Chemistry:Di-deuterated linoleic acid ethyl ester

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Short description: Chemical compound
Di-deuterated linoleic acid ethyl ester
Di-deuterated linoleate ester.svg
Clinical data
Routes of
administration
Oral
ATC code
  • none
Legal status
Legal status
  • Investigational
Identifiers
CAS Number
PubChem CID
UNII
Chemical and physical data
FormulaC20H34D2O2
Molar mass310.517 g·mol−1
3D model (JSmol)
Density0.88 g/cm3
Boiling point173–177 °C (343–351 °F)
 ☒N☑Y (what is this?)

Di-deuterated ethyl linoleate (also known as RT001, di-deuterated linoleic acid ethyl ester, 11,11-d2-ethyl linoleate, or ethyl 11,11-d2-linoleate)[1] is an experimental, orally-bioavailable synthetic deuterated polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA), a part of reinforced lipids. It is an isotopologue of linoleic acid, an essential omega-6 PUFA. The deuterated compound, while identical to natural linoleic acid except for the presence of deuterium, is resistant to lipid peroxidation which makes studies of its cell-protective properties worthwhile.

Mechanism of action

File:Matches animation of chain reaction with slow elements.webm

Di-deuterated linoleic acid is recognized by cells as identical to the natural linoleic acid. But when taken up, it is converted into 13,13-d2-arachidonic acid, a heavy isotope version of arachidonic acid, that gets incorporated into lipid membranes. The deuterated compound resists the non-enzymatic lipid peroxidation (LPO) through isotope effect — a non-antioxidant based mechanism that protects mitochondrial, neuronal and other lipid membranes, thereby greatly reducing the levels of numerous LPO-derived toxic products such as reactive carbonyls.[2][3]

Di-deuterated linoleic acid (RT001) inhibits ferroptosis by stopping the autoxidation process through the kinetic isotope effect. The protective effect of D-PUFAs was verified in erastin- and RSL3-induced ferroptosis models, with demonstrated efficacy in various disease models, particularly neurodegenerative disorders and clinical trials of RT001 begun in 2018.[4]

Clinical development

Friedreich's ataxia

A double-blind comparator-controlled Phase I/II clinical trial for Friedreich's ataxia, sponsored by Retrotope and Friedreich's Ataxia Research Alliance, was conducted to determine the safety profile and appropriate dosing for consequent trials.[5] RT001 was promptly absorbed and was found to be safe and tolerable over 28 days at the maximal dose of 9 g/day. It improved peak workload and peak oxygen consumption in the test group compared to the control group who received the equal doses of normal, non-deuterated ethyl linoleate.[6] Another randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study began in 2019.[7]

Infantile neuroaxonal dystrophy

An open-label clinical study for infantile neuroaxonal dystrophy evaluating long-term evaluation of efficacy, safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of RT001, which, when taken with food, can protect the neuronal cells from degeneration, started in the Summer 2018.[8]

Phospholipase 2G6-associated neurodegeneration

In 2017, the FDA granted RT001 orphan drug designation in the treatment of phospholipase 2G6-associated neurodegeneration (PLAN).[9]

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

In 2018, RT001 was given to a patient with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) under a "compassionate use scheme".[10]

Progressive supranuclear palsy

In 2020, the FDA granted orphan drug designation RT001 for the treatment of patients with progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP). PSP is a disease involving modification and dysfunction of tau protein; RT001’s mechanism of action both lowers lipid peroxidation and prevents mitochondrial cell death of neurons which is associated with disease onset and progression.[11]

Preclinical research

Alzheimer's disease

RT001 has been shown to be effective in a model of Alzheimer's disease in mice.[12]

References

  1. "9-cis, 12-cis-11,11-D2-Linoleic acid ethyl ester". PubChem. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/124037379. 
  2. "Small amounts of isotope-reinforced polyunsaturated fatty acids suppress lipid autoxidation". Free Radical Biology & Medicine 53 (4): 893–906. August 2012. doi:10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2012.06.004. PMID 22705367. 
  3. "Site-specifically deuterated essential lipids as new drugs against neuronal, retinal and vascular degeneration". Drug Discovery Today 25 (8): 1469–1476. August 2020. doi:10.1016/j.drudis.2020.03.014. PMID 32247036. 
  4. "Beyond ferrostatin-1: a comprehensive review of ferroptosis inhibitors". Trends in Pharmacological Sciences: S0165–6147(23)00182–7. September 2023. doi:10.1016/j.tips.2023.08.012. PMID 37770317. 
  5. Clinical trial number NCT02445794 for "A First in Human Study of RT001 in Patients With Friedreich's Ataxia" at ClinicalTrials.gov
  6. "Randomized, clinical trial of RT001: Early signals of efficacy in Friedreich's ataxia". Movement Disorders 33 (6): 1000–1005. July 2018. doi:10.1002/mds.27353. PMID 29624723. 
  7. Clinical trial number NCT04102501 for "A Study to Assess Efficacy, Long Term Safety and Tolerability of RT001 in Subjects With Friedreich's Ataxia" at ClinicalTrials.gov
  8. Clinical trial number NCT03570931 for "A Study to Assess Efficacy and Safety of RT001 in Subjects With Infantile Neuroaxonal Dystrophy" at ClinicalTrials.gov
  9. "US FDA Grants Orphan Drug Designation for Retrotope's RT001 in the Treatment of Phospholipase 2G6 (PLA2G6)-Associated Neurodegeneration". Global Newswire. 2 November 2017. https://www.cnbc.com/2017/11/02/globe-newswire-us-fda-grants-orphan-drug-designation-for-retrotopeas-rt001-in-the-treatment-of-phospholipase-2g6-pla2g6-associated.html. 
  10. "Experimental RT001 Now Available for ALS Under Expanded Access". ALS News Today. 2018-09-18. https://alsnewstoday.com/2018/09/18/experimental-rt001-available-for-als-under-expanded-access-program/. 
  11. "RT001 Gets Orphan Drug Designation in Progressive Supranuclear Palsy". https://www.neurologylive.com/clinical-focus/rt001-gets-orphan-drug-designation-in-progressive-supranuclear-palsy-. 
  12. "Oxidative stress, dysfunctional glucose metabolism and Alzheimer disease". Nature Reviews. Neuroscience 20 (3): 148–160. March 2019. doi:10.1038/s41583-019-0132-6. PMID 30737462.