Evaluation of the Pharmacokinetics and Safety of AMG 986 Tablet and Capsule Formulations in Healthy Adult Subjects: A...

AMG 986 is a first-in-class, novel apelin receptor small molecule agonist initially developed for the treatment of heart failure. The current phase I study was conducted to evaluate the pharmacokinetics and safety of a single-dose 200-mg capsule formulation of AMG 986 relative to the tablet formulation in 12 healthy subjects.

In a two-period, two-way crossover design, eligible subjects were randomized 1:1 to tablet/capsule or capsule/tablet treatment sequences; each treatment sequence lasted for approximately 6 days and comprised six subjects.

Following a single oral dose of AMG 986, the geometric mean maximum observed concentration (C_max) values were 9670 ng/mL and 6920 ng/mL and the geometric mean area under the curve from time zero to 120 h (AUC_0-120h) values were 68,000 ng*h/mL and 59,900 ng*h/mL for the tablet and capsule, respectively. The geometric least squares means (90% confidence interval [90% CI]) for the ratios of capsule/tablet were 0.88 (90% CI 0.81-0.96) and 0.72 (90% CI 0.57-0.91) for AUC_0-120h and C_max, respectively. AMG 986 had an acceptable safety profile; all adverse events were grade 1 or 2 in severity.

There was a modest 12% decrease in AUC_0-120h and a 28% decrease in C_max with the AMG 986 capsule versus the tablet. These differences are not considered to be clinically relevant, suggesting the capsule formulation can be used in subsequent clinical studies of AMG 986.