Transfer and biotransformation of the COVID-19 prodrug molnupiravir and its metabolite β-D-N4-hydroxycytidine across the blood-placenta barrier.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Molnupiravir is an orally bioavailable prodrug of the nucleoside analogue β-D-N4-hydroxycytidine (NHC) and is used to treat coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, the pharmacokinetics and transplacental transfer of molnupiravir in pregnant women are still not well understood. In the present study, we investigated the hypothesis that molnupiravir and NHC cross the blood-placenta barrier into the fetus.

Methods

A multisite microdialysis coupled with a validated ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC‒MS/MS) system was developed to monitor the dialysate levels of molnupiravir and NHC in maternal rat blood and conceptus (the collective term for the fetus, placenta, and amniotic fluid). Molnupiravir was administered intravenou

SUBMITTER: Chang CH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10427982 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature