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Methylnaltrexone



Methylnaltrexone
Systematic (IUPAC) name
17-(Cyclopropylmethyl)-17-methyl-4,5-epoxy-3,14-dihydroxymorphinanium-6-one
Identifiers
CAS number 83387-25-1
ATC code  ?
PubChem 5361918
Chemical data
Formula C21H26NO4 
Mol. mass 356.44 g/mol
Synonyms Methylnaltrexone
Pharmacokinetic data
Bioavailability  ?
Metabolism  ?
Half life  ?
Excretion  ?
Therapeutic considerations
Pregnancy cat.

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Legal status
Routes  ?

Methylnaltrexone (MTNX) is one of the newer agents of peripherally-acting μ-opioid antagonists that act to reverse some of the side effects of opioid drugs such as constipation without affecting analgesia or precipitating withdrawals. Because it contains a permanently charged tetravalent nitrogen atom, it cannot cross the blood-brain barrier, and so has antagonist effects throughout the body, counteracting effects such as itching and constipation, but without affecting opioid effects in the brain such as analgesia.

Development

In December of 2005, Wyeth and Progenics entered into an exclusive, worldwide agreement for the joint development and commercialization of methylnaltrexone for the treatment of opioid-induced side effects, including constipation and post-operative ileus (POI), a prolonged dysfunction of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract following surgery. Under the terms of the agreement, the companies are collaborating on worldwide development. Wyeth received worldwide rights to commercialize methylnaltrexone, and Progenics retained an option to co-promote the product in the United States. Wyeth will pay Progenics royalties on worldwide sales and co-promotion fees within the United States.

Methylnaltrexone is being developed in subcutaneous and oral forms to treat opioid induced constipation (OIC) and an intravenous form for POI.

Progenics and Wyeth are conducting two global phase 3 clinical trials in POI, targeting an NDA submission in this indication in early 2008. An oral formulation for OIC in patients with chronic pain currently is under development with an anticipated NDA submission in late 2009 or early 2010.

References

  • Holzer P (2007). "Treatment of opioid-induced gut dysfunction". Expert Opin Investig Drugs 16 (2): 181-94. PMID 17243938.


 
This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Methylnaltrexone". A list of authors is available in Wikipedia.
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