BACKGROUND:
ITX 5061 is a highly potent small molecule inhibitor of scavenger receptor-B1, an integral transmembrane protein that is found in liver cells and is actively involved in the transport of HCV into hepatocytes. Currently, ITX 5061 is being investigated in monoinfected hepatitis C patients in a proof-of-concept clinical trial carried out by the AIDS Clinical Trial Group (ACTG).

METHODS:
To provide quantitative results in human plasma for pharmacokinetic analysis, an assay for ITX 5061 was validated. ITX 5061 and the internal standard, a deuterated analogue, were separated by isocratic reverse phase chromatography using a Polar RP column (Phenomenex Synergi(™); 2.0 mm × 50 mm, 4 µm) and detected via electrospray coupled to a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer with a run time of 5 min. Multiple reaction monitoring in positive mode was used with ITX 5061 at 585/114 m/z and the internal standard at 592/122 m/z with a linear range of 2.50-5,000 ng/ml. Human plasma was extracted using a protein precipitation combing 400 µl of acetonitrile with 100 µl of EDTA plasma.

RESULTS:
The interassay variation ranged from 1.19 to 13.2%, while the intraassay variation ranged from 0.394 to 12.9% over 6 days of testing. The method was successfully applied to the samples collected for the ACTG Protocol A5277. Plasma concentrations at 1 h and 24 h following 150 mg ITX 5061 daily in HCV monoinfected patients (n=3) ranged from 138 to 518 ng/ml and 33 to 111 ng/ml, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS:
The ITX 5061 assay is accurate and reproducible with a wide linear range and will be used for pharmacokinetic analysis and dose-finding studies in HCV-monoinfected patients.