Journal article

Publication year: 2008

Pages: 1188-1191

Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases

Volume number: 67

Issue number: 8

ISSN: 0003-4967

DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.1136/ard.2007.086843

Publisher: Elsevier

Abstract: 

Objective: To examine the effect of an albumin-binding prodrug of methotrexate (MTX) in the treatment of murine collagen-induced arthritis (CIA).

Methods: The prodrug AWO54 with the formula EMC-D-Ala-Phe- Lys-Lys-MTX binds selectively to the cysteine-34 position of endogenous albumin, which acts as a macromolecular drug carrier for MTX to the site of inflammation. The CIA model was used to evaluate the anti-arthritic effect of the compound after intravenous application.

Results: The albumin-bound form of AWO54 was efficiently cleaved by cathepsin B and plasmin, two proteases that are overexpressed in rheumatoid arthritis, and release a MTX lysine derivative. AWO54 suppressed CIA in a dose-dependent manner and was significantly better than MTX. To obtain a similar effect only about 20% of the MTX-equivalent dose of AWO54 had to be given. The efficacy of the drug was tested in two different stages of CIA: while both, MTX and AWO54 inhibited arthritis in an early stage of the disease, in a later stage only AWO54 showed a significant inhibitory effect in comparison with control.

Conclusion: Targeted drug delivery by in vivo coupling of a prodrug of MTX to endogenous albumin is better than MTX in the treatment of CIA.

Harvard Citation style: Fiehn, C., Kratz, F., Sass, G., Mueller-Ladner, U. and Neumann, E. (2008) Targeted drug delivery by in vivo coupling to endogenous albumin: an albumin-binding prodrug of methotrexate (MTX) is better than MTX in the treatment of murine collagen-induced arthritis, Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, 67(8), pp. 1188-1191. https://doi.org/10.1136/ard.2007.086843

APA Citation style: Fiehn, C., Kratz, F., Sass, G., Mueller-Ladner, U., & Neumann, E. (2008). Targeted drug delivery by in vivo coupling to endogenous albumin: an albumin-binding prodrug of methotrexate (MTX) is better than MTX in the treatment of murine collagen-induced arthritis. Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. 67(8), 1188-1191. https://doi.org/10.1136/ard.2007.086843