Pharmacokinetics, Mass Balance, Tissue Distribution and Metabolism of [¹⁴C]101BHG-D01, a Novel Muscarinic Receptor Antagonist, in Rats

Background 101BHG-D01, a novel long-acting and selective muscarinic receptor antagonist for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), is undergoing Phase Ib clinical trial in patients and has shown its potential efficacy. Its preparation method and medical use thereof have been patented in the United States (Patent No.US9751875B2). Objective In this study, the pharmacokinetics, mass balance, tissue distribution and metabolism of radioactive 101BHG-D01 were investigated in rats after an intravenous dose of 1 mg/kg [C-14]101BHG-D01 (100 mu Ci/kg). Methods Radioactivity in rat plasma, urine, feces, and tissues was measured by liquid scintillation counting (LSC), and metabolite profiling and identification were conducted by UHPLC-beta-RAM and UHPLC-Q-Exactive Plus MS. Results The total radioactivity of the study drug in rat plasma rapidly declined with an average terminal elimination half-life of 0.35 h. The radioactivity in most tissues reached the maximum concentration at 0.25 h post-dosing. The radioactivity mainly concentrated in the kidney and pancreas. The drug-related substances tended to be distributed into the blood cells in the circulation. At 168 h post dosing, the mean recovery of the total radioactivity in urine and feces was 78.82%. Fecal excretion was the major excretion route, accounting for approximately 61% of the radioactive dose. The study drug was metabolized extensively, and a total of 17 metabolites were identified in rat plasma, urine, and feces. The major metabolic pathways involved oxidation, oxidation and dehydrogenation, and O-dephenylation. Conclusion In conclusion, the study results are useful for better understanding the pharmacokinetic profiles of 101BHG-D01 and provide a robust foundation for subsequent clinical studies.