Assessing the contribution of UGT isoforms on raltegravir drug disposition through PBPK modeling

Abstract

This work aimed to develop a physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model for raltegravir accounting for UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) metabolism to assess the effect of UGT gene polymorphisms. Raltegravir elimination was evaluated using Km and Vmax values from human recombinant systems and UGT tissue scalar considering liver, kidney, and intestine. The predicted/observed ratios for raltegravir PK parameters were within a 2-fold error range in UGT1A1 poor and normal metabolizers, except in Asian UGT1A1 poor metabolizers. This PBPK modeling approach suggests that UGT1A3 is the main contributor to raltegravir's metabolism. UGT1A3 and UGT1A1 gene polymorphisms might have an additive effect on raltegravir's drug disposition and response. The final model accounting for hepatic, renal, and intestinal UGT metabolism, biliary clearance, and renal excretion improved model predictions compared with the previously published models. This PBPK model with the quantitative characterization of raltegravir elimination pathways can support dose adjustments in different clinical scenarios.