A clinical pharmacology study of the novel, selective urate reabsorption inhibitor dotinurad in outpatients

BACKGROUND: Dotinurad is a novel, selective urate reabsorption inhibitor (SURI), which reduces serum uric acid levels by selective inhibition of the urate transporter 1 (URAT1). The Japanese guideline for the management of hyperuricemia and gout recommends that drug selection should be based on classification of hyperuricemia as a fundamental principle. However, there may be some cases where this principle is not observed. We investigated the pharmacodynamics and safety of dotinurad in outpatients with uric acid overproduction or uric acid underexcretion type. METHODS: This was a multicenter, open-label, forced titration study. Patients were classified as uric acid overproduction or underexcretion type. Study treatment was initiated at 0.5 mg/day, followed by dose titration to the estimated maximum dose of 4 mg/day over 14 weeks. The primary endpoint was urinary uric acid excretion at each 24-h urine collection. RESULTS: A total of 26 hyperuricemic patients with or without gout were enrolled in the study and assigned to the uric acid overproduction group (overproduction group) or the uric acid underexcretion group (underexcretion group). Although urinary uric acid excretion, the primary endpoint, tended to be slightly greater in the overproduction group, no notable difference was noted between the two hyperuricemic types. Neither type had noteworthy safety concerns associated with dotinurad. CONCLUSION: The results of the study demonstrated no relevant differences between the hyperuricemic types in terms of pharmacodynamic action and safety of dotinurad. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (10.1007/s10157-020-01857-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.