Pharmacokinetic Drug–Drug Interactions of Imlunestrant in Healthy Female Participants of Nonchildbearing Potential
Year: 2026
Type: review
Abstract: ABSTRACT Imlunestrant is a next‐generation, oral, selective estrogen receptor degrader approved for treating adults with estrogen receptor‐positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2‐negative, ESR1 ‐mutated advanced/metastatic breast cancer. Imlunestrant is metabolized partly by cytochrome P450 (CYP)3A4 oxidation and conjugation with glucuronic acid and sulfate; thus, pharmacokinetic and drug–drug interaction (DDI) studies for treatments utilizing similar pathways are essential for clinical development. Three open‐label, phase 1 studies enrolled 182 healthy females of nonchildbearing potential to assess the tolerability, safety, and pharmacokinetics of imlunestrant as monotherapy or coadministered with other drugs. Drug concentrations were quantified by validated liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry. Participants tolerated imlunestrant at 200–800‐mg doses, alone or with a CYP3A inhibitor (itraconazole), CYP3A inducer (carbamazepine), P‐glycoprotein (P‐gp) inhibitor (quinidine), and substrates of CYP2C8 (repaglinide), CYP2C19 (omeprazole), CYP2D6 (dextromethorphan), CYP3A (midazolam), P‐gp (digoxin), and BCRP (rosuvastatin). Frequent treatment‐related adverse events included headache (range, 4%–20%), diarrhea (2%–20%), and constipation (0%–16%). In the presence of imlunestrant, exposures (AUC 0–∞ ) increased for dextromethorphan 1.33‐fold (90% CI, 1.22–1.46), digoxin 1.39‐fold (1.22–1.59), and rosuvastatin 1.49‐fold (1.14–1.97). Imlunestrant exposure (AUC 0–∞ ) decreased in combination with quinidine (CYP2D6 inhibitor) 0.87‐fold (90% CI, 0.76–1.00) and carbamazepine (CYP3A4 inducer) 0.58‐fold (0.49–0.69), but increased in combination with itraconazole (CYP3A4 inhibitor) 2.11‐fold (1.77–2.53). Imlunestrant had no DDIs with CYP2C8 (repaglinide), CYP2C19 (omeprazole), and CYP3A4 (midazolam) substrates, or a P‐gp inhibitor (quinidine), but weakly inhibited dextromethorphan (CYP2D6 substrate), digoxin (P‐gp substrate), and rosuvastatin (BCRP substrate) clearance. Thus, considerations should be taken when imlunestrant is coadministered with strong CYP3A4 inhibitors, strong CYP3A4 inducers, and CYP2D6 and P‐gp substrates where small changes in exposure may lead to toxicities.
DOI: 10.1111/cts.70680
Institutions: Eli Lilly (United States), Eli Lilly (United Kingdom)
Language: English
Subfield: Pharmacology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,630
Funder: Eli Lilly and Company
OpenAlex ID: W7202291146