Leflunomide

Absorption

Well absorbed, peak plasma concentrations appear 6-12 hours after dosing

Toxicity

LD50=100-250 mg/kg (acute oral toxicity)

Description

Leflunomide is an orally-available disease-modifying antirheumatic drug and was launched as Arava in the US for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) ; it is the first and only drug to be indicated to slow down structural joint damage of RA, so addressing an unmet medical need.
Leflunomide is prepared in 3 steps from the appropriate acetoacetic anilide using a nitrile oxide- enamine cycloaddition reaction to assemble the isoxazole ring. Leflunomide is a prodrug, being extensively metabolized in vivo into the corresponding 2-cyano-3-hydroxy-2-butenamide resulting from fragmentation of the isoxazole ring. This cyanoenol is actually the active metabolite and several experiments in animals have demonstrated that after oral administration, substantial and sustained levels of this metabolite were delivered to the systemic circulation.
In vitro, Leflunomide’s active metabolite inhibits dihydroorotate dehydrogenase, an enzyme involved in the biosynthesis of pyrimidine nucleotides, probably accounting for its immunosuppressive effect in vivo. Other mechanisms of action such as inhibition of tyrosine kinase and inhibition of responsiveness to interleukin-2 have been proposed. In diverse models of autoimmune or allergic diseases, Leflunornide showed efficacy both prophylactically and therapeutically.

The Uses of Leflunomide

By virtue of its immunosuppressant effects, leflunomide has found use in organ transplantation and treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune diseases.

Background

Leflunomide is a pyrimidine synthesis inhibitor belonging to the DMARD (disease-modifying antirheumatic drug) class of drugs, which are chemically and pharmacologically very heterogeneous. Leflunomide was approved by FDA and in many other countries (e.g., Canada, Europe) in 1999.

Indications

For the management of the signs and symptoms of active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) to improve physical function and to slow the progression of structural damage associated with the disease. Has also been used for the prevention of acute and chronic rejection in recipients of solid organ trasnplants and is designated by the FDA as an orphan drug for this use.

What are the applications of Application

Leflunomide is an inhibitor of Cox-2 and tyrosine kinase

Pharmacokinetics

Leflunomide is a pyrimidine synthesis inhibitor indicated in adults for the treatment of active rheumatoid arthritis (RA). RA is an auto-immune disease characterized by high T-cell activity. T cells have two pathways to synthesize pyrimidines: the salvage pathways and the de novo synthesis. At rest, T lymphocytes meet their metabolic requirements by the salvage pathway. Activated lymphocytes need to expand their pyrimidine pool 7- to 8-fold, while the purine pool is expanded only 2- to 3-fold. To meet the need for more pyrimidines, activated T cells use the de novo pathway for pyrimidine synthesis. Therefore, activated T cells, which are dependent on de novo pyrimidine synthesis, will be more affected by leflunomide's inhibition of dihydroorotate dehydrogenase than other cell types that use the salvage pathway of pyrimidine synthesis.

Metabolism

Primarily hepatic. Leflunomide is converted to its active form following oral intake.