Development and validation of a LC-MS/MS method for simultaneous determination of TQ-A3326 and its major metabolites in human plasma, urine and feces: application to pharmacokinetic assay

TQ-A3326 has been developed as a new drug by modifying the structure of daclatasvir with deuterium. The pharmacokinetics (PK) of TQ-A3326 in human remains unclear. The aim of the present study was to establish a LC-MS/MS method to investigate preliminarily the PK characteristics of TQ-A3326 and its major metabolites in healthy Chinese volunteers. All volunteers were administrated TQ-A3326 (60 mg). Plasma, feces and urine samples were extracted through protein precipitation. A rapid and sensitive LC-MS/MS method was successfully developed and applied to assess the PK properties of TQ-A3326. The AUC(0-t)and C(max)were 39516.3 +/- 10778.5, 1034.6 +/- 452.9 and 71.0 +/- 49.5 ng center dot h center dot mL(-1), and 1411.2 +/- 325.4, 52.9 +/- 16.4 and 1.8 +/- 0.5 ng center dot mL(-1), respectively, for TQ-A3326, M2-D and M4-D. Feces were the predominant route of elimination of TQ-A3326. M2-D was an abundant metabolite in feces and urine, representing 23.72% and 0.24% of the dose, respectively. The measurements of TQ-A3326 and its active metabolites would help to better understand the predominant route of elimination of the prototype drug, and provide meaningful information for further investigation of the bioactive mechanism of TQ-A3326 and its clinical applications.