A minimal physiologically based pharmacokinetic model for predicting the metabolism of tenofovir prodrugs in the liver of human with fibrosis

The Antiviral efficacy of tenofovir (TFV) prodrugs is dependent on their intracellular conversion to the active metabolite, TFV diphosphate (TFV-DP). Because hepatitis B virus principally infects hepatocytes, accurate quantification of intrahepatic TFV-DP is essential for effective therapy. However, current pharmacokinetic (PK) assessments predominantly rely on peripheral blood mononuclear cell data, and TFV-DP production efficiency differs markedly between peripheral blood mononuclear cells and hepatocytes, emphasizing their noninterchangeable nature. Furthermore, direct measurement of hepatic TFV-DP in humans is not feasible, and its levels are also influenced by disease status. Although physiologically based PK (PBPK) models can predict tissue concentrations, the errors associated with direct allometric scaling across species remain inadequately resolved. Therefore, we developed a translational minimal PBPK (mPBPK) model using a sequential strategy. First, a cellular PK model using metabolic data from primary hepatocytes across species characterized hepatic disposition parameters. Second, species-specific mPBPK models for mice and dogs were established by fitting plasma PK and tissue distribution data. Comparing parameters from the in vitro cellular PK model and in vivo mPBPK model quantified in vitro-in vivo discrepancies, informing human translation. Finally, leveraging these interspecies differences and human hepatocyte data, hepatic disposition parameters were defined within a human mPBPK framework. The model was then calibrated with human plasma PK data to enable predictions of human hepatic TFV-DP levels in healthy and fibrotic conditions, revealing a 35% reduction of exposure in fibrosis. As the first such mPBPK model, it provides a mechanistic tool for prodrug screening and supports therapy optimization in patients with advanced liver disease. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: In this study, we developed a minimal physiologically based pharmacokinetic model to predict hepatic tenofovir (TFV) diphosphate concentrations of 3 TFV prodrugs in humans. Considering species-specific esterase-driven metabolic differences, we adopted a sequential scaling strategy instead of conventional interspecies extrapolation. By integrating cross-species in vitro cellular pharmacokinetic parameters (adjusted for in vitro-in vivo discrepancies) into the human minimal physiologically based pharmacokinetic model, we successfully predicted TFV diphosphate exposure in fibrotic livers, verifying the model's utility for quantifying hepatic drug levels and assisting clinical therapy optimization.

Chronic hepatitis B; Hepatic fibrosis; Minimal physiologically based pharmacokinetic; Sequential scaling strategy; Tenofovir active metabolite.