In vitro metabolism of the new anxiolytic agent, RWJ-52763 in human hepatic S9 fraction-API-MS/MS identification of metabolites.

The in vitro metabolism of the anxiolytic agent, RWJ-52763 was studied after incubation with human hepatic S9 fraction in the presence of an NADPH-generating system. Unchanged RWJ-52763 (64% of the sample) plus six metabolites (M1-M6) were profiled, quantified, and tentatively identified on the basis of API-MS/MS data. The metabolic pathways for RWJ-52763 are proposed, and the two metabolic pathways are: (1) N/O-dealkylation, and (2) phenylhydroxylation. Pathway 1 formed a major N-dealkylated metabolite, N-desethoxy-RWJ-52763 (M1, 22% of the sample) and 2 minor N/O-dealkylated metabolites, O-desmethyl-RWJ-52763 (M2; 2%) and N,N-didesethoxymethyl-RWJ-52763 (M3; 3%). Pathway 2 produced two hydroxyphenyl metabolites, hydroxydifluorophenyl-RWJ-52763 (M4; 4%) and hydroxyphenyl-pyrido-RWJ-52763 (M5; 3%) in small amounts, and in conjunction with step 1 formed a minor N-desethoxymethyl-M4 (M6; 1%). RWJ-52763 is substantially metabolized by this human hepatic S9.