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Abstract Nicotinamide N-methyltransferase (NNMT) is a metabolic regulator that catalyzes the methylation of nicotinamide (Nam) using the co-factor S-adenosyl-L-methionine to form 1-methyl-nicotinamide (MNA). Overexpression of NNMT and the presence of the active metabolite MNA is associated with a number of diseases including metabolic disorders. We conducted a high-throughput screening campaign that led to the identification of a tricyclic core as a potential NNMT small molecule inhibitor series. Elaborate medicinal chemistry efforts were undertaken and hundreds of analogs were synthesized to understand the structure activity relationship and structure property relationship of this tricyclic series. A lead molecule, JBSNF-000028, was identified that inhibits human and mouse NNMT activity, reduces MNA levels in mouse plasma, liver and adipose tissue, and drives insulin sensitization, glucose modulation and body weight reduction in a diet-induced obese mouse model of diabetes. The co-crystal structure showed that JBSNF-000028 binds below a hairpin structural motif at the nicotinamide pocket and stacks between Tyr-204 (from Hairpin) and Leu-164 (from central domain). JBSNF-000028 was inactive against a broad panel of targets related to metabolism and safety. Interestingly, the improvement in glucose tolerance upon treatment with JBSNF-000028 was also observed in NNMT knockout mice with diet-induced obesity, pointing towards the glucose-normalizing effect that may go beyond NNMT inhibition. JBSNF-000028 can be a potential therapeutic option for metabolic disorders and developmental studies are warranted.

A highly sensitive and selective high performance liquid chromatographic fluorescence detection method has been developed and validated for the quantification of rivastigmine in rat plasma and brain. Protein precipitation and one-step liquid-liquid extraction techniques were utilized for the extraction of RSM from brain and plasma, respectively, along with an internal standard. The chromatographic separation was achieved with a column inertsil ODS-3V and a mobile phase consisting of ammonium acetate buffer (20 mM, pH 4.5) and acetonitrile (76:24, v/v) delivered at a flow rate of 1 ml/min. The lower limit of quantitation for the developed method was 10 ng/mL for both matrices. The method was found to be accurate and reproducible and was successfully used to quantify levels of RSM in plasma and brain following intravenous administration of RSM in rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lipids are a complex and critical heterogeneous molecular entity, playing an intricate and key role in understanding biological activities and disease processes. Lipidomics aims to quantitatively define the lipid classes, including their molecular species. The analysis of the biological tissues and fluids are challenging due to the extreme sample complexity and occurrence of the molecular species as isomers or isobars. This review documents the overview of lipidomics workflow, beginning from the approaches of sample preparation, various analytical techniques and emphasizing the state-of-the-art mass spectrometry either by shotgun or coupled with liquid chromatography. We have considered the latest ion mobility spectroscopy technologies to deal with the vast number of structural isomers, different imaging techniques. All these techniques have their pitfalls and we have discussed how to circumvent them after reviewing the power of each technique with examples.., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest : Ramesh Mullangi is Vice President, Pre-clinical Biology & DMP at Laxai Life Sciences., (Copyright © 2021 by the authors.)

Aurora B plays critical role in the process of chromosome condensation and chromosome orientation during the regulation of mitosis. The overexpression of Aurora B has been observed in several tumor types. As a part of our ongoing effort to develop Aurora B inhibitors, herein, we described the design, synthesis and evaluation of phenyl/pyridine diazepine analogs. The diazepane aniline pyrimidine (4a) was identified as an initial hit (Aurora B IC 50 6.9 µM). Molecular modeling guided SAR optimization lead to the identification of 8-fluorobenzodiazepine (6c) with single digit nM potency (Aurora B IC 50 8 nM). In the antiproliferation assay 6c showed activity across the cell lines with IC 50 of 0.57, 0.42, and 0.69 µM for MCF-7, MDA-MB 231, and SkoV3 respectively. In the in vivo PK profile. 6c has shown higher bioavailability (73%) along with good exposure (AUC of 1360 ng.h/mL)., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Filgotinib is a selective JAK1 (Janus kinase) inhibitor, showed efficacy in patients suffering from moderate-to-severe rheumatoid arthritis. In this paper, we present the data on the development and validation of a sensitive, selective and high-throughput LC-MS/MS (liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry) method for the quantitation of filgotinib from rat dried blood spot (DBS) cards. To the DBS disc cards, 0.2% formic acid enriched with internal standard (IS) was added and sonicated. Thereafter the extraction of filgotinib and the IS (tofacitinib) was accomplished using ethyl acetate as an extraction solvent. The resolution of filgotinib and the IS was achieved on a Gemini C 18 column with an isocratic mobile phase, which is a mixture of 0.2% formic acid:acetonitrile (20:80, v/v) at a flow-rate of 0.9 mL/min. The total run time was 2.90 min and the retention time of filgotinib and the IS was ~1.31 and 0.89 min, respectively. Filgotinib and the IS were analyzed using positive ion scan mode and parent-daughter mass to charge ion (m/z) transition of 426.3→291.3 and m/z 313.2→149.2, respectively, for quantitation. The calibration range was 1.37-1937 ng/mL. No matrix effect and carry over were observed. All the validation parameters met the acceptance criteria. The validated method has been applied to a pharmacokinetic study in rats. A good correlation between DBS and plasma concentrations for filgotinib was observed., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest: The authors are scientists at Jubilant Biosys Ltd., (Copyright © 2020 by the authors.)

Copanlisib is a pan phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor approved for follicular lymphoma. In this paper, we present the data of development and validation of a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method for the quantitation of copanlisib in mice plasma as per the FDA regulatory guideline. The method involves the extraction of copanlisib along with internal standard (IS, enasidenib) from mice plasma (100 μL) using ethyl acetate as an extraction solvent. The chromatographic resolution of copanlisib and the IS was achieved on a Hypersil Gold C 18 column maintained at 40 °C using a binary gradient mobile phase [10 mM ammonium formate (pH 4.0) and acetonitrile]. The flow-rate was 0.8 mL/min. For the detection of copanlisib and the IS, the photo-diode array detector was set at λ max 310 nm. Copanlisib and the IS eluted at 6.60 and 7.80 min, respectively with a total run time of 10 min. The calibration curve was linear over a concentration range of 50 to 5000 ng/mL for copanlisib (r 2 ≥ 0.998). The results of intra- and inter-day accuracy and precision studies were within the acceptable limits. Copanlisib was stable on bench-top, in auto-sampler, up to three freeze/thaw cycle and long-term storage at -80 °C. The application of the validated method was shown in a mice pharmacokinetic study., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest: The authors are scientists at Jubilant Biosys Ltd., (Copyright © 2020 by the authors.)

Naringin (CAS no: 10236-47-2) is a flavonone glycoside obtained from Citrus paradisi (grapefruit), a natural bioenhancer and reported to enhance the bioavailability of drugs by inhibiting cytochrome P450 and P-glycoprotein (P-gp). The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of naringin on antihyperlipidemic properties of atorvastatin (AST) in tyloxapol induced hyperlipidemic rats and the effects were supported with measurement of plasma concentrations of AST by HPLC method. Animals received AST along with naringin (15 and 30 mg/kg) shown higher percent reduction in both cholesterol and triglycerides levels, when compared to animals received AST alone at dose of 25 and 50 mg/kg and it was found that the higher percent reduction in cholesterol and triglycerides was proportional to increase in plasma concentration of AST. From the results it is evident that the co-administration of naringin along with AST increased the plasma concentration of AST. The findings of the present study confirmed that naringin could be used as bioenhancer. The co-administration of AST and the diet with naringin (grapefruit) to the patients may potentiate the therapeutic efficacy of AST., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest: Ramesh Mullangi is vice president of JubilantBiosys., (Copyright © 2019 by the authors.)

A simple, selective and rapid LC-ESI-MS/MS method has been developed and validated for the quantification of ivosidenib in mice plasma using warfarin as an internal standard (I.S.) as per regulatory guideline. Sample preparation was accomplished through a simple protein precipitation process. Chromatography of ivosidenib and the I.S. was achieved on an Atlantis dC 18 column using an isocratic mobile phase comprising 0.2 % formic acid in water and acetonitrile (25:75, v/v) delivered at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min. LC-MS/MS was operated under the multiple reaction-monitoring mode (MRM) using the electrospray ionization technique in positive ion mode and the transitions of m/z 583.1→186.1 and m/z 309.2→251.3 were used to quantitate ivosidenib and the I.S, respectively. The total chromatographic run time was 2.0 min. Linearity was established in the concentration range of 1.10-3293 ng/mL (r 2 >0.99). The intra- and inter-day accuracy and precision for ivosidenib in mice plasma were in the range of 5.72-9.91 and 5.90-10.7 %, respectively. Ivosidenib was found to be stable on bench-top for 6 h, up to three freeze-thaw cycles, in in-injector for 24 h and for one month at -80 °C. The applicability of the validated method has been demonstrated in a mice pharmacokinetic study. Following intravenous (2 mg/kg) and oral (5 mg/kg) administration of ivosidenib to mice, concentrations were quantifiable up to 24 and 48 h, respectively. The bioavailability was 61 %., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest: The authors are scientists at JubilantBiosys., (Copyright © 2019 by the authors.)

Nicotinamide N-methyltransferase (NNMT) is a cytosolic enzyme that catalyzes the transfer of a methyl group from the co-factor S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM) onto the substrate, nicotinamide (NA) to form 1-methyl-nicotinamide (MNA). Higher NNMT expression and MNA concentrations have been associated with obesity and type-2 diabetes. Here we report a small molecule analog of NA, JBSNF-000088, that inhibits NNMT activity, reduces MNA levels and drives insulin sensitization, glucose modulation and body weight reduction in animal models of metabolic disease. In mice with high fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity, JBSNF-000088 treatment caused a reduction in body weight, improved insulin sensitivity and normalized glucose tolerance to the level of lean control mice. These effects were not seen in NNMT knockout mice on HFD, confirming specificity of JBSNF-000088. The compound also improved glucose handling in ob/ob and db/db mice albeit to a lesser extent and in the absence of weight loss. Co-crystal structure analysis revealed the presence of the N-methylated product of JBSNF-000088 bound to the NNMT protein. The N-methylated product was also detected in the plasma of mice treated with JBSNF-000088. Hence, JBSNF-000088 may act as a slow-turnover substrate analog, driving the observed metabolic benefits.

Objectives: Daucus carota L.(DC) commonly known as carrot, folkorically used as ethnomedicine to treat nephrosis and other urinary disorders. Hence, the present study was aimed to investigate the nephroprotective effects of ethanolic root extract of DC against gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity in Albino Wistar rats., Methods: Nephrotoxicity in rats was induced by intraperitoneal administration of gentamicin (100 mg/kg/day) for 8 days. Rats of either sex were divided into four groups (n = 6). Group 1 served as control that received normal saline (i.p.) whereas Group 2 (GM) was treated with gentamicin which served as gentamicin-intoxicated group. Group 3-4 (DC200, DC 400) were pretreated with DC at doses of 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg (p.o.), respectively, 1 h before the gentamicin intoxication. Following treatment, the nephroprotective effects of DC were evaluated by using serum levels of urea, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), uric acid, and creatinine levels; change in body weight and wet kidney weight along with the histological observations among the experimental groups., Results: Gentamicin intoxication induced elevated serum urea, BUN, uric acid, and creatinine levels which was found to be significantly (P < 0.01) decreased in a dose-dependent manner in groups received DC which was also evidenced by the histological observations., Conclusion: DC showed a significant nephroprotective effect in a dose-dependent manner by ameliorating the gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity and thus authenticates its ethnomedicinal use.

Purpose: The purpose of this exercise was to explore the utility of allometric scaling approach for the prediction of intravenous and oral pharmacokinetics of six dipeptidy peptidase-IV (DPP-IV) inhibitors viz. ABT-279, ABT-341, alogliptin, carmegliptin, sitagliptin and vildagliptin., Methods: The availability of intravenous and oral pharmacokinetic data in animals enabled the allometry scaling of 6 DPP-IV inhibitors. The relationship between the main pharmacokinetic parameters [viz. volume of distribution (Vd) and clearance (CL)] and body weight was studied across three or four mammalian species, using double logarithmic plots to predict the human pharmacokinetic parameters of CL and Vd using simple allometry., Results: A simply allometry relationship: Y = aWb was found to be adequate for the prediction of intravenous and oral human clearance/volume of distribution for DPP-IV inhibitors. The allometric equations for alogliptin, carmegliptin, sitagliptin, vildagliptin, ABT-279 and ABT-341 were 1.867W0.780, 1.170W0.756, 2.020W0.529, 1.959 W0.847, 0.672 W1.016, 1.077W 0.649, respectively, to predict intravenous clearance (CL) and the corresponding equations to predict intravenous volume of distribution (Vd) were: 3.313W0.987, 6.096W0.992, 7.140W0.805, 2.742W0.941, 1.299W0.695 and 5.370W0.803. With the exception of a few discordant values the exponent rule appeared to hold for CL (0.75) and Vd (1.0) for the predictions of various DPP-IV inhibitors. Regardless of the routes, the predicted values were within 2-3 fold of observed values and intravenous allometry was better than oral allometry., Conclusion: Simple allometry retrospectively predicted with reasonable accuracy the human reported values of gliptins and could be used as a prospective tool for this class of drugs.

Bioanalysis is an important aspect of drug discovery process regardless of the chosen therapeutic area. There is a general misconception that bioanalysis is seldom important during the drug discovery process because there is no scrutiny of the data from a regulatory perspective. However, bioanalytical data gathered during the discovery stage enable several key decision(s) inclusive of termination of the program and/or creating adequate differentiation from the lead competitive molecules. The review covers various stage gate screens and experimental designs where bioanalytical data are extensively used for making an informed decision during the process of drug discovery.

Background: A highly sensitive, specific and rapid LC-ESI-MS/MS method has been developed and validated for simultaneous quantification of amlodipine (AMD) and atenolol (ATL) in human plasma (200 µl) using AMD-d4 and ATL-d7, respectively, as an internal standard (IS) as per the regulatory guidelines., Results: The SPE method was used to extract the analytes and IS from human plasma. The chromatographic resolution of AMD, ATL and corresponding IS was achieved using an isocratic flow on a C18 column. The total chromatographic run time was 3 min. A linear response function was established for the range of concentrations 50-8000 pg/ml and 10-800 ng/ml for AMD and ATL, respectively, in human plasma., Conclusion: The intra- and inter-day accuracy and precision values for AMD and ATL met the acceptance as per regulatory guidelines. The validated assay was applied to a fixed-dose combination of AMD and ATL (Adopin-AT(®)) PK study in humans.

The aim of the study was to develop and evaluate a self--emulsifying drug delivery system (SEDDS) formulation to improve solubility and dissolution and to enhance systemic exposure of a BCS class II anthelmetic drug, albendazole (ABZ). In the present study, solubility of ABZ was determined in various oils, surfactants and co-surfactants to identify the microemulsion components. Pseudoternary phase diagrams were plotted to identify the microemulsification existence area. SEDDS formulation of ABZ was prepared using oil (Labrafac Lipopfile WL1349) and a surfactant/co-surfactant (Tween 80/PEG 400) mixture and was characterized by appropriate studies, viz., microemulsifying properties, droplet size measurement, in vitro dissolution, etc. Finally, PK of the ABZ SEDDS formulation was performed on rats in parallel with suspension formulation. It was concluded that the SEDDS formulation approach can be used to improve the dissolution and systemic exposure of poorly water-soluble drugs such as ABZ.