Safety studies on intravenous infusion of a potent angiogenesis inhibitor: taurocholate-conjugated low molecular weight heparin derivative LHT7 in preclinical models

<p><b>Context:</b> As a class of angiogenesis inhibitors, heparin conjugates have shown significant effectiveness in several studies.</p> <p><b>Objectives:</b> The purpose of our current study is to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of infusing the conjugate of low molecular weight heparin and taurocholate (LHT7), which has been developed as a potent angiogenesis inhibitor.</p> <p><b>Methods:</b> To evaluate its safety, the method of intravenous infusion was compared with its i.v. bolus administration. Intravenous infusion was administered at a rate of 400 μl/min/kg of body weight for 30 min. Pharmacokinetic (PK) analysis, organ accumulation, and plasma concentration profiles of LHT7 were measured. The anticancer effect of LHT7 was evaluated in murine and human xenograft models, and preclinical studies were performed in SD rats and beagle dogs.</p> <p><b>Results:</b> The results of the PK studies showed reduced organ accumulation in mice and the AUC_(0–96 h) (area under the curve) was increased up to 1485 ± 125 h × μg/ml. The efficacy, at dose 1 mg/kg/2 d was higher for i.v. infusion than for i.v. bolus administration in both murine and human cancer models. The preclinical studies showed the safety dose of LHT7 is less than 20 mg/kg in SD rats and in the next safety analysis in beagle dogs showed that there were no organ-specific adverse effects in higher doses, such as, 12 mg/kg. LHT7 showed sustained effects with minimized adverse events when administered through i.v. infusion.</p> <p><b>Conclusions:</b> LHT7 (i.v. infusion) could be safely used for further clinical development as a multi-targeting anti-angiogenic agent.</p