Recent Publications - Tuberculosis

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:

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:

Viral Hepatitis

Predicting drug-drug interactions between rifampicin and long-acting cabotegravir and rilpivirine using PBPK modelling

Date:

12/19/18

Citation:

Rajoli RKR, Curley P, Chiong J, et al. Predicting drug-drug interactions between rifampicin and long-acting cabotegravir and rilpivirine using PBPK modelling. J Infect Dis. 2019 May 5;219(11):1735-1742. doi: 10.1093/infdis/jiy726. PMID: 30566691; PMCID: PMC6500558.

Cabotegravir and rilpivirine are two long-acting (LA) ARVs that can be administered intramuscularly (IM); their interaction with rifampicin, a first-line anti-TB agent, has not been investigated. The aim of this study was to simulate and predict DDIs between these LA ARV agents and rifampicin using PBPK modelling.

Health Topics:

Long-acting injectables for tuberculosis prophylaxis and treatment: is now the time?

Date:

8/17/18

Citation:

Dooley KE. Long-acting injectables for tuberculosis prophylaxis and treatment: is now the time? Int J Tuberc Lung Dis. 2018 Aug 1;22(8):833-34. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5588/ijtld.18.0411.

Tuberculosis (TB) is a wily and enduring foe, responsible for 1 billion deaths in the last 200 years. With the introduction of antibiotics active against Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the 1950s, TB disease could finally be cured with multidrug therapy. TB drugs must still be given for months, generally via directly observed therapy, which is intrusive, expensive, and inconvenient.

Health Topics:

LA/ER Implantable Therapy

Modelling the long-acting administration of anti-tuberculosis agents using PBPK: a proof of concept study

Date:

8/17/18

Citation:

Rajoli RKR, PodanyAT, Moss DM, et al. Modelling the long-acting administration of anti-tuberculosis agents using PBPK: a proof of concept study. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis. 2018 Aug 1;22(8):937-944. PMID: 29991405; PMCID: PMC6166436.

SETTING:
Anti-tuberculosis formulations necessitate uninterrupted treatment to cure tuberculosis (TB), but are characterised by suboptimal adherence, which jeopardises therapeutic efficacy. Long-acting injectable (LAI) formulations or implants could address these associated issues.

OBJECTIVE:
niazid, rifapentine, bedaquiline and delamanid—in adults for treatment for latent tuberculous infection (LTBI).

Health Topics:

Long-acting formulations for the treatment of latent tuberculous infection: opportunities and challenges

Date:

2/15/18

Citation:

Swindells S, Siccardi M, Barrett SE, et al. Long-acting formulations for the treatment of latent tuberculous infection: opportunities and challenges. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis. 2018 Feb 1; 22(2): 125–132. PMID: 29506608; PMCID: PMC6103451.

Long-acting/extended-release drug formulations have proved very successful in diverse areas of medicine, including contraception, psychiatry and, most recently, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease. Though challenging, application of this technology to anti-tuberculosis treatment could have substantial impact.

Health Topics: