 rather than from any of the metabolites.

Conclusion

The safety and pharmacokinetic profile of OZ439 merits progression to Phase 2a proof-of concept studies in the target population of acute uncomplicated malaria.

The full article can be viewed on the Wiley Online Library website.