pulmicort and desisobutyrylciclesonide

Ciclesonide is an inhaled corticosteroid (delivered via a hydrofluoroalkane metered-dose inhaler) that is converted to an active metabolite, desisobutyryl-ciclesonide, in the lung, thereby minimising effects on endogenous cortisol. In two 12-week, randomised studies in patients with asthma, ciclesonide 80 or 320 microg once daily was at least as effective as budesonide 400 microg/day at increasing forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC) from baseline; ciclesonide 320 microg daily was significantly more effective than budesonide 400 microg once daily in one study. In a randomised, double-blind study in patients with asthma controlled with high-dosages of inhaled corticosteroids, FEV(1) and FVC decreased significantly from baseline at 12 weeks in patients receiving ciclesonide 320 microg daily or budesonide 400 microg daily; peak expiratory flow values decreased significantly only in patients receiving budesonide. Inhaled ciclesonide 80 or 320 microg daily improved asthma symptom scores and decreased the use of rescue medication by a similar, significant amount to budesonide 400 microg/day in two 12-week studies. Inhaled ciclesonide was generally well tolerated in patients with asthma. Ciclesonide did not suppress biochemical markers of adrenal function in 52-week studies. The long-term (>52 weeks) systemic effects of ciclesonide remain unknown.

Topics: Administration, Inhalation; Adult; Asthma; Budesonide; Drug Administration Schedule; Esterases; Half-Life; Humans; Injections, Intravenous; Metered Dose Inhalers; Pregnenediones; Time Factors

Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) are mainstay treatment of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. However, highly lipophilic ICS accumulate in systemic tissues, which may lead to adverse systemic effects. The accumulation of a new, highly lipophilic ICS, ciclesonide and its active metabolite (des-CIC) has not yet been reported. Here, we have compared tissue accumulation of des-CIC and an ICS of a moderate lipophilicity, budesonide (BUD), after 14 days of once-daily treatment in mice. Single, three or 14 daily doses of [(3) H]-des-CIC or [(3) H]-BUD were administered subcutaneously to male CD1 albino mice, which were killed at 4 hr, 24 hr or 5 days after the last dose. Distribution of tissue concentration of radioactivity was studied by quantitative whole-body autoradiography. Pattern of radioactivity distribution across most tissues was similar for both corticosteroids after a single as well as after repeated dosing. However, tissue concentration of radioactivity differed between des-CIC and BUD. After a single dose, concentrations of radioactivity for both corticosteroids were low for most tissues but increased over 14 days of daily dosing. The tissue radioactivity of des-CIC at 24 hr and 5 days after the 14th dose was 2-3 times higher than that of BUD in majority of tissues. Tissue accumulation, assessed as concentration of tissue radioactivity 5 days after the 14th versus 3rd dose, showed an average ratio of 5.2 for des-CIC and 2.7 for BUD (p < 0.0001). In conclusion, des-CIC accumulated significantly more than BUD. Systemic accumulation may lead to increased risk of adverse systemic side effects during long-term therapy.

Topics: Animals; Autoradiography; Budesonide; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Glucocorticoids; Injections, Subcutaneous; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred Strains; Organ Specificity; Pregnenediones; Tissue Distribution; Tritium