Asivatrep (PAC-14028) is a potent and selective transient receptor potential vanilloid type I (TRPV1) antagonist.

Asivatrep (PAC-14028) could prevent barrier damages, accelerate skin barrier recovery and suppress pruritus, showing a potential for the treatment of atopic dermatitis. It could suppress serum IgE increase, epidermal infiltration of inflammatory cells and mast cell degranulation associated with atopic dermatitis[1]. Asivatrep (PAC-14028) shows efficacies against diverse disease models including visceral pain, inflammatory bowel disease, and inflammatory pain[2].

Asivatrep (PAC-14028) shows a plasma half-life of 2.1 h in rats while it is extended slightly to 3.8 h in minipigs. Oral bioavailability at 10 mg/kg dose is determined to be 52.7% and 64.2% in rats and minipigs, respectively suggesting that Asivatrep (PAC-14028) is relatively well-absorbed through oral route[1]. Asivatrep (PAC-14028) could inhibit capsaicin-evoked calcium influx in keratinocytes at sub-micromolar concentrations. This potent TRPV1 antagonistic activity in keratinocytes is manifested in vivo as the blockade of capsaicin-induced blood perfusion increase, and the accelerated barrier recovery from tape-stripping-induced barrier damages in hairless mice[3].

[1]. Park YH, et al. Oral and topical pharmacokinetic studies of a novel TRPV1 antagonist, PAC-14028 in rats and minipigs using liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometric method. J Pharm Biomed Anal. 2012 Mar 5;61:8-14. [2]. Lim KM, et al. Development of PAC-14028, a novel transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1 (TRPV1) channel antagonist as a new drug for refractory skin diseases. Arch Pharm Res. 2012 Mar;35(3):393-6. [3]. Yun JW, et al. TRPV1 antagonist can suppress the atopic dermatitis-like symptoms by accelerating skin barrier recovery. J Dermatol Sci. 2011 Apr;62(1):8-15.