Inhaled PYY(3–36) dry-powder formulation for appetite suppression

Abstract

Objective: Peptide YY3–36 [PYY(3–36)] has shown efficacy in appetite suppression when dosed by injection modalities (intraperitoneal (IP)/subcutaneous). Transitioning to needle-free delivery, towards inhalation, often utilizes systemic pharmacokinetics as a key endpoint to compare different delivery methods and doses. Systemic pharmacokinetics were evaluated for PYY3–36 when delivered by IP, subcutaneous, and inhalation, the systemic pharmacokinetics were then used to select doses in an appetite suppression pharmacodynamic study.

Methods: Dry-powder formulations were manufactured by spray drying and delivered to mice via nose only inhalation. The systemic plasma, lung tissue, and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid pharmacokinetics of different inhalation doses of PYY(3–36) were compared to IP and subcutaneous efficacious doses. Based on these pharmacokinetic data, inhalation doses of 70:30 PYY(3–36):Dextran T10 were evaluated in a mouse model of appetite suppression and compared to IP and subcutaneous data.

Results: Inhalation pharmacokinetic studies showed that plasma exposure was similar for a 2 × higher inhalation dose when compared to subcutaneous and IP delivery. Inhalation doses of 0.22 and 0.65 mg/kg were for efficacy studies. The results showed a dose-dependent (not dose proportional) decrease in food consumption over 4 h, which is similar to IP and subcutaneous delivery routes.

Conclusions: The pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamics results substantiate the ability of pharmacokinetic data to inform pharmacodynamics dose selection for inhalation delivery of the peptide PYY(3–36). Additionally, engineered PYY(3–36):Dextran T10 particles delivered to the respiratory tract show promise as a non-invasive therapeutic for appetite suppression.

• Inhalation excipients
• pharmacodynamics
• pharmacokinetics
• protein/peptide inhalation drug delivery
• PYY

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to gratefully acknowledge Pfizer Global Research and Development for funding this work and thank James Carroll, John Ludwig, Alan Silcock and Gary Pitcairn for discussions.

Declaration of interest

Authors declare no conflicts of interest.