Assessment of cytochrome P450 3A4-mediated drug–drug interactions for ipatasertib using a fit-for-purpose physiologically based pharmacokinetic model

PURPOSE: Ipatasertib, a potent and highly selective small-molecule inhibitor of AKT, is currently under investigation for treatment of cancer. Ipatasertib is a substrate and a time-dependent inhibitor of CYP3A4. It exhibits non-linear pharmacokinetics at subclinical doses in the clinical dose escalation study. To assess the DDI risk of ipatasertib at the intended clinical dose of 400 mg with CYP3A4 inhibitors, inducers, and substrates, a fit-for-purpose physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model of ipatasertib was developed. METHODS: The PBPK model was constructed in Simcyp using in silico, in vitro, and clinical data and was optimized and verified using clinical data. RESULTS: The PBPK model described non-linear pharmacokinetics of ipatasertib and captured the magnitude of the observed clinical DDIs. Following repeated doses of 400 mg ipatasertib once daily (QD), the PBPK model predicted a 3.3-fold increase of ipatasertib exposure with itraconazole; a 2–2.5-fold increase with moderate CYP3A4 inhibitors, erythromycin and diltiazem; and no change with a weak CYP3A4 inhibitor, fluvoxamine. Additionally, in the presence of strong or moderate CYP3A4 inducers, rifampicin and efavirenz, ipatasertib exposures were predicted to decrease by 86% and 74%, respectively. As a perpetrator, the model predicted that ipatasertib (400 mg) caused a 1.7-fold increase in midazolam exposure. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates the value of using a fit-for-purpose PBPK model to assess the clinical DDIs for ipatasertib and to provide dosing strategies for the concurrent use of other CYP3A4 perpetrators or victims. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00280-022-04434-2.