Recent Publications

Exploration into the opinions of patients with HIV, healthcare professionals and the lay public of the use of microneedles in clinical practice: highlighting the translational potential for their role in HIV infection

Date: 
9/18/20
Citation: 

Moffatt K, Quinn C, McCague PJ, Donnelly RF. Exploration into the opinions of patients with HIV, healthcare professionals and the lay public of the use of microneedles in clinical practice: highlighting the translational potential for their role in HIV infection. Drug Deliv Transl Res. 2020 Sep 18. doi: 10.1007/s13346-020-00848-8. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 32946042.

Poor adherence to oral antiretroviral therapy (ART) remains an important challenge in the treatment of HIV. Microneedles (MN) potentially could offer a non-invasive long-acting (LA) delivery approach, avoiding the need for daily dosing of ART. However, this claim has yet to be explored amongst its potential end-users. The aim of this mixed methods study was to investigate the perspectives from various end-users surrounding the translation of MN technology to general clinical practice, with a particular focus on delivery of ART. Quantitative postal questionnaires were distributed amongst healthcare professionals (HCPs) and the lay public (LP). A total of 208 responses were obtained (HCP, 69; LP, 139), with a completion rate of 34.7%. The consensus on MN technology was positive from both demographics (HCP, 97.1%; LP, 98.6%), with further strong support of postulated MN use within HIV (HCP, 97.1%; LP, 98.6%). 

Health Topics: 
HIV

    A year-long extended release nanoformulated cabotegravir prodrug

    Date: 
    8/15/20
    Citation: 

    Kulkarni TA, Bade AN, Sillman B, et al. A year-long extended release nanoformulated cabotegravir prodrug. Nat Mater. 2020;19(8):910-920. doi:10.1038/s41563-020-0674-z

    Long-acting cabotegravir (CAB) extends antiretroviral drug administration from daily to monthly. However, dosing volumes, injection site reactions and health-care oversight are obstacles towards a broad usage. The creation of poloxamer-coated hydrophobic and lipophilic CAB prodrugs with controlled hydrolysis and tissue penetrance can overcome these obstacles. To such ends, fatty acid ester CAB nanocrystal prodrugs with 14, 18 and 22 added carbon chains were encased in biocompatible surfactants named NMCAB, NM2CAB and NM3CAB and tested for drug release, activation, cytotoxicity, antiretroviral activities, pharmacokinetics and biodistribution.

    Health Topics: 
    HIV
    LA/ER Injectable Therapy
    Tuberculosis

      Translating Cell and Gene Biopharmaceutical Products for Health and Market Impact. Product Scaling From Clinical to Marketplace: Lessons Learned and Future Outlook

      Date: 
      8/15/20
      Citation: 

      Bak A, Friis KP, Wu Y, Ho RJY. Translating Cell and Gene Biopharmaceutical Products for Health and Market Impact. Product Scaling From Clinical to Marketplace: Lessons Learned and Future Outlook. J Pharm Sci. 2019 Oct;108(10):3169-3175. doi: 10.1016/j.xphs.2019.05.027. Epub 2019 May 29. PMID: 31150697.

      Cell and gene therapies have the potential to be curative for severe disease states such as cancer or incurable orphan genetic diseases. Despite the promise, there are only few such therapies available, although more are appearing in pharmaceutical pipelines. A major culprit limiting a fast translation from preclinical research to the clinic and the market is chemistry, manufacturing and control. The root cause is that most cell and gene therapies currently are personalized in form of ex vivo manipulated cells. This approach stands in sharp contrast to the population-based approach seen for small molecules and protein therapeutics. Therefore, it warrants a different approach to product manufacturing, testing, release, regulatory submissions, and product distribution.

        Controlled Solvent Removal from Antiviral Drugs and Excipients in Solution Enables the Formation of Novel Combination Multi-Drug-Motifs in Pharmaceutical Powders Composed of Lopinavir, Ritonavir and Tenofovir

        Date: 
        8/10/20
        Citation: 

        Yu J, Yu D, Lane S, McConnachie L, Ho RJY. Controlled Solvent Removal from Antiviral Drugs and Excipients in Solution Enables the Formation of Novel Combination Multi-Drug-Motifs in Pharmaceutical Powders Composed of Lopinavir, Ritonavir and Tenofovir. J Pharm Sci. 2020 Aug 10:S0022-3549(20)30434-2. doi: 10.1016/j.xphs.2020.08.003. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 32791073.

        Diverging physicochemical properties of HIV drug combinations are challenging to formulate as a single dosage form. We have found that 2-to-4 hydrophilic and hydrophobic HIV drugs in combination can be stabilized with lipid excipients under a controlled solvent removal process to form a novel pharmaceutical powder distinct from typical amorphous material. This discovery has enabled production of a drug combination nanoparticle (DcNP) powder composed of 3 HIV drugs-water-insoluble lopinavir (LogP = 4.7) and ritonavir (LogP = 5.6) and water-soluble tenofovir (LogP = -1.6). 

        Health Topics: 
        HIV

          Integrated Multi-stakeholder Systems Thinking Strategy: Decision-making with Biopharmaceutics Risk Assessment Roadmap (BioRAM) to Optimize Clinical Performance of Drug Products

          Date: 
          7/27/20
          Citation: 

          Selen A, Müllertz A, Kesisoglou F, Ho RJY, Cook JA, Dickinson PA, Flanagan T. Integrated Multi-stakeholder Systems Thinking Strategy: Decision-making with Biopharmaceutics Risk Assessment Roadmap (BioRAM) to Optimize Clinical Performance of Drug Products. AAPS J. 2020 Jul 27;22(5):97. doi: 10.1208/s12248-020-00470-z. PMID: 32719954.

          Decision-making in drug development benefits from an integrated systems approach, where the stakeholders identify and address the critical questions for the system through carefully designed and performed studies. Biopharmaceutics Risk Assessment Roadmap (BioRAM) is such a systems approach for application of systems thinking to patient focused and timely decision-making, suitable for all stages of drug discovery and development. We described the BioRAM therapy-driven drug delivery framework, strategic roadmap, and integrated risk assessment instrument (BioRAM Scoring Grid) in previous publications (J Pharm Sci 103:3377-97, 2014; J Pharm Sci 105:3243-55, 2016).

            Pharmacokinetics, Safety and Tolerability of Long-Acting Parenteral Intramuscular Injection Formulations of Doravirine

            Date: 
            6/5/20
            Citation: 

            Yee KL, Mittal S, Fan L, et al. Pharmacokinetics, safety and tolerability of long-acting parenteral intramuscular injection formulations of doravirine [published online ahead of print, 2020 Jun 5]. J Clin Pharm Ther. 2020;10.1111/jcpt.13182. doi:10.1111/jcpt.13182. PMID: 32501541.

            Doravirine is a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor indicated for the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 infection. This phase 1 study in healthy adults investigated the pharmacokinetics, safety and tolerability of long-acting parenteral (LAP) microsuspension formulations of doravirine administered as an intramuscular (IM) injection.

            Health Topics: 
            HIV
            LA/ER Injectable Therapy

              The Potential Impact of Long-Acting Cabotegravir for HIV Prevention in South Africa: A Mathematical Modelling Study

              Date: 
              6/3/20
              Citation: 

              Smith JA, Garnett GP, Hallett TB. The Potential Impact of Long-Acting Cabotegravir for HIV Prevention in South Africa: A Mathematical Modelling Study. J Infect Dis. 2020 Jun 3. pii: jiaa296. doi: 10.1093/infdis/jiaa296. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 32492704.

              Although effective, some oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) users face barriers to adherence using daily pills, which could be reduced by long-acting formulations. Long-acting cabotegravir (CAB LA) is a potential new injectable formulation for HIV PrEP being tested in Phase III trials.

              Health Topics: 
              HIV
              LA/ER Injectable Therapy
              Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP)

                Development of a long-acting direct-acting antiviral system for hepatitis C virus treatment in swine

                Date: 
                6/2/20
                Citation: 

                Verma M, Chu JN, Salama JAF, et al. Development of a long-acting direct-acting antiviral system for hepatitis C virus treatment in swine. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2020;117(22):11987-11994. doi:10.1073/pnas.2004746117

                Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a leading cause of cirrhosis worldwide and kills more Americans than 59 other infections, including HIV and tuberculosis, combined. While direct-acting antiviral (DAA) treatments are effective, limited uptake of therapy, particularly in high-risk groups, remains a substantial barrier to eliminating HCV. We developed a long-acting DAA system (LA-DAAS) capable of prolonged dosing and explored its cost-effectiveness. We designed a retrievable coil-shaped LA-DAAS compatible with nasogastric tube administration and the capacity to encapsulate and release gram levels of drugs while resident in the stomach. We formulated DAAs in drug-polymer pills and studied the release kinetics for 1 mo in vitro and in vivo in a swine model. The LA-DAAS was equipped with ethanol and temperature sensors linked via Bluetooth to a phone application to provide patient engagement. 

                Health Topics: 
                HIV
                Tuberculosis
                Viral Hepatitis

                  Addressing the global burden of hepatitis B virus while developing long-acting injectables for the prevention and treatment of HIV

                  Date: 
                  6/1/20
                  Citation: 

                  Bollinger RC, Thio CL, Sulkowski MS, McKenzie-White J, Thomas DL, Flexner C. Addressing the global burden of hepatitis B virus while developing long-acting injectables for the prevention and treatment of HIV. Lancet HIV. 2020 Jun;7(6):e443-e448. doi: 10.1016/S2352-3018(19)30342-X. Epub 2019 Dec 20. PMID: 31870675; PMCID: PMC7376366.

                  The first long-acting formulations of HIV drugs are undergoing regulatory review for use in maintenance of viral suppression in people with HIV. Although these novel drug formulations could contribute greatly to HIV treatment and prevention efforts, their lack of activity against hepatitis B virus (HBV) could limit their global impact, particularly in populations with high burdens of both HIV and HBV.

                  Health Topics: 
                  HIV
                  LA/ER Injectable Therapy
                  Viral Hepatitis

                    Predicting pharmacokinetics of a tenofovir alafenamide subcutaneous implant using PBPK modelling

                    Date: 
                    5/18/20
                    Citation: 

                    Rajoli RKR, Demkovich ZR, Flexner C, Owen A, Siccardi M. Predicting pharmacokinetics of a tenofovir alafenamide subcutaneous implant using PBPK modelling. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2020 May 18:AAC.00155-20. doi: 10.1128/AAC.00155-20. PMID: 32423957.

                    Long-acting (LA) administration using a subcutaneous (SC) implant presents opportunities to simplify administration of antiretroviral drugs, improve pharmacological (PK) profile and overcome sub-optimal adherence associated with daily oral formulations. Tenofovir alafenamide (TAF) is a highly potent nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI) and an attractive agent for LA delivery, with a high potency and long intracellular half-life. The aim of this study was to predict minimum TAF doses required to achieve concentrations effective for HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). Daily drug-release requirements were then ascertained by averaging across the dosing interval.

                    Health Topics: 
                    HIV
                    LA/ER Implantable Therapy

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