First-in-Man Safety, Tolerability, and Pharmacokinetics of a Novel and Highly Selective Inhibitor of Matrix Metalloproteinase-12, FP-025: Results from Two Randomized Studies in Healthy Subjects

Background and Objectives Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are proteases with different biological and pathological activities, and many have been linked to several diseases. Targeting individual MMPs may offer a safer therapeutic potential for several diseases. We assessed the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of FP-025, a novel, highly selective oral matrix metalloproteinase-12 inhibitor, in healthy subjects. Methods Two randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies were conducted. Study I was a first-in-man study, evaluating eight single ascending doses (SADs) (50–800 mg) in two formulations: i.e., neat FP-025 in capsule (API-in-Capsule) and in an amorphous solid dispersion (ASD-in-Capsule) formulation. In Study II, three multiple ascending doses (MADs) (100, 200, and 400 mg, twice daily) of FP-025 (ASD-in-Capsule) were administered for 8 days, including a food-effect evaluation. Results Ninety-six subjects were dosed. Both formulations were well tolerated with one adverse event (AE) reported in the 800 mg API-in-Capsule SAD group and seven AEs throughout the MAD groups. The exposure to FP-025 was low with the API-in-Capsule formulation; it increased dose-dependently with the ASD-in-Capsule formulation, with which exposure to FP-025 increased in a greater-than-dose-proportional manner at lower doses (≤ 100 mg) but less proportionally at higher doses. The elimination half-life ( t 1/2 ) was between 6 (Study I) and 8 h (Study II). Accumulation of FP-025 was approximately 1.7-fold in the MAD study. Food intake delayed the rate of absorption, but without effect in the extent of absorption or bioavailability. Conclusion FP-025 was well tolerated and showed a favorable pharmacokinetic profile following ASD-in-Capsule dosing. Efficacy studies in target patient populations, including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and pulmonary fibrosis, are warranted. Trial registration number : www.clinicaltrials.gov : NCT02238834 (Study I); NCT03304964 (Study II). Trial registration date : Study I was registered on 12 September 2014 while study II was registered on 9 October 2017.