Safety Evaluation of Contezolid (MRX-I) Versus Linezolid in Sprague-Dawley Rats

Abstract Background & Objectives Contezolid (MRX-I) is a novel ortho-fluorophenyl dihydropyridone developed by MicuRx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. It has been approved for the treatment of drug-resistant Gram-positive bacterial infections with relatively lower toxicity than other oxazolidinones such as...

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Main Authors: Liping Wei, Min Hong, Min Lu, Yimin Qian, Qingmei Li, Naping Tang, Hua Li, Yan Chang, Yunliang Qiu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Adis, Springer Healthcare 2025-05-01
Series:Drugs in R&D
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1007/s40268-025-00504-x
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author Liping Wei
Min Hong
Min Lu
Yimin Qian
Qingmei Li
Naping Tang
Hua Li
Yan Chang
Yunliang Qiu
author_facet Liping Wei
Min Hong
Min Lu
Yimin Qian
Qingmei Li
Naping Tang
Hua Li
Yan Chang
Yunliang Qiu
author_sort Liping Wei
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background & Objectives Contezolid (MRX-I) is a novel ortho-fluorophenyl dihydropyridone developed by MicuRx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. It has been approved for the treatment of drug-resistant Gram-positive bacterial infections with relatively lower toxicity than other oxazolidinones such as linezolid. However, the toxicity profile has not yet been completely revealed. The aim of this study was to disclose the toxicity of contezolid in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats and compare its toxicity profile with linezolid in a standard 4-week toxicity study. Methods In this study, SD rats were orally administered with contezolid at doses of 20, 100, or 200/300 mg/kg/day for 28 consecutive days followed by a 28-day recovery period. Linezolid at doses of 100 or 200 mg/kg/day served as a comparator. Clinical observations, body weight, food consumption, hematology, clinical chemistry, urinalysis, and histopathological examinations were conducted. Results All females in the 200 mg/kg/day linezolid group were subjected to unscheduled death due to myelosuppression within the first 2 weeks. No abnormalities were noted in the 200 mg/kg/day contezolid group, and the dose level was escalated to 300 mg/kg/day from day 15. Myelosuppression or myelosuppression-associated effects were comparable between the 300-mg/kg/day contezolid group and the 100-mg/kg/day linezolid group. The ‘no observed adverse effect level’ (NOAEL) of contezolid was determined to be 100 mg/kg/day (with an average AUC0–24 h of 268.4 μg*h/mL). At the same dose levels, the toxicity of contezolid was significantly lower than that of linezolid. Conclusion These findings demonstrate that contezolid exhibits a favorable safety profile compared with linezolid in this 4-week repeated-dose toxicity study in rats.
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spelling doaj-art-ff3f77da5dd34beaa96022dcafe119502025-08-20T03:27:09ZengAdis, Springer HealthcareDrugs in R&D1174-58861179-69012025-05-0125212714010.1007/s40268-025-00504-xSafety Evaluation of Contezolid (MRX-I) Versus Linezolid in Sprague-Dawley RatsLiping Wei0Min Hong1Min Lu2Yimin Qian3Qingmei Li4Naping Tang5Hua Li6Yan Chang7Yunliang Qiu8Pharmacological Evaluation Research Center, China State Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry, ShanghaiShanghai InnoStar Bio-tech Co., Ltd. (InnoStar), ShanghaiInnoStar Bio-tech Nantong Co., Ltd. China State Institute of Pharmaceutical IndustryShanghai InnoStar Bio-tech Co., Ltd. (InnoStar), ShanghaiInnoStar Bio-tech Nantong Co., Ltd. China State Institute of Pharmaceutical IndustryShanghai InnoStar Bio-tech Co., Ltd. (InnoStar), ShanghaiShanghai InnoStar Bio-tech Co., Ltd. (InnoStar), ShanghaiShanghai InnoStar Bio-tech Co., Ltd. (InnoStar), ShanghaiShanghai InnoStar Bio-tech Co., Ltd. (InnoStar), ShanghaiAbstract Background & Objectives Contezolid (MRX-I) is a novel ortho-fluorophenyl dihydropyridone developed by MicuRx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. It has been approved for the treatment of drug-resistant Gram-positive bacterial infections with relatively lower toxicity than other oxazolidinones such as linezolid. However, the toxicity profile has not yet been completely revealed. The aim of this study was to disclose the toxicity of contezolid in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats and compare its toxicity profile with linezolid in a standard 4-week toxicity study. Methods In this study, SD rats were orally administered with contezolid at doses of 20, 100, or 200/300 mg/kg/day for 28 consecutive days followed by a 28-day recovery period. Linezolid at doses of 100 or 200 mg/kg/day served as a comparator. Clinical observations, body weight, food consumption, hematology, clinical chemistry, urinalysis, and histopathological examinations were conducted. Results All females in the 200 mg/kg/day linezolid group were subjected to unscheduled death due to myelosuppression within the first 2 weeks. No abnormalities were noted in the 200 mg/kg/day contezolid group, and the dose level was escalated to 300 mg/kg/day from day 15. Myelosuppression or myelosuppression-associated effects were comparable between the 300-mg/kg/day contezolid group and the 100-mg/kg/day linezolid group. The ‘no observed adverse effect level’ (NOAEL) of contezolid was determined to be 100 mg/kg/day (with an average AUC0–24 h of 268.4 μg*h/mL). At the same dose levels, the toxicity of contezolid was significantly lower than that of linezolid. Conclusion These findings demonstrate that contezolid exhibits a favorable safety profile compared with linezolid in this 4-week repeated-dose toxicity study in rats.https://doi.org/10.1007/s40268-025-00504-x
spellingShingle Liping Wei
Min Hong
Min Lu
Yimin Qian
Qingmei Li
Naping Tang
Hua Li
Yan Chang
Yunliang Qiu
Safety Evaluation of Contezolid (MRX-I) Versus Linezolid in Sprague-Dawley Rats
Drugs in R&D
title Safety Evaluation of Contezolid (MRX-I) Versus Linezolid in Sprague-Dawley Rats
title_full Safety Evaluation of Contezolid (MRX-I) Versus Linezolid in Sprague-Dawley Rats
title_fullStr Safety Evaluation of Contezolid (MRX-I) Versus Linezolid in Sprague-Dawley Rats
title_full_unstemmed Safety Evaluation of Contezolid (MRX-I) Versus Linezolid in Sprague-Dawley Rats
title_short Safety Evaluation of Contezolid (MRX-I) Versus Linezolid in Sprague-Dawley Rats
title_sort safety evaluation of contezolid mrx i versus linezolid in sprague dawley rats
url https://doi.org/10.1007/s40268-025-00504-x
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