In vitro transport assays of rufinamide, pregabalin, and zonisamide by human P-glycoprotein

Abstract

Objective: Epilepsy is resistant to treatment with antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) in about one third of epilepsy patients. AED export by P-glycoprotein (Pgp) overexpressed in the blood-brain barrier may contribute to AED resistance. The Pgp transport status of many of the recently approved AEDs remains unknown. We investigated whether several new AEDs - zonisamide (ZNS), pregabalin (PGB), and rufinamide (RFM) - are human Pgp substrates. Methods: MDCKII and LLC-PK1 cells transfected with the human MDR1 gene, which encodes the Pgp protein, were used in concentration equilibrium transport assays (CETA) to determine the substrate status of ZNS, PGB, and RFM. For each drug, an equal concentration was..