Buffering of transcription rate by mRNA half-life is a conserved feature of Rett syndrome models

Transcriptional changes in Rett syndrome (RTT) are assumed to directly correlate with steady-state mRNA levels, but limited evidence in mice suggests that changes in transcription can be compensated by post-transcriptional regulation. We measure transcription rate and mRNA half-life changes in RTT patient neurons using RATEseq, and re-interpret nuclear and whole-cell RNAseq from Mecp2 mice. Genes are dysregulated by changing transcription rate or half-life and are buffered when both change. We utilized classifier models to predict the direction of transcription rate changes and find that combined frequencies of three dinucleotides are better predictors than CA and CG. MicroRNA and RNA-binding Protein (RBP) motifs are enriched in 3'UTRs of genes with half-life changes. Nuclear RBP motifs are enriched on buffered genes with increased transcription rate. We identify post-transcriptional mechanisms in humans and mice that alter half-life or buffer transcription rate changes when a transcriptional modulator gene is mutated in a neurodevelopmental disorder.

Pharmacokinetic characteristics of golidocitinib, a highly selective JAK1 inhibitor, in healthy adult participants

Background

Golidocitinib is an orally available, potent and highly selective JAK (Janus kinase)-1 inhibitor of JAK/STAT3 signaling under clinical development for the treatment of cancer and autoimmune diseases. The objectives of the two reported studies were to investigate the pharmacokinetics (PK), safety, and tolerability of golidocitinib in healthy Chinese participants as compared to those healthy Western participants, as well as the food effect exploration.

Methods

Two phase I studies (JACKPOT2 and JACKPOT3) were conducted in USA and China, respectively. In JACKPOT2 study, participants were randomized into placebo or golidocitinib arm in single-ascending dose cohorts (5 - 150 mg) and multiple-ascending dose cohorts (25 - 100 mg, once daily) for 14 days. In the food effect cohort, golidocitinib (50 mg) was administrated shortly after a high-fat meal (fed conditions) as compared to under fasting conditions. In JACKPOT3 study conducted in China, participants were randomized to placebo or golidocitinib arm in single-ascending dose cohorts (25 - 150 mg).

Results

Exposure of golidocitinib generally increased in a dose-proportional manner across a dose range of 5 mg to 150 mg (single dose) and 25 mg to 100 mg (once daily). High-fat food did not alter the PK of golidocitinib with statistical significance. Low plasma clearance and extensive volume of distribution characterizes PK of golidoctinib, and long half-life across the dose levels supported once daily dosing. The inter-ethnic difference in primary PK parameters was evaluated. The result suggested slightly higher peak plasma concentrations (Cmax) but comparable area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) was observed in Asian (Chinese) subjects as compared to Caucasian and/or Black subjects, while it was not considered clinically relevant. Golidocitinib was well tolerated without Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) grade 3 or higher drug-related treatment emergent adverse events (TEAE) reported.

Conclusion

No noticeable inter-ethnic difference was observed among Asian, Black, and Caucasian healthy subjects in anticipation of the favorable PK properties of golidocitinib. The effect of food on the bioavailability of golidocitinib was minor following a single oral administration of 50 mg. These data guided to use the same dose and regimen for multinational clinical development.

Clinical trial registrations

https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03728023?term=NCT03728023&draw=2&rank=1, identifier (NCT03728023); http://www.chinadrugtrials.org.cn/clinicaltrials.searchlistdetail.dhtml, identifier (CTR20191011).

Dissipation kinetics, risk assessment, and waiting period of spiromesifen on chili fruits using gas chromatography-electron capture detector

A supervised field trial was designed in Rajasthan Agricultural Research Institute, Durgapura, Jaipur, Rajasthan, to assess the dissipation and persistence of spiromesifen in chili fruits. Spiromesifen (22.9% suspension concentrate) was sprayed two times at an interval of 10 days at the recommended dose (96 g. a.i. ha^-1 ) and double the recommended dose (192 g. a.i. ha^-1 ) with four replications. Sampling was done according to the planned interval of days after the second spray. Extraction and cleanup were performed using the modified QuEChERS (quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe) method and the spiromesifen residue was analyzed by GC-electron capture detector and confirmation performed using GC-MS. The average initial deposit of spiromesifen was 1.207 mg kg^-1 and 1.948 mg kg^-1 at the recommended and double the recommended dose, respectively. The half-life values of spiromesifen ranged between 2.7 and 3.2 days at the recommended and double the recommended dose. The safe waiting period was calculated for the respective doses and it was concluded that an average of 7 days is safe for picking. The FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) have set the maximum residue limit of 0.1 mg kg^-1 for spiromesifen in green chili. The theoretical maximum residue contribution value of spiromesifen was lower than the maximum permissible intake at both the applications on the 0th day. Hence, there will be no adverse effects on human health after consumption of green chilies.

Limited sampling strategies for individualized BAX 855 prophylaxis in severe hemophilia A: in silico evaluation

OBJECTIVE

Limited sampling strategies (LSS) lower the burden of pharmacokinetic (PK)-guided dosing, but an extensive evaluation of LSS for BAX 855 (Adynovi) is currently lacking. This study aimed to develop a LSS for BAX 855 and combine this with a LSS of a standard half-life (SHL) factor VIII (FVIII) concentrate in a clinical setting.

METHODS

Individual PK parameters of BAX 855 were estimated for 10 000 virtual patients with severe hemophilia A using Monte Carlo simulations. Several LSS consisting of 2-6 samples were examined based on patient burden, bias and accuracy of clearance, elimination half-life, volume of distribution and trough levels at 72 h (C72). Analyses were performed separately for adults and children <12 years.

RESULTS

The preferred LSS for BAX 855 consisted of three sampling points at 15-30 min, 48 h and 72 h for both adults (mean accuracy C72: 14.0% vs. 10.8% using six samples) and children (mean accuracy C72: 14.9% vs. 11.4% using six samples). The best strategy with two samples (peak, 48 h) resulted in an adequate, but lower accuracy than strategies with ≥3 samples (mean accuracy C72: 22.3%). The optimal combination of the LSS of SHL FVIII and BAX 855 led to six samples during four clinical visits.

CONCLUSION

This in silico study has identified that two to three samples are necessary to estimate the individual PK of BAX-855 adequately. These samples can be collected in one or two clinical visits. When combining PK profiling of SHL FVIII and BAX 855, six samples during four clinical visits are needed.

Generation and characterization of QLS22001, a humanized monoclonal antibody that neutralizes IL-17A and IL-17F with an extended half-life

Therapeutic intervention to block IL-17A signaling has proven to be an effective treatment for numerous autoimmune diseases, including psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, and axial spondylarthritis. Among the IL-17 family members, IL-17F, which shares 55% sequence homology with IL-17A, has been reported to functionally overlap with IL-17A in many inflammatory diseases. In this study, we describe the generation and characterization of QLS22001, a humanized monoclonal IgG1 antibody with an extended half-life and high affinity for both IL-17A and IL-17F. QLS22001 effectively blocks IL-17A and IL-17F mediated signaling pathways both in vitro and in vivo. Briefly, the YTE (M225Y/S254T/T256E) modification was introduced into the Fc fragment of QLS22001 WT Fc to prolong its half-life, and the resulting construct was named QLS22001. Functionally, it significantly inhibits IL-17A- and IL-17F-stimulated signaling in cell-based IL-6 release and reporter assays. The dual neutralization of the endogenous IL-17A and IL-17F produced by Th17 cells, as opposed to the selective blockade of IL-17A alone, results in a greater suppression of inflammatory cytokine secretion, according to in vitro blockade assays. Furthermore, in an in vivo mouse pharmacodynamic study, QLS22001 blocked human IL-17A-induced mouse keratinocyte chemoattractant (KC) release. In cynomolgus monkey pharmacokinetics evaluation, QLS22001 showed linear pharmacokinetic characteristics with a mean half-life of 31.2 days, while its parent antibody, QLS22001 WT Fc, had a mean half-life of 17.2 days. In addition, QLS22001 does not induce cytokine release in a human whole-blood assay. Collectively, these data provide a comprehensive preclinical characterization of QLS22001 and support its clinical development.

Molecular determinants of protein half-life in chloroplasts with focus on the Clp protease system

Proteolysis is an essential process to maintain cellular homeostasis. One pathway that mediates selective protein degradation and which is in principle conserved throughout the kingdoms of life is the N-degron pathway, formerly called the ‘N-end rule’. In the cytosol of eukaryotes and prokaryotes, N-terminal residues can be major determinants of protein stability. While the eukaryotic N-degron pathway depends on the ubiquitin proteasome system, the prokaryotic counterpart is driven by the Clp protease system. Plant chloroplasts also contain such a protease network, which suggests that they might harbor an organelle specific N-degron pathway similar to the prokaryotic one. Recent discoveries indicate that the N-terminal region of proteins affects their stability in chloroplasts and provides support for a Clp-mediated entry point in an N-degron pathway in plastids. This review discusses structure, function and specificity of the chloroplast Clp system, outlines experimental approaches to test for an N-degron pathway in chloroplasts, relates these aspects into general plastid proteostasis and highlights the importance of an understanding of plastid protein turnover.

Successful Multidisciplinary Management of Aortic Valve Repair in Severe Hemophilia B with Extended Half-Life Recombinant Factor IX Concentrate

Successful management of surgery in severe coagulation disorders depends on adequate replacement of the deficient factors from intervention until wound healing. Extended half-life (EHL) recombinant factor IX (rFIX) has been increasingly used in hemophilia B (HB) patients. Monitoring of blood levels of EHL rFIX allows to obtain pharmacokinetic (PK) parameters in order to optimize and personalize therapeutic scheme. We describe a case of a young male with severe HB who successfully underwent aortic valve repair. This is the first reported open-heart surgery in a patient with severe HB using EHL rFIX. The success was based on accurate PK evaluation and on meticulous preoperative planning and close cooperation among surgeons, hemophilia specialists, and laboratory team despite the long distance between hemophilia center and surgical clinic.

The von Willebrand factor-binding aptamer rondaptivon pegol as a treatment for severe and nonsevere hemophilia A

Factor VIII (FVIII) circulates in a noncovalent complex with von Willebrand Factor (VWF), the latter determining FVIII half-life. The VWF-binding aptamer rondaptivon pegol (BT200) increases plasma levels of VWF/FVIII in healthy volunteers. This trial assessed its safety, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics in hemophilia A. Nineteen adult patients (ages 20-62 years, 4 women) with hemophilia A (8 mild, 2 moderate, and 9 severe) received subcutaneous injections of rondaptivon pegol. After an initial fixed dose of 3 mg on days 0 and 4, patients received weekly doses of 2 to 9 mg until day 28. Severe hemophilia A patients underwent sparse-sampling population pharmacokinetics individual profiling after the final dose of rondaptivon pegol. Adverse events, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics were assessed. FVIII activity and VWF levels were measured. All patients tolerated rondaptivon pegol well. The geometric mean half-life of rondaptivon pegol was 5.4 days and rondaptivon pegol significantly increased VWF levels. In severe hemophilia A, 6 doses of rondaptivon pegol increased the half-lives of 5 different FVIII products from a median of 10.4 hours to 31.1 hours (range, 20.8-56.0 hours). Median FVIII increased from 22% to 48% in mild hemophilia A and from 3% to 7.5% in moderate hemophilia A. Rondaptivon pegol is a first-in-class prohemostatic molecule that extended the half-life of substituted FVIII approximately 3-fold and increased endogenous FVIII levels approximately 2-fold in hemophilia patients. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT04677803.

Hemorrhagic and thrombotic adverse events associated with emicizumab and extended half-life factor VIII replacement drugs: EudraVigilance data of 2021

BACKGROUND

Safety concerns for an increased risk of thrombotic complications in patients with hemophilia A have been pointed out, particularly during nonreplacement treatment with emicizumab and concomitant bypassing agents. Surveillance with the Roche Global Database reporting adverse events for emicizumab has been discontinued on May 2021.

OBJECTIVES

The objective of this study was to evaluate the reporting rate of hemorrhagic and thrombotic adverse drug reactions (ADRs) associated with nonreplacement (emicizumab) and replacement extended half-life (EHL) factor VIII (FVIII) products as retrieved from the EudraVigilance database.

METHODS

Total ADR reported during treatment with emicizumab or EHL FVIII products from January 1 to December 31, 2021, were collected. The proportional reporting ratio and the reporting odds ratio (ROR) with their 95% CIs were calculated to express the hemorrhagic and thrombotic ADR reporting frequency ratio between emicizumab and EHL FVIII products.

RESULTS

Overall, 406 and 376 ADRs were reported for emicizumab and for EHL FVIII products, respectively. Hemorrhagic and thrombotic ADRs were 232 and 24 for emicizumab and 275 and 9 for the EHL FVIII products. Approximately 25% of thrombotic ADRs were reported concomitantly with eptacog alfa. ROR of 0.49 (95% CI, 0.36-0.66) for hemorrhagic and of 2.56 (95% CI, 1.18-5.59) for thrombotic ADRs were obtained for emicizumab compared with EHL FVIII products.

CONCLUSION

The analysis of 2021 EudraVigilance reports shows a lower reporting rate of hemorrhagic ADR vs a higher reporting rate of thrombotic ADR for emicizumab than for EHL FVIII products. These signals stress the importance of monitoring novel drugs in hemophilia, particularly when administered in association with bypassing agents.

Hemophilia treatment innovation: 50 years of progress and more to come

With the goal of emphasizing the striking advances that materialized in hemophilia care particularly in the last 10 years, the progress of knowledge that started from the 1970s will first be sketched as background. Subsequently, the unmet needs pertaining to therapeutic adherence and thus to prophylaxis effectiveness led to the availability of factor VIII and IX products with an extended plasma half-life as well as to emicizumab, the first nonfactor medicine for subcutaneous administration in patients with hemophilia A with or without inhibitor. The issue of a still lacking cure for the disease is approached by means of gene therapy, the first products of which were approved in 2022 for adults with both hemophilia types. Finally, views will be offered on further progress that is expected in the next few years and how patients and their care providers may make personalized choices among the wide array of therapeutic options.

A Pharmacokinetic, Safety, and Tolerability Trial of Palovarotene in Healthy Japanese and Non-Japanese Participants

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Palovarotene is an oral, selective retinoic acid receptor gamma agonist under investigation for fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP). Palovarotene is primarily metabolized by cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A4. Differences in CYP-mediated metabolism of CYP substrates have been observed between Japanese and non-Japanese individuals. This phase I trial (NCT04829786) compared the pharmacokinetic profile of palovarotene in healthy Japanese and non-Japanese participants and evaluated the safety of single doses.

METHODS

Healthy Japanese and non-Japanese participants were matched individually (1:1) and randomized to receive a single oral dose of palovarotene 5 or 10 mg, followed by the alternate dose after a 5-day washout period. Maximum plasma drug concentration (Cmax) and area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) were assessed. Estimates of the geometric mean difference between dose and Japanese and non-Japanese groups were calculated for natural log-transformed Cmax and AUC parameters. Adverse events (AEs), serious AEs, and treatment-emergent AEs were recorded.

RESULTS

Eight pairs of matched non-Japanese and Japanese individuals and two unmatched Japanese individuals participated. Mean plasma concentration-time profiles were similar between the two cohorts at both dose levels, demonstrating that palovarotene absorption and elimination are similar irrespective of dose level. The pharmacokinetic parameters of palovarotene were similar between groups at both dose levels. Cmax and AUC values were dose-proportional between doses in each group. Palovarotene was well tolerated; there were no deaths or AEs leading to treatment discontinuation.

CONCLUSIONS

Japanese and non-Japanese groups had similar pharmacokinetic profiles, indicating that palovarotene dose adjustments are not necessary for Japanese patients with FOP.

Two-Year Outcomes of Valoctocogene Roxaparvovec Therapy for Hemophilia A

BACKGROUND

Valoctocogene roxaparvovec delivers a B-domain-deleted factor VIII coding sequence with an adeno-associated virus vector to prevent bleeding in persons with severe hemophilia A. The findings of a phase 3 study of the efficacy and safety of valoctocogene roxaparvovec therapy evaluated after 52 weeks in men with severe hemophilia A have been published previously.

METHODS

We conducted an open-label, single-group, multicenter, phase 3 trial in which 134 men with severe hemophilia A who were receiving factor VIII prophylaxis received a single infusion of 6×10¹³ vector genomes of valoctocogene roxaparvovec per kilogram of body weight. The primary end point was the change from baseline in the annualized rate of treated bleeding events at week 104 after receipt of the infusion. The pharmacokinetics of valoctocogene roxaparvovec were modeled to estimate the bleeding risk relative to the activity of transgene-derived factor VIII.

RESULTS

At week 104, a total of 132 participants, including 112 with data that were prospectively collected at baseline, remained in the study. The mean annualized treated bleeding rate decreased by 84.5% from baseline (P<0.001) among the participants. From week 76 onward, the trajectory of the transgene-derived factor VIII activity showed first-order elimination kinetics; the model-estimated typical half-life of the transgene-derived factor VIII production system was 123 weeks (95% confidence interval, 84 to 232). The risk of joint bleeding was estimated among the trial participants; at a transgene-derived factor VIII level of 5 IU per deciliter measured with chromogenic assay, we expected that participants would have 1.0 episode of joint bleeding per year. At 2 years postinfusion, no new safety signals had emerged and no new serious adverse events related to treatment had occurred.

CONCLUSIONS

The study data show the durability of factor VIII activity and bleeding reduction and the safety profile of valoctocogene roxaparvovec at least 2 years after the gene transfer. Models of the risk of joint bleeding suggest that the relationship between transgene-derived factor VIII activity and bleeding episodes is similar to that reported with the use of epidemiologic data for persons with mild-to-moderate hemophilia A. (Funded by BioMarin Pharmaceutical; GENEr8-1 ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT03370913.).

Effect of microorganisms on degradation of fluopyram and tebuconazole in laboratory and field studies

Nowadays, chemical pesticides are the most widespread measure used to control crop pests and diseases. However, their negative side effects prompted the researchers to search for alternative options that were safer for the environment and people. Pesticide biodegradation by microorganisms seems to be the most reasonable alternative. The aim of the laboratory studies was to assess the influence of Bacillus subtilis and Trichoderma harzianum, used separately and combined together, on fluopyram and tebuconazole degradation. In field studies, the degradation of fluopyram and tebuconazole after the application of the biological preparation in apples was investigated. The results from the laboratory studies show that the greatest decomposition of fluopyram and tebuconazole was observed in tests with T. harzianum in a range of 74.3-81.5% and 44.5-49.2%, respectively. The effectiveness of fluopyram degradation by B. subtilis was 7.5%, while tebuconazole inhibited bacterial cell growth and no degradation was observed. The mixture of microorganisms affected the degradation of fluopyram in a range of 8.3-24.1% and tebuconazole in a range of 6.1-23.3%. The results from the field studies show that degradation increased from 3.1 to 30.8% for fluopyram and from 0.4 to 14.3% for tebuconazole when compared to control samples. The first-order kinetics models were used to simulate the residue dissipation in apples. For the determination of pesticide residues, the QuEChERS method for apple sample preparation was performed, followed by GC-MS/MS technique. Immediately after the treatments, the maximum residue level (MRL) values for tebuconazole were exceeded, and it was equal to 100.7% MRL for the Red Jonaprince variety and 132.3% MRL for the Gala variety. Thus, preharvest time is recommended to obtain apples in which the concentration of pesticides is below the MRL and which can be recognized as safe for humans.

Analytical method development, validation and study on behaviour of ipfencarbazone in paddy (rice)

Supervised field trial was conducted to study persistence of a pre-emergent herbicide, ipfencarbazone (25% SC) on rice crop. Single application of two different doses, 156.25 g a.i.ha^-1/625 mL formulationha^-1 and 312.50 g a.i.ha^-1/1250 mL formulationha^-1, was applied. Method was validated to analyse ipfencarbazone in rice samples (leaf/plant, grain, straw and husk) and in soil. Initial accumulation of ipfencarbazone in rice plants was 6.72 and 14.71 mg kg^-1 in standard and double dose, respectively. The residues decreased linearly with r² values of 0.92 and 0.98 in different doses and reached below limit of quantitation (LOQ) of 0.01 μg kg^-1 (for rice plant/leaf) and 0.05 μg kg^-1 (for rice grain, husk, straw) on 30th and 97th (harvest) day respectively after application in both the doses. An average half-life of ipfencarbazone was approximately 4 days. Less than LOQ levels at harvest and short half-life suggest that the use of ipfencarbazone is safe, provided good agricultural practices (GAP) are followed. The data can be used by regulatory authorities like Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and CODEX for establishing maximum residue limits (MRLs) of ipfencarbazone.

Low-pressure ozone injection system: relationship between reaction kinetics and physical properties of grains

BACKGROUND

The ozonation of grains in a closed system at low pressure is a strategy with the potential for treating packaged products. Research is necessary to characterize the reaction kinetics of ozone in this type of injection system so that it is possible to design chambers and determine the ozone concentrations suitable for commercial-scale applications. The objective of this study was therefore to characterize the low-pressure ozone injection system in relation to the physical properties of the grains and determine possible changes in their quality. Samples (5 kg each) of common beans, cowpea beans, corn, popcorn kernels, paddy rice, and polished rice were exposed to ozone in a 70 L hypobaric chamber. Initially, the internal pressure of the chamber was reduced to 500 hPa. Then, ozone was injected at a concentration of 32.10 g m^-3 at a volumetric flow rate of 1 L min^-1 until reaching a pressure of 1000 hPa. To relate the decomposition of ozone to the grains that were being evaluated, different physical properties were determined, and quality analysis was conducted.

RESULTS

Ozone gas half-life outside and inside the package depended on the grain type. Ozone decomposition was quickest in polished rice and slowest in common beans. The half-life of the different grains ranged from 17.8 to 52.9 and 16.4 to 52.9 min, outside and inside the package, respectively. Considering the physical properties, specific surface (Ss), surface area (SA), and sphericity (φ) exhibited a significant correlation with the decomposition rate constant (k) of ozone. However, the variables volume (V), permeability (K), porosity (ε), and specific mass (ρ) showed no correlation with k.

CONCLUSION

The physical properties of grain influenced the reaction kinetics of ozone gas during the low-pressure injection process. Ozone gas injection at low pressures did not alter the quality attributes of the grains under study. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

First-in-Human Studies of Pharmacokinetics and Safety of Utreloxastat (PTC857), a Novel 15-Lipooxygenase Inhibitor for the Treatment of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Utreloxastat (PTC857) is a 15-lipoxygenase inhibitor being developed to treat amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. This first-in-human study investigated the safety and pharmacokinetics of utreloxastat in healthy volunteers (N = 82) in a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. The effects of a single ascending dose (100-1000 mg), multiple ascending doses (150-500 mg), and food (500 mg) on the pharmacokinetics and safety of utreloxastat were evaluated. Following single doses, the time to maximum plasma concentration (C_max ) was observed ≈4 hours after dosing and the terminal half-life ranged from 20 to 25.3 hours. The C_max and area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) increased slightly over dose proportionally. Following multiple doses (once daily/twice daily), the apparent clearance reduced and terminal half-life was ≥33 hours. There was no apparent difference of exposure following morning or evening doses. Varying diets increased the C_max and AUCs of utreloxastat but did not alter time to C_max . There were no gender-based differences in exposure. Utreloxastat showed no marked safety signal following single doses up to 1000 mg and multiple doses over 14 days of 500 mg once daily or 250 mg twice daily. The results support further development of utreloxastat for the treatment of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis at a 250-mg twice-daily dose administered with food.

Evaluation of temperature corrections for pesticide half-lives in tropical and temperate soils

Temperature is a key factor that influences pesticide degradation. Extrapolating degradation half-lives (DT50) measured at a given temperature to different temperatures remains challenging, especially for tropical conditions with high temperatures. In this study, the use of the standard Arrhenius equation for correcting temperature effects on pesticide degradation in soils was evaluated and its performance was compared with that of alternative Arrhenius-based equations. To do so, a database of 509 DT50 values measured between 5 and 35 °C for 32 pesticides on tropical and temperate soils was compiled for the first time through an extensive literature search. The temperature correction models were fitted to the database using linear mixed regression approaches that included soil type and compound effects. No difference in the temperature dependence of DT50 between tropical and temperate soils was detected, regardless of the model. A comparison of the prediction performances of the models showed that constant activation energy (E_a) cannot be considered valid for the whole range of temperatures. The classical Arrhenius equation with an E_a of 65.4 kJ.mol^-1, as recommended by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), was shown to be valid for correcting the DT50 only for temperatures ranging from 5 to 20 °C. However, for temperatures greater than 20 °C, which are common in tropical environments, the median E_a was significantly lower at 10.3 kJ.mol^-1. These findings suggest the need to adapt the standard temperature correction of the European pesticide risk assessment temperature procedure when it is applied in tropical settings.

Biodegradation half-lives of biodiesel fuels in aquatic and terrestrial systems: A review

Information on biodegradation kinetics of biodiesel fuels is a key aspect in risk and impact assessment practice and in selection of appropriate remediation strategies. Unfortunately, this information is scattered, while factors influencing variability in biodegradation rates are still not fully understood. Therefore, we systematically reviewed 32 scientific literature sources providing 142 biodegradation and 56 mineralization half-lives of diesel and biodiesel fuels in various experimental systems. The analysis focused on the variability in half-lives across fuels and experimental conditions, reporting sets of averaged half-life values and their statistical uncertainty. Across all data points, biodegradation half-lives ranged from 9 to 62 days, and were 2-5.5 times shorter than mineralization half-lives. Across all fuels, biodegradation and mineralization half-lives were 2.5-8.5 times longer in terrestrial systems when compared to aquatic systems. The half-lives were generally shorter for blends with increasing biodiesel content, although differences in number of data points from various experiments masked differences in half-lives between different fuels. This in most cases resulted in lack of statistically significant effects of the type of blends and experimental system on biodegradation half-lives. Our data can be used for improved characterization of risks and impacts of biodiesel fuels in aerobic aquatic and terrestrial environments, while more experiments are required to quantify biodegradation kinetics in anaerobic conditions. Relatively high biodegradability of biodiesel may suggest that passive approaches to degrade and dissipate contaminants in situ, like monitored natural attenuation, may be appropriate remediation strategies for biodiesel fuels.

Efanesoctocog Alfa Prophylaxis for Patients with Severe Hemophilia A

BACKGROUND

Efanesoctocog alfa provides high sustained factor VIII activity by overcoming the von Willebrand factor-imposed half-life ceiling. The efficacy, safety, and pharmacokinetics of efanesoctocog alfa for prophylaxis and treatment of bleeding episodes in previously treated patients with severe hemophilia A are unclear.

METHODS

We conducted a phase 3 study involving patients 12 years of age or older with severe hemophilia A. In group A, patients received once-weekly prophylaxis with efanesoctocog alfa (50 IU per kilogram of body weight) for 52 weeks. In group B, patients received on-demand treatment with efanesoctocog alfa for 26 weeks, followed by once-weekly prophylaxis with efanesoctocog alfa for 26 weeks. The primary end point was the mean annualized bleeding rate in group A; the key secondary end point was an intrapatient comparison of the annualized bleeding rate during prophylaxis in group A with the rate during prestudy factor VIII prophylaxis. Additional end points included treatment of bleeding episodes, safety, pharmacokinetics, and changes in physical health, pain, and joint health.

RESULTS

In group A (133 patients), the median annualized bleeding rate was 0 (interquartile range, 0 to 1.04), and the estimated mean annualized bleeding rate was 0.71 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.52 to 0.97). The mean annualized bleeding rate decreased from 2.96 (95% CI, 2.00 to 4.37) to 0.69 (95% CI, 0.43 to 1.11), a finding that showed superiority over prestudy factor VIII prophylaxis (P<0.001). A total of 26 patients were enrolled in group B. In the overall population, nearly all bleeding episodes (97%) resolved with one injection of efanesoctocog alfa. Weekly prophylaxis with efanesoctocog alfa provided mean factor VIII activity of more than 40 IU per deciliter for the majority of the week and of 15 IU per deciliter at day 7. Prophylaxis with efanesoctocog alfa for 52 weeks (group A) improved physical health (P<0.001), pain intensity (P = 0.03), and joint health (P = 0.01). In the overall study population, efanesoctocog alfa had an acceptable side-effect profile, and the development of inhibitors to factor VIII was not detected.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with severe hemophilia A, once-weekly efanesoctocog alfa provided superior bleeding prevention to prestudy prophylaxis, normal to near-normal factor VIII activity, and improvements in physical health, pain, and joint health. (Funded by Sanofi and Sobi; XTEND-1 ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT04161495.).

Heterogeneity in the half-life of factor VIII concentrate in patients with hemophilia A is due to variability in the clearance of endogenous von Willebrand factor

BACKGROUND

Previous studies have reported marked interindividual variation in factor VIII (FVIII) clearance in patients with hemophilia (PWH) and proposed a number of factors that influence this heterogeneity.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the importance of the clearance rates of endogenous von Willebrand factor (VWF) compared with those of other FVIII half-life modifiers in adult PWH.

METHODS

The half-life of recombinant FVIII was determined in a cohort of 61 adult PWH. A range of reported modifiers of FVIII clearance was assessed (including plasma VWF:antigen and VWF propeptide levels; VWF-FVIII binding capacity; ABO blood group; and nonneutralizing anti-FVIII antibodies). The FVIII-binding region of the VWF gene was sequenced. Finally, the effects of variation in FVIII half-life on clinical phenotype were investigated.

RESULTS

We demonstrated that heterogeneity in the clearance of endogenous plasma VWF is a key determinant of variable FVIII half-life in PWH. Both ABO blood group and age significantly impact FVIII clearance. The effect of ABO blood group on FVIII half-life in PWH is modulated entirely through its effect on the clearance rates of endogenous VWF. In contrast, the age-related effect on FVIII clearance is, at least in part, VWF independent. In contrast to previous studies, no major effects of variation in VWF-FVIII binding affinity on FVIII clearance were observed. Although high-titer immunoglobulin G antibodies (≥1:80) were observed in 26% of PWH, these did not impact FVIII half-life. Importantly, the annual FVIII usage (IU/kg/y) was significantly (p = .0035) increased in patients with an FVIII half-life of <12 hours.

CONCLUSION

Our data demonstrate that heterogeneity in the half-life of FVIII concentrates in patients with hemophilia A is primarily attributable to variability in the clearance of endogenous VWF.

RUNX1-deficient human megakaryocytes demonstrate thrombopoietic and platelet half-life and functional defects

Heterozygous defects in runt-related transcription factor 1 (RUNX1) are causative of a familial platelet disorder with associated myeloid malignancy (FPDMM). Because RUNX1-deficient animal models do not mimic bleeding disorder or leukemic risk associated with FPDMM, development of a proper model system is critical to understanding the underlying mechanisms of the observed phenotype and to identifying therapeutic interventions. We previously reported an in vitro megakaryopoiesis system comprising human CD34+ hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells that recapitulated the FPDMM quantitative megakaryocyte defect through a decrease in RUNX1 expression via a lentiviral short hairpin RNA strategy. We now show that shRX-megakaryocytes have a marked reduction in agonist responsiveness. We then infused shRX-megakaryocytes into immunocompromised NOD scid gamma (NSG) mice and demonstrated that these megakaryocytes released fewer platelets than megakaryocytes transfected with a nontargeting shRNA, and these platelets had a diminished half-life. The platelets were also poorly responsive to agonists, unable to correct thrombus formation in NSG mice homozygous for a R1326H mutation in von Willebrand Factor (VWFR1326H), which switches the species-binding specificity of the VWF from mouse to human glycoprotein Ibα. A small-molecule inhibitor RepSox, which blocks the transforming growth factor β1 (TGFβ1) pathway and rescued defective megakaryopoiesis in vitro, corrected the thrombopoietic defect, defects in thrombus formation and platelet half-life, and agonist response in NSG/VWFR1326H mice. Thus, this model recapitulates the defects in FPDMM megakaryocytes and platelets, identifies previously unrecognized defects in thrombopoiesis and platelet half-life, and demonstrates for the first time, reversal of RUNX1 deficiency-induced hemostatic defects by a drug.

Impact of Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation in an Infant Treated with Vancomycin: A Case Report

Vancomycin is a glycopeptide antibiotic used for prophylaxis and treatment of infections caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Although major organ sizes and functions mature during infancy, pharmacokinetic studies, especially those focused on infants, are limited. Changes in extracorporeal membrane oxygenation-related drug disposition largely contribute to changes in pharmacokinetics. Here, pharmacokinetic profiles of vancomycin in an infant receiving extracorporeal membrane oxygenation therapy are presented. A two-month-old Japanese infant with moderately decreased renal function was started on 12.0 mg/kg vancomycin every 8 h from day X for prophylaxis of pneumonia during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation therapy. As the trough concentration of vancomycin observed on day X+3 was 27.1 μg/mL, vancomycin was then discontinued. The trough concentration decreased to 18.6 μg/mL 24 h after discontinuation, and 9.0 mg/kg vancomycin every 12 h was restarted from day X+5. On day X+6, the trough concentration increased to 36.1 μg/mL, and vancomycin therapy was again discontinued. On day X+7, the trough concentration decreased to 22.4 μg/mL. The pharmacokinetic profiles of vancomycin based on first-order conditional estimation in this infant were as follows: plasma clearance = 0.053 L/kg/hour, distribution volume = 2.19 L/kg, and half-life = 29.5 h. This research reported the prolonged half-life of vancomycin during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in infants with moderately decreased renal function.

Stabilization of Enzymes by Using Thermophiles

Manufactured steroid compounds have many applications in the pharmaceutical industry. Due to the chemical complexity and chirality of steroids, there is an increasing demand for enzyme-based bioconversion processes to replace those based on chemical synthesis. In this context, thermostability of the involved enzymes is a highly desirable property as both the increased half-life of the enzyme and the enhanced solubility of substrates and products will improve the yield of the reactions. Metagenomic libraries from thermal environments are potential sources of thermostable enzymes of prokaryotic origin, but the number of expected hits could be quite low for enzymes handling substrates such as steroids, rarely found in prokaryotes. An alternative to metagenome screening is the selection of thermostable variants of well-known steroid-processing enzymes. Here we review and detail a protocol for such selection, where error-prone PCR (epPCR) is used to introduce random mutations into a gene to create a variants library for further selection of thermostable variants in the thermophile Thermus thermophilus. The method involves the use of folding interference vectors where the proper folding of the enzyme of interest at high temperature is linked to the folding of a reporter encoding a selectable property such as thermostable resistance to kanamycin, leading to a life-or-death selection of variants of reinforced folding independently of the activity of the enzyme.

Healthcare costs among hemophilia A patients in the United States treated with rurioctocog alfa pegol (FVIII-PEG) or antihemophilic factor (recombinant), FC fusion protein (rFVIIIFc) using real-world data

AIMS

To compare healthcare costs in patients with non-inhibitor hemophilia A treated with Rurioctocog Alfa Pegol (FVIII-PEG) versus Antihemophilic Factor (Recombinant), FC Fusion Protein (rFVIIIFc).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Administrative claims data from the Merative MarketScan Commercial (Commerical) and Medicaid (Medicaid) databases were used for these analyses. Males with non-inhibitor hemophilia A treated with FVIII-PEG or rFVIIIFc from 1 January 2016 to 31 March 2021 were identified (earliest treatment = index). Patients were required to have continuous database enrollment for six months before and after the index date. Follow-up was variable in length until disenrollment or study end. All-cause and hemophilia-related healthcare costs were reported per-patient per month [PPPM] and the average weekly dose during follow-up was compared between treatment groups. Generalized linear regressions were used to estimate multivariable-adjusted differences in total costs and weekly dosage in the two treatment groups.

RESULTS

A total of 131 FVIII-PEG (66 Commercial; 65 Medicaid) and 204 rFVIIIFc (111 Commercial; 93 Medicaid) patients were eligible. Mean age was 20.5 and 24.4 for FVIII-PEG and rFVIIIFc in Commercial and 14.9 and 17.5 for FVIII-PEG and rFVIIIFc in Medicaid. PPPM mean (standard deviations [SD]) total healthcare costs in Commercially insured patients were $35,868 [$21,717] for FVIII-PEG vs $40,424 [$25,882] for rFVIIIFc. Costs in Medicaid were $27,495 [$23,243] for FVIII-PEG vs $30,237 [$28,430] for rFVIIIFc. After adjusting for baseline characteristics, the costs for rFVIIIFc (vs FVIII-PEG) were higher by $5,215 in Commercial and $3,895 in Medicaid, but the differences were not statistically significant (p > 0.05). Similar findings were observed for hemophilia-specific healthcare costs. The adjusted mean weekly dose was 6,047 vs 4,892 IU, p = 0.21 for FVIII-PEG vs rFVIIIFc in Commercial and 5,549 vs 7,228 IU, p = 0.07 for FVIII-PEG vs rFVIIIFc in Medicaid.

CONCLUSIONS

Healthcare costs and treatment dosing were similar (p > 0.05) for non-inhibitor hemophilia A patients treated with FVIII-PEG and rFVIIIFc.

Polymeric Nanoparticles for the Treatment of Prostate Cancer- Technological Prospecting and Critical Analysis

BACKGROUND

Polymeric nanoparticles have a wide diversity, and due to their toxicity and biodegradability, they have been widely used in the health area. Its use allows stability of some compounds, targeted delivery, and increased half-life, in this context, making some treatment proposals more effective. Prostate cancer, in turn, is among the types of cancer with the highest mortality, and the lack of effective treatment causes several strategies to meet this need.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this work was to verify patents that use polymeric nanoparticles for the treatment of prostate cancer.

METHODS

For that, specific keywords to direct the search were applied in Patent Scope. After obtaining the patents, one was selected for the development of critical analysis in relation to its chemistry and biology.

RESULTS

A total of five patents were found and, of these, an invention that used PCL-PLGA-PEGCOOH polymeric nanoparticles with two natural compounds, resveratrol and celastrol, providing an alternative method to traditional monotherapies.

CONCLUSION

The prospective analysis serves to direct us in relation to the technologies currently used in certain fields. Based on several cases of cancer and specifically the countless cases of prostate cancer, five recent patents were found using polymeric nanoparticles. However, only one brought a different aspect of all the treatments used lately. It brought an invention containing two natural compounds being carried with polymeric nanoparticles with promising results.

Half-Life Extension and Biodistribution Modulation of Biotherapeutics via Red Blood Cell Hitch-Hiking with Novel Anti-Band 3 Single-Domain Antibodies

Small therapeutic proteins are receiving increased interest as therapeutic drugs; however, their clinical success has been limited due to their rapid elimination. Here, we report a half-life extension strategy via strategy via red blood cell red blood cell (RBC) hitch-hiking. This manuscript details the development and characterization of novel anti-RBC single-domain antibodies (sdAbs), their genetic fusion to therapeutic antibody fragments (TAF) as bispecific fusion constructs, and their influence on TAF pharmacokinetics and biodistribution. Several sdAbs specific to the band 3 antigen were generated via phage-display technology. Binding affinity to RBCs was assessed via flow cytometry. Affinity maturation via random mutagenesis was carried out to improve the binding affinity of the sdAbs. Bi-specific constructs were generated by fusing the anti-RBC sdAbs with anti-tissue necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) TAF via the use of a glycine-serine flexible linker, and assessments for binding were performed via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and flow cytometry. Pharmacokinetics of anti-RBC sdAbs and fusion constructs were evaluated following intravenous bolus dosing in mice at a 1 mg/kg dose. Two RBC-binding sdAbs, RB12 and RE8, were developed. These two clones showed high binding affinity to human RBC with an estimated K_D of 17.7 nM and 23.6 nM and low binding affinity to mouse RBC with an estimated K_D of 335 nM and 528 nM for RB12 and RE8, respectively. Two derivative sdAbs, RMA1, and RMC1, with higher affinities against mouse RBC, were generated via affinity maturation (K_D of 66.9 nM and 30.3 nM, respectively). Pharmacokinetic investigations in mice demonstrated prolonged circulation half-life of an anti-RBC-TNF-α bispecific construct (75 h) compared to a non-RBC binding control (1.3 h). In summary, the developed anti-RBC sdAbs and fusion constructs have demonstrated high affinity in vitro, and sufficient half-life extension in vivo.

Half-Life Extension and Biodistribution Modulation of Biotherapeutics via Red Blood Cell Hitch-Hiking with Novel Anti-Band 3 Single-Domain Antibodies

Small therapeutic proteins are receiving increased interest as therapeutic drugs; however, their clinical success has been limited due to their rapid elimination. Here, we report a half-life extension strategy via strategy via red blood cell red blood cell (RBC) hitch-hiking. This manuscript details the development and characterization of novel anti-RBC single-domain antibodies (sdAbs), their genetic fusion to therapeutic antibody fragments (TAF) as bispecific fusion constructs, and their influence on TAF pharmacokinetics and biodistribution. Several sdAbs specific to the band 3 antigen were generated via phage-display technology. Binding affinity to RBCs was assessed via flow cytometry. Affinity maturation via random mutagenesis was carried out to improve the binding affinity of the sdAbs. Bi-specific constructs were generated by fusing the anti-RBC sdAbs with anti-tissue necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) TAF via the use of a glycine-serine flexible linker, and assessments for binding were performed via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and flow cytometry. Pharmacokinetics of anti-RBC sdAbs and fusion constructs were evaluated following intravenous bolus dosing in mice at a 1 mg/kg dose. Two RBC-binding sdAbs, RB12 and RE8, were developed. These two clones showed high binding affinity to human RBC with an estimated K_D of 17.7 nM and 23.6 nM and low binding affinity to mouse RBC with an estimated K_D of 335 nM and 528 nM for RB12 and RE8, respectively. Two derivative sdAbs, RMA1, and RMC1, with higher affinities against mouse RBC, were generated via affinity maturation (K_D of 66.9 nM and 30.3 nM, respectively). Pharmacokinetic investigations in mice demonstrated prolonged circulation half-life of an anti-RBC-TNF-α bispecific construct (75 h) compared to a non-RBC binding control (1.3 h). In summary, the developed anti-RBC sdAbs and fusion constructs have demonstrated high affinity in vitro, and sufficient half-life extension in vivo.

Infection with SARS-CoV-2 may alter the half-life of desmopressin (DDAVP) in patients with central diabetes insipidus

We present a 9-year-old boy with diabetes insipidus. The boy is treated with desmopressin (DDAVP) therapy. Under this therapy, the drinking quantity and the laboratory parameters were normal. No nocturia occurred any more. In the context of a clinically mild infection with SARS-CoV-2, the duration of action of DDAVP was significantly prolonged (approximately +50%). The original dosage was then reintroduced and was still sufficient until months later. A possible connection to the infection with SARS-CoV-2 can be suspected. Our case report should make physicians who care for patients with diabetes insipidus aware of such a possible prolongation of the effect of DDAVP. More frequent monitoring may be needed in such patients to assess the risk of symptomatic dilutional hyponatremia.

Long-term prophylaxis: what are our options and how to define success?

Currently, we are at an enviable place in hemophilia treatment. Although full prophylaxis with standard half-life recombinant or plasma-derived factor concentrates has been definitively shown to be inadequate for full protection against bleeding and arthropathy, a number of novel therapies with improved hemostatic enhancement are clinically available or in promising clinical trials. In order to compare outcomes among a number of very efficacious therapies, it is necessary to have sensitive tools employed in long-term follow-up for several years for participants with no or minimal joint disease. The tool kit must be comprehensive, with outcomes of bleeding, factor level restoration or hemostatic capacity, joint structure, joint function, pain, quality of life, and patient satisfaction. This article reviews the history of prophylaxis, the promise of emerging therapies, and the sensitive tools used to assess long-term efficacy for joint structure and function.

Apparent Half-Lives of Chlorinated-Perfluorooctane Sulfonate and Perfluorooctane Sulfonate Isomers in Aviation Firefighters

Elevated levels of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and elevated detection frequency of chloro-substituted PFOS have been reported in Australian firefighters with historical exposure to aqueous-film forming foam (AFFF). The aim of this study is to estimate the apparent half-lives of Cl-PFOS and PFOS isomers in firefighters following the end of exposure to 3M-AFFF. Paired serum samples from 120 firefighters, collected approximately five years apart, were analyzed for 8-Cl-PFOS (8-chloroperfluoro-1-octanesulfonic acid) and PFOS isomers via targeted LC-MS/MS. Apparent half-life was estimated by assuming a first order-elimination model. Cl-PFOS was detected in 93% of all initial serum samples (<LOQ-1.09 ng/mL). The average half-life of Cl-PFOS among the firefighters was 5.0 years. Branched PFOS isomers made up 55% of the total isomer concentration at the initial sampling timepoint. Five years later, the proportion of branched PFOS isomers was greater (65%). The longest average half-life (11.5 years) was estimated for "1m-PFOS". Other isomers had average half-lives ranging from 4.0 to 7.5 years. Marked differences in half-lives between PFOS isomers suggest that the elimination rate of "total PFOS" (sum of all PFOS isomers) is non-linear. This is the first study to report the serum concentrations and apparent half-life of Cl-PFOS in humans.

Dissipation Kinetics and Safety Evaluation of Flonicamid in Four Various Types of Crops

The chemical insecticide flonicamid is widely used to control aphids on crops. Differences among crops make the universality of detection methods a particularly important consideration. The aim of this study was to establish a universal, sensitive, accurate and efficient method for the determination of flonicamid residues in peach, cucumber, cabbage and cotton. QuEChERS pretreatment was combined with ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS). A satisfactory recovery rate of 84.3-99.3% was achieved at three spiking levels, and the relative standard deviation (RSD) was 0.41-5.95%. The limit of quantification (LOQ) of flonicamid in the four matrices was 0.01 mg/kg. The residue and dissipation kinetics of flonicamid in four types of crops in various locations were determined by using the optimized method. The results showed that flonicamid had a high dissipation rate in the four different types of crops and a half-life in the different matrices and locations of 2.28-9.74 days. The terminal residue of flonicamid was lower than the maximum residue limit (MRL). The risk quotient (RQ) of flonicamid was 4.4%, which is significantly lower than 100%. This result shows that the dietary risk presented by using flonicamid at the maximum recommended dose is low and acceptable. The comprehensive long-term dietary risk assessment of flonicamid performed in this study provides a reference for the protection of consumer health and safe insecticide use.

Dissipation and Dietary Risk Assessment of Pydiflumetofen Residues in Soybean

In this study, the quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe (QuEChERS) method, combined with high-performance liquid chromatography−tandem mass spectrometry, was chosen for detecting pydiflumetofen residues in soybean plants, soybeans and soil, and assessing the risk of short- and long-term dietary intake. Pydiflumetofen concentrations ranging from 0.001−0.5 mg/L exhibited good linearity (r > 0.997). At varying doses, the average pydiflumetofen recovery rates and relative standard deviations among soybean plants, soybeans, and soil ranged from 83.9 ± 1.1% to 99.5 ± 3.3% and from 0.77 to 7.77%, respectively. The sensitivity, accuracy, and precision of the chosen methodology met the requirements of pesticide residue analysis. The results of the degradation dynamics test showed that the half-life of pydiflumetofen (t1/2) in soybean plants and in soil were 3.6 to 5.7 and from 7.9 to 25.7 d, respectively. Assessment of the concentration of pydiflumetofen residues in soybeans revealed acute and chronic dietary exposure risks of 0.06 and 7.54%, respectively. As these values are very low, pydiflumetofen residues in soybeans present an acceptable risk to public health. The results of this study will help to guide the practical application of pydiflumetofen and minimize the environmental risks associated with its use.

Deep mutational scanning and massively parallel kinetics of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 functional stability to probe its latency transition

Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), a member of the serine protease inhibitor superfamily of proteins, is unique among serine protease inhibitors for exhibiting a spontaneous conformational change to a latent or inactive state. The functional half-life for this transition at physiologic temperature and pH is ∼1 to 2 h. To better understand the molecular mechanisms underlying this transition, we now report on the analysis of a comprehensive PAI-1 variant library expressed on filamentous phage and selected for functional stability after 48 h at 37 °C. Of the 7201 possible single amino acid substitutions in PAI-1, we identified 439 that increased the functional stability of PAI-1 beyond that of the WT protein. We also found 1549 single amino acid substitutions that retained inhibitory activity toward the canonical target protease of PAI-1 (urokinase-like plasminogen activator), whereas exhibiting functional stability less than or equal to that of WT PAI-1. Missense mutations that increase PAI-1 functional stability are concentrated in highly flexible regions within the PAI-1 structure. Finally, we developed a method for simultaneously measuring the functional half-lives of hundreds of PAI-1 variants in a multiplexed, massively parallel manner, quantifying the functional half-lives for 697 single missense variants of PAI-1 by this approach. Overall, these findings provide novel insight into the mechanisms underlying the latency transition of PAI-1 and provide a database for interpreting human PAI-1 genetic variants.

Thiocarbazate building blocks enable the construction of azapeptides for rapid development of therapeutic candidates

Peptides, polymers of amino acids, comprise a vital and expanding therapeutic approach. Their rapid degradation by proteases, however, represents a major limitation to their therapeutic utility and chemical modifications to native peptides have been employed to mitigate this weakness. Herein, we describe functionalized thiocarbazate scaffolds as precursors of aza-amino acids, that, upon activation, can be integrated in a peptide sequence to generate azapeptides using conventional peptide synthetic methods. This methodology facilitates peptide editing-replacing targeted amino acid(s) with aza-amino acid(s) within a peptide-to form azapeptides with preferred therapeutic characteristics (extending half-life/bioavailability, while at the same time typically preserving structural features and biological activities). We demonstrate the convenience of this azapeptide synthesis platform in two well-studied peptides with short half-lives: FSSE/P5779, a tetrapeptide inhibitor of HMGB1/MD-2/TLR4 complex formation, and bradykinin, a nine-residue vasoactive peptide. This bench-stable thiocarbazate platform offers a robust and universal approach to optimize peptide-based therapeutics.

New Direct Limit on Neutrinoless Double Beta Decay Half-Life of ^{128}Te with CUORE

The Cryogenic Underground Observatory for Rare Events (CUORE) at Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso of INFN in Italy is an experiment searching for neutrinoless double beta (0νββ) decay. Its main goal is to investigate this decay in ^{130}Te, but its ton-scale mass and low background make CUORE sensitive to other rare processes as well. In this Letter, we present our first results on the search for 0νββ decay of ^{128}Te, the Te isotope with the second highest natural isotopic abundance. We find no evidence for this decay, and using a Bayesian analysis we set a lower limit on the ^{128}Te 0νββ decay half-life of T_{1/2}>3.6×10^{24}  yr (90% CI). This represents the most stringent limit on the half-life of this isotope, improving by over a factor of 30 the previous direct search results, and exceeding those from geochemical experiments for the first time.

Dissipation and risk assessment of fluopyram and trifloxystrobin on onion by GC-MS/MS

The dissipation and risk assessment studies on fluopyram, trifloxystrobin and their metabolites were carried out on onion under field conditions after two treatments of fluopyram 250 g/L + trifloxystrobin 250 g/L SC @ 150 and 300 g a.i. ha^-1. The onion bulb samples were collected at 0, 3, 7, 14, and 21 days after second spray to study the pattern of dissipation using QuEChERS methodology for processing and analysis on GC-MS/MS. The total initial residues of fluopyram (fluopyram + fluopyram benzamide) in immature onion bulb were 2.14 and 4.93 mg kg^-1, at single and double dose, respectively. The residues of 0.02 and 0.06 mg kg^-1 persisted in the mature onion bulb collected at the harvest (30 days after treatment). The total initial residues of trifloxystrobin (trifloxystrobin + CGA 321113) in immature onion bulb were 0.65 and 1.97 mg kg^-1, at single and double dose, respectively, which reached < LOQ and 0.06 mg kg^-1 at the respective doses at the harvest time. Dissipation of fluopyram followed second-order kinetics with DT₅₀ values of 1.83 and 1.74 days, whereas trifloxystrobin followed first-order kinetics with DT₅₀ values of 4.73 and 4.78 days, at single and double dose respectively. Risk assessment in terms of hazard quotient was done to estimate the risk that can occur due to application of this combination pesticide. It was observed that even the spray at the double recommended dose could not have dietary risks on the consumers.

A novel glucagon analog with an extended half-life, HM15136, normalizes glucose levels in rodent models of congenital hyperinsulinism

Congenital hyperinsulinism (CHI) is a rare genetic condition characterized by uncontrolled insulin secretion, resulting in hypoglycemia. Although glucagon has lately been regarded as a therapeutic option for CHI, its use is severely hampered by its poor solubility and stability at physiological pH, as well as its short duration of action. To address these constraints, we developed HM15136, a novel long-acting glucagon analog composed of a glucagon analog conjugated to the Fc fragment of human immunoglobulin G4 via a polyethylene glycol linker. In this study, we established that HM15136 was more soluble than natural glucagon (≥ 150 mg/mL vs 0.03 mg/mL). Next, we confirmed that HM15136 activated glucagon receptor in vitro and induced glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis in rat primary hepatocytes. Pharmacokinetics (PK)/Pharmacodynamics (PD) analysis of HM15136 shows that HM15136 has a markedly longer half-life (36 h vs. < 5 min) and increased bioavailability (90%) compared to native glucagon in mice. Further, HM15136 could effectively reverse acute hypoglycemia induced by insulin challenge, and multiple doses of HM15136 could sustain increased blood glucose levels in CHI rats. In conclusion, our findings indicate that HM15136 promotes sustained elevation of blood glucose, demonstrating the potential for development as a once-weekly therapy for CHI.

Effect of formulation on the indoxacarb and lufenuron dissipation in maize and risk assessment

The supervised field trials were conducted in maize crops using nano-microemulsion (NM) and a commercial formulation of indoxacarb and lufenuron to evaluate the effect of nano-formulation on the dissipation pattern. A modified QuEChERS (Quick Easy Cheap Effective Rugged and Safe)-UPLC-MS/MS (ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry) method was utilized for sample analysis. Results showed that the initial deposits of indoxacarb and lufenuron in plants using nano-microemulsion were 0.98 mg/kg and 8.18 mg/kg at recommended dosage, while using the commercial formulation, they were 0.85 mg/kg and 5.53 mg/kg, respectively. Moreover, half-life (t_1/2) values of using nano-microemulsion were 1.25 days and 2.51 days, which were shorter than indoxacarb (1.87 days) and lufenuron (3.00 days) from the commercial formulation, suggesting that pesticide formulations have a moderate impact on the initial deposit and dissipation rate. The terminal residue test showed that indoxacarb and lufenuron residues in maize grain and maize straw were below the available maximum residue limit (MRL, 0.01 mg/kg), suggesting 2% indoxacarb NM and 5% lufenuron NM are safe to use under the recommended dosage. The risk quotient value (RQ of indoxacarb and lufenuron equal to 17.7% and 2.4%, respectively) also revealed an acceptable risk for human consumption. These findings provide scientific evidence of the proper application of 2% indoxacarb NM and 5% lufenuron NM on maize crops.

Treatment of naphthenic acids in oil sands process-affected waters with a surface flow treatment wetland: mass removal, half-life, and toxicity-reduction

This study is the first to investigate the removal of naphthenic acids in a full-scale constructed wetland within the Alberta Oil Sands region. The average mass-removal efficiency for all O₂-naphthenic acids measured in three separate deployments in the wetland ranged from 7.5% to 68.9% and appeared sensitive to physicochemical properties of the naphthenic acids, environmental conditions, and water quality. Treatment efficiency of individual naphthenic acids was found to increase with increasing carbon number and decreasing number of double bond equivalents in the molecule. Treatment efficiency was also found to increase with both higher initial turbidity in OSPW entering the wetland, and warmer average OSPW temperatures during wetland operation. Half-life times of naphthenic acids in the treatment wetland ranged between 8.9 and 39 days and were substantially lower than those in tailings ponds (i.e., 12.9-13.6 years) and laboratory studies focussed on bench-scale aerobic microbial biodegradation (i.e., 44-315 days). Using published dose-response data, biomimetic extraction measurements using solid phase microextraction fibers indicate that 14 days of wetland treatment resulted in a reduction in (4 d) deformity of Danio rerio from 50 to 16%, while exhibiting less than 1% toxic response for less sensitive toxic endpoints. The study concludes that wetland treatment is a feasible and productive treatment method for naphthenic acids in oil sands process-affected water due to a combination of sorption and biodegradation.

Enhancing half-life and cytotoxicity of porcine respiratory and reproductive syndrome virus soluble receptors by taming their Fc domains

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) is an important pathogen. Although tremendous effort has been made for the vaccine development, only modified live vaccines are widely used with arguably limited efficacy. Our previous study showed that the Fc-fused first four Ig-like domains of Sn (Sn4D-Fc) and the SRCR domains 5-9 of CD163 (SRCR59-Fc) can act as PRRSV soluble receptors (VSRs). In this study, we improved the VSR-based anti-PRRSV strategy by taming their Fc domains. Sequence alignment showed that the CH3 domain of pig IgG1 contained five putative amino acids involved in the interaction with the neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn). The M455L/N461S variant of SRCR59-Fc/Sn4D-Fc was created for the higher affinity of FcRn binding. Both rBac-SRCR59-lsFc/Sn4D-lsFc and rBac-SRCR59-Fc/Sn4D-Fc expressing the mutated or wild-type VSRs were generated for conceptual validation. Both immunofluorescence and Western blotting analysis showed that the two rBac vectors could express the encoded VSRs in cells with similar expression levels and anti-PRRSV effects. In the rBac-injected mice, the expression of SRCR59-lsFc/Sn4D-lsFc was significantly prolonged than that of SRCR59-Fc/Sn4D-Fc. Both plasma stability and serum half-life of the purified SRCR59-lsFc/Sn4D-lsFc were significantly improved than that of SRCR59-Fc/Sn4D-Fc. SRCR59-lsFc/Sn4D-lsFc-treated peripheral blood mononuclear cells showed significantly stronger cytotoxicity on PRRSV-infected primary alveolar macrophages than SRCR59-Fc/Sn4D-Fc-treated cells. For the first time, we demonstrated that both half-life and effector function of pig IgG Fc-fused proteins could be significantly improved by taming their CH3 domains. The rBac-SRCR59-lsFc/Sn4D-lsFc could be further developed as a novel anti-PRRSV reagent.

Determination of Half-lives of Circulating FSH and LH Glycoforms in Women During GnRH Receptor Blockade

CONTEXT

Both FSH and LH circulate as 2 glycoforms, differing in number of glycans: low-N-glycosylated glycoforms, FSHtri and LHdi, and fully N-glycosylated glycoforms, FSHtetra and LHtri.

OBJECTIVES

To determine the half-lives of endogenous circulating gonadotropin glycoforms in women during GnRH receptor blockade.

DESIGN/PARTICIPANTS

Serum samples were collected in 8 healthy women before and up to 20 hours after administration of the NAL-GLU GnRH antagonist. Three women were in early follicular phase, 2 at mid-cycle phase, and 3 were postmenopausal.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The half-life of each glycoform was estimated by monoexponential decay for FSH (n = 8) and LH (n = 5). Data were analyzed using paired t tests.

RESULTS

Half-lives in the circulation of low-N-glycosylated glycoforms of both FSH and LH were shorter than those of the fully N-glycosylated glycoforms (mean; range, FSHtri 343; 116-686 minutes vs FSHtetra 757; 436-1038, minutes, P = 0.0003; LHdi 125, 84-198 minutes vs LHtri 164, 107-235 minutes, P = 0.004). The half-lives of low-and fully N-glycosylated forms of LH were shorter than the corresponding half-lives of FSH glycoforms, P = 0.0008.

CONCLUSIONS

For both FSH and LH, low-N-glycosylated glycoforms disappeared from the circulation faster than the fully N-glycosylated. The half-lives of low and fully N-glycosylated forms of LH were shorter than the corresponding half-lives of FSH. The estimated values for half-life in the circulation of total FSH and total LH will depend on the relative amounts of the 2 glycoforms of each hormone and their individual disappearance rates in circulation.

Albumin-Fusion Recombinant FIX in the Management of People with Hemophilia B: An Evidence-Based Review

Albutrepenonacog-alfa (Idelvion®, CSL Behring) is a recombinant fusion protein in which the recombinant FIX (rFIX) links a recombinant human albumin, extending the half-life of rFIX even beyond 100 hours. In 2016, this drug was approved worldwide for the treatment of pediatric and adult persons with hemophilia B (PWH-B). Its efficacy and safety were described in the PROLONG-9FP program and subsequently confirmed in the real-world practice, even if to date there are not many manuscripts that extensively and completely deal with the use of albutrepenonacog-alfa in daily practice, also evaluating its impact on the quality of life of patients treated with this drug; this review therefore aims to analyze all the publications currently available regarding the real-world use of this extended half-life concentrate, also noting which topics need further study and research.

Development of new QSAR models for water, sediment, and soil half-life

Checking the persistence of a chemical in the environment is extremely important. Regulations like REACH, the European one on chemicals, require the measurements or estimates of the half-life of the chemical in water, sediment, and soil. The use of non-testing methods, like quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) models, is encouraged because it reduces costs and time. To our knowledge, there are very few freely available models for these properties and some are for specific chemical classes. Here, we present three new semi-quantitative models, one for each of the required environmental compartments (water, sediment, and soil). Using literature and REACH registration data, we developed three new counter-propagation artificial neural network models using the CPANNatNIC tool. We calculated the VEGA descriptors, and selected the relevant ones using an internal method in R based on the forward selection technique. The best model for each compartment was implemented in two open-source stand-alone tools, the VEGA platform, and the JANUS tool (https://www.vegahub.eu/). These models were also used by ECHA to build their PBT profiler available in the OECD QSAR toolbox (https://qsartoolbox.org/). Screening and prioritization are also our main target. The models perform well, with R² always above 0.8 in training and validation. The only exception is the validation set of the soil compartment, with R² 0.68, that is above 0.8 only for compounds inside the applicability domain (automatically calculated by the system). The root mean square error (RMSE) is good, 0.34 or less in log units (again, for soil validation it is higher but it reaches 0.21 when considering only the compounds in the applicability domain). Compared with one of the most widely used tools, BIOWIN3, the proposed models give better results in terms of R² and RMSE. For the classification, the performance is better for water and soil, and comparable or lower for sediment.

Platensimycin-berberine chloride co-amorphous drug system: Sustained release and prolonged half-life

Co-amorphous technology is an emerging approach for pharmaceutical engineering of drugs and drug leads with improved physicochemical properties and bioavailability. Platensimycin (PTM) is a promising natural antibiotic lead that acts on bacterial fatty acid synthase and exhibits excellent antibacterial activity. Despite great strides to improve its poor pharmacokinetics by medicinal chemistry and nanotechnology, there are no convenient oral delivery systems developed. Here, a co-amorphous system of PTM and berberine chloride (BCL) was developed for oral delivery of PTM. Co-amorphous PTM-BCL was prepared by rotary vacuum evaporation method, and systematically characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, temperature modulated differential scanning calorimetry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Compared with PTM or BCL alone, the equilibrium solubility and dissolution rate of both of them in the co-amorphous systems decreased significantly, showing the characteristics of sustained release. The molecular interactions between PTM and BCL were mediated by strong charged-mediated hydrogen bonds, based on FTIR, XPS, and NMR-based techniques. The co-amorphous PTM-BCL system showed excellent physiochemical stability at room and elevated (40 °C) temperature under dry conditions. The combination of PTM and BCL showed increased killing of a clinical isolated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strain in killing checkerboard assays. Finally, co-amorphous PTM-BCL exhibited 2- or 3-fold longer half-life in rats than that of crystalline and amorphous PTM upon oral administration, respectively. Our study suggests a rational approach to realize the full potential of potent antibiotic PTM, which may be conveniently adapted for engineering of other important pharmaceutics.

A personalized limited sampling approach to better estimate terminal half-life of FVIII concentrates

INTRODUCTION

Hemophilia A is a bleeding disorder characterized by a deficiency of a coagulation factor VIII and optimally treated using pharmacokinetics (PK)-guided prophylactic replacement therapy. To decrease patient burden, PK can be estimated from sparse sampling leveraging population PK modeling. However, recommendations for sampling times meant for patients with hemophilia A as a group may not be optimal at the individual level.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate a personalized limited sampling approach (Personalized LSA) that suggests a next sampling time point that would provide a more accurate estimation of terminal half-life of FVIII concentrates when using a population PK approach.

METHODS

331 PK studies with rich sampling were extracted from the WAPPS-Hemo database. Two sampling approaches were evaluated and compared: 974 PK studies consisting of two samples were built from the rich sampling data including one sample selected using the personalized LSA prediction; 974 PK studies consisting of two samples were built from the rich sampling data including one sample selected randomly. Half-life values were estimated on the sparse data and compared within patients to the estimates obtained on the rich data for assessing the error on half-life values.

RESULTS

Relative errors between estimates from sparse sampling data using personalized LSA and from rich sampling data were always lower than 20% and significantly lower than the comparative approach that used random sampling (median-95th percentile were 3.8%-13.1% vs. 7.0%-23.5%, respectively, p-value < 10-10 ). Moreover, less than 4% of the samples suggested by the personalized LSA were below the limit of quantification.

CONCLUSIONS

Identifying the most informative sampling points for PK assessment using a Personalized LSA approach that accounts for individual differences in PK improves the precision of FVIII terminal half-life estimates in sparse sampling.

Analysis of Residence Time, Effective Half-Life, and Internal Dosimetry Before Radioiodine Therapy

Radioiodine therapy has been widely used for ablation of remnant tissue after surgical treatment of differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC). Internal dosimetry provides a new approach to choosing the administered activity-an approach that considers the distribution and retention of 131I individually per patient. This study used clinical techniques of internal dosimetry to assess the accumulated activity, internal bone marrow dosimetry, and effective half-life in patients undergoing treatment for DTC. Methods: This was a quantitative, retrospective study analyzing diagnostic documents and images. The internal dosimetry method calculated the dose absorbed by the bone marrow per administered activity of 131I. Calculation of the absorbed dose took into account the accumulated activity, which was obtained through measurements of whole-body images acquired at 4 intervals over 5 d. Results: The median dose absorbed by the bone marrow per administered activity was 0.117 mGy/MBq (range, 0.043-0.152 mGy/MBq). The median whole-body residence time was 22.0 h (range, 12.6-39.4 h). The median effective half-life was 15.6 h (range, 7.6-28.2 h). Conclusion: Internal dosimetry provides information relevant to safe dose limits for DTC radioiodine therapy, especially in advanced cases of the disease for which greater activities may be necessary.

Pharmacokinetics of grapiprant and effects on TNF-alpha concentrations following oral administration to horses

Grapiprant is a prostaglandin E2 receptor antagonist that has been found to be an effective anti-inflammatory in dogs and that is devoid of some of the adverse effects associated with traditional NSAIDs that elicit their effects through inhibition of PGE2 production. Previously published reports have described the pharmacokinetics of this drug in horses when administered at 2 mg/kg; however, pharmacodynamic effects in this species have yet to be described. The objective of the current study was to describe the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of grapiprant at a higher dose. Eight horses received a single oral administration of 15 mg/kg. Plasma concentrations were determined for 96 h using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Non-compartmental analysis was used to determine pharmacokinetic parameters. Pharmacodynamic effects were assessed ex vivo by stimulating blood samples with PGE2 and determining TNF-ɑ concentrations. Maximum concentration, time to maximum concentration and area under the curve were 327.5 (188.4-663.0) ng/ml, 1 (0.75-2.0) hour and 831.8 (512.6-1421.6) h*ng/ml, respectively. The terminal half-life was 11.1 (8.27-21.2) hr. Significant stimulation of TNF alpha was noted for 2-4 h post-drug administration. Results of this study suggest a short duration of EP4 receptor engagement when administered at a dose of 15 mg/kg.