A phase I, single and continuous dose administration study on the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of neorudin, a novel recombinant anticoagulant protein, in healthy subjects

The aim of this study was to evaluate the tolerability, safety, and pharmacokinetics of single and continuous dose administration of recombinant neorudin (EPR‐hirudin, EH) by intravenous administration in healthy subjects, and to provide a safe dosage range for phase II clinical research. Forty‐four subjects received EH as a single dose of between 0.2 and 2.0 mg/kg by intravenous bolus and drip infusion. In addition, 18 healthy subjects were randomly divided into three dose groups (0.15, 0.30, and 0.45 mg/kg/h) with 6 subjects in each group for the continuous administration trial. Single or continuous doses of neorudin were generally well tolerated by healthy adult subjects. There were no serious adverse events (SAEs), and all adverse events (AEs) were mild to moderate. Moreover, no subjects withdrew from the trial because of AEs. There were no clinically relevant changes in physical examination results, clinical chemistry, urinalysis, or vital signs. The incidence of adverse events was not significantly related to drug dose or systemic exposure. After single‐dose and continuous administration, the serum EH concentration reached its peak at 5 min, and the exposure increased with the increase in the administered dose. The mean half‐life (T(1/2)), clearance (Cl), and apparent volume of distribution (Vd) of EH ranged from 1.7 to 2.5 h, 123.9 to 179.7 ml/h/kg, and 402.7 to 615.2 ml/kg, respectively. The demonstrated safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetic characteristics of EH can be used to guide rational drug dosing and choose therapeutic regimens in subsequent clinical studies. Clinical trial registration: Chinadrugtrials.org identifier: CTR20160444.