Apricitabine, also known as AVX754 or SPD754, is a type of medicine called a nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI). NRTIs work by blocking reverse transcriptase, a protein that HIV needs to make more copies of itself.
HIV/AIDS-Related Uses
Apricitabine is an investigational medicine that is not yet approved by the FDA for use outside of clinical trials. It is being studied for the treatment of HIV infection in treatment-experienced patients and has been granted fast-track status by the FDA. This medicine does not cure or prevent HIV infection or AIDS and does not reduce the risk of passing the virus to other people.
Dosage Form/Administration
Apricitabine is taken by mouth in clinical trials.
Recommended Daily Dose
Daily doses of 400 to 1,600 mg have been studied in early trials. Twice-daily dosing has been selected for further study.
Contraindications
Individuals should tell a doctor about any medical problems before taking this medicine.
Possible Side Effects
Along with its desired effects, apricitabine may cause some unwanted effects. Further study is needed to identify these side effects.
Drug and Food Interactions
A doctor should be notified of any other medications being taken, including prescription, nonprescription (over-the-counter), or herbal medications.
Clinical Trials
Click here to search ClinicalTrials.gov for trials that use Apricitabine.
Manufacturer Information
Apricitabine
Avexa Limited
576 Swan Street
Richmond Victoria,
Australia
Last Updated: April 6, 2009
Drug Description
Apricitabine, previously known as AVX754 and SPD754, is a nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI). Apricitabine is the negative enantiomer of a member of the 4-thio heterosubstituted nucleoside analogue class. It is a novel cytidine analogue with activity against HIV strains that are resistant to other NRTIs. [1] [2]
References
[1] IAS Conf on HIV Pathogenesis and Treatment 2nd, 2003. Abstract 528.
[2] ClinicalTrials.gov AVX754 (a New Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitor) to Treat Drug-Resistant HIV. Available at: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct/show/NCT00126880. Accessed 04/06/09.
HIV/AIDS-Related Uses
Apricitabine is a deoxycytidine analogue entering Phase IIIstudies for the treatment of HIV infection. It is being studied as a first choice, second regimen drug for the treatment of HIV infection in people who have failed treatment with lamivudine. ATC successfully completed the primary endpoint of a Phase IIb trial in drug-resistant HIV patients with the M184V mutation and showed a greater reduction in the amount of HIV in viral load . than any other NRTI in development. Apricitabine received fast-track approval status from the FDA. [1] [2]
References
[1] Avexa Limited Projects: HIV-AVX754. Available at: http://www.avexa.com.au/projects/hiv/avx754. Accessed 04/06/09.
[2] ClinicalTrials.gov AVX754 (a New Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitor) to Treat Drug-Resistant HIV. Available at: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct/show/NCT00126880. Accessed 04/06/09.
Dosing Information
Mode of Delivery
Oral. [1]
Dosage Form
Apricitabine is manufactured in capsule form. [2] Apricitabine has been studied at doses of 200, 400, 600, and 800 mg twice daily and at doses of 800, 1,200, and 1,600 mg once daily. [3] [4] No apparent differences have been seen between daily and twice daily dosing schedules. The twice daily dosing schedule provides adequate and sustained intracellular accumulation and has been chosen as the primary schedule for continued study; once daily dosing may be determined in later trials. [5]
References
[1] Conf Retroviruses Opportunistic Infect 11th, 2004. Abstract 599.
[2] Conf Retroviruses Opportunistic Infect 11th, 2004. Abstract 599.
[3] Conf Retroviruses Opportunistic Infect 11th, 2004. Abstract 599.
[4] Conf Retroviruses Opportunistic Infect 11th, 2004. Abstract 526.
[5] Conf Retroviruses Opportunistic Infect 11th, 2004. Abstract 599.
Pharmacology
Apricitabine selectively inhibits the HIV replication enzyme reverse transcriptase (RT) in the same manner as traditional NRTIs. Apricitabine is the negative enantiomer of a failed investigational racemic mixture NRTI and appears to retain pharmacodynamic activity with reduced toxicity. The drug does not convert to the positive enantiomer or racemic mixture in vivo. [1] [2] [3]
Apricitabine must be metabolized intracellularly to its triphosphate form, apricitabine-TP, to exhibit antiviral activity. Intracellular concentrations of the active triphosphate are proportional to plasma concentrations of apricitabine. Apricitabine-TP accumulates intracellularly with twice-daily dosing, has a half-life of 6 to 7 hours, and achieves maximum plasma concentrations (Cmax) at approximately 4 hours post dose. [4] In Phase I studies, oral bioavailability of AVX754 was 65% to 80% with 1,600 mg to 400 mg single doses, respectively. Apricitabine is rapidly absorbed. [5] The time to Cmax ranged from 1.5 to 1.7 hours and was unaffected by dose or gender. Plasma protein binding of apricitabine is less than 4%. [6] The drug appears to penetrate the cerebrospinal fluid. Apricitabine exhibits linear pharmacokinetics following administration of single and multiple doses. Apricitabine is renally eliminated by glomerular filtration and active tubular secretion in the kidney. [7] [8] Elimination is unaffected by gender. Most of the parent drug is excreted within the first 8 hours. [9] [10] Apricitabine and its active triphosphate metabolite do not appear to inhibit or induce any of the major cytochrome P (CYP) 450 isozymes, including CYP1A2, 2A6, 2C9, 2D6, and 3A4. [11]
A pharmacokinetic study compared single and multiple doses of apricitabine 800 mg in 39 HIV uninfected and in 18 healthy participants. In addition, pharmacokinetics of the active triphosphate, apricitabine -TP, were compared in 9 HIV infected and 21 healthy participants who received apricitabine 600 mg twice daily for 8 or 4 days, respectively. Pharmacokinetics of apricitabine appear similar in HIV uninfected and healthy groups. After a single 800 mg dose, the maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) was 7.9 mcg/ml in healthy participants and 7.2 mcg/ml in HIV infected participants. The area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) was similar between the groups as well at 44.9 mg h/l and 39.5 mg h/l, respectively. After 8 days of apricitabine 800 mg once daily administration, Cmax was 8.4 mcg/ml and 9.7 mcg/ml in healthy and HIV infected groups, respectively; AUC was 41.8 mg h/l and 38.1 mg h/l, respectively. Apricitabine-TP Cmax after 8 days in HIV infected participants was twofold higher than Cmax observed after 4 days in healthy participants. [12]
In a 10-day study of apricitabine in antiretroviral-naive, HIV infected adults, single apricitabine doses of 400, 800, 1,200, and 1,600 mg were evaluated. Viral load decreased significantly at 1 week across all doses: approximately 90% with 400 mg; nearly 95% with 800 mg; nearly 97% with 1,200 mg; and 95% with 1,600 mg. After 10 days of daily apricitabine treatment, viral load reductions of nearly 98% with 1,200 mg and 1,600 mg were significantly greater than the approximately 90% reduction seen with 400 mg. No CD4 count changes were observed. [13]
A Phase IIb dose-ranging trial in treatment-experienced HIV infected patients is ongoing to determine apricitabine activity in patients with HIV strains resistant to lamivudine and that have the M184V mutation. Responses to doses will be compared to each other and to lamivudine for 21 days and 24 weeks. [14]
Resistance to apricitabine develops slowly compared with other NRTIs such as lamivudine and is associated with the K65R, V75I, and M184V mutations. Apricitabine is active against zidovudine- and lamivudine-resistant viruses. [15] The presence of five thymidine analogue mutations (TAMs) resulted in a less than twofold median change in apricitabine activity. No new resistance-conferring mutations emerged after 10 days of monotherapy; patients with baseline nucleoside analogue mutations showed promising decreases in viral load. [16]
References
[1] Conf Retroviruses Opportunistic Infect 11th, 2004. Abstract 527.
[2] IAS Conf on HIV Pathogenesis and Treatment 2nd, 2003. Abstract 528.
[3] Avexa Limited Research and Development-AVX754: Antiviral for the Treatment of Drug-Resistant HIV. Available at: http://www.avexa.com.au. Accessed 04/06/09.
[4] Conf Retroviruses Opportunistic Infect 11th, 2004. Abstract 599.
[5] International AIDS Conf 16th, 2006. Abstract TUPE0077.
[6] International AIDS Conf 16th, 2006. Abstract CDB0446.
[7] J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2006;319:914-7
[8] International AIDS Conf 16th, 2006. Abstract CDB0446.
[9] IAS Conf on HIV Pathogenesis and Treatment 2nd. 2003. Abstract 528.
[10] Conf Retroviruses Opportunistic Infect 11th, 2004. Abstract 599.
[11] International AIDS Conf 16th, 2006. Abstract CDB0446.
[12] International AIDS Conf 16th, 2006. Abstract TUPE0077.
[13] AIDS 2006;20(9):1261-8
[14] ClinicalTrials.gov AVX754 (a New Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitor) to Treat Drug-Resistant HIV. Available at: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct/show/NCT00126880. Accessed 04/06/09.
[15] ClinicalTrials.gov AVX754 (a New Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitor) to Treat Drug-Resistant HIV. Available at: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct/show/NCT00126880. Accessed 04/06/09.
[16] International AIDS Conf 15th, 2004. Absract WePeA5642.
Adverse Events/Toxicity
Unlike its racemic mixture predecessor BCH-10652, apricitabine showed little sign of mitochondrial toxicity in an early safety study in monkeys. After 52 weeks of 100 mg/kg/day treatment with apricitabine, mild but reversible hyperpigmentation, gastrointestinal effects, and minimal red blood cell count changes were observed. No bone marrow or mitochondrial abnormalities occurred in the liver, heart, or skeletal muscle. [1] [2] Apricitabine is not mutagenic. [3] No evidence of mitochondrial toxicity has been observed in vitro at concentrations 30 times greater than Cmax. [4]
In a 10-day, dose-ranging study of apricitabine monotherapy in 63 antiretroviral-naive, HIV infected patients, apricitabine was well tolerated at all doses. No serious adverse events were reported, and no treatment required discontinuation. Headache was the most commonly reported adverse event in patients taking apricitabine (42% of study participants), but headache frequency was similar to that of the placebo group. Nasal congestion appeared slightly more common with apricitabine than with placebo. Myalgia was reported by 10% of patients receiving apricitabine, but the relationship between myalgia and apricitabine is unclear. Low-level lipase changes similar to those in the placebo group and six cases of increased serum lipase that appeared unrelated to apricitabine were reported. Otherwise, no clinically significant laboratory changes were reported. [5] [6]
References
[1] Avexa Limited Research and Development-AVX754: Antiviral for the Treatment of Drug-Resistant HIV. Available at: http://www.avexa.com.au. Accessed 04/06/09.
[2] Conf Retroviruses Opportunistic Infect 11th, 2004. Abstract 527.
[3] Avexa Limited Projects: HIV-AVX754. Available at: http://www.avexa.com.au/projects/hiv/avx754. Accessed 04/06/09.
[4] International AIDS Conf 15th, 2004. Abstract WePeA5642.
[5] AIDS 2006;20:1261-8
[6] Natap.org HIV Articles: Efficacy and Tolerability of 10-day Monotherapy with SPD574 (apricitabine) in Antiretroviral-Naive, HIV-Infected Patients. Available at: http://www.natap.org/2006/HIV/081106_07.htm. Accessed 04/06/09.
Drug and Food Interactions
Apricitabine bioavailability appears unaffected by food. [1]
Apricitabine displayed additive to synergistic antiviral activity in vitro against wild-type HIV-1 when combined with a range of antiretrovirals. [2] Specifically, apricitabine and lamivudine had additive antiviral activity by sharing a common anabolic pathway. In a Phase I study that combined apricitabine and lamivudine, lamivudine reduced intracellular AVX754-TP concentrations in a dose-dependent manner by four- to sixfold relative to the apricitabine-TP concentration alone. Apricitabine had no effect on lamivudine or lamivudine-triphosphate concentrations. [3] [4]
The effect of trimethoprim on apricitabine excretion was studied in isolated perfused rat kidney because trimethoprim inhibits the excretion of lamivudine, which is structurally similar to apricitabine. Trimethoprim inhibited the excretion of apricitabine and its metabolite BCH-335. Because renal excretion of apricitabine and lamivudine are inhibited by trimethoprim to similar extents, exposure of apricitabine would also be expected to increase in the presence of therapeutic concentrations of trimethoprim. [5]
Because apricitabine does not induce or inhibit any of the major CYP450 isozymes, there is a low potential for interaction with drugs that undergo hepatic CYP metabolism. [6]
A Phase I study in 18 healthy participants compared apricitabine monotherapy versus apricitabine combined with tipranavir. Tipranavir significantly reduces the plasma levels of some NRTIs, such as zidovudine and abacavir. However, no reduction in apricitabine plasma levels occurred with concomitant tipranavir. [7]
Coadministration of lamivudine and apricitabine to HIV infected cells in vitro decreased the conversion of apricitabine to its triphosphate, but apricitabine did not affect lamivudine phosphorylation. [8]
References
[1] International Conference for Antiretroviral Research Avexa report. Available at: http://m114.phrm.cf.ac.uk/isar/node/11. Accessed 04/06/09.
[2] International AIDS Conf 15th, 2004. Abstract WePeA5642.
[3] International AIDS Conf 15th, 2004. Abstract TuPeB4625.
[4] Conf Retroviruses Opportunistic Infect 11th, 2004. Abstract 138.
[5] J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2006;319:941-7
[6] International AIDS Conf 16th, 2006. Abstract CDB0446.
[7] Avexa Limited News: Press Releases 2007-Avexa's Phase I trial shows ATC has potential for combination therapy with Tipranavir [press release], January 8, 2007. Available at: http://www.avexa.com.au/freestyler/files/ASX%20Release%20-%20ATC%20has%20potential%20for%20combination%20therapy%20with%20tipranavir.pdf. Accessed 04/06/09.
[8] International Conference for Antiretroviral Research Avexa report. Available at: http://m114.phrm.cf.ac.uk/isar/node/11. Accessed 04/06/09.
Clinical Trials
Click here to search ClinicalTrials.gov for trials that use Apriticabina.
Chemistry
CAS Name
2(1H)-Pyrimidinone, 4-amino-1-((2R,4R)-2-(hydroxymethyl)-1,3-oxathiolan-4-yl)- [1]
CAS Number
160707-69-7 [2]
Molecular Formula
C8-H11-N3-O3-S
Elemental Composition
C45%, H5%, N20%, O22%, S8%
Molecular Weight
215.0
References
[1] ChemIDplus Available at: http://chem.sis.nlm.nih.gov/chemidplus/chemidlite.jsp. Accessed 04/06/09.
[2] ChemIDplus Available at: http://chem.sis.nlm.nih.gov/chemidplus/chemidlite.jsp. Accessed 04/06/09.
Further Reading
A Phase II, Randomised, Double-Blind, Dose-Ranging Study of AVX754 Versus Lamivudine in Treatment-Experienced HIV-1 Infected Patients With the M184V Mutation in Reverse Transcriptase. Available at: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct/show/NCT00126880. Accessed 04/06/09.
Bethdeel et al. In vitro activity of SPD754, a new deoxycytidine nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI), against 215 HIV-1 isolates resistant to other NRTIs. Antivir Chem Chemother. 2005;16(5):295-302.
Cahn P, Cassetti I, Wood R, Phanuphak P, Shiveley L, Bethell RC, Sawyer J. Efficacy and tolerability of 10-day monotherapy with apricitabine in antiretroviral-naive, HIV-infected patients. AIDS 2006;20(9):1261-1268.
Otto MJ. New nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors for the treatment of HIV infections. Curr Opin Pharmacol. 2004 Oct;4(5):431-6.
Tomoko Nakatani-Freshwater, Mariana Babayeva, Aruna Dontabhaktuni, and David R. Taft Effects of Trimethoprim on the Clearance of Apricitabine, a Deoxycytidine Analog Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitor, and Lamivudine in the Isolated Perfused Rat Kidney. J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. 2006;319: 941-947.
Manufacturer Information
Apricitabine
Avexa Limited
576 Swan Street
Richmond Victoria,
Australia
Last Updated: April 6, 2009