Pharmacologic evaluation of ammonium tetrathiomolybdate after intravenous and oral administration to healthy dogs

OBJECTIVE To evaluate pharmacokinetics of ammonium tetrathiomolybdate (TTM) after IV and oral administration to dogs and effects of TTM administration on trace mineral concentrations. ANIMALS 8 adult Beagles and Beagle crossbreds (4 sexually intact males and 4 sexually intact females). PROCEDURES Dogs received TTM (1 mg/kg) IV and orally in a randomized crossover study. Serum molybdenum and copper concentrations were measured via inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry in samples obtained 0 to 72 hours after administration. Pharmacokinetics was determined via noncompartmental analysis. RESULTS For IV administration, mean +/- SD terminal elimination rate constant, maximum concentration, area under the curve, and half-life were 0.03 +/- 0.01 hours(-1), 4.9 +/- 0.6 mu g/mL, 30.7 +/- 5.4 mu g/mL . h, and 27.7 +/- 6.8 hours, respectively. For oral administration, mean +/- SD terminal elimination rate constant, time to maximum concentration, maximum concentration, area under the curve, and half-life were 0.03 +/- 0.01 hours(-1), 3.0 +/- 3.5 hours, 0.2 +/- 0.4 mu g/mL, 6.5 +/- 8.0 mu g/mL . h, and 26.8 +/- 8.0 hours, respectively. Oral bioavailability was 21 +/- 22%. Serum copper concentrations increased significantly after IV and oral administration. Emesis occurred after IV (2 dogs) and oral administration (3 dogs). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Pharmacokinetics for TTM after a single IV and oral administration was determined for clinically normal dogs. Absorption of TTM after oral administration was variable. Increased serum copper concentrations suggested that TTM mobilized tissue copper. Further studies will be needed to evaluate the potential therapeutic use of TTM in copper-associated chronic hepatitis of dogs.