Rodent Nonclinical Safety Evaluation Studies of SCH 58500, an Adenoviral Vector for the p53 Gene

SCH 58500 is a replication-defective recombinant adenoviral vector containing the cloned human wild-type (normal) tumor suppressor gene p53. SCH 58500 is in trials to evaluate potential clinical utility. A series of toxicology studies in rats and mice were conducted via multiple routes of exposure to support these programs. The nonlethal and asymptomatic dose in rats following a 14-day observation period was equal to 7.5 3 10 7 plaque-forming units (pfu)/kg (5.6 3 10 10 particles/kg) by intravenous or intraperitoneal route and was similar by the ip route, following 4 weeks of dosing. The high dose of 1.5 3 10 9 pfu/kg (1.1 3 10 12 particles/ kg) was lethal by the iv route and inflammatory to the peritoneal cavity by the ip route. SCH 58500 was rapidly cleared from the systemic circulation in rats (serum t1/2 of 7 to 9 min) following iv administration. Administration by other routes resulted in no (sc) or delayed (ip) serum levels. Since most rats in the iv rat study died within 24 h postdose, another study to evaluate potential mechanisms of toxicity in rats was designed in which rats were killed at intervals following a single iv dosing. A singe high iv dose of SCH 58500 (1.1 3 10 12 pfu/kg) was associated with lethargy, soft feces, a ruffled-hair coat, and death within 1 h postdose. Potential mechanisms of toxicity appeared to include a mild coagulopathy and/or vasculopathy, resulting in consumption of platelets and clotting factors, leakage or loss of intravascular fluid, hemoconcentration, electrolyte and/or fluid shifts, a moderate stress and/or inflammatory response, and a mild, direct or indirect toxic effect on liver and/or kidney tissue. These findings suggest a multifocal