Ozenoxacin

Chemical formula: C₂₁H₂₁N₃O₃  Molecular mass: 363.417 g/mol  PubChem compound: 9863827

Mechanism of action

Ozenoxacin is a non-fluorinated quinolone with a dual inhibitory activity against bacterial DNA replication enzymes, DNA gyrase A and topoisomerase IV. This effect is mediated by the ability of quinolones to stabilize complexes of DNA and both DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV thus, blocking progression of the replication fork.

The bactericidal activity of ozenoxacin has been demonstrated by the mean of kill curves experiments.

Pharmacodynamic properties

Mechanism of resistance

The development of quinolone resistance is caused by point mutations in discrete regions of the DNA gyrase (gyrA) and topoisomerase IV (grlA) genes called the Quinolone Resistance-Determining Regions (QRDR).

Ozenoxacin shows a dual target of action, inhibiting DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV, showing an ability to inhibit both enzymes. As a result of this inhibitory target activity and bactericidal property, ozenoxacin shows a low frequency of selection of spontaneous resistant mutants.

Against Gram-positive organisms ozenoxacin has shown no cross-resistance with other families of commercial antibacterial, and retains activities below the breakpoints for mutants resistant to other marketed quinolones.

It is worth noting that ozenoxacin shows the same activity against methicillin-sensitive and methicillin-resistant strains of all studied bacterial species.

Pharmacodynamic effects

Antibacterial spectrum

Ozenoxacin is characterized by its potency and bactericidal activity against clinical bacterial isolates involved in skin infections, including S. aureus and S. pyogenes. The proposed epidemiological cut off (ECOFF) values for S. aureus and S. pyogenes are of 0.008 and 0.06 µg/ml, respectively. However, the differences in sensitivity to the product between populations are not always related to the clinical breakpoints and the therapeutic properties of the product.

Pharmacokinetic properties

Absorption

No detectable systemic exposure levels were observed in adult healthy volunteers and in adult patients with impetigo following repeated topical application of ozenoxacin 10 mg/g cream for up to 7 days to intact and abraded skin.

Distribution

Plasma protein binding of [14C]-ozenoxacin was moderate (~80 to 85%) in human and dog plasma and did not appear to be dependent on concentration.

Biotransformation

Ozenoxacin was excreted mainly unchanged in animal studies (mini-pigs and rats).

Elimination

Since no detectable systemic exposure levels were observed in clinical studies, elimination has not been investigated in humans.

Special populations

No pharmacokinetic data are available in patients with renal or hepatic impairment. However, due to the undetectable systemic plasma levels that have been observed, no safety problems are foreseen.

Paedriatic population

No detectable systemic exposure levels were observed in any paediatric patient with impetigo (aged >6 months of age) following topical administration of ozenoxacin 10 mg/g cream twice daily for 5 days, with the exception of one patient with blood samples that were very close to the limit of quantitation (0.5 ng/ml).

Preclinical safety data

Repeated dose studies

Topically administered, ozenoxacin was well tolerated. Plasma levels of ozenoxacin after single dermal administration were below LOQ while only low systemic exposure was detected after 28-day dermal administration.

Ozenoxacin was also well tolerated in both intact and abraded skin in minipigs after dermal administration during 28 consecutive days.

In the oral 28-day repeated dose toxicological studies in rats and dogs, where adequate systemic exposure was achieved, the NOAEL was 125 mg/kg/day and 50 mg/kg/day, respectively for each study. Since systemic exposure is negligible, no adverse effects are anticipated.

Genotoxicity

There was no evidence of mutagenicity/genotoxicity when evaluated in the required standard battery of genotoxicity testing for assessment of the genotoxic potential (Ames test, mouse lymphoma assay and in vivo rat micronucleus assay).

Reproductive toxicity

Systemic exposure to ozenoxacin at oral dosages up to 500 mg/kg/day in rats did not induce adverse effects on male or female fertility, parturition, lactation or maternal behavior on F0 generation and did not affect reproductive parameters and growth pattern on F1 generation where quantifiable levels of ozenoxacin in the pup plasma (F1 generation) on day 14 postpartum was demonstrated. In the rabbit, an increase in post-implantation loss and corresponding reduction in live fetuses per litter was observed at 40 mg/kg/day. Furthermore, in rat and rabbit at dosage up to 500 mg/kg/day and 40 mg/kg/day, respectively, during gestation period, a reduction in fetal body weights was observed, which in turn caused delays in skeletal development, but the product did not induce gross, visceral or skeletal fetal anomalies.

Juvenile animals

In the 2-weeks repeated oral toxicity study in juvenile dogs, where adequate systemic exposure was achieved, the NOAEL was 100 mg/kg/day.

There was no evidence of articular toxicity.

Local tolerance

Adverse effects usually related to quinolones, such as phototoxicity, photoallergenic and sensitizer potential have not been observed with ozenoxacin in the non-clinical studies conducted.

Environmental Risk Assessment (ERA)

Environmental risk assessment studies have shown that ozenoxacin may pose a risk to the aquatic environment.

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