LAUSR

Abstract Background Baloxavir marboxil (BXM) is a novel small molecule inhibitor of cap-dependent endonuclease that is essential for influenza virus transcription and replication. In this study, pharmacokinetic profiles of BXM and baloxavir acid (BXA), an active form of BXM, were first examined in ferrets, and then the therapeutic effects of BXM against influenza A virus infection were compared with that of oseltamivir phosphate in ferrets. Methods The plasma exposure of BXA and BXM was examined after a single oral administration of BXM at doses of 10 and 30 mg/kg. The concentrations in plasma were determined by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry(LC/MS/MS). For efficacy study, ferrets infected intranasally with A/Kadoma/2006 (H1N1) were administrated 10 or 30 mg/kg of BXM orally twice daily for 1 day, starting at 1 day post-infection (p.i.) or administrated 10 mg/kg of BXM orally twice daily for 1 day, starting at 2 days p.i.. Oseltamivir phosphate was administered at doses of 5 mg/kg orally twice daily for 2 days as a comparison. The virus titer in the nasal washes and body temperature change were monitored during infection. Results BXA was detected in ferret plasma after a single oral administration of BXM at 10 and 30 mg/kg, in more than a dose-proportional manner. When the treatment was initiated at 1 day p.i., BXM at 10 and 30 mg/kg showed reduction of virus titer to an undetectable level on day 2 p.i. and statistically significant reduction in virus titer over time from day 2 to 3 p.i. compared with vehicle and oseltamivir phosphate. Moreover, the change of body temperature over time from 8 hours after the first administration to 3 days p.i. was significantly lower in BXM at 10 and 30 mg/kg than vehicle and oseltamivir phosphate. These effects were also observed in ferrets treated with BXM at 10 mg/kg even when administered at 2 day p.i. where ferret exhibit fever that is more than 1 degree higher than on 1 day p.i.. Conclusion Single-day oral administration of BXM had beneficial effects on viral titer and symptoms in ferrets infected with influenza A virus, which were superior to those observed with oseltamivir phosphate and vehicle. Disclosures M. Kitano, Shionogi & Co., Ltd.: Employee, Salary. T. Matsuzaki, Shionogi & Co., Ltd.: Employee, Salary. R. Oka, Shionogi & Co., Ltd.: Employee, Salary. K. Baba, Shionogi TechnoAdvance Research & Co., Ltd.: Employee, Salary. T. Noda, Shionogi TechnoAdvance Research & Co., Ltd.: Employee, Salary. Y. Yoshida, Shionogi & Co., Ltd.: Employee, Salary. K. Sato, Shionogi & Co., Ltd.: Employee, Salary. R. Yoshida, Shionogi & Co., Ltd.: Employee, Salary. A. Sato, Shionogi & Co., Ltd.: Employee, Salary. H. Kamimori, Shionogi & Co., Ltd.: Employee, Salary. T. Shishido, Shionogi & Co., Ltd.: Employee, Salary. A. Naito, Shionogi & Co., Ltd.: Employee, Salary.