Austin Health

Title
A preliminary assessment of oral monepantel's tolerability and pharmacokinetics in individuals with treatment-refractory solid tumors.
Publication Date
2020-11
Author(s)
Mislang, Anna
Mollard, Richard
Tapia Rico, Gonzalo
Fairlie, Walter Douglas
Lee, Erinna F
Harris, Tiffany J
Aston, Roger
Brown, Michael P
Subject
Anthelmintic
Monepantel
Phase I study
Treatment-refractory cancer
Type of document
Journal Article
OrcId
0000-0002-5796-1932
DOI
10.1007/s00280-020-04146-5
Abstract
Monepantel is an approved veterinary anthelmintic with a strong safety profile. Preclinical evidence suggests novel mTOR pathway-associated anticancer activity. An open-label Phase I trial assessed tolerability, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and PET-CT imaging following oral Zolvix® monepantel administration to adults with treatment refractory, progressing and unresectable solid tumors. Subjects were scheduled to daily home-based monepantel administration for 28 days in a 3 + 3 dose escalation study (5.0, 25.0 and 62.5 mg/kg bw). Of 41 reported drug-related AEs, 68% were Grade 1 and 24% were Grade 2; 35 AEs related to gastrointestinal effects including very poor palatability. DLT and MTD could not be determined due to early termination. Myelosuppression was not observed at the lowest level tested. Three of four Cohort 1 subjects had reduced mTOR pathway marker p-RPS6KB1 levels in PBMCs and achieved RECISTv1.1 SD by CT; one had progressive bony metastases by FDG-PET. One subject recorded PD on day 28, correlating with no detectable plasma monepantel from day 7. Monepantel sulfone dominated monepantel in pharmacokinetics. Both Cohort 2 subjects withdrew early due to AEs and the trial was terminated. Short-term 5 mg/kg bw monepantel administration provides a combined steady-state trough plasma monepantel and monepantel sulfone concentration of 0.5 μM. Gastrointestinal AEs including very poor palatability are concerning and suggested to be resolved by future drug product reformulation. RECISTv1.1, p-RPS6KB1 and plasma tumor marker outcomes provide preliminary evidence of anticancer activity.
Link
Citation
Cancer Chemotherapy and Pharmacology 2020; 86(5): 589-594
Jornal Title
Cancer Chemotherapy and Pharmacology

Files:

NameSizeformatDescriptionLink