• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.82-86
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• 1997

Pharmacokinetics of a new capsaicin analog, DA-5018 were evaluated after a subcutaneous injection or topical application of $[^{14}C]$--labelled or unlabelled DA-5018 to rats and rabbits. After subcutaneous injection of $_{14}$c-labelled or unlabelled DA-5018, 0.5 mg/kg (equivalent to DA-5018) to rats, the plasma total activity peaked at 2 hr with the terminal half life of 5.34 hr, however, unlabelled-DA-5018 peaked at 1 hr with the terminal half life of 1.26 hr. Moreover, the AUC (0.726 versus 0.2337g hr/ml) and MRT (7.82 versus 3.55 hr) increased significantly based on total radioactivity compared with intact DA-5018. Above data indicated that DA-5018 is extensively metabolized in rats and the terminal half- life of the metabolite(5) had a longer half-life than that of DA-5018. The cumulative percentages of biliary excretion of dose after subcutaneous injection of $[^{14}C]$DA-5018 was 40.2%, however, the value was only 2.14% when unlabelled DA-5018 was injected. After topical application of 0.1% or 0.3% $_{14}$C-labelled or unlabelled DA-5018 cream, 500 mg/kg to rats, the plasma and tissue concentrations except applied skin were under the detection limit. After consecutive 7 days topical application of unlabelled DA-5018, 0.1% and 0.3% cream to rats, the plasma concentrations were also under the detection limit. But the urinary excretion of DA-5018 was significantly increased by repeated topical administration. After topical application of unlabelled DA-5018, 0.1% and 0.3% cream to rabbits, the plasma and urine concentrations were under the detection limit. Above data indicated that the skin permeation of DA-5018 was lower and the metabolism of DA-5018 was higher in rabbits than that in rats.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.364-372
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• 1996

The primary skin and eye irritation test of 0.3% DA-5018 cream, a capsaicin analogue, were carried out in rabbits. As control materials, Zostrix-HP cream (0.075% capsaicin cream) and the base of 0.3% DA-5018 cream were used in the same manners. In the primary skin irritation test, the Primary Irritation Index (P.I.I.) was 1.6, 1.9 and 0.5 in groups treated with 0.3% DA-5018 cream, Zostrix-HP cream and the base of 0.3% DA-5018 cream, respectively. The irritation ratings of 0.3% DA-5018 cream and Zostrix-HP cream were mildly irritating. The base of 0.3% DA-5018 cream was evaluated as a non-irritating material. In the eye irritation test, 0.3% DA-5018 cream and Zostrix-HP cream could be considered as mildly irritating materials. But, the base of 0.3% DA-5018 cream was a non-irritating material. These results suggest that 0.3% DA-5018 cream has mildly irritating activity and its irritancy is similar to that of Zostrix-HP cream.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.87-93
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• 1997

DA-5018, a new capsaicin derivative, showed potent analgesic effect comparable to that of morphine in various experimental acute pain models. in this study, whether the analgesic mechanism of DA-5018 is related to opiate receptors or prostanoids was investigated. The affinity of DA-5018 for opiate receptor was determined by receptor binding assay. The Ki values of DA-5018 for nonspecific and specific $\mu$, $textsc{k}$, $\delta$-opiate receptor was 299$\pm$8.88, 735$\pm$215, 2930$\pm$ 163, 1550$\pm$813 nM, respectively and DA-5018 exhibited lower affinity than morphine. DA-5018 (10-"~3$\times$10-′M) inhibited electrically-evoked contractions of the guinea ply ileum and rat vas deferens, and these inhibition was not antagonized by naloxone(10 nM), an opiate receptor antagonist. Antagonism of analgesic effect of 7A-5018 by naloxone was examined by tail pinch test. Analgesic action of DA-5018(0.1 ~2 mg/kg, 5.c.) was not antagonized by naloxone(1 mg/rg, i.p.). These results indicate that pharmacological action of DA-5018 is not related with opiate receptor. Cyclooxygenase and 5-lipoxygenase activities in rat peritoneal neutrophil treated with A23187 and arachidonic acid were measured by radioimmunoassay. DA-5018 stimulated the cyclooxygenase activity and the concentration show-ing the two fold increase of activity was 124$\mu$M. DA-5018 slightly inhibited 5-lipoxygenase activity and these results together indicate that analgesic action of 3A-5018 is not mediated through inhibition of cyclooxy genase or lipoxygenase. These results suggest that the analgesic effect of DA-5018 is not due to blocking opiate receptor or to inhibiting the synthesis of prostanoids in the arachidonic acid metabolism pathway.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.74-81
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• 1997

DA-5018(N-(3-(3, 4-dimethylphenyl)propyl)-4-(2-aminoethoxy)-3-methoxyphenylacetamide) is a new capsaicin derivative under development as topical analgesic agent. The general pharmacological properties of DA-5018 on central nervous, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal and other organ systems were studied in experimental animals. DA-5018 cream (0.3%) had no effects on behavior, hexobarbital-induced sleeping time, body temperature, spontaneous activity, blood pressure, heart rate, intestinal charcoal propulsion, urine volume and electrolyte excretion even at a high dose of 2000 mg/kg in rats. In addition, DA-5Ol8 cream had little skin irritation compared to Zostrix-HP (capsaicin, 0.075%) cream in rabbits. In isolated guinea pig tissue studies, DA-5018 increased the contractility of trachea and ileum and also increased sinus rate of atrium in a range of 10^{-8}-10^{-5}$$ M, but its efficacy as a agonist was weak. These results suggest that DA-5018 cream might be used topically without serious side effects.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.12-22
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• 1997

Intravenous and oral acute toxicity tests in ICR mice and SD rats and percutaneous acute toxicity tests in SD rats and NZW rabbits were conducted to evaluate the toxicity of DA-5018 and DA-5018 cream, respectively Clinical signs observed in mice and rats after the administration of DA-5018 were similar regardless of administration route. The observed clinical signs were jumping, wild running, lacrimation, ataxia, reddening of extremities and ears, ventral or lateral recumbency, respiratory distress, cyanosis, convulsion and death. Pulmonary enlargement and hemorrhage were observed in the animals died immediately after the dosing of DA-5018. At terminal necropsy, pulmonary enlargement and hemorrhage, corneal opacity and focal scabbing and depilation around nose were seen. LD$_{50}$ Values of DA-5018 are 11.5 mg/kg (mice, male), 12.6 mg/kg (mice, female), 88.3 mg/kg (rat, male) and 73.2 mg/kg (rat, female) in oral toxicity tests and 11.0 mg/kg (mice, male), 18.7 mg/kg (mice, female), 0.12 mg/kg (rat, male) and 0.32 mg/kg (rat, female) in i.v. toxicity tests. In the percutaneous acute toxicity tests of DA-5018 cream, no deaths occured in all the tested groups during 14-day observation period. There were also no abnormalities in the general conditions, body weight changes and on necropsy findings in all groups. LD$_{50}$ values of 0.1 ~0.9% DA-5018 creams in male and female rats and rabbits are >2000 mg/kg./kg.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.67-73
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• 1997

Analgesic effect of DA-5018, a new capsaicin derivative, was evaluated in various rat models of experimentally induced acute pain. DA-5018(0.2∼10.0 mg/kg, p.o.) prevented the writhing syndromes induced by acetic acid or phenol-p-benzoquinone(PBQ). It increased the pain threshold of inflamed paw when tested by the Randall-Selitto method at the dose of 2.0∼20.0 mg/kg by oral administration. And also it showed antinociceptive activities in tail-pinch(1.0∼20.0 mg/kg, p.o.) and tail-flick test(5.0∼50.0 mg/kg, p.o.). the potency and efficacy of DA-5018 were comparable to morphine · HCI in all the models mentioned above. Acetaminophen exhibited the inhibition of acetic acid-induced writhing syndromes and also analgesic activity in Randall-Selitto test, but it showed the limited efficacy in tail-pinch and tail-flick test. These results mean that DA-5018 has a broader analgesic activity profile than acetaminophen. And we found out that the analgesic activity of DA-5018 was 100 times more potent when administered centrally than administered orally in tail-flick test. These results suggest that DA-5018 has an orally active analgesic activity, and central nervous system may be involved in the action of DA-5018.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.165-172
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• 1999

In the present work , the transport mechanism of a capsaicin derivative, DA-5018, through blood-brain barrier (BBB) has been investigated to evaluate the feasibility of potential drug development. The result of pharmacokinetic parameters obtained from the intravenous injection of plasma volume marker,$[3^H]RSA$ and $[{14}^C]DA-5018$, indicated that both AUC, area under the plasma concentration curve and VD, volume of distribution in brain of $[3^H]RSA$ agreed with those reported ($1620{\pm}10 $percentage injected dose minute per milliliter (%IDmin/ml) and $12.0{\pm}0.1{\mu}l/g$, respectively). Elimination half-life and AUC of $[{14}^C]DA-5018$is corrected by the PHLC analysis, 19.6$\pm$1.2 min and 7.69$\pm$0.85% IDmin/ml, respectively. The metabolic rate of $[{14}^C]DA-5018$was very rapid. The blood-brain barrier permeability surface area (PS) product of $[{14}^C]DA-5018$ was calculated to be 0.24$\pm$0.05 $\mu$l/min/g. The result of internal carotid artery perfusion and capillary depletion suggested that [14C]DA-5018 pass through BBB with the time increasingly. Investigation of transport mechanism of $[{14}^C]DA-5018$ using agonist and antagonist suggested that vanilloid (capsaicin) receptor did not exist in the BBB, and nutrient carrier system in the BBB has no effect on the transport of DA-5018. In conclusion, despite the fact that penetration of DA-5018 through BBB is significant, the intact drug found in the brain tissue is small because of a rapid metabolism. Therefore, for the central analgesic effect of DA-5018, the method to increase the metabolic stability in plasma and the brain permeability should be considered.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.94-99
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• 1997

Capsaicin is known to be an analgesic agent, affecting the synthesis, storage, , transport and release of substance p, the principal neurotransmitter of pain from periphery to the central nervous system(CNS). DA-5018, a newly synthesized capsaicin derivative has shown potent analgesic effect comparable to that of morphine in various rat models of experimentally inducted acute pairs. In this study the mechanism of analgesic actlvity of DA-5018 was examined. First, the electrically-evoked contraction of guinea pig trachea was inhibited by DA-5018 and these inhibition was recovered by incubation with capsafepine(3$\muM$), capsaicin receptor antagonist and this result suggested that DA-5018 has affinity on capsaicin receptor. The correlation between the norciceptive threshold and the release of substance P was evaluated. In vivo perfusion of slices of the rat spinal cord with DA-5018(10, 100$\muM$) produced a significant increase of the release of substance P and this increase was less than that of capsaicin(10$\muM$). The norciceptive threshold of rat treated with DA-5018(1 mg/kg, p.o) in tall pinch test increased from 2.9$\pm$0.3 to 23.5 $\pm$6.61. Tail pinch latency increased to a maximun at 15 min after DA-5018 treatment and then declined to control values by 120 min. The capsaicin-evoked release ot substance P from the spinal cord slices of rat treated with DA-5018 reduced from 2.38$\pm$ 0.79 to 0.69$\pm$ 0.26 pg/mg wet weight. This reduction reached to a minium at 15 min after DA-5018 treatment and then recovered to control value by 120 min. These results mean that analgesic activity of DA-5018 is due to release of substance P The effect of DA-5018 cream on electrically-evoked neurogenic inflammation of rat saphenous nerve was compared with capsaicin (zostrix-HP). DA-5018 showed 34% inhibition of the neurogenic extravasation while capsaicin showed significant 67% inhibition. This result indicates that the potency of DA-5018 in the release of substance P is less than that of capsaicin. These results suggest that the release of substance P is partially involved in the mechanism of analgesic action of DA-50l8.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.150-157
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• 1997

Capsaicin cream has been used to attenuate the pain associated with diabetic neuropathy, rheum-atoid arthritis, osteoarthritis and postherpetic neuralgia. But its common side effect, local irritation, limits the use of it and there is still a need for a new analgesic devoid of this side effect. This study was conducted to compare the local irritant effect of DA-5018, a new capsaicin derivative, with that of capsaicin in various animal models and human beings. Capsaicin, applied topically to the mouse ear, produced dose-dependent increase of ear volume and the frequency of ear scratching behavior in mice. Neither ear volume nor scratching behavior was affected by DA-5018. In eye wiping test of rat, DA-5018 was 10 times less irritant than capsaicin. Capsaicin administered intradermally into the rat paw elicited paw lick/lift response with a potency which was three times that of DA-5018. Zostrix-HP (0.075% capsaicin cream), but not DA-50180.3% cream, increased ear volume of rat and induced thermal hyperalgesia in normal and carrageenan inflamed paws. Six day-treatment of Zostrix-HP failed to develop tolerance against this thermal hyperalgesia. In human beings, Zostrix-HP produced burning sensation and itching in more than 90% of volunteers involved and its maximum irritant effect was significantly higher than that of DA-5018 cream. These results suggest that local irritation and burning sensation produced by DA-5018 is much less than capsaicin.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.224-231
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• 1996

DA-5018, a non-narcotic analgesic agent, was examined for mutagenicity in the reverse mutation test on bacteria, chromosomal aberration test on cultured mammalian cells and micronucleus test on mice. The reverse mutation test was performed by a plate incorporation method with or without a metabolic activation system(S9 mix) using Salmonella typhimurium strain TA100, TA1535, TA98 and TA1537. DA-5018 did not significantly increase revertant colonies in any of the test strains under any conditions at concentrations ranging from 0.0049 to 1.25 mg/plate, compared with the vehicle control. In the chromosomal aberration test using cultured Chinese Hamster Lung(CHL) cells, DA-5018 did not increase the number of aberrant cells in the presence or absence of S9 mix at concentrations of 0.016 mM/plate to 0.25 mM/plate, compared with the vehicle control. In the micronucleus test, male ICR mice were given DA-5018 intraperitoneally at a dose level of 0.55, 1.10 and 2.20 mg/kg. The incidence of bone marrow micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes in the DA-5018 treated mice was not significantly different from that of the vehicle control. These results indicate that DA-5018 does not have mutagenic potential under the present test conditions.