Abstract
Background
Linaclotide (LIN) is a guanylate cyclase-C agonist approved to treat adults with irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C) and chronic idiopathic constipation (CIC). As LIN is a 14-amino acid peptide, no absorption from the gastrointestinal tract is expected following oral administration. However, LIN levels in human breast milk have not been determined.
Aims
To determine the levels of LIN and its active metabolite, MM-419447, excreted in breast milk after multiple once-daily doses of LIN (72 µg, 145 μg, or 290 μg) in lactating women.
Methods
This was a multicenter, open-label, multidose, Phase 1, milk-only lactation study (NCT02220348) in lactating women aged 18–45 years who were actively breastfeeding or pumping for ≥4 weeks and were already taking LIN 72 μg, 145 μg, or 290 μg therapeutically for IBS-C or CIC. Participants continued their LIN dose once daily for the 3 study days, with breast milk extractions at −1 to 0 hours (pre-dose) on Day 1 and −1 to 0 hours and 0–2, 2–4, 4–8, 8–12, 12–16, and 16–24 hours after dosing on Day 3. The pharmacokinetic endpoints were the cumulative amount of LIN and MM-419447 and the percentage dose of LIN excreted into the breast milk over the dosing interval. Adverse events (AEs) were monitored. The study has institutional review board approval.
Results
Seven women were enrolled in the study (IBS-C, n=1; CIC, n=6) and received LIN (72 μg, n=5; 145 μg, n=1; and 290 μg, n=1). Mean age was 28 (range: 19–35), mean weight was 70 kg (standard deviation [SD]: 12 kg), and mean body mass index was 26 kg/m2 (SD: 4 kg/m2); the majority were white (n=6). Concentrations of LIN and MM-419447 in breast milk samples were below the quantitation limits (<0.25 ng/mL and <1.00 ng/mL, respectively) at all time points for all participants. Cumulative exposure for each dose was 216 μg (72 μg dose), 435 μg (145 μg dose), and 870 μg (290 μg dose). One treatment-emergent AE was reported (mild rash).
Conclusions
The data collected in this study provide no evidence that breastfeeding infants receive LIN or MM-419447 through breast milk as their concentrations were below the quantitation limit following multiple once-daily doses of LIN 72 μg, 145 μg, or 290 μg.
Funding Agencies
This study was sponsored by Allergan plc, Dublin, Ireland (prior to acquisition by AbbVie Inc.). Writing and editorial assistance were provided to the authors by Stephanie J. Rippon, MBio, Jane Beck, MA, and Rebecca Fletcher, BA(Hons), of Complete HealthVizion, Inc., Chicago, IL, USA and funded by Allergan plc (prior to acquisition by AbbVie Inc.).