ALOSETRON

Absorption

50-60 %

Chemical properties

crystalline powder

Originator

Alosetron hydrochloride,GlaxoSmithKline

The Uses of ALOSETRON

Anti-emetic.

Indications

Only for the treatment of symptoms of severe diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in women with chronic symptoms (generally lasting greater than 6 months) who does not present with anatomic or biochemical GI abnormalities and have not responded to conventional therapy.

Definition

ChEBI: A pyrido[4,3-b]indole compound having a 5-methyl-1H-imidazol-4-ylmethyl group at the 2-position.

Indications

Alosetron (Lotronex) is a 5-HT3 receptor antagonist. Blocking this receptor results in decreased GI motility. Alosetron received FDA approval in February 2000 for the treatment of women with diarrhea-predominant IBS. In November 2000, at the request of the FDA, the drug was voluntarily withdrawn due to reported cases of ischemic colitis, including some fatalities.

Background

Alosetron is a 5-HT3 antagonist used only for the management of severe diarrhoea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in women. Alosetron has an antagonist action on the 5-HT3 receptors and thus may modulate serotonin-sensitive gastrointestinal (GI) processes. Alosetron was voluntarily withdrawn from the US market in November 2000 by the manufacturer due to numerous reports of severe adverse effects including ischemic colitis, severely obstructed or ruptured bowel, and death. In June 2002, the FDA approved a supplemental new drug application allowing the remarketing of the drug under restricted conditions of use.

Manufacturing Process

4-(Chloromethyl)-1-(triphenylmethyl)-1H-imidazole.
Thionyl chloride (0.829 g) was added over 1 min to a stirred suspension of 1- (triphenylmethyl)-1H-imidazole-4-methanol (1.3 g) in a mixture of dichloromethane (50 ml) and DMF (1.0 ml) at 23°C. The solution so obtained was stirred for 15 min. and extracted with 8% sodium bicarbonate solution (80 ml). The organic phase was washed with water (50 ml), dried and evaporated to give an oil which solidified. The solid was slurried in hexane and filtered to give the title compound (1.28 g), m.p. 139-141°C.
3,4-Dihydro-4-methylcyclopent[b]indol-1(2H)-one oxime.
3,4-Dihydro-4-methylcyclopent[b]indol-1(2H)-one (1.7 g) and hydroxylamine hydrochloride (1.925 g) in pyridine were heated at 60°C for 18 h and cooled. The reaction mixture was evaporated in vacuo to a residue to which was added 8% sodium bicarbonate (150 ml). Extraction with ethyl acetate (300 ml) produced a suspension in the organic layer; this layer and associated solid was separated from the aqueous layer. The aqueous layer was re-extracted with ethyl acetate (250 ml). The combined organic extracts (and suspended solid) were evaporated to a residue, boiled with a mixture of ethanol (150 ml) and methanol (150 ml) and cooled to 50°C. The residue was adsorbed from this solution on to FCC silica and applied to an FCC column. Elution with ethyl acetate/3-10% methanol provided the title compound (1.69 g), m.p. 219- 224°C (decomp.).
2,3,4,5-Tetrahydro-5-methyl-1H-pyrido[4,3-b]indol-1-one.
3,4-Dihydro-4-methylcyclopent[b]indol-1(2H)-one oxime (1.53 g), polyphosphoric acid (409 g) and dioxan (15 ml) were heated at 110-120°C for 2.2 h under nitrogen. The reaction mixture was cooled, and treated with 2 N sodium carbonate solution (1 L). The suspension was extracted with ethyl acetate (4x400 ml) and the combined extracts were dried. Evaporation gave a solid (1.43 g) which was recrystallised from ethyl acetate/cyclohexane. This solid was purified by FCC, eluting with dichloromethane:ethanol:ammonia solution (200:10:1) to give a solid (1.26 g) which was recrystallised from ethanol to provide the title compound (960 mg), m.p. 234-238°C.
2,3,4,5-Tetrahydro-5-methyl-2-[(5-methyl-1H-imidazol-4-yl)methyl]-1Hpyrido[ 4,3-b]indol-1-one maleate.
A mixture of 2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-5-methyl-1H-pyrido[4,3-b]indol-1-one (0.6 g) and 78% sodium hydride dispersion in mineral oil (0.109 g) in dry DMF (15 ml) was stirred under nitrogen at 50°C until hydrogen evolution ceased (ca. 1.5 h). The mixture was cooled to 40°C and a solution of 4-(chloromethyl)-5- methyl-1-(triphenylmethyl)-1H-imidazole (1.12 g) in dry THF (15 ml) was added. The reaction was then stirred at 40°C for 3 h, at 20°C for 16 h and a further portion of 4-(chloromethyl)-5-methyl-1-(triphenylmethyl)-1H-imidazole (1.12 g) in dry THF (15 ml) was added. The resulting mixture was heated at 40°C for 3 h, quenched with water (20 ml) and acetic acid (20 ml), and heated at 100°C for 2 h. The mixture was then concentrated in vacuo to ca. 60 ml, diluted with 1 M hydrochloric acid (40 ml) and washed with ethyl acetate (3x50 ml). The organic phase was discarded and the acidic aqueous phase was basified (pH=9) with potassium carbonate and extracted with ethyl acetate:ethanol (20:1; 3x100 ml). The extracts were combined, dried and evaporated to give a brown gum (ca. 1 g). This gum was adsorbed onto silica and purified by FCC eluting with dichloromethane:ethanol:ammonia solition (100:8:1) to give a pale brown solid (0.8 g); m.p. 238-240°C (decomp.). This solid was dissolved in a mixture of (hot ethanol and methanol (1:1; 100 ml) and treated with an ethanolic solution of maleic acid (3.18 g). The resulting solution was concentrated to ca. 20 ml and diluted with dry diethyl ether (ca. 8 ml) to precipitate the title compound (0.75 g) as an off-white solid melting point 160-162°C. Hydrochloride may be prepared by treating the above solid with an equivalent of an ethanolic solution of HCl.

brand name

Lotronex (GlaxoSmithKline).

Therapeutic Function

Antidiarrheal

Pharmacokinetics

Alosetron is a potent and selective antagonist of the serotonin 5-HT3 receptor type. Activation of these receptors and the resulting neuronal depolarization affects the regulation of visceral pain, colonic transit, and GI secretions processes that are related to IBS. By blocking these receptors, alosetron is able to effectively control IBS.

Metabolism

Hepatic, via microsomal cytochrome P450 (CYP)