Development, validation and application of a capillary microsampling LC–MS/MS method for the quantification of BIIB131 (SMTP-7) in rat plasma

Abstract

Capillary microsampling (CMS) is a technique that can significantly reduce the blood collection volume compared to conventional sampling methods, and thus is much preferred for studies in rats and mice. BIIB131 (SMTP-7) is a novel thrombolytic drug candidate currently under Phase 2 clinical development for the treatment of acute ischemic stroke. To support the safety studies in rats, an accurate and reliable CMS LC–MS/MS assay for the quantification of BIIB131 in rat plasma was developed and validated. This method utilized stable-isotope labeled [13C515N2]-BIIB131 as the internal standard. The samples were extracted using acid-assisted liquid–liquid extraction with methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) and formic acid. The chromatographic separation was achieved on an ACE Excel 3 Super C18 analytical column (2.1 mm × 50 mm, 3.0 µm) using a gradient elution. The mass spectrometric detection of BIIB131 and its internal standard was achieved using positive ion electrospray multiple reaction monitoring (MRM). The standard curve ranged from 0.50 to 300 ng/mL for BIIB131 and was fitted to a 1/x2 weighted linear regression model. For regular QCs, the intra-assay precision was 1.7–6.1 % CV, the inter-assay precision was 2.7–11.0 % CV, and the intra-assay and inter-assay accuracy (%Bias) were –20.0–10.6 % and –7.8–6.3 %, respectively. For CMS QCs, the intra-assay and inter-assay precision were 2.2–13.6 % and 6.7–12.9 % CV, and the intra-assay and inter-assay accuracy (%Bias) were –13.2–15.0 % and –7.8–4.2 %, respectively. The validated CMS LC–MS/MS method has been successfully applied to a safety study in rats.