Metabolic Activation of Pirfenidone Mediated by Cytochrome P450s and Sulfotransferases

Pirfenidone is approved for the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Idiosyncratic drug reactions, due to clinical application of pirfenidone, have been documented, even along with death cases resulting from acute liver failure. The present study aimed at the investigation of metabolic activation of pirfenidone possibly participating in the reported adverse reactions. Pirfenidone-derived glutathione/N-acetylcysteine (GSH/NAC) conjugates were detected in microsomal/primary hepatocyte incubations after exposure to pirfenidone. The GSH/NAC conjugates were also observed in bile and urine of rats given pirfenidone, respectively. The observation of the conjugates suggests the formation of a quinone methide intermediate derived from pirfenidone. The intermediate was possibly generated through two pathways. First, pirfenidone was directly metabolized to the quinone methide intermediate via dehydrogenation; second, pirfenidone was oxidized to 5-hydroxymethyl pirfenidone, followed by sulfation to a benzyl alcohol-sulfate derivative. The findings facilitate the understanding of the mechanisms of pirfenidone-induced idiosyncratic toxicity and assist medicinal chemists to minimize toxicities in the development of new pharmaceutical agents.