Safety, Tolerability, Pharmacokinetics, and Concentration-QTc Analysis of Tetrodotoxin: A Randomized, Dose Escalation Study in Healthy Adults

Tetrodotoxin (TTX) is a highly specific voltage-gated sodium channel (VGSC) blocker in clinical evaluation as a peripheral-acting analgesic for chronic pain. This study presents the first published results of the safety including cardiac liability of TTX at therapeutic-relevant concentrations in twenty-five healthy adults. Randomized, double-blind, placebo-, and positive- (moxifloxacin) controlled study evaluated single ascending doses of 15 mu g, 30 mu g, and 45 mu g TTX over 3 periods with a 7-day washout between each period. Subcutaneous injections of TTX were readily absorbed, reaching maximum plasma concentration (C-max) within 1.5 h. Both extent of exposure (AUC) and C(max)increased in proportion to dose. No QT prolongation was identified by concentration-QTc analysis and the upper bounds of the two-sided 90% confidence interval of predicted maximum baseline and placebo corrected QTcF (Delta Delta QTcF) value did not exceed 10 ms for all tetrodotoxin doses, thereby meeting the criteria of a negative QT study. Safety assessments showed no clinically relevant changes with values similar between all groups and no subject withdrawing due to adverse events. Paresthesia, oral-paresthesia, headache, dizziness, nausea, and myalgia were the most common TEAEs (overall occurrence >= 5%) in the TTX treatment groups. TTX doses investigated in this study are safe, well-tolerated, and lack proarrhythmic proclivity.