Safety, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of TNHH, a novel targeted neutrophil-inhibitory hirulog hybrid glycoprotein, in healthy volunteers

BACKGROUND: Targeted neutrophil inhibitory-hirulog (TNHH) is a novel hybrid glycoprotein that may be a potential drug candidate for acute ischaemic stroke. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of TNHH in healthy volunteers and thereby determine the dose range for future clinical studies. METHODS: This randomized, placebo-controlled study was a single ascending dose design with dose levels of 0.05-1.8 mg/kg (n = 4-6 active, 2 placebos per cohort) in 68 participants. In the TNHH 0.2-1.8 mg/kg and control cohorts, pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic blood samples were collected over 168 h after intravenous (IV) administration. TNHH occupancy in peripheral blood neutrophils and blood coagulation were evaluated as the markers of target engagement. RESULTS: Two subjects withdrew from the trial before administration of the study treatment, 66 subjects are included in the data analysis. TNHH was well tolerated in all dose regimens. In total, five mild, self-limiting adverse events (AEs) were observed in 4 of the 66 study subjects. Dose-proportional increases in maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) and area under the curve (AUC0-t) of TNHH were observed. Traces of TNHH were excreted in urine. The elimination half-life (t½) ranged from 0.6 to 1.3 h in the eight groups with ascending dose levels. TNHH combined with CD11b/CD18 quickly achieved > 90% receptor occupancy in groups with doses above 0.2 mg/kg. The Cmax and AUC of binding TNHH with CD11b/CD18 increased with the dose. A significant prolongation with dose was observed on thrombin time (TT), and weak influences were observed on prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT). CONCLUSION: TNHH was well-tolerated following IV infusion. The pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic characteristics of TNHH indicate that it merits clinical trials. It is recommended that the single dose of TNHH should be 1.0 mg/kg in future studies, and the expected effect may be achieved after 5-7 days of continuous administration. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study is registered at http://www.chictr.org.cn as ChiCTR-TQR-14004752.

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First-in-human phase I study of TNHH, a fusion molecule combining hirulog antithrombotic core with neutrophil-inhibitory peptide. Demonstrates dose-proportional PK and acceptable safety for stroke indication.

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