What a proud moment – behold the magic of cyclodextrins!

Our long-time friends and partners at Cyclarity Unveil First-Ever Clinical Data Demonstrating Excretion of Oxidized Cholesterol

Daniel Clemens recently presented the first data from Cyclarity Therapeutics‘ ongoing Phase I trial with UDP-003
Key highligths:

1. Safe excretion of 7KC (7-keto-cholesterol), a core driver of plaque associated with heart disease, stroke, inflammation, and age-related diseases, in humans suggests medicine could move beyond slowing heart disease to disease-modifying plaque reversal

2. First candidate from Cyclarity’s AI Platform reinforces promise of next-generation cyclodextrins to reverse disease and protect against future accumulation of harmful molecules and aging pathologies

Cyclarity’s UDP-003 binds directly to 7KC, the root cause of plaque buildup, then facilitates urinary excretion of it. Much like removing rust from metal, this approach directly targets a key source of damage within plaque with the goal of reversing and preventing atherosclerosis, a primary underlying cause of cardiovascular disease, and does so locally within the plaque to reduce risks of unintended systemic effects.

Plaque reversal is significant because research suggests that even a 1% reduction in coronary plaque burden has been associated with up to 25% lower risk of major cardiovascular events, such as heart attack or stroke.

In parallel, they are preparing for the launch of our Phase 2 trial, expected to kick off in early 2027.

Cyclarity Therapeutics is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company engineering cyclodextrin molecules into simple, scalable, and affordable therapies that bind and remove toxic targets to address root causes of age-related disease.

Read the full story here: Cyclarity Unveils First-Ever Clinical Data Demonstrating

Synergistic effect of cyclodextrins and electrolytes at high concentrations on protein aggregation inhibition

Today’s cyclodextrin is about preventing protein aggregation.

I have posted a lot about how CDs can interact with proteins, CarboHyde even shared an educative deck on this earlier: CDs_in_protein_formulations.pdf

The research below from Kobe University and synplogen adds a new feature to this knowledge via exploring the Synergistic effect of cyclodextrins and electrolytes at high concentrations on protein aggregation inhibition:
Synergistic effect of cyclodextrins and electrolytes at high concentrations on protein aggregation inhibition – Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Research highlights:
•High cyclodextrin (CD) and electrolyte concentrations synergistically stabilize biopharmaceutical proteins.
•HP-β-CD and Arg-HCl significantly increase the onset temperature of protein aggregation of immunoglobulin G, insulin, and adeno-associated virus vectors.
•This synergistic effect was not observed when sucrose was used instead of HP-β-CD.
•HP-β-CD and Arg-HCl combination effectively inhibits the formation of soluble and insoluble IgG aggregates during long-term storage.

Axsome Therapeutics Announces FDA Acceptance of NDA Resubmission for AXS-07 for the Acute Treatment of Migraine

Today’s cyclodextrin update brings news of the 2nd oral drug to be marketed using sulfobutylether-beta-CD.

Axsome Therapeutics, Inc. has announced that the U.S. FDA has acknowledged the resubmission of the NDA for AXS-07, an oral, rapidly absorbed, multi-mechanistic investigational medicine for the acute treatment of migraine. AXS-07 combines MoSEIC™ meloxicam and rizatriptan, offering a new molecular entity for migraine treatment enabled by Axsome’s innovative technology.

About Migraine
Migraine is a serious neurological condition characterized by recurrent attacks of pulsating, often severe and disabling head pain associated with nausea, sensitivity to light, and sensitivity to sound. An estimated 39 million Americans suffer from migraine, and it is the leading cause of disability among neurological disorders in the United States according to the American Migraine Foundation. Published surveys of migraine sufferers found that more than 70% are not fully satisfied with their current treatment and desire therapies that work faster, more consistently, and result in less symptom recurrence.

About AXS-07
AXS-07 is a novel, oral, rapidly absorbed, multi-mechanistic investigational medicine for the acute treatment of migraine, consisting of MoSEIC™ meloxicam and rizatriptan. Meloxicam is a new molecular entity for migraine enabled by Axsome’s MoSEIC (Molecular Solubility Enhanced Inclusion Complex) technology, which results in rapid absorption of meloxicam while maintaining a long plasma half-life. Meloxicam is a COX-2 preferential non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug and rizatriptan is a 5-HT1B/1D agonist. AXS-07 is designed to provide rapid, enhanced and consistent relief of migraine, with reduced symptom recurrence. AXS-07 is covered by more than 200 issued U.S. and international patents which provide protection until at least 2038. AXS-07 is not approved by the FDA.

Axsome Therapeutics Announces FDA Acceptance of NDA Resubmission for AXS-07 for the Acute Treatment of Migraine | Axsome Therapeutics, Inc. (gcs-web.com)

SOLUBILIZING & STABILIZING TECHNOLOGY – CAPTISOL® – Part Perseverance & Part Serendipity

today’s cyclodextrin:
The article on Captisol®, a solubilizing and stabilizing technology of Ligand Pharmaceuticals, highlights its evolution from uncertain beginnings to becoming a pharmaceutical industry staple, thanks to the perseverance of scientists and strategic partnerships, notably with Pfizer. Initially developed from the need for better drug formulation tools, Captisol has been integral in creating viable drug products, especially for poorly soluble and unstable molecules. Its proven safety, alongside innovations in production and application, has led to its inclusion in multiple FDA-approved drugs, with ongoing expansion into various administration routes and global regulatory acceptance​​.
#formulationdevelopment #drugdelivery

SOLUBILIZING & STABILIZING TECHNOLOGY – CAPTISOL® – Part Perseverance & Part Serendipity (drug-dev.com)

New Captisol (Ligand Pharmaceuticals) enabled API on the market!

Today’s cyclodextrin:

Eisai Co., Ltd. obtained marketing authorization approval in January 2024 from the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare for the injection formulation of its in-house discovered antiepileptic drug (AED) Fycompa® (perampanel) in Japan as an alternative therapy when oral administration is temporarily not possible. Fycompa is formulated with Captisol®, a Ligand technology.

About perampanel (Fycompa®)
Perampanel is a first-in-class anti-epileptic agent (AED) discovered and developed by Eisai. With epileptic seizures being mediated by the neurotransmitter glutamate, the agent is a highly selective, noncompetitive AMPA receptor antagonist that reduces neuronal hyperexcitation associated with seizures by targeting glutamate activity at AMPA receptors on postsynaptic membranes. Perampanel is currently approved in more than 75 countries and territories, including Japan, China, and other countries in Europe and Asia, as an adjunctive treatment for partial-onset seizures (with or without secondarily generalized seizures) in patients with epilepsy 12 years of age and older. In addition, perampanel has been approved in more than 70 countries, including Japan, Europe, and Asia, for treatment as an adjunctive therapy for primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures in patients with epilepsy 12 years of age and older. In Japan and China, perampanel is approved for monotherapy and adjunctive use in the treatment of partial-onset seizures (with or without secondarily generalized seizures) in patients with epilepsy 4 years of age and older. In Europe, the approved age range is 4 years of age and older for the adjunctive treatment of partial-onset seizures (with or without secondarily generalized seizures) and 7 years of age and older for the treatment as an adjunctive therapy for primary generalized tonic-clonic seizure. A tablet, fine granule formulation, and injection formulation have been approved in Japan. An oral suspension formulation and tablet have been approved in Europe and China. In January 2023, the commercial rights in the United States were transferred to Catalyst Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Stable, liquid pharmaceutical compositions comprising Melphalan

The cyclodextrin-enabled formulation of melphalan is an excellent example of how outdated excipients could be replaced with safer and more effective cyclodextrins to create patient-friendly and superior drug products!
Espacenet – Stable, liquid pharmaceutical compositions comprising melphalan
here you can find similar examples: Formulation development – www.carbohydesolutions.com

Development of α-Cyclodextrin-Based Orally Disintegrating Tablets for 4-Phenylbutyrate

Today’s cyclodextrin:
One of the greatest features of CDs is that with a proper application (especially when the local CD concentration is relatively high), they can not only improve the solubility but also the permeability of compounds. For example, in the case of a peroral application, let’s say an orally disintegrating tablet. Not to mention that their taste masking potential is also of use in this case. 3 birds with one stone!

In this paper, you can find a great example of such a smart application. If you are interested in developing similar formulations, check out the first steps here: Formulation development – www.carbohydesolutions.com

Pharmaceutics | Free Full-Text | Development of α-Cyclodextrin-Based Orally Disintegrating Tablets for 4-Phenylbutyrate (mdpi.com)

Development of abiraterone acetate tablets with enhanced oral bioavailability

Today’s cyclodextrin
Reading this paper from Yeungnam University by Jong Oh Kim et al reminded me about a core application of CD’s: improving oral bioavailability of compounds. While this feature does not work generally on all compounds, it certainly does on the ones, where the poor solubility is the main cause of the low oral bioavailability. On the other hand, this feature of CD’s often make developing generic drugs with this excipients impossible, while creating improved/added value reformulations of repurposed APIs remains a target use.

If you have projects like this on your table, you might find it useful to check this website: Development of abiraterone acetate tablets with enhanced oral bioavailability | Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation (springer.com)

Lactic acid bacterium-containing tablets

Today’s cyclodextrin:
This is a little quiz for you. Guess WHY cyclodextrin is added to this formulation!
It is a product from Kirin Holdings, a novel lactic acid bacterium-containing tablets that comprises a lactic acid bacterium, an excipient, and a lubricant, wherein the excipient is hydroxypropyl cellulose and/or crystalline cellulose or β-cyclodextrin. The tablets prepared accordingly are claimed to have high intake efficiency and excellent hardness.

Lactic acid bacterium-containing tablets on Espacenet