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Pharmacokinetics and Tolerability of Fexinidazole in Subjects with Hepatic Impairment

Gassiot M, Beaucire JP, Hays S, Lezzar S, Beauchard C, Sultan E

Clinical drug investigation, 2026

21 participants

Abstract

Background: Human African trypanosomiasis (HAT), also known as sleeping sickness, is a neglected tropical disease caused by Trypanosoma brucei species. Fexinidazole, an oral treatment for HAT, has shown efficacy in both hemo-lymphatic and meningo-encephalitic stages of the disease. After oral administration, only a small fraction of fexinidazole is eliminated unchanged via the renal route; therefore, hepatic metabolic clearance represents a significant portion of the total clearance of fexinidazole. Consequently, in patients with hepatic impairment (HI), total clearance may be decreased, potentially resulting in overexposure of fexinidazole and could lead to modification of the exposures of its two metabolites. This study aims to evaluate the effect of mild and moderate HI on the pharmacokinetics (PK) of fexinidazole and its active metabolites compared with that in participants with normal hepatic function.

Methods: This Phase I, multicentric, open-label, non-randomised study included 21 participants divided into three groups: mild HI (n = 7), moderate HI (n = 7) and normal hepatic function (n = 7). Each participant received a single oral dose of 1200 mg fexinidazole under fed conditions. PK parameters, including the maximum plasma concentration (Cmax), area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUCinf) and terminal half-life (t½z), of fexinidazole and its metabolites M1 (sulfoxide metabolite) and M2 (sulfone metabolite) were assessed. Safety and tolerability were…

How strong is the evidence?

Evidence Hub reads this as a clinical trial, done in people. Its evidence level is 3 of 5 (Moderate · trial / cohort / secondary analysis). Trials without a large randomized design, cohorts and secondary analyses give moderate evidence. Reported size: 21 participants or records.

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