Lues I, Weber F, Meyer A, Bühring U, Hoffmann T, Kühn-Wache K, Manhart S, Heiser U, Pokorny R, Chiesa J, Glund K. A phase 1 study to evaluate the safety and pharmacokinetics of PQ912, a glutaminyl cyclase inhibitor, in healthy subjects.
ALZHEIMERS & DEMENTIA-TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH & CLINICAL INTERVENTIONS 2015;
1:182-195. [PMID:
29854937 PMCID:
PMC5975062 DOI:
10.1016/j.trci.2015.08.002]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Introduction
Pyroglutamate-amyloid-β (pE-Aβ) peptides are major components of Aβ-oligomers and Aβ-plaques, which are regarded as key culprits of Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology. PQ912 is a competitive inhibitor of the enzyme glutaminyl cyclase (QC), essential for the formation of pE-Aβ peptides.
Methods
A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, single- and multiple-ascending oral dose study investigated the safety, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of PQ912 in healthy nonelderly and elderly subjects.
Results
PQ912 was considered safe and well tolerated with dose-proportional pharmacokinetics up to doses of 200 mg. At higher doses up to 1800 mg, exposure was supraproportional and exposure in elderly subjects was approximately 1.5- to 2.1-fold higher. Exposure in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was approximately 20% of the unbound drug in plasma, and both serum and CSF QC activity was inhibited in a dose-related manner.
Discussion
This first-in-man study of a compound-targeting QC inhibition justifies further development of PQ912 for the treatment of AD.
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