Introduction: Proguanil, an antimalarial drug, undergoes hepatic uptake by the polymorphic organic cation transporter 1 (OCT1) and is subsequently metabolized by the cytochrome P-450 2C19 (CYP2C19) enzyme into its active metabolite, cycloguanil. This ...
Introduction: Proguanil, an antimalarial drug, undergoes hepatic uptake by the polymorphic organic cation transporter 1 (OCT1) and is subsequently metabolized by the cytochrome P-450 2C19 (CYP2C19) enzyme into its active metabolite, cycloguanil. This study aimed to evaluate and mechanistically characterize the effect of genetic polymorphism of SLC22A1, which encodes OCT1, on the pharmacokinetics (PKs) of proguanil and cycloguanil in Korean, using population PK modeling and physiologically-based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modeling approaches.
Methods: A prospective genotyping study was conducted on participants of CYP2C19 mediated drug-drug interaction (DDI) study (NCT04568772). Participants were genotyped for six SLC22A1 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with a decreased function of OCT1. Based on clinical PK and genotype data, a parent-metabolite joint population PK model including a well-stirred liver compartment was developed using nonlinear mixed-effect modeling approach. Furthermore, a PBPK model of proguanil and cycloguanil was developed using Simcyp® simulator based on physicochemical properties, in-vitro, physiological, genotype and clinical PK data.
Results: Among the 16 CYP2C19 extensive metabolizers enrolled in the DDI study (NCT04568772), 13 were genotyped for SLC22A1. Only the SNP SLC22A1 1022C>T (rs2282143) was observed, with four participants being heterozygous (CT) and nine participants homozygous for the wild type allele (CC). The CT genotype showed a 1.2-fold higher systemic exposure of proguanil and a 0.6-fold lower exposure of cycloguanil compared to those in participants with the CC genotype, resulting in a 0.5 to 0.6-fold lower metabolic ratio. From the population PK model, the OCT1 activity of the CT genotype were estimated to be 0.42-fold lower compared to the CC genotype. Furthermore, a whole-body PBPK model of proguanil and cycloguanil, incorporating a permeability-limited liver compartment successfully captured the differences in transporter activity between the CC and CT genotypes. The PBPK model was further validated using drug-drug interaction data between proguanil and esomeprazole, as well as published clinical data, demonstrating good agreement with observed results.
Conclusion: In conclusion, the genetic polymorphism of SLC22A1 1022C>T increased the systemic exposure of proguanil, while decreasing the systemic exposure of cycloguanil by reducing the hepatic uptake of proguanil, as mechanistically described by a population PK and PBPK approach.