RWJ-22108--a novel airway tissue--selective calcium channel blocker

RWJ-22108 is a novel calcium entry blocker that has potential therapeutic use as an antiasthmatic agent. Although displaying typical potent inhibition of 45Ca uptake into aortic rings (IC50 = 7.1 nM) and displacement of [3H]nitrendipine from cardiac membranes (IC50 = 137 nM), RWJ-22108 demonstrates tissue selectivity in the inhibition of KCl-induced contractions. RWJ-22108 inhibits the calcium-dependent contraction of canine bronchiolar smooth muscle with an IC50 of 5.7 nM. The IC50 femoral artery/IC50 bronchiolar ratios are 2.85, 8.02, 1.47 and 1.96 for nifedipine, RWJ-22108, verapamil, and gallopamil, respectively. Furthermore, this selectivity ratio (range 2.8-5.5) of RWJ-22108 is also observed when inhibition of other pulmonary and cardiovascular smooth muscles are compared. Using canine tracheal muscle and rabbit aortae, the IC50 aorta/IC50 trachea ratio is 1.75 for RWJ-22108 compared to approximately 0.5 for several calcium blocker standards. These results indicate that in vitro RWJ-22108 is a bronchoselective calcium channel blocker.