Animal experiment:

Rats: ND-630 (Firsocostat) is prepared in aqueous saline solution containing 1% Tween 80 and 0.5% methyl cellulose. Eight-week-old male ZDF rats are given either vehicle or Firsocostat (0.5, 1.5, 5 mg/kg) in vehicle by oral gavage b.i.d. for 37 d. Blood glucose is measured by glucometer at baseline and weekly just before dosing. Blood is collected at baseline, after 3 wk of treatment, and at the end of the study, 6 h after dosing and after a 6-h fast, for measurement of the indicated parameters. After 3 wk of treatment, animals received an oGTT (1 g/kg glucose). At the end of the study animals are killed, and liver cholesterol, triglycerides, and free fatty acids are determined[1].

ND-630 is an acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) inhibitor; inhibits human ACC1 and ACC2 with IC50 values of 2.1 and 6.1 nM, respectively.

ND-630 inhibits hACC1 (IC50=2.1±0.2 nM) and hACC2 (IC50=6.1±0.8 nM). Inhibition is reversible and highly specific for ACC. ND-630 inhibits ACC activity by interacting within the phosphopeptide-acceptor and dimerization site of the enzyme to prevent dimerization. ND-630 inhibits fatty acid synthesis with an EC50 of 66 nM in HepG2 cells without altering the total cell number, cellular protein concentration, and incorporation of acetate into cholesterol[1].

Chronical administration of ND-630 to rats with diet-induced obesity reduces hepatic steatosis, improves insulin sensitivity, reduces weight gain without affecting food intake, and favorably affects dyslipidemia. Chronical administration of ND-630 Zucker diabetic fatty rats, ND-630 reduces hepatic steatosis, improves glucose-stimulated insulin secretion, and reduces hemoglobin A1c (0.9% reduction). ND-630 exhibits an aqueous solubility of 594 uM and human and rat plasma protein binding of 98.5% and 98.6%, respectively. Pharmacokinetic evaluation of ND-630 in male Sprague-Dawley rats [i.v. 3 mg/kg; orally (p.o.) 10 mg/kg] yields a plasma t1/2 of 4.5 h, bioavailability of 37%, clearance of 33 mL/min/kg, volume of distribution of 1.9 L/kg, oral time of maximum plasma concentration of 0.25 h[1].

References:
[1]. Harriman G, et al. Acetyl-CoA carboxylase inhibition by ND-630 reduces hepatic steatosis, improves insulin sensitivity, and modulates dyslipidemia in rats. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2016 Mar 29;113(13):E1796-805.