Systematic review of drug–drug interactions between rifamycins and anticoagulant and antiplatelet agents and considerations for management

Rifamycins (rifampin, rifabutin, and rifapentine) play an essential role in the treatment of mycobacterial and some nonmycobacterial infections. They also induce the activity of various drug transporting and metabolizing enzymes, which can impact the concentrations and efficacy of substrates. Many anticoagulant and antiplatelet (AC/AP) agents are substrates of these enzymes and have narrow therapeutic indices, leading to risks of thrombosis or bleeding when coadministered with rifamycins. The objective of this systematic review was to evaluate the effects on AC/AP pharmacokinetics, laboratory markers, and clinical safety and efficacy of combined use with rifamycins. A systematic review following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses guidance was performed. The PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases were queried for English-language reports on combination use of rifamycins and AC/AP agents from database inception through August 2021. The 29 studies identified examined warfarin (n = 17), direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) (n = 8), and antiplatelet agents (n = 4) combined with rifampin (n = 28) or rifabutin (n = 1). Eleven studies were case reports or small case series; 14 reported on pharmacokinetic or laboratory markers in healthy volunteers. Rifampin-warfarin combinations led to reductions in warfarin area under the curve (AUC) of 15%–74%, with variability by warfarin isomer and study. Warfarin dose increases of up to 3–5 times prerifampin doses were required to maintain coagulation parameters in the therapeutic range. DOAC AUCs were decreased by 20%–67%, with variability by individual agent and with rifampin versus rifabutin. The active metabolite of clopidogrel increased substantially with rifampin coadministration, whereas prasugrel was largely unaffected and ticagrelor saw decreases. Our review suggests most combinations of AC/AP agents and rifampin are problematic. Further studies are required to determine whether rifabutin or rifapentine could be safe alternatives for coadministration with AC/AP drugs.     

Rociletinib (CO-1686) enhanced the efficacy of chemotherapeutic agents in ABCG2-overexpressing cancer cells in vitro and in vivo

Overexpression of adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-binding cassette subfamily G member 2 (ABCG2) in cancer cells is known to cause multidrug resistance (MDR), which severely limits the clinical efficacy of chemotherapy. Currently, there is no FDA-approved MDR modulator for clinical use. In this study, rociletinib (CO-1686), a mutant-selective epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI), was found to significantly improve the efficacy of ABCG2 substrate chemotherapeutic agents in the transporter-overexpressing cancer cells in vitro and in MDR tumor xenografts in nude mice, without incurring additional toxicity. Mechanistic studies revealed that in ABCG2-overexpressing cancer cells, rociletinib inhibited ABCG2-mediated drug efflux and increased intracellular accumulation of ABCG2 probe substrates. Moreover, rociletinib, inhibited the ATPase activity, and competed with [¹²⁵I] iodoarylazidoprazosin (IAAP) photolabeling of ABCG2. However, ABCG2 expression at mRNA and protein levels was not altered in the ABCG2-overexpressing cells after treatment with rociletinib. In addition, rociletinib did not inhibit EGFR downstream signaling and phosphorylation of protein kinase B (AKT) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK). Our results collectively showed that rociletinib reversed ABCG2-mediated MDR by inhibiting ABCG2 efflux function, thus increasing the cellular accumulation of the transporter substrate anticancer drugs. The findings advocated the combination use of rociletinib and other chemotherapeutic drugs in cancer patients with ABCG2-overexpressing MDR tumors.     

艳山姜挥发油通过调控巨噬细胞CD36和ABCA1表达抑制泡沫细胞的形成

目的:观察艳山姜挥发油对氧化低密度脂蛋白(ox-LDL)诱导巨噬细胞转化为泡沫细胞的抑制作用,并探索其机制。方法:使用佛波酯(PMA,100μg·L^-1)诱导人白血病单核细胞(THP-1)24 h后形成巨噬细胞,实验分为4组,分别为空白组(无血清RPMI 1640),模型组(80 mg·L^-1ox-LDL),艳山姜挥发油低剂量组(80 mg·L^-1ox-LDL+4μg·L^-1艳山姜挥发油),艳山姜挥发油高剂量组(80 g·L^-1ox-LDL+20μg·L^-1艳山姜挥发油)。噻唑蓝(MTT)比色法检测艳山姜挥发油对巨噬细胞的活性的影响,蛋白免疫印迹法(Western blot)检测巨噬细胞中白细胞分化抗原36(CD36)和三磷酸腺苷结合盒转运体A1(ABCA1)的表达,酶联免疫吸附测定(ELISA)检测巨噬细胞内胆固醇酯含量,油红O染色法检测巨噬细胞中脂质小滴的含量。结果:艳山姜挥发油对巨噬细胞无毒性。与空白组比较,模型组的巨噬细胞内脂滴和胆固醇酯的含量显著增加(P<0.01),CD36蛋白表达显著上升(P<0.01),ABCA1蛋白表达无显著变化;与模型组比较,艳山姜挥发油显著抑制巨噬细胞中脂滴和胆固醇酯的含量(P<0.01),下调CD36的蛋白表达(P<0.01),上调ABCA1蛋白的表达(P<0.01),艳山姜挥发油可抑制巨噬细胞向泡沫细胞的转化。结论:艳山姜挥发油对ox-LDL诱导的巨噬细胞向泡沫细胞的形成具有抑制作用,该药理作用与艳山姜挥发油下调巨噬细胞CD36和上调ABCA1蛋白的表达有关。     

NUDT15 is a key genetic factor for prediction of hematotoxicity in pediatric patients who received a standard low dosage regimen of 6-mercaptopurine

6-Mercaptopurine (6-MP) is commonly used for treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). The incidence of hematotoxicity caused by this drug is quite high in Asians even using a standard low dosage regimen. The present study was aimed to elucidate the impact of thiopurine S-methyltransferase (TPMT), a nucleoside diphosphate-linked moiety X-type motif 15 (NUDT15), inosine triphosphatase (ITPA) and ATP Binding Cassette Subfamily C Member 4 (ABCC4) polymorphisms on hematotoxicity in pediatric patients who received a standard low starting dose of 6-MP. One hundred and sixty-nine pediatric patients were enrolled and their genotypes were determined. Patients who carried NUDT15¹3 and NUDT15¹2 genotypes were at a 10–15 fold higher risk of severe neutropenia than those of the wild-type during the early months of the maintenance phase. Risk of neutropenia was not significantly increased in patients with other NUDT15 variants as well as in patients with TPMT, ITPA or ABCC4 variants. These results suggest that NUDT15 polymorphisms particularly, NUDT15¹3 and NUDT15¹2, play major roles in 6-MP-induced severe hematotoxicity even when using a standard low dosage of 6-MP and genotyping of these variants is necessary in order to obtain precise tolerance doses and avoid severe hematotoxicity in pediatric patients.     

SGLT2 inhibitors for the treatment of diabetes: a patent review (2013-2018)

Introduction: The sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) is ascribed to target renal tubular glucose re-absorption, and its inhibition has been proved to induce glucosuria which improves the glycemic index. Accordingly, SGLT2 inhibitors have found to be the promising class of antidiabetic agents for the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus. A large number of SGLT2 inhibitors have developed through structural modification and investigated for their ability to selectivity inhibit SGLT2 transporters with better bioavailability.

Areas covered: This review comprises a summary of patent applications (2013–2018) of SGLT2 inhibitors with focus on chemical structural advancement and therapeutic potentials in the management of diabetes and related disorders.

Expert opinion: SGLT2 inhibitors exert multiple metabolic benefits, including reduced glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), improved glycemic control (fasting and postprandial), reduced body weight, reduced systolic and diastolic blood pressure and improved HDL cholesterol. Due to the virtue of no interference with insulin action and secretion, their efficacy remains the same even in presence of progressive β cell failure in type 2 diabetes. Additionally, few members of this class have been reported to exhibit cardioprotective, renoprotective, and anticancer activity. However, more study on the long-term outcomes in patients taking SGLT2 inhibitors is warranted.