Itraconazole

Itraconazole
Clinical data
Trade names Sporanox, Orungal
AHFS/Drugs.com Monograph
MedlinePlus a692049
Pregnancy
category
  • AU: B3
  • US: C (Risk not ruled out)
Routes of
administration		 By mouth (capsules, solution), local (vaginal suppository), IV; Oral only (UK and US)
ATC code
Legal status
Legal status
Pharmacokinetic data
Bioavailability ~55%, maximal if taken with full meal
Protein binding 99.8%
Metabolism Extensive in liver (CYP3A4)
Metabolites Hydroxy-itraconazole, keto-itraconazole,
N-desalkyl-itraconazole[1]
Biological half-life 21 hours
Excretion Urine (35%), faeces (54%)[2]
Identifiers
CAS Number
PubChem CID
DrugBank
ChemSpider
UNII
KEGG
ChEBI
ChEMBL
ECHA InfoCard 100.123.596
Chemical and physical data
Formula C35H38Cl2N8O4
Molar mass 705.64
3D model (JSmol)
Chirality Racemic mixture
  (verify)

Itraconazole, invented in 1984, is a triazole antifungal agent for fungal infections. The drug may be given by mouth or intravenously.

It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines, the most important medications needed in a basic health system.[3]

Medical uses

Itraconazole has a broader spectrum of activity than fluconazole (but not as broad as voriconazole or posaconazole). In particular, it is active against Aspergillus, which fluconazole is not. It is also licensed for use in blastomycosis, sporotrichosis, histoplasmosis, and onychomycosis. Itraconazole is over 99% protein-bound and has virtually no penetration into cerebrospinal fluid. Therefore, it should never be used to treat meningitis or other central nervous system infections.[4] According to the Johns Hopkins Abx Guide, it has "negligible CSF penetration, however treatment has been successful for cryptococcal and coccidioidal meningitis".[5]

It is also prescribed for systemic infections, such as aspergillosis, candidiasis, and cryptococcosis, where other antifungal drugs are inappropriate or ineffective.

Itraconazole has also recently been explored as an anticancer agent for patients with basal cell carcinoma, non-small cell lung cancer, and prostate cancer.[6] For example, in a phase II study involving men with advanced prostate cancer, high-dose itraconazole (600 mg/day) was associated with significant PSA responses and a delay in tumor progression. Itraconazole also showed activity in a phase II trial in men with non-small cell lung cancer when it was combined with the chemotherapy agent, pemetrexed.[7][8][9]

Available forms

Itraconazole is produced as blue 22 mm (0.87 in) capsules with tiny 1.5 mm (0.059 in) blue pellets inside. Each capsule contains 100 mg and is usually taken twice a day at twelve-hour intervals. The Sporanox brand of itraconazole has been developed and marketed by Janssen Pharmaceutica, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson. The three-layer structure of these blue capsules is complex because itraconazole is insoluble and is sensitive to pH. The complicated procedure not only requires a specialized machine to create it, but also the method used has manufacturing problems. Also, the pill is quite large, making it difficult for many patients to swallow. Parts of the processes of creating Sporanox were discovered by the Korean Patent Laid-open No. 10-2001-2590.[10] The tiny blue pellets contained in the capsule are manufactured in Beerse, Belgium.[10][11]

The intravenous preparation is no longer available in the US as of October 11, 2007 per Ortho-Biotech Professional Letter but may be available in other countries.

Conventional itraconazole (e.g. Sporanox) has relatively low bioavailability after oral administration, especially when given in capsule form on an empty stomach. The capsule form is a molecular dispersion of itraconazole in amorphous HPMC polymer. The fast-dissolving polymer targets a supersaturated solution of itraconazole from which enhanced absorption can be expected. Recently, itraconazole was found to contribute to the formation of nanofibers in certain simulated intestinal fluids. These nanofibers have a uniform width of 12 nm and a length up to several micrometers.[12] The oral solution is better absorbed. The cyclodextrin contained in the oral solution can cause an osmotic diarrhea, and if this is a problem, then half the dose can be given as oral solution and half as capsule to reduce the amount of cyclodextrin given. "Sporanox" itraconazole capsules should always be taken with food, as this improves absorption, however the manufacturers of "Lozanoc" assert that it may be taken "without regard to meals".[13] Itraconazole oral solution should be taken an hour before food, or two hours after food (and likewise if a combination of capsules and oral solution are used). Itraconazole may be taken with orange juice or cola, as absorption is also improved by acid. Absorption of itraconazole is impaired when taken with an antacid, H2 blocker or proton pump inhibitor.

Adverse effects

Itraconazole is a relatively well-tolerated drug (although not as well tolerated as fluconazole or voriconazole) and the range of adverse effects it produces is similar to the other azole antifungals:[14]

The cyclodextrin used to make the syrup preparation can cause diarrhea. Side effects that may indicate a greater problem include:

Interactions

The following drugs should not be taken with itraconazole:[15]

Mechanism of action

The mechanism of action of itraconazole is the same as the other azole antifungals: it inhibits the fungal-mediated synthesis of ergosterol, via inhibition of lanosterol 14α-demethylase. Because of its ability to inhibit cytochrome P450 3A4 CC-3, caution should be used when considering interactions with other medications.[17]

Itraconazole is pharmacologically distinct from other azole antifungal agents in that it is the only inhibitor in this class that has been shown to inhibit both the hedgehog signaling pathway[18][19] and angiogenesis.[20][21] These distinct activities are unrelated to inhibition of the cytochrome P450 lanosterol 14 alpha-demethylase and the exact molecular targets responsible remain unidentified. Functionally, the antiangiogenic activity of itraconazole has been shown to be linked to inhibition of glycosylation, VEGFR2 phosphorylation,[21] trafficking,[22] and cholesterol biosynthesis pathways.[20] Evidence suggests the structural determinants for inhibition of hedgehog signaling by itraconazole are recognizably different from those associated with antiangiogenic activity.[23]

Pharmacokinetics

Itraconazole, like cyclosporine, quinidine and clarithromycin, can inhibit P-glycoproteins causing drug-drug interactions by reducing elimination and increasing absorption of organic cation drugs. With conventional Itraconazole preparations serum levels can vary greatly between patients, often resulting in serum concentrations lower than the therapeutic index.[24] It has therefore been conventionally advised that patients take itraconazole after a fatty meal rather than prior to eating.[25][26]

A product (Lozanoc) licensed through the European union decentralised procedure[27] has increased bioavailability, decreased sensitivity to co ingestion of food, and hence decreased variability of serum levels.

Anti-cancer properties

Itraconazole has been investigated as an anti-cancer agent.[28] A small randomized clinical trial found that patient survival was increased when itraconazole was added to pemetrexed. Median survival for the patients in the study who received both itraconazole and pemetrexed was 32 months, while median survival for patients who only received pemetrexed was 8 months.[29]

Chemistry

Chiral centers are marked by asterisks

Itraconazole molecule has three chiral carbons. The two chiral centers in the dioxolane ring are fixed in relation to one another, and the triazolomethylene and aryloxymethylene dioxolane-ring substituents are always cis to each other. The clinical formulation is a 1:1:1:1 mixture of four stereoisomers (two enantiomeric pairs).[30][31]

Four diastereomers of itraconazole

See also

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Isoherranen, N; Kunze, KL; Allen, KE; Nelson, WL; Thummel, KE (October 2004). "Role of Itraconazole Metabolites in CYP3A4 Inhibition" (PDF). Drug Metabolism and Disposition: the Biological Fate of Chemicals. 32 (10): 1121–31. PMID 15242978. doi:10.1124/dmd.104.000315. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
  2. ↑ "Sporanox (itraconazole) Capsules. Full Prescribing Information" (PDF). Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
  3. ↑ "WHO Model List of Essential Medicines (20th List)" (PDF). World Health Organization. March 2017. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
  4. ↑ Gilbert DN, Moellering, RC, Eliopoulos GM, Sande MA (2006). The Sanford Guide to antimicrobial therapy. ISBN 1-930808-30-5.
  5. ↑ Pham, P; Bartlett, JG (2007-07-24). "Itraconazole". Johns Hopkins.
  6. ↑ "Search results for Itraconazole". ClinicalTrials.gov. U.S. National Institutes of Health.
  7. ↑ Aftab BT, Dobromilskaya I, Liu JO, Rudin CM. "Itraconazole inhibits angiogenesis and tumor growth in non-small cell lung cancer" (PDF). Cancer Research. 71 (21): 6764–6772. PMC 3206167 Freely accessible. PMID 21896639. doi:10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-11-0691.
  8. ↑ Antonarakis ES, Heath EI, Smith DC, Rathkopf D, Blackford AL, Danila DC, King S, Frost A, Ajiboye AS, Zhao M, Mendonca J, Kachhap SK, Rudek MA, Carducci MA (2013). "Repurposing itraconazole as a treatment for advanced prostate cancer: a noncomparative randomized phase II trial in men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer" (PDF). The Oncologist. 18 (2): 163–173. PMC 3579600 Freely accessible. PMID 23340005. doi:10.1634/theoncologist.2012-314.
  9. ↑ Rudin CM, Brahmer JR, Juergens RA, Hann CL, Ettinger DS, Sebree R, Smith R, Aftab BT, Huang P, Liu JO (May 2013). "Phase 2 study of pemetrexed and itraconazole as second-line therapy for metastatic nonsquamous non-small-cell lung cancer". Journal of Thoracic Oncology. 8 (5): 619–623. PMC 3636564 Freely accessible. PMID 23546045. doi:10.1097/JTO.0b013e31828c3950.
  10. 1 2 Composition comprising Itraconazole for oral administration. 2004. Fresh Patents.com. 26 October 2006.
  11. ↑ Sporanox (Itraconazole Capsules). June 2006. Janssen. 26 October 2006
  12. ↑ Mellaerts R, Aerts A, Caremans TP, Vermant J, Van den Mooter G, Martens JA, Augustijns P (2010). "Growth of Itraconazole Nanofibers in Supersaturated Simulated Intestinal Fluid". Molecular Pharmaceutics. 7 (3): 905–13. PMID 20232903. doi:10.1021/mp900300j.
  13. ↑ "SUBA™ Bioavailability Technology". Mayne Pharma Group.
  14. 1 2 "The Safety of Sporanox Capsules and Lamisil Tablets for the Treatment of Onychomycosis". FDA Public Health Advisory. May 9, 2001. Archived from the original on 2009-05-28. Retrieved 2006-08-10.
  15. ↑ "Sporanox (Itraconazole) Capsules". Safety Labeling Changes Approved By FDA Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. United States Food and Drug Administration.
  16. ↑ "Cardiac arrest provoked by itraconazole and amiodarone interaction: a case report".
  17. ↑ Katzung & Trevor's (2015). Pharmacology Examination & Board Review. McGraw Hill. p. 397.
  18. ↑ Kim J, Tang JY, Gong R, Kim J, Lee JJ, Clemons KV, Chong CR, Chang KS, Fereshteh M, Gardner D, Reya T, Liu JO, Epstein EH, Stevens DA, Beachy PA (2010). "Itraconazole, a Commonly Used Antifungal that Inhibits Hedgehog Pathway Activity and Cancer Growth". Cancer Cell. 17 (4): 388–99. PMID 20385363. doi:10.1016/j.ccr.2010.02.027.
  19. ↑ Kim J, Aftab BT, Tang JY, Kim D, Lee AH, Rezaee M, Kim J, Chen B, King EM, Borodovsky A, Riggins GJ, Epstein EH, Beachy PA, Rudin CM (2013). "Itraconazole and arsenic trioxide inhibit hedgehog pathway activation and tumor growth associated with acquired resistance to smoothened antagonists". Cancer Cell. 23 (1): 23–34. PMC 3548977 Freely accessible. PMID 23291299. doi:10.1016/j.ccr.2012.11.017.
  20. 1 2 Chong CR, Xu J, Lu J, Bhat S, Sullivan DJ, Liu JO (2007). "Inhibition of Angiogenesis by the Antifungal Drug Itraconazole". ACS Chemical Biology. 2 (4): 263–70. PMID 17432820. doi:10.1021/cb600362d.
  21. 1 2 Aftab BT, Dobromilskaya I, Liu JO, Rudin CM (2011). "Itraconazole Inhibits Angiogenesis and Tumor Growth in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer". Cancer Research. 71 (21): 6764–72. PMC 3206167 Freely accessible. PMID 21896639. doi:10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-11-0691.
  22. ↑ Xu J, Dang Y, Ren YR, Liu JO (2010). "Cholesterol trafficking is required for mTOR activation in endothelial cells". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 107 (10): 4764–9. PMC 2842052 Freely accessible. PMID 20176935. doi:10.1073/pnas.0910872107.
  23. ↑ Shi W, Nacev BA, Aftab BT, Head S, Rudin CM, Liu JO (2011). "Itraconazole Side Chain Analogues: Structure–Activity Relationship Studies for Inhibition of Endothelial Cell Proliferation, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor 2 (VEGFR2) Glycosylation, and Hedgehog Signaling". Journal of Medicinal Chemistry. 54 (20): 7363–74. PMC 3307530 Freely accessible. PMID 21936514. doi:10.1021/jm200944b.
  24. ↑ Patterson TF, Peters J, Levine SM, Anzueto A, Bryan CL, Sako EY, Miller OL, Calhoon JH, Rinaldi MG (1996). "Systemic availability of itraconazole in lung transplantation". Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 40 (9): 2217–20. PMC 163504 Freely accessible. PMID 8878612.
  25. ↑ Fraga Fuentes MD, García Díaz B, de Juana Velasco P, Bermejo Vicedo MT (1997). "[Influence of foods on the absorption of antimicrobial agents]". Nutr Hosp (in Spanish). 12 (6): 277–88. PMID 9477653.
  26. ↑ Barone JA, Koh JG, Bierman RH, Colaizzi JL, Swanson KA, Gaffar MC, Moskovitz BL, Mechlinski W, Van de Velde V (1993). "Food interaction and steady-state pharmacokinetics of itraconazole capsules in healthy male volunteers". Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 37 (4): 778–84. PMC 187759 Freely accessible. PMID 8388198. doi:10.1128/aac.37.4.778.
  27. ↑ "Lozanoc 50 Mg Hard Capsules (Itraconazole)" (PDF). Public Assessment Report Decentralised Procedure. UK Medicines and Health Care Products Regulatory Agency.
  28. ↑ Pantziarka, Pan; Sukhatme, Vidula; Bouche, Gauthier; Meheus, Lydie; Sukhatme, Vikas P (2015-04-15). "Repurposing Drugs in Oncology (ReDO)—itraconazole as an anti-cancer agent". ecancermedicalscience. 9. ISSN 1754-6605. PMC 4406527 Freely accessible. PMID 25932045. doi:10.3332/ecancer.2015.521.
  29. ↑ Rudin, Charles M.; Brahmer, Julie R.; Juergens, Rosalyn A.; Hann, Christine L.; Ettinger, David S.; Sebree, Rosa; Smith, Ruth; Aftab, Blake T.; Huang, Peng (2013-05-01). "Phase 2 Study of Pemetrexed and Itraconazole as Second-Line Therapy for Metastatic Non-Squamous Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer". Journal of thoracic oncology : official publication of the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer. 8 (5): 619–623. ISSN 1556-0864. PMC 3636564 Freely accessible. PMID 23546045. doi:10.1097/JTO.0b013e31828c3950.
  30. ↑ Kunze, KL; Nelson, WL; Kharasch, ED; Thummel, KE; Isoherranen, N (April 2006). "Stereochemical Aspects of Itraconazole Metabolism in vitro and in vivo" (PDF). Drug Metabolism and Disposition: the Biological Fate of Chemicals. 34 (4): 583–90. PMID 16415110. doi:10.1124/dmd.105.008508. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
  31. ↑ "Itraconazole on Drugs.com". Drugs.com. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
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