CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY
Mechanism Of Action
Zileuton is a specific inhibitor of 5-lipoxygenase and
thus inhibits leukotriene (LTB4, LTC4, LTD4, and LTE4) formation. Both the R(+)
and S(-) enantiomers are pharmacologically active as 5-lipoxygenase inhibitors
in in vitro systems. Leukotrienes are substances that induce numerous
biological effects including augmentation of neutrophil and eosinophil
migration, neutrophil and monocyte aggregation, leukocyte adhesion, increased
capillary permeability, and smooth muscle contraction. These effects contribute
to inflammation, edema, mucus secretion, and bronchoconstriction in the airways
of asthmatic patients. Sulfido-peptide leukotrienes (LTC4, LTD4, LTE4, also
known as the slow-releasing substances of anaphylaxis) and LTB4, a
chemoattractant for neutrophils and eosinophils, can be measured in a number of
biological fluids including bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) from asthmatic
patients.
Zileuton is an orally active inhibitor of ex vivo LTB4
formation in several species, including dogs, monkeys, rats, sheep, and
rabbits. Zileuton inhibits arachidonic acid-induced ear edema in mice, neutrophil
migration in mice in response to polyacrylamide gel, and eosinophil migration
into the lungs of antigen-challenged sheep.
Zileuton inhibits leukotriene-dependent smooth muscle
contractions in vitro in guinea pig and human airways. The compound inhibits
leukotriene-dependent bronchospasm in antigen and arachidonic acidchallenged guinea
pigs. In antigen-challenged sheep, zileuton inhibits late-phase
bronchoconstriction and airway hyperreactivity. In humans, pretreatment with
zileuton attenuated bronchoconstriction caused by cold air challenge in
patients with asthma.
Pharmacokinetics
Zileuton is rapidly absorbed upon oral administration
with a mean time to peak plasma concentration (Tmax) of 1.7 hours and a mean
peak level (Cmax) of 4.98 μg/mL. The absolute bioavailability of ZYFLO is
unknown. Systemic exposure (mean AUC) following 600 mg ZYFLO administration is
19.2 μg.hr/mL. Plasma concentrations of zileuton are proportional to dose,
and steady-state levels are predictable from single-dose pharmacokinetic data.
Administration of ZYFLO with food resulted in a small but statistically
significant increase (27%) in zileuton C without significant changes in the extent
of absorption (AUC) or Tmax. Therefore, ZYFLO can be administered with or
without food (see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION).
The apparent volume of distribution (V/F) of zileuton is
approximately 1.2 L/kg. Zileuton is 93% bound to plasma proteins, primarily to
albumin, with minor binding to αl-acid glycoprotein.
Elimination of zileuton is predominantly via metabolism
with a mean terminal half-life of 2.5 hours. Apparent oral clearance of
zileuton is 7.0 mL/min/kg. ZYFLO activity is primarily due to the parent drug.
Studies with radiolabeled drug demonstrated that orally administered zileuton
is well absorbed into the systemic circulation with 94.5% and 2.2% of the
radiolabeled dose recovered in urine and feces, respectively. Several zileuton
metabolites have been identified in human plasma and urine. These include two
diastereomeric O-glucuronide conjugates (major metabolites) and an
N-dehydroxylated metabolite of zileuton. The urinary excretion of the inactive
N-dehydroxylated metabolite and unchanged zileuton each accounted for less than
0.5% of the dose. In vitro studies utilizing human liver microsomes have shown
that zileuton and its N-dehydroxylated metabolite can be oxidatively metabolized
by the cytochrome P450 isoenzymes 1A2, 2C9 and 3A4 (CYP1A2, CYP2C9 and CYP3A4).
Special populations
Effect of age: The pharmacokinetics of zileuton
were investigated in healthy elderly volunteers (ages 65 to 81 years, 9 males,
9 females) and healthy young volunteers (ages 20 to 40 years, 5 males and 4 females)
after single and multiple oral doses of 600 mg every 6 hours of zileuton.
Zileuton pharmacokinetics were similar in healthy elderly subjects ( ≥ 65
years) compared to healthy younger adults (18 to 40 years).
Effect of gender: Across several studies, no
significant gender effects were observed on the pharmacokinetics of zileuton.
Renal insufficiency: The pharmacokinetics of
zileuton were similar in healthy subjects and in subjects with mild, moderate,
and severe renal insufficiency. In subjects with renal failure requiring hemodialysis,
zileuton pharmacokinetics were not altered by hemodialysis and a very small
percentage of the administered zileuton dose ( < 0.5%) was removed by hemodialysis.
Hence, dosing adjustment in patients with renal dysfunction or undergoing
hemodialysis is not necessary.
Hepatic insufficiency: ZYFLO is contraindicated in
patients with active liver disease (see CONTRAINDICATIONS and PRECAUTIONS,
Hepatic).
Clinical Studies
Two double-blind, parallel, placebo-controlled,
multi-center studies have established the efficacy of ZYFLO in the treatment of
asthma. Three hundred seventy-three (373) patients were enrolled in the 6- month,
double-blind phase of Study 1, and 401 patients were enrolled in the 3-month
double-blind phase of Study 2. In these studies, the patients were
mild-to-moderate asthmatics who had a mean baseline FEV1 of approximately 2.3
liters and who used inhaled beta-agonists as needed, the mean being approximately
6 puffs of albuterol per day from a metered-dose inhaler. In each study,
patients were randomized to receive either ZYFLO 400 mg four times daily, ZYFLO
600 mg four times daily, or placebo. Only the ZYFLO 600 mg four times daily
dosage regimen was shown to be efficacious by demonstrating statistically
significant improvement across several parameters.
Efficacy endpoints measured in Study 1 are shown in Table
1 below as mean change from baseline to the end of the study (six months).
Statistically significant differences from placebo at the p < 0.05 level are
indicated by an asterisk(*). Similar results were observed after three months
in Study 2.
Table 1: Mean Change From Baseline To End Of Study
(six-month study)
Efficacy Endpoint |
ZYFLO 600mg 4 times/day |
Placebo |
Trough FEV1 (L) |
0.27 |
0 14 |
AM PEFR (L/min) |
30.60* |
5.04 |
PM PEFR (L/min) |
24.59* |
7.98 |
β-Agonist Use (puffs/day) |
1.77* |
-0.22 |
Daily Symptom Scorc (0-3 Scale) |
-0.49* |
-0.28 |
Nocturnal Symptom Score (0-3 Scale) |
-0.29* |
-0.04 |
Mean Change from Baseline to End of Study
Figure 1 shows the mean effect of ZYFLO versus placebo
for the primary efficacy variable, trough FEV1, over the course of Study 1.
Figure 1: Mean Change From Baseline To Trough FEV1 (L)
Mean Change From Baseline to Trough FEV1 (L)
Of all the patients in Study 1 and Study 2, 7.0% of those
administered ZYFLO 600 mg four times daily required systemic corticosteroid
therapy for exacerbation of asthma, whereas 18.7% of the placebo group required
corticosteroid treatment. This difference was statistically significant.
In these trials, there was a statistically significant
improvement from baseline in FEV1, which occurred 2 hours after initial
administration of ZYFLO. This mean increase was approximately 0.10 L greater
than that in placebo-treated patients.
These studies evaluated patients receiving as-needed
inhaled beta-agonist as their only asthma therapy. In this patient population,
post-hoc analyses suggested that individuals with lower FEV1 values at baseline
showed a greater improvement.
The role of ZYFLO in the management of patients with more
severe asthma, patients receiving antiasthma therapy other than as-needed,
inhaled beta-agonists, or patients receiving it as an oral or inhaled corticosteroid-sparing
agent remains to be fully characterized.