Molecule

Drug Groups

approved

Description

Fosamprenavir is a prodrug of amprenavir, an inhibitor of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) protease.

Indication

Indicated in combination with other antiretroviral agents for the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) infection, as well as postexposure prophylaxis of HIV infection in individuals who have had occupational or nonoccupational exposure to potentially infectious body fluids of a person known to be infected with HIV when that exposure represents a substantial risk for HIV transmission. The use of fosamprenavir is pending revision due to a potential association between the drug and myocardial infarction and dyslipidemia in HIV infected adults.

Pharmacology

Fosamprenavir is a pro-drug of the protease inhibitor and antiretroviral drug amprenavir. It has little or no antiviral activity until it is hydrolyzed by cellular phosphatases into amprenavir, which is the active ingredient. That metabolization increases the duration that amprenavir is available, making fosamprenavir a slow-release version of amprenavir and thus reducing the number of pills required versus standard amprenavir.

Affected Organisms

Biotransformation

In the gut epithelium during absorption, fosamprenavir is rapidly and almost completely hydrolyzed to amprenavir and inorganic phosphate prior to reaching the systemic circulation. Amprenavir is metabolized in the liver by the cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) enzyme system.

Absorption

The absolute oral bioavailability of amprenavir after administration of fosamprenavir in humans has not been established. After administration of a single 1,400 mg dose in the fasted state, fosamprenavir oral suspension (50 mg/mL) and fosamprenavir tablets (700 mg) provided similar amprenavir exposures (AUC), however, the C_max of amprenavir after administration of the suspension formulation was 14.5 % higher compared with the tablet.

Half Life

The plasma elimination half-life of amprenavir (the active metabolite) is approximately 7.7 hours.

Protein Binding

Very high (approximately 90%); primarily bound to alpha 1 -acid glycoprotein. Higher amounts of unbound amprenavir present as amprenavir serum concentrations increase.

Elimination

Excretion of unchanged amprenavir in urine and feces is minimal. The renal elimination of unchanged amprenavir represents approximately 1% of the administered dose; therefore, renal impairment is not expected to significantly impact the elimination of amprenavir. Amprenavir, the active metabolite of fosamprenavir, is metabolized in the liver by the cytochrome P450 enzyme system.

References

External Links