Nebulized MIDD0301 Reduces Airway Hyperresponsiveness in Moderate and Severe Murine Asthma Models

We report the relaxation of methacholine-constricted airways with nebulized MIDD0301, a positive allosteric γ-aminobutyric acid type A receptor (GABA_AR) modulator. The therapeutic efficacy of nebulized MIDD0301 in reducing airway resistance was investigated in spontaneous breathing mice using a whole-body plethysmograph and in unconscious mice using a forced oscillation technique. Prophylactic nebulized MIDD0301 reduced subsequent methacholine-induced bronchoconstriction in ovalbumin and house dust mite allergic asthma models and in normal mice. Nebulized MIDD0301 exhibited comparable or better therapeutic potency compared to nebulized albuterol and oral montelukast. Prophylactic nebulized MIDD0301 was also effective in reducing bronchoconstriction, comparable to nebulized albuterol or fluticasone, in a steroid resistant asthma mouse model induced by intratracheal installation of lipopolysaccharide and interferon-gamma. Oral dexamethasone was ineffective in this model. Nebulized MIDD0301 was also effective in reversing bronchospasm when dosed after methacholine challenge comparable to albuterol. Pharmacokinetic studies showed that about 0.06% of nebulized MIDD0301 entered the mouse lung when using a whole body plethysmograph and therapeutic levels were sustained in the lung for at least 25 min. Consistent with previous reports on orally dosed MIDD0301, high doses of nebulized MIDD0301 resulted in minimal brain exposure and thus no observable adverse sensorimotor or respiratory depression effects occurred. In addition, no adverse cardiovascular effects were observed following 100 mg/kg i.p. dosing. These results further demonstrate that charged imidazodiazepine MIDD0301 can selectively target lung GABA_AR without adverse motor, cardiovascular, or respiratory effects and inhaled dosing is effective in reducing bronchoconstriction in allergen and infectious lung inflammation.