Comparison of the pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and tolerability of tezosentan between caucasian and Japanese subjects

AIM: To investigate the pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and tolerability of the dual endothelin receptor antagonist tezosentan in caucasian and Japanese subjects. METHODS: Twelve subjects of each ethnic origin were treated in a double-blind, randomized design with sequential 3-h infusions of 2.5, 5.0, 12.5 and 25 mg h(-1), or placebo. Vital signs, ECG and adverse events were recorded and blood samples collected for determination of plasma concentrations of tezosentan and endothelin-1 (ET-1). RESULTS: Tezosentan was well tolerated in both ethnic groups with no clinically significant differences in laboratory measurements, ECG parameters and vital signs. The plasma concentration-time profiles of tezosentan were described by a three-compartment model with half-lives of approximately 5 min, 41 min and 3.6 h. Mean clearance and volume of distribution were approximately 35 l h(-1) and 20 l, respectively. Differences in the means (95% confidence intervals) between ethnic groups in these two parameters were 6.0 l h(-1) (-1.3, 13.3) and 4.3 l (-1.3, 9.9), respectively. Baseline ET-1 concentrations were similar but increases in response to tezosentan were greater in caucasian than in Japanese subjects. An indirect response model described the relationship between tezosentan and ET-1 plasma concentrations. The mean concentrations inhibiting 50% of ET-1 clearance (IC(50)) in caucasian and Japanese subjects were 243 and 227 ng ml(-1), respectively, with a difference in the means of 28.6 ng ml(-1) (-52.7, 110). CONCLUSIONS: The data in healthy subjects suggest that caucasian and Japanese patients can be treated with a similar dosing regimen of tezosentan.