Abstract: Aim: To study the pharmacokinetic (PK) properties in rabbits treated with N-Ile¹-Thr²-63-desulfato-r-hirudin (rH) newly developed in China by means of bioassay in order to provide preclinical experiment basis for its development as a novel anticoagulant agent. Methods: rH plasma concentration was determined using bioassay based on ex vivo antithrombin activity of rH. Normal rabbits received iv rH 4.0, 2.0 and 1.0 mg/kg or sc rH 2.0 mg/kg, respectively. The rabbits with acute severe renal failure were given iv rH 2.0 mg/kg. Results: The bioassay described in this paper met requirements for study of PK in rabbits. The major PK parameters after iv dosing were as follows: t_1/2β 58.4~59 min. V_d 0.09~0.12 L/kg, CL 0.0035~0.0040 L/(kg∙min); AUC were proportional to the doses, t_1/2 and CL did not change significantly with the doses. The sc bioavailability reached 94%. The rabbits suffering from acute severe renal failure presented 11-fold longer t_1/2β and 13-fold greater AUC than normal healthy rabbits. Conclusion: rH exhibited rapid elimination, distribution was only limited to extracellular space and good absorption from sc site. The excretion of rH by kidneys played a very important role in the elimination of rH. The PK of rH could be described by the two- and one-compartment model after iv and sc dosing, respectively, and followed linear kinetics.

Key words: r-hirudin, Pharmacokinetics, Bioassay, Thrombin time, Rabbit

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