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Updated: Oct 1, 2025

An Intestine/Liver Microphysiological System for Drug Pharmacokinetic and Toxicological Assessment
Published on: December 3, 2020
Effect of Mild and Moderate Hepatic Impairment (Defined by Child-Pugh Classification and National Cancer Institute
Hamim Zahir1, Jonathan Greenberg1, Ching Hsu1
1Daiichi Sankyo, Inc., Basking Ridge, New Jersey, USA.
Insights
Pexidartinib pharmacokinetics were studied in patients with hepatic impairment. Pexidartinib exposure was similar, but metabolite ZAAD-1006a exposure increased significantly in mild to moderate hepatic impairment.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology
- Drug Metabolism
- Clinical Pharmacology
Background:
- Pexidartinib is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor targeting CSF1R.
- Extensive hepatic metabolism suggests potential for altered pharmacokinetics in hepatic impairment.
- ZAAD-1006a is the primary metabolite in human plasma.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the pharmacokinetics of pexidartinib and its metabolite ZAAD-1006a in subjects with mild and moderate hepatic impairment (HI).
- To inform dose recommendations for pexidartinib in patients with hepatic impairment.
Main Methods:
- Two Phase 1, open-label studies (PL3397-A-U123 and PL3397-A-U129) were conducted.
- Single 200-mg dose of pexidartinib administered to subjects with mild/moderate HI and matched healthy controls.
- Hepatic impairment assessed by Child-Pugh classification and NCI-ODWG criteria.
Main Results:
- Pexidartinib exposure (Cmax, AUC) was similar between HI groups and healthy controls based on Child-Pugh classification.
- ZAAD-1006a AUC increased by 27-48% in mild to moderate HI subjects (Child-Pugh).
- Pexidartinib AUC increased by 42-46% and ZAAD-1006a AUC by 70-79% in moderate HI subjects (NCI-ODWG).
Conclusions:
- Hepatic impairment leads to increased exposure of the pexidartinib metabolite ZAAD-1006a.
- Dose adjustments may be necessary for pexidartinib in patients with hepatic impairment.
- Findings support the development of specific dosing guidelines for pexidartinib in HI populations.
Abstract:
Pexidartinib is a novel oral small-molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitor targeting the colony-stimulating factor 1 receptor. Pexidartinib undergoes extensive hepatic metabolism via multiple cytochrome P450 and uridine 5'-diphospho-glucuronosyl transferase enzymes, with ZAAD-1006a as the only major metabolite in human plasma. As pexidartinib is extensively metabolized, hepatic impairment (HI) could lead to increased exposure to pexidartinib. The objective of the two phase 1, open-label studies was to determine the pharmacokinetics of pexidartinib after a single 200-mg dose in subjects with mild and moderate HI, based on Child-Pugh classification (PL3397-A-U123: 8 mild HI and 8 moderate HI vs 16 matched healthy controls) and National Cancer Institute Organ Dysfunction Working Group (NCI-ODWG) criteria (PL3397-A-U129: 8 moderate HI versus 8 matched healthy controls [NCT04223635]). Based on Child-Pugh classification, exposure to pexidartinib (maximum observed concentration [Cmax ], area under the plasma concentration-time curve up to the last measurable concentration [AUClast ], and extrapolated to infinity [AUCinf ]) was similar in subjects with mild and moderate HI and in respective matched healthy controls, whereas ZAAD-1006a exposure (AUC) was approximately 27% to 28% and 41% to 48% higher in mild and moderate HI, respectively. According to NCI-ODWG criteria, total pexidartinib exposure was 42% to 46% higher in subjects with moderate HI, compared with healthy controls, and total ZAAD-1006a exposure was 70% to 79% higher for subjects with moderate HI, compared with matched healthy controls with normal hepatic function. These findings were used to develop appropriate dose recommendations in patients with hepatic impairment.
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