Abstract

Muraglitazar (Pargluva), a dual α/γ peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor activator, has both glucose- and lipid-lowering effects in animal models and in patients with diabetes. The human major primary metabolic pathways of muraglitazar include acylglucuronidation, aliphatic/aryl hydroxylation, and O-demethylation. This study describes the identification of human cytochrome P450 (P450) and UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) enzymes involved in the in vitro metabolism of muraglitazar. [¹⁴C]Muraglitazar was metabolized by cDNA-expressed CYP2C8, 2C9, 2C19, 2D6, and 3A4, but to a very minimal extent by CYP1A2, 2A6, 2B6, 2C18, 2E1, and 3A5. Inhibition of the in vitro metabolism of muraglitazar in human liver microsomes, at a clinically efficacious concentration, by chemical inhibitors and monoclonal antibodies further supported involvement of CYP2C8, 2C9, 2C19, 2D6, and 3A4 in its oxidation. A combination of intrinsic clearance (V_max/K_m) and relative concentrations of each P450 enzyme in the human liver was used to predict the contribution of CYP2C8, 2C9, 2C19, 2D6, and 3A4 to the formation of each primary oxidative metabolite and to the overall oxidative metabolism of muraglitazar. Glucuronidation of [¹⁴C]muraglitazar was catalyzed by cDNA-expressed UGT1A1, 1A3, and 1A9, but not by UGT1A6, 1A8, 1A10, 2B4, 2B7, and 2B15. The K_m values for muraglitazar glucuronidation by the three active UGT enzymes were similar (2–4 μM). In summary, muraglitazar was metabolized by multiple P450 and UGT enzymes to form multiple metabolites. This characteristic predicts a low potential for the alteration of the pharmacokinetic parameters of muraglitazar via polymorphic drug metabolism enzymes responsible for clearance of the compound or by coadministration of drugs that inhibit or induce relevant metabolic enzymes.