Introduction: Asunaprevir (ASV) is a potent, pangenotypic, twice-daily hepatitis C virus (HCV) NS3 inhibitor indicated for the treatment of chronic HCV infection.
Methods: A population pharmacokinetic (PPK) model was developed using pooled ASV concentration data from 1239 HCV-infected subjects who received ASV either as part of the DUAL regimen with daclatasvir or as part of the QUAD regimen with daclatasvir and peg-interferon/ribavirin.
Results: A two-compartment model with first-order elimination from the central compartment, an induction effect on clearance, and an absorption model consisted of zero-order release followed by first-order absorption adequately described ASV PK after oral administration. A typical value for ASV clearance (CL/F) was 50.8 L/h, increasing by 43% after 2 days to a CL/F of 72.5 L/h at steady-state, likely due to auto-induction of cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4). Factors indicative of hepatic function were identified as key influential covariates on ASV exposures. Subjects with cirrhosis had an 84% increase in ASV area under the concentration time curve (AUC) and subjects with baseline aspartate aminotransferase (AST) above 78 IU/L had a 58% increase in area under the concentration time curve (AUC). Asians subjects had a 46% higher steady-state AUC relative to White/Caucasian subjects. Other significant covariates were formulation, age, and gender.
Conclusion: The current PPK model provided a parsimonious description of ASV concentration data in HCV-infected subjects. Key covariates identified in the model help explain the observed variability in ASV exposures and may guide clinical use of the drug.
Funding: Bristol-Myers Squibb.
Keywords: Asunaprevir; Direct-acting antivirals; Hepatitis C infection; NS3 protease inhibitors; Population pharmacokinetics.