Ornithine decarboxylase

Eflornithine (D/L-DFMO) is an inhibitor of ODC, the first enzyme in eukaryotic polyamine production. Both enantiomers of eflornithine (DFMO) irreversibly inactivate ODC. Two eflornithine enantiomers (L-eflornithine and D-eflornithine) decrease ODC activity in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. The inhibitor dissociation constant (KD) values of D-eflornithine, L-eflornithine and eflornithine producing enzyme-inhibitor complexes are 28.3±3.4, 1.3±0.3 and 2.2± respectively. 0.4 µM. The inhibitor deactivation constants (Kinact) for the irreversible phase were 0.25±0.03, 0.15±0.03 and 0.15±0.03 min-1 for D-Eflornithine, L-Eflornithine and Eflornithine, respectively. Treatment of human colon tumor-derived HCT116 cells with L-eflornithine or D-eflornithine lowers cellular polyamine levels in a concentration-dependent manner [1]. Enantiomers exhibit varied potencies in vitro, with the L-enantiomer having a 20-fold greater affinity for the target enzyme ornithine decarboxylase [2]. L-eflornithine also appears to be more efficient against cultured parasites of B. gambiae [2].

Compared to D-eflornithine, the more potent L-eflornithine is found in significantly lower amounts in plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). L-eflornithine's typical plasma concentration is 52% of the D-enantiomer's concentration. L-eflornithine and D-eflornithine had typical oral clearance rates of 17.4 L/h and 8.23 L/h, respectively [2].

Racemic difluoromethylornithine (D/L-DFMO) is an inhibitor of ODC (ornithine decarboxylase), the first enzyme in eukaryotic polyamine biosynthesis. D/L-DFMO is an effective anti-parasitic agent and inhibitor of mammalian cell growth and development. Purified human ODC-catalysed ornithine decarboxylation is highly stereospecific. However, both DFMO enantiomers suppressed ODC activity in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. ODC activity failed to recover after treatment with either L- or D-DFMO and dialysis to remove free inhibitor. The inhibitor dissociation constant (K(D)) values for the formation of enzyme-inhibitor complexes were 28.3+/-3.4, 1.3+/-0.3 and 2.2+/-0.4 microM respectively for D-, L- and D/L-DFMO. The differences in these K(D) values were statistically significant ( P <0.05). The inhibitor inactivation constants (K(inact)) for the irreversible step were 0.25+/-0.03, 0.15+/-0.03 and 0.15+/-0.03 min(-1) respectively for D-, L- and D/L-DFMO. These latter values were not statistically significantly different ( P >0.1). D-DFMO was a more potent inhibitor (IC50 approximately 7.5 microM) when compared with D-ornithine (IC50 approximately 1.5 mM) of ODC-catalysed L-ornithine decarboxylation. Treatment of human colon tumour-derived HCT116 cells with either L- or D-DFMO decreased the cellular polyamine contents in a concentration-dependent manner. These results show that both enantiomers of DFMO irreversibly inactivate ODC and suggest that this inactivation occurs by a common mechanism. Both enantiomers form enzyme-inhibitor complexes with ODC, but the probability of formation of these complexes is 20 times greater for L-DFMO when compared with D-DFMO. The rate of the irreversible reaction in ODC inactivation is similar for the L- and D-enantiomer. This unexpected similarity between DFMO enantiomers, in contrast with the high degree of stereospecificity of the substrate ornithine, appears to be due to the alpha-substituent of the inhibitor. The D-enantiomer may have advantages, such as decreased normal tissue toxicity, over L- or D/L-DFMO in some clinical applications.

This study aimed to characterize the stereoselective pharmacokinetics of oral eflornithine in 25 patients with late-stage Trypanosoma brucei gambiense sleeping sickness. A secondary aim was to determine the concentrations of L- and D-eflornithine required in plasma or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) for an efficient eradication of the T. brucei gambiense parasites. Patients were randomly allocated to receive either 100 (group I, n=12) or 125 (group II, n=13) mg/kg of body weight of drug every 6 h for 14 days. The concentrations of L- and D-eflornithine in the plasma and CSF samples were measured using a stereospecific liquid chromatographic method. Nonlinear mixed-effects modeling was used to characterize the plasma pharmacokinetics. The plasma concentrations of L-eflornithine were on average 52% (95% confidence interval [CI], 51, 54%; n=321) of the D-enantiomer concentrations. The typical oral clearances of L- and D-eflornithine were 17.4 (95% CI, 15.5, 19.3) and 8.23 (95% CI, 7.36, 9.10) liters/h, respectively. These differences were likely due to stereoselective intestinal absorption. The distributions of eflornithine enantiomers to the CSF were not stereoselective. A correlation was found between the probability of cure and plasma drug exposure, although it was not more pronounced for the L-enantiomer than for that of total eflornithine. This study may explain why oral treatment for late-stage human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) patients with racemic eflornithine has previously failed; the more potent L-enantiomer is present at much lower concentrations in both plasma and CSF than those of the D-enantiomer. Eflornithine stereoselective pharmacokinetics needs to be considered if an oral dosage regimen is to be explored further.[2]

Absorption, Distribution and Excretion
Following oral administrations of eflornithine, peak plasma concentrations of eflornithine (Cmax) were achieved (Tmax) 3.5 hours post-dosing. The Cmax and AUC (area under the concentration-time curve) of eflornithine were not affected by food (high fat and high calories). Administration of crushed tablets in a standard pudding admixture had no effect on eflornithine exposure (Cmax and AUC6h). The mean percutaneous absorption of eflornithine in women with unwanted facial hair, from a 13.9% w/w cream formulation, is < 1% of the radioactive dose, following either single or multiple doses under conditions of clinical use, that included shaving within 2 hours before radiolabeled dose application in addition to other forms of cutting or plucking and tweezing to remove facial hair. Steady state was reached within four days of twice-daily application. Following twice-daily application of 0.5 g of the cream (total dose 1.0 g/day; 139 mg as anhydrous eflornithine hydrochloride), under conditions of clinical use in women with unwanted facial hair (n=10), the steady-state Cmax, Ctrough and AUC12hr were approximately 10 ng/mL, 5 ng/mL, and 92 ng hr/mL, respectively, expressed in terms of the anhydrous free base of eflornithine hydrochloride. At steady state, the dose-normalized peak concentrations (Cmax) and the extent of daily systemic exposure (AUC) of eflornithine following twice-daily application of 0.5 g of the cream (total dose 1.0 g/day) is estimated to be approximately 100- and 60-fold lower, respectively, when compared to 370 mg/day once-daily oral doses.
This compound is not known to be metabolized and is primarily excreted unchanged in the urine.
Eflornithine volume of distribution (Vz/F) is 24.3 L.
The clearance (CL/F) of eflornithine is 5.3 L/h.
The mean percutaneous absorption of eflornithine in women with unwanted facial hair, from a 13.9% w/w cream formulation, is < 1% of the radioactive dose, following either single or multiple doses under conditions of clinical use, that included shaving within 2 hr before radiolabeled dose application in addition to other forms of cutting or plucking and tweezing to remove facial hair.
Following twice daily application of 0.5 g of the cream (total dose 1.0 g/day; 139 mg as anhydrous eflornithine hydrochloride), under conditions of clinical use in women with unwanted facial hair (n=10), the steady-state Cmax, Ctrough and AUC12hr were approximately 10 ng/mL, 5 ng/mL, and 92 nghr/mL, respectively, expressed in terms of the anhydrous free base of eflornithine hydrochloride.
At steady state, the dose-normalized peak concentrations (Cmax) and the extent of daily systemic exposure (AUC) of eflornithine following twice-daily application of 0.5 g of the cream (total dose 1.0 g/day) is estimated to be approximately 100- and 60-fold lower, respectively, when compared to 370 mg/day once-daily oral doses.
Eflornithine is not metabolized and is excreted unchanged in urine.
For more Absorption, Distribution and Excretion (Complete) data for Eflornithine (8 total), please visit the HSDB record page.

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Metabolism / Metabolites
This compound is not known to be metabolized and is primarily excreted unchanged in the urine.

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Biological Half-Life
The terminal plasma elimination half-life of eflornithine was 3.5 hours, and the apparent steady-state plasma half-life of eflornithine was approximately 8 hours.
The apparent steady-state plasma t1/2 of eflornithine was approximately 8 hours.

Effects During Pregnancy and Lactation
◉ Summary of Use during Lactation
Maternal intravenous eflornithine 400 mg/kg daily for 7 days did not cause any adverse serious effects in breastfed infants. After topical application, eflornithine is poorly absorbed so it is not likely to reach the bloodstream of the infant or cause any adverse effects in breastfed infants.
◉ Effects in Breastfed Infants
A cohort of 33 infants who were breastfed (extent not stated) by hospitalized mothers taking nifurtimox was followed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Thirty mothers took a full course of 30 doses of oral nifurtimox 15 mg/kg daily and all received 14 doses of intravenous eflornithine 400 mg/kg daily for 7 days for human African trypanosomiasis. (sleeping sickness). Nursing mothers also took a median of 4 other concomitant medications, including amoxicillin, ciprofloxacin, metronidazole, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, aspirin, and diclofenac (1 patient each); hydrocortisone, promethazine and quinine (2 patients each); levamisole (6 patients); sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (8 patients); dipyrone (13 patients); acetaminophen (16 patients); and mebendazole (17 patients). No serious adverse events were reported in any of the breastfed infants.
◉ Effects on Lactation and Breastmilk
Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.

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Protein Binding
Eflornithine does not specifically bind to human plasma proteins.

[1]. Qu N, et al. Inhibition of human ornithine decarboxylase activity by enantiomers of difluoromethylornithine. Biochem J. 2003 Oct 15;375(Pt 2):465-70.
[2]. Jansson-Löfmark R, et al. Enantiospecific reassessment of the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of oral eflornithine against late-stage Trypanosoma brucei gambiense sleeping sickness. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2015 Feb;59(2):1299-307.

C6H15CLF2N2O3

236.644707918167

218.063

69955-42-6

Eflornithine;70052-12-9;Eflornithine hydrochloride hydrate;96020-91-6;Eflornithine hydrochloride;68278-23-9;L-Eflornithine;66640-93-5

16048568

Light yellow to yellow solid

4

6

5

13

166

1

C(C[C@@](C(F)F)(C(=O)O)N)CN.Cl

VKDGNNYJFSHYKD-FYZOBXCZSA-N

InChI=1S/C6H12F2N2O2.ClH/c7-4(8)6(10,5(11)12)2-1-3-9;/h4H,1-3,9-10H2,(H,11,12);1H/t6-;/m1./s1

(2S)-2,5-diamino-2-(difluoromethyl)pentanoic acid;hydrochloride

L-DFMO monohydrochloride ; L-RMI71782 monohydrochloride; L-Eflornithine (monohydrochloride); 69955-42-6; L-Eflornithine monohydrochloride; (2S)-2,5-diamino-2-(difluoromethyl)pentanoic acid;hydrochloride; (S)-2,5-diamino-2-(difluoromethyl)pentanoic acid hydrochloride; L-DFMO (monohydrochloride); SCHEMBL1322403; L-α-difluoromethylornithine monohydrochloride

2934.99.9001

Powder      -20°C    3 years

                     4°C     2 years

In solvent   -80°C    6 months

                  -20°C    1 month

Note: Please store this product in a sealed and protected environment, avoid exposure to moisture.

Room temperature (This product is stable at ambient temperature for a few days during ordinary shipping and time spent in Customs)

DMSO : ~200 mg/mL (~914.79 mM)
H2O : ~50 mg/mL (~228.70 mM)

Solubility in Formulation 1: ≥ 5 mg/mL (22.87 mM) (saturation unknown) in 10% DMSO + 40% PEG300 + 5% Tween80 + 45% Saline (add these co-solvents sequentially from left to right, and one by one), clear solution.
For example, if 1 mL of working solution is to be prepared, you can add 100 μL of 50.0 mg/mL clear DMSO stock solution to 400 μL PEG300 and mix evenly; then add 50 μL Tween-80 to the above solution and mix evenly; then add 450 μL normal saline to adjust the volume to 1 mL.
Preparation of saline: Dissolve 0.9 g of sodium chloride in 100 mL ddH₂ O to obtain a clear solution.

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Solubility in Formulation 2: ≥ 5 mg/mL (22.87 mM) (saturation unknown) in 10% DMSO + 90% (20% SBE-β-CD in Saline) (add these co-solvents sequentially from left to right, and one by one), clear solution.
For example, if 1 mL of working solution is to be prepared, you can add 100 μL of 50.0 mg/mL clear DMSO stock solution to 900 μL of 20% SBE-β-CD physiological saline solution and mix evenly.
Preparation of 20% SBE-β-CD in Saline (4°C，1 week): Dissolve 2 g SBE-β-CD in 10 mL saline to obtain a clear solution.

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Solubility in Formulation 3: ≥ 5 mg/mL (22.87 mM) (saturation unknown) in 10% DMSO + 90% Corn Oil (add these co-solvents sequentially from left to right, and one by one), clear solution.
For example, if 1 mL of working solution is to be prepared, you can add 100 μL of 50.0 mg/mL clear DMSO stock solution to 900 μL of corn oil and mix evenly.

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Solubility in Formulation 4: ≥ 100 mg/mL (457.39 mM) (saturation unknown) in PBS (add these co-solvents sequentially from left to right, and one by one), clear solution.

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 (Please use freshly prepared in vivo formulations for optimal results.)