NCT00769119.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and effect on clinical outcomes and biomarkers of inflammation and tissue damage of the neutrophil elastase inhibitor AZD9668 (60 mg twice daily orally for 4 weeks) in cystic fibrosis.This was a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Primary outcome measures were sputum neutrophil count, lung function, 24-h sputum weight, BronkoTest1 diary card data and health-related quality-of-life (revised cystic fibrosis quality-of-life questionnaire). Secondary end-points included sputum neutrophil elastase activity, inflammatory biomarkers in sputum and blood, urine and plasma desmosine (an elastin degradation marker), AZD9668 levels and safety parameters (adverse events, routine haematology, biochemistry, electrocardiogram and sputum bacteriology).56 patients were randomised, of which 27 received AZD9668. There was no effect for AZD9668 on sputum neutrophil counts, neutrophil elastase activity, lung function or clinical outcomes, including quality of life. In the AZD9668 group, there was a trend towards reduction in sputum inflammatory biomarkers with statistically significant changes in interleukin-6, RANTES and urinary desmosine. The pattern of adverse events was similar between groups.Consistent reductions in sputum inflammatory biomarkers were seen in the AZD9668 group, and reduction in urinary desmosine suggests that AZD9668 impacts elastin cleavage by neutrophil elastase.

AimsThe primary objectives of the present study were to establish whether there was a pharmacokinetic or pharmacodynamic interaction between the probe drugs caffeine (CYP1A2), tolbutamide (CYP2C9), debrisoquine (CYP2D6), chlorzoxazone (CYP2E1) and midazolam (CYP3A4), when administered in combination as a cocktail. Furthermore, the tolerability of these probe drugs, both alone and in combination as a cocktail was assessed. MethodsTwelve healthy volunteer subjects (age range 22-48 years) were entered into an open, fixed sequence, 6-limb, single centre study. The randomization was such that all drugs were given individually followed by the full 'cocktail' as the last treatment limb. The phenotypic index used to assess the intrinsic activity of the CYP isoforms included metabolite/parent ratios in plasma and urine (CYPs 1A2, 2E1 & 2C9), parent/metabolite ratios in urine (CYP2D6) and plasma AUC last (CYP3A4). Blood pressure and blood glucose measurements were used to assess pharmacodynamic interactions. Tolerability was assessed through reporting of adverse events. ResultsOverall, there was little evidence that the probe drugs interacted metabolically when co-administered as the cocktail. The ratio of the geometric mean (and 90% confidence interval) of the phenotypic index, obtained after administration of the probe as part of the cocktail and when given alone were: caffeine, 0.86 (0.67-1.10), midazolam, 0.96 (0.74-1.24), tolbutamide, 0.86 (0.72-1.03), debrisoquine 1.04 (0.97-1.12) and chlorzoxazone, 0.95 (0.86-1.05). There was no difference in blood pressure and blood glucose concentrations following the cocktail and dosing of the individual probes. There was no effect on ECG recordings at any time-point. The adverse events reported for individual drug administrations were mild, transient and expected. Overall no more adverse events were reported on the cocktail study days than on the days when the drugs were administered alone. ConclusionsThe five probe drugs when coadministered, in this dosing regimen, demonstrated no evidence of either a metabolic or pharmacodynamic interaction that might confound the conclusions drawn during a cocktail study. The present cocktail methodology has the potential to become a useful tool to aid the detection of clinically impor tant drugdrug interactions during drug development. Assessment of the interactions of five co-administered probe drugsBr J Clin Pharmacol 57:2 163