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Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, March 2001, p. 852-856, Vol. 45, No. 3
Glaxo Wellcome Incorporated, Research
Triangle Park, North Carolina,1 and
Laboratoire Glaxo Wellcome, 781 Marly-le-Roi,
France2
Received 9 March 2000/Returned for modification 14 October
2000/Accepted 23 December 2000
Observations from early clinical pharmacology studies of
amprenavir, an inhibitor of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) protease that is highly bound to human plasma proteins (~90%), showed the single-dose pharmacokinetics of amprenavir to be variable between and within individuals. A cross-study analysis of various demographic, laboratory, and clinical covariates was therefore performed. Differences in amprenavir pharmacokinetics could be due to
variable concentrations in Amprenavir is a potent inhibitor of
the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) protease enzyme, with
an inhibition constant (Ki) of 0.6 nM
(5). Like almost all of the commercially available HIV
protease inhibitors, amprenavir exhibits a high degree of binding to
plasma proteins (~90%); indinavir is the notable exception, with
approximately 60% binding to human plasma proteins (prescribing information for Crixivan, Merck & Co.). In vitro studies have shown
that the plasma proteins to which amprenavir primarily binds are
For several reasons, we chose to investigate whether variations in AAG
concentration could explain initial conflicting observations of the
effect of race on amprenavir pharmacokinetics. During clinical development, findings from six single-dose and three multiple-dose studies were inconsistent with respect to a race effect on amprenavir pharmacokinetics. Since the calculated pharmacokinetic parameters obtained in these studies were based on the total concentration of
amprenavir in plasma (both protein-bound and unbound drug), we
suspected that the differences in pharmacokinetic parameters between
blacks and whites identified in some studies might be attributable to
racial and infection status differences in AAG concentration.
AAG is one of several plasma proteins whose synthesis and concentration
increase during the host's acute-phase response to infections, trauma,
inflammatory processes, and some malignant diseases. The acute-phase
response was so named because the characteristic changes in various
plasma proteins were typically seen within hours or days following the
onset of infection or injury; however, some acute-phase changes are
also indicative of chronic disease (6), including HIV and
AIDS (11; S. D. Goodwin, C. J. Renehan, R. T. Schooley,
and J. A. Pieper, Abstr. XI Int. Conf. AIDS, abstr. Mo.B.1327,
1996; K. Stellrecht, G. L. Drusano, D. S. Stein, and J. A. Bilello, Abstr. 3rd Annu. Nat. Conf. Hum. Retrovir. Opportunistic Infect., abstr. 170, 1996). It is well documented that plasma protein
binding can adversely influence the in vitro activity of
anti-infectives and antiretrovirals by decreasing the amount of free
drug available for interaction with the drug target (2, 3, 4, 9,
15). However, in vivo data of the effect of protein binding on
the pharmacokinetics and activity of these agents have been less well documented.
This paper presents a cross-study analysis of data from three
single-dose studies in HIV-positive and -negative subjects (Glaxo Wellcome Protocols PROA1004, PROA1010, and PROA1011). Two of
these studies (PROA1010 and PROA1011) were designed to examine
the effect of race on amprenavir clearance in healthy volunteers. They
were chosen because the two studies yielded different results with regard to amprenavir pharmacokinetics and race and because one of the
studies' entry criterion stipulated that the minority study population, either blacks or whites, must constitute at least one-third
of the total number of study subjects. The third study (PROA1004) was
designed to examine the effect of race on amprenavir clearance in
HIV-infected volunteers and was chosen because there was a significant
effect of race on amprenavir clearance and because AAG measurements
were made for all subjects in each of the three dosing periods. The
numbers of black and white subjects were well balanced in all three studies.
In addition to race, various demographic, laboratory, and clinical
covariates were analyzed for their potential effect on the
pharmacokinetics of amprenavir. Preliminary results of this cross-study
analysis have been reported previously (B. M. Sadler, C. Gillotin,
Y. Lou, and D. S. Stein, Abstr. 6th Conf. Retrovir. Opportunistic
Infect., abstr. 375, 1999).
A summary of each of the three single-dose studies of amprenavir
whose data were included in the cross-study analysis is provided in
Table 1.
0066-4804/01/$04.00+0 DOI: 10.1128/AAC.45.3.852-856.2001
Copyright © 2001, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.
In Vivo Effect of
1-Acid
Glycoprotein on Pharmacokinetics of Amprenavir, a Human
Immunodeficiency Virus Protease Inhibitor
![]()
ABSTRACT
Top
Abstract
Introduction
Materials and Methods
Results
Discussion
References
1-acid glycoprotein (AAG), the predominant plasma protein to which amprenavir binds. Therefore, AAG was considered an important factor to study since the literature suggested that AAG levels vary by race, age, and weight and following trauma or infection, including HIV disease. Pooled data from three single-dose studies analyzed by stepwise linear regression indicated that AAG concentrations significantly correlated with age and race and
that only AAG concentrations were a significant predictor of amprenavir
apparent total clearance (CL/F). A significant inverse linear
relationship was found between AAG and amprenavir CL/F. Compared to
white subjects, black subjects had significantly lower AAG
concentrations and therefore significantly higher amprenavir CL/F.
Although AAG has a significant influence on the variability of total
drug pharmacokinetics, unbound, or free, drug concentrations are not
affected by AAG concentrations. Incorrect conclusions could be drawn on
the pharmacokinetics of highly protein-bound drugs if AAG concentration
is not included in the analysis.
![]()
INTRODUCTION
Top
Abstract
Introduction
Materials and Methods
Results
Discussion
References
1-acid glycoprotein (AAG) and albumin, with fractional
binding of 89 and 42%, respectively (10). Although serum
albumin concentrations in humans are relatively stable (3.5 to 4.5 g/dl), AAG concentrations fluctuate widely (15 to 250 mg/dl), depending
on such factors as HIV serostatus, age, and weight (2, 6,
11). In addition, AAG concentrations have been suggested to vary
by race or ethnicity (7).
![]()
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Top
Abstract
Introduction
Materials and Methods
Results
Discussion
References
TABLE 1.
Overview of three studies whose data were included in the
cross-study analysis of amprenavir pharmacokinetics and demographic,
laboratory, and clinical covariates
Study population. The primary difference in entry criteria for the three studies was HIV serostatus. Study PROA1004 was the only one of the three studies that enrolled HIV-positive subjects (males and females, ages of 18 to 55 years). The inclusion and exclusion criteria for this study have been previously reported (13). Studies PROA1010 and PROA1011 enrolled healthy, HIV-negative males (ages of 18 to 45 years, body weight of 55 to 95 kg, body mass index of 20 to 28 kg/m2). In both of the healthy-volunteer studies, a primary entry criterion stipulated that the minority population, either blacks or whites, must constitute at least one-third of the total number of study subjects.
Study design. The three studies were single-center, open-label, randomized, balanced, three-period, single-dose, crossover pharmacokinetic and safety studies. At least 4 days separated the doses in each study. Follow-up evaluations were to be completed between 7 and 10 days after the last dose of study drug. The treatments for each study are listed in Table 1.
In all studies, subjects were not permitted to take concomitant medications (either prescription or over-the-counter) or alcohol-containing food and beverages within 48 h before each dosing and 24 h after dosing. However, the use of medications to manage adverse events was allowed, and the use of antiretroviral drugs and/or chemoprophylaxis for opportunistic infections was permitted up until 24 h prior to dosing. The consumption of methyl-xanthine-containing foods and beverages was prohibited on the day of dosing. In both PROA1010 and PROA1011, the consumption of grapefruit and grapefruit juice was not allowed and water was not permitted 2 h predose and 2 h postdose. In PROA1004, water was not permitted for 4 h predose and 4 h postdose. All subjects took their study medication with either 200 ml (PROA1004) or 240 ml (PROA1010 and PROA1011) of water. All study protocols were approved by an independent Ethics Committee or the Institutional Review Board affiliated with each study center. All subjects provided written informed consent prior to study participation.Blood collection. Blood samples were collected to determine both amprenavir and AAG concentrations. AAG concentrations were determined from a single predose sample taken prior to the subjects' dose administration in the same period in all three studies, and for PROA1004, additional samples were taken in each of the other two treatment periods.
Pharmacokinetic evaluation.
For each study, noncompartmental
models (WinNonlin version 1.5; Scientific Consulting Inc., Cary, N.C.)
were used to calculate pharmacokinetic parameters for amprenavir
following single-dose administration based on samples taken at 0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 16 (PROA1010 and
PRO1011 only), and 24 h. The observed peak concentration of
amprenavir in serum (Cmax) and the time to reach
peak concentration were obtained by inspection of the individual serum
drug concentration-time data. Individual estimates of the apparent
terminal elimination rate constant (
z) for
amprenavir were obtained by log-linear regression of the terminal
portions of the serum drug concentration-time curves. Half-life was
then calculated as ln(2)/
z. The area under
the concentration-time curve from 0 h to the time of the last
quantifiable sample (tlast)
(AUC0
t) was calculated for each volunteer by
using the linear trapezoidal rule. AUC0
t was
used to extrapolate from tlast to infinity
(AUC0
) by adding
Clast/
z. The apparent
total clearance from serum (CL/F) was calculated as
dose/AUC0
. The apparent volume of distribution during
the elimination phase was calculated as
(CL/F)/
z. For this analysis, CL/F of
amprenavir was chosen as the representative pharmacokinetic parameter,
since CL/F is dose corrected and the three studies used different doses
of amprenavir.
Assay for amprenavir. Concentrations of amprenavir in plasma were quantified using validated reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic methods as previously described (13).
Assay for AAG. AAG assays were performed using a commercially available assay by Quest Diagnostics, Inc., San Juan Capistrano, Calif. Concentrations of AAG in serum were quantified using a fixed-time nephelometric method. The limits of quantification were 20 to 660 ng/dl, with an interassay variability of <6%.
Statistical analyses. Descriptive statistics were performed by comparing study and race to AAG concentration, ln(CL/F), age, and weight. CL/F was loge transformed prior to all analyses. Differences in AAG concentrations between blacks and whites across all studies were compared using Student's t test (SAS PROC TTEST, version 6.12). Stepwise linear regression (SAS PROC REG, version 6.12) was used to determine the linear combination of variables (age, bilirubin concentration, dosing period, race, height, weight, and body mass index) that could be independent predictors of AAG concentration. Separate analyses were performed on data from HIV-positive subjects (PROA1004) and pooled data from HIV-negative subjects (PROA1010 and PROA1011). In the analysis of the pooled data from HIV-negative subjects, a period effect was not considered since AAG data were only available for one dosing period.
Stepwise linear regression (SAS PROC REG, version 6.12) was also used to determine the linear combination of variables (AAG concentration, age, bilirubin concentration, dosing period, race, height, weight, body mass index, treatment, food, and dose) that could be independent predictors of ln(CL/F). Separate analyses were performed on data from HIV-positive subjects (PROA1004) and pooled data from HIV-negative subjects (PROA1010 and PROA1011). In the analysis of data from HIV-positive subjects, a dose effect was not considered since all subjects received the same 600-mg dose. Analysis of a period effect from the pooled data of HIV-negative subjects was not performed since, as noted above, AAG data were available from only one period.| |
RESULTS |
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Subject accountability and demographics. Only subjects with amprenavir concentration-time profile data and corresponding AAG concentration data were included in this cross-study analysis. Of the 86 subjects enrolled in the three studies, 83 were included in the analysis: 18 subjects were HIV positive (PROA1004) and 65 subjects were HIV negative (PROA1010, n = 38; PROA1011, n = 27). Of the HIV-positive subjects, 15 were male and 3 were female. All HIV-negative subjects were male, per the studies' inclusion and exclusion criteria. Of the 83 subjects included in the analysis, 33 reported their ethnicity as "black," 49 as "white," and 1 as "other." This last subject was pooled with the white subjects in the analysis.
Relationship between race and AAG concentration.
Pooled data
from all three studies were used to analyze the relationship between
race and AAG concentration. The mean concentration of AAG in subjects
whose race was black (77.2 ± 13.8 mg/dl) was significantly lower
than that of those whose race was white (90 ± 20.2 mg/dl)
(P
0.0001, Student's t test).
Relationship between AAG and ln(CL/F).
Using pooled data from
all three studies, a significant inverse linear relationship was found
between AAG concentration and ln(CL/F) (P
0.0001,
linear regression) (Fig. 1).
|
Factors that affect AAG.
In the two separate stepwise
regression analyses of data from HIV-positive subjects (PROA1004)
and HIV-negative subjects (PROA1010 and PROA1011 pooled data), AAG
concentration was used as the dependent variable, and the independent
variables investigated were age, bilirubin concentration, dosing
period, race, height, weight, and body mass index. Table
2 lists those variables found to be significant independent predictors of AAG concentration at least at the
= 0.1 level. Race was found to be a significant predictor of
AAG concentration in both HIV-positive and -negative subjects at a
P value of < 0.05.
|
Factors that affect ln(CL/F).
In the two separate stepwise
regression analyses of data from HIV-positive subjects (PROA1004) and
HIV-negative subjects (PROA1010 and PROA1011 pooled data), ln(CL/F) was
used as the dependent variable, and the independent variables
investigated were AAG concentration, age, bilirubin concentration,
dosing period, ethnicity, treatment, taking study drug with food or
while fasting, dose, and body mass index. Table
3 lists those variables found to be significant independent predictors of CL/F at least at the
= 0.1 level. AAG was found to be a significant predictor in both groups,
with a significant interaction between race and AAG noted for the
HIV-positive subjects.
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DISCUSSION |
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Univariate analysis of the pooled data from all three studies revealed a significant inverse relationship between AAG concentration and amprenavir CL/F, such that lower AAG concentrations were associated with a higher CL/F. This is consistent with the analyses of the pooled data which showed that plasma AAG concentrations were significantly lower in black subjects than in white subjects (Student's t test and analysis of variance). Thus, the statistically significant findings of this cross-study analysis indicate that the observed differences in pharmacokinetic parameters between blacks and whites (in studies PROA1004 and PROA1011) are due to the racial differences in AAG concentrations.
The implications of our study findings require an examination of the effect of AAG concentration on the pharmacokinetics of both protein-bound and unbound, or free, drug. Changes in AAG concentration result in an inverse change in the percentage of unbound drug with respect to total drug, not the concentration of unbound drug (i.e., lower percentage of free-drug concentration as total drug increases with higher AAG). Because there are no changes in intrinsic clearance, only apparent total clearance, and because the fractions of bound and free amprenavir are in dynamic equilibrium (see reference 12), no change occurs in the absolute concentration of free drug. Therefore, the apparent difference in total drug clearance, which could lead to the wrong conclusion about differences in amprenavir pharmacokinetics between blacks and whites and between HIV-infected and uninfected volunteers, can be explained by correcting for differences in the concentration of AAG, the principle binding protein of amprenavir. No dose adjustments are therefore indicated for black subjects, and a significant source of variability in total drug concentrations can be accounted for by including AAG concentrations in the analysis.
The findings of this cross-study analysis are consistent with the
observations from a multiple-dose study of amprenavir in HIV-positive
subjects, which found an inverse relationship between AAG
concentrations and CL/F (14). In that study, after 3 weeks of amprenavir monotherapy, AAG concentrations were decreased while CL/F
increased (relative to measurements obtained on the first day of
dosing). The percent change and the absolute difference in AAG
concentrations between single dose on day 1 and steady state at week 3 were significantly associated with the ratio of AUC0
/AUCss in a stepwise linear
regression model. Although amprenavir CL/Fss was dose
dependent in the analysis without AAG data, no dose dependence was
observed when AAG concentration was considered in the analysis. The
higher doses of amprenavir, which produce the greatest antiviral
activity, resulted in the largest decrease in AAG concentration, which
led to the greatest changes in total drug concentration.
In the analysis of factors that could potentially affect AAG concentration, race and weight were found to be significant predictors of plasma AAG concentration and age had a borderline association with AAG in HIV-negative subjects, an observation consistent with previously reported pharmacokinetic studies with HIV-negative subjects (1, 7, 8). The analysis also found that in HIV-positive subjects, race and bilirubin concentration were significant predictors of AAG concentration. The inverse relationship between bilirubin and AAG concentrations may be reflective of an underlying subclinical hepatic insufficiency or infection in this immunocompromised population.
In HIV-negative subjects, the only variables found to have an effect on amprenavir CL/F were dose, concomitant food consumption, and AAG concentration. When AAG concentration is taken into account, weight, height, body mass index, race, age, and bilirubin concentration were found not to be predictors of CL/F. In HIV-positive subjects, AAG concentration and concomitant food consumption were significant predictors of CL/F. In addition, there was a significant interaction between AAG concentration and race noted.
The results of the present analyses indicate that for HIV protease inhibitors, as with all drugs highly bound to plasma proteins, AAG concentration should be taken into consideration when evaluating potential pharmacokinetic differences. Any change in total drug clearance should be evaluated in light of a change in AAG concentration. However, of the currently marketed protease inhibitors, only indinavir has been studied in this regard; no racial differences in pharmacokinetic parameters have been found for indinavir (prescribing information for Crixivan, Merck & Co.). The analyses of amprenavir pharmacokinetics reported here indicate that AAG significantly influenced the pharmacokinetics of total amprenavir concentrations and, if AAG were not accounted for, erroneous conclusions regarding amprenavir's pharmacokinetics, including apparent racial differences, could have been made.
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS |
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We thank Cindy Rawls for bioanalytical support, David Morris for bioanalytical contract support, and the volunteers and clinical investigators who participated in the three studies.
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FOOTNOTES |
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* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Glaxo Wellcome Inc., Research Triangle Park, NC 27709. Phone: (919) 483-1449. Fax: (919) 483-6380. E-mail: bms44974{at}glaxowellcome.com.
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