Long-lasting immunosuppressive effects of tacrolimus-loaded micelle NK61060 in preclinical arthritis and colitis models

Abstract

Aim: Tacrolimus (TAC) is an important drug for inflammatory diseases. However, TAC has several limitations, such as variable trough concentrations among individuals and a high medication frequency. In this study, we created NK61060, a novel micellar TAC formulation, to circumvent these disadvantages. Materials & methods: Immunosuppressive activity of NK61060 was determined in the collagen-induced arthritis rat model, mannan-induced arthritis mouse model and dextran sodium sulfate-induced colitis mouse model. The pharmacokinetics and toxicology of NK61060 were evaluated in those models. Results: In arthritis and colitis models, NK61060 exhibited superior immunosuppressive activity compared with that of TAC. Pharmacokinetic and toxicological analyses indicated that NK61060 had a wider safety margin and could be administered at a reduced medication frequency. Conclusion: NK61060 mitigates the trough concentration variability and the medication frequency and it may be a safer and more effective option for use in clinical settings. Further studies are needed to determine its clinical usefulness.