Pharmacokinetics and Safety of Navitoclax in Hepatic Impairment

Clin Pharmacokinet. 2025 Apr;64(4):611-617. doi: 10.1007/s40262-025-01484-6. Epub 2025 Mar 27.

Abstract

Background and objective: Navitoclax, an orally bioavailable B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) family protein inhibitor, inhibits antiapoptotic Bcl-2 family proteins (with high affinity to Bcl-XL, Bcl-2, and Bcl-W). Navitoclax in combination with ruxolitinib has been investigated to treat patients with myelofibrosis (MF).

Methods: Since navitoclax undergoes hepatic metabolism, we evaluated the pharmacokinetics (PK) and safety of single-dose navitoclax 50 mg in a phase 1 study in participants with mild (N = 6), moderate (N = 6), or severe (N = 1) hepatic impairment and matched participants with normal hepatic function (N = 7). All participants in this study were enrolled per Child-Pugh classification, with demographics matched per age, weight, and race.

Results: Navitoclax maximum plasma concentration (Cmax), area under the plasma concentration-time curve for time zero to infinity (AUC0-∞), and terminal elimination half-life (t1/2) in participants with mild or moderate hepatic impairment were comparable to participants with normal hepatic function. The change in Cmax and AUC0-∞ values in participants with mild and moderate hepatic impairment were within 25% of normal hepatic function. Overall, 2/20 (10%) participants receiving a 50 mg single dose reported grade 1 treatment-emergent adverse events of nausea (N = 1) and diarrhea (N = 1).

Conclusions: In summary, no new safety issues were identified. On the basis of the pharmacokinetic results, no dose adjustment is required for patients with MF with mild or moderate hepatic impairment.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial, Phase I

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aniline Compounds* / administration & dosage
  • Aniline Compounds* / adverse effects
  • Aniline Compounds* / blood
  • Aniline Compounds* / pharmacokinetics
  • Area Under Curve
  • Female
  • Half-Life
  • Humans
  • Liver Diseases* / metabolism
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Sulfonamides* / administration & dosage
  • Sulfonamides* / adverse effects
  • Sulfonamides* / blood
  • Sulfonamides* / pharmacokinetics

Substances

  • Aniline Compounds
  • Sulfonamides
  • navitoclax
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2