Safety, Pharmacokinetics, and Pharmacodynamics of TD‐0714, a Novel Potent Neprilysin Inhibitor in Healthy Adult and Elderly Subjects

TD‐0714 is an orally active, potent, and selective inhibitor of human neprilysin (NEP) in development for the treatment of chronic heart failure. Oral administration of TD‐0714 in rats resulted in dose‐dependent and sustained increases in plasma cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) over 24 hours consistent with NEP target engagement. Randomized, double‐blind, placebo controlled, single ascending dose (50–600 mg TD‐0714) and multiple ascending dose (10–200 mg TD‐0714 q.d. for 14 days) studies were conducted in healthy volunteers. TD‐0714 was generally well‐tolerated and no serious adverse events or clinically significant effects on vital signs or electrocardiogram parameters were observed. TD‐0714 exhibited dose‐proportional pharmacokinetics (PKs) with high oral bioavailability, minimal accumulation after once daily dosing, and negligible renal elimination. Pharmacodynamic (PD) responses were observed at all dose levels studied, as reflected by statistically significant increases in plasma cGMP concentrations. The increases in cGMP were significantly above the baseline (~ 50–100%) on day 14 for the entire 24‐hour interval indicating that sustained cGMP elevations are achieved at steady‐state. Maximal steady‐state cGMP response was observed in plasma and urine at doses ≥ 50 mg. The TD‐0714 PK‐PD relationship and safety profile were similar in elderly vs. younger adult subjects. The TD‐0714 PK and PD profiles support further clinical development of TD‐0714 and suggest the potential for once‐daily administration and predictable exposure in patients with cardiorenal diseases regardless of their renal function.