In vitro and in vivo pharmacological characterization of BIIL 284, a novel and potent leukotriene B(4) receptor antagonist

BIIL 284 is a new LTB(4) receptor antagonist. It is a prodrug and has negligible binding to the LTB(4) receptor. However, ubiquitous esterases metabolize BIIL 284 to the active metabolites BIIL 260 and BIIL 315, the glucuronidated form of BIIL 260. Both metabolites have high affinity to the LTB(4) receptor on isolated human neutrophil cell membranes with K(i) values of 1.7 and 1.9 nM, respectively. On vital human neutrophilic granulocytes K(i) was around 1 nM. BIIL 260 and BIIL 315 interact with the LTB(4) receptor in a saturable, reversible, and competitive manner. BIIL 260 and its glucuronide BIIL 315 also potently inhibited LTB(4)-induced intracellular Ca(2+) release in human neutrophils (IC(50) values of 0.82 and 0.75 nM, respectively) as measured with Fura-2. High efficacy of BIIL 284 has been demonstrated in various in vivo models. BIIL 284 inhibited LTB(4)-induced mouse ear inflammation with ED(50) = 0.008 mg/kg p.o., LTB(4)-induced transdermal chemotaxis in guinea pigs with ED(50) = 0.03 mg/kg p.o., LTB(4)-induced neutropenia in various species (monkey: ED(50) = 0.004 mg/kg p.o.), and LTB(4)-induced Mac1-expression in monkeys (ED(50) = 0.05 mg/kg p.o. in Tylose). Full blockade of LTB(4) receptors over 24 h was achieved by 0.3 mg/kg BIIL 284 after single oral dose as measured by LTB(4)-induced neutropenia or Mac1-expression in the monkey model. BIIL 284 is an unusually potent and long-acting orally active LTB(4) antagonist, and is therefore under clinical development as a novel anti-inflammatory principle.