Efavirenz
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🧬 Receptor activity
| Target | Action | Affinity | Source | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 reverse transcriptase | — | Ki 0.3 nM | CHEMBL | TargetHuman immunodeficiency virus type 1 reverse transcriptase Action— AffinityKi 0.3 nM SourceCHEMBL |
| Unchecked | — | Ki 30 nM | CHEMBL | TargetUnchecked Action— AffinityKi 30 nM SourceCHEMBL |
Mechanism of action
Similar to zidovudine, efavirenz inhibits the activity of viral RNA-directed DNA polymerase (i.e., reverse transcriptase). Antiviral activity of efavirenz is dependent on intracellular conversion to the active triphosphorylated form. The rate of efavirenz phosphorylation varies, depending on cell type. It is believed that inhibition of reverse transcriptase interferes with the generation of DNA copies of viral RNA, which, in turn, are necessary for synthesis of new virions. Intracellular enzymes subsequently eliminate the HIV particle that previously had been uncoated, and left unprotected, during entry into the host cell. Thus, reverse transcriptase inhibitors are virustatic and do not eliminate HIV from the body. Even though human DNA polymerase is less susceptible to the pharmacologic effects of triphosphorylated efavirenz, this action may nevertheless account for some of the drug's toxicity.
Efavirenz diffuses into the cell where it binds adjacent to the active site of reverse transcriptase. This produces a conformational change in the enzyme that inhibits function.
Pharmacodynamics
Efavirenz (dideoxyinosine, ddI) is an oral non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI). It is a synthetic purine derivative and, similar to zidovudine, zalcitabine, and stavudine. Efavirenz was originally approved specifically for the treatment of HIV infections in patients who failed therapy with zidovudine. Currently, the CDC recommends that Efavirenz be given as part of a three-drug regimen that includes another nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (e.g., lamivudine, stavudine, zidovudine) and a protease inhibitor or efavirenz when treating HIV infection.
Pharmacokinetics
Half-life
40-55 hours
The terminal elimination half-life of efavirenz is prolonged in patients with chronic liver disease. Following oral administration of a single 400-mg dose of efavirenz, an elimination half-life of 152 or 118 hours was reported in individuals with or without chronic liver disease, respectively.
The terminal elimination half-life of efavirenz reported in single-dose studies is longer than that reported in multiple-dose studies and has averaged 52-76 hours after a single oral dose and 40-55 hours following administration of 200-400 mg daily for 10 days.
Absorption
Nearly all of the urinary excretion of the radiolabeled drug was in the form of metabolites.
Oral bioavailability of efavirenz may be affected by administration with food. Administration of a single 600-mg dose of efavirenz as capsules with a high-fat, high-calorie meal (894 kcal, 54 g fat, 54% of calories from fat) or a reduced-fat, normal-calorie meal (440 kcal, 2 g fat, 4% of calories from fat) increases peak plasma concentrations of the drug by 39 or 51%, respectively, and AUC by 22 or 17%, respectively, compared with administration in the fasting state. Administration of a single 600-mg dose of efavirenz as tablets with a high-fat, high-calorie meal (approximately 1000 kcal, 500-600 kcal from fat) increases peak plasma concentrations and AUC of the drug by 79 and 28%, respectively, compared with administration in the fasting state.
Efavirenz is excreted principally in the feces, both as unchanged drug and metabolites. Excretion of efavirenz has been evaluated in individuals receiving 400 mg daily for 1 month. Following oral administration of 400 mg of radiolabeled efavirenz on day 8, 14-34% of the dose was excreted in urine (less than 1% as unchanged drug), and 16-61% was excreted in feces (predominantly as unchanged drug).
Efavirenz is about 99.5-99.75% bound to plasma proteins, principally albumin.
In HIV-infected adults receiving efavirenz 200, 400, or 600 mg once daily, peak plasma concentrations of the drug generally occur in 3-5 hours and steady-state plasma concentrations are achieved in 6-10 days. Following continued administration of efavirenz, plasma concentrations are lower than expected from single-dose studies, presumably because of increased clearance of the drug. In one study in individuals receiving efavirenz 200-400 mg once daily for 10 days, plasma concentrations of the drug were 22-42% lower than those predicted from single-dose studies. Following oral administration of efavirenz 600 mg once daily in HIV-infected adults, peak plasma concentration, trough plasma concentration, and AUC of the drug at steady-state averaged 4.1 mcg/mL, 1.8 mcg/mL, and 58. mcg*hour/mL, respectively.
For more Absorption, Distribution and Excretion (Complete) data for EFAVIRENZ (8 total), please visit the HSDB record page.
Metabolism
Efavirenz is principally metabolized by the cytochrome P450 system to hydroxylated metabolites with subsequent glucuronidation of these hydroxylated metabolites. These metabolites are essentially inactive against HIV-1.
Efavirenz was metabolized extensively by all the species as evidenced by the excretion of none or trace quantities of parent compound in urine. Significant species differences in the metabolism of efavirenz were observed. The major metabolite excreted in the urine of all species was the O-glucuronide conjugate (M1) of the 8-hydroxylated metabolite. Efavirenz was also metabolized by direct conjugation with glucuronic acid, forming the N-glucuronide (M2) in all five species. The sulfate conjugate of 8-OH efavirenz (M3) was found in the urine of rats and cynomolgus monkeys but not in humans. In addition to the aromatic ring-hydroxylated products, metabolites with a hydroxylated cyclopropane ring (at C14) were also isolated. GSH-related products of efavirenz were identified in rats and guinea pigs. The cysteinylglycine adduct (M10), formed from the GSH adduct (M9), was found in significant quantities in only rat and guinea pig urine and was not detected in other species. In vitro metabolism studies were conducted to show that the GSH adduct was produced from the cyclopropanol intermediate (M11) in the presence of only rat liver and kidney subcellular fractions and was not formed by similar preparations from humans or cynomolgus monkeys. These studies indicated the existence of a specific glutathione-S-transferase in rats capable of metabolizing the cyclopropanol metabolite (M11) to the GSH adduct, M9.
Efavirenz is a substrate for cytochrome p450 isoforms, particularly CYP3A4 and CYP2B6. The 8-hydroxy metabolite is excreted in the urine, and the glucuronide conjugate of 8-hydroxy-efavirenz is present in plasma and urine. Sixty percent of the dose is excreted in urine as the glucuronide conjugate.
Efavirenz has known human metabolites that include 8-hydroxyefavirenz.
Protein binding
99.5-99.75%
External links
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