Pharmacological study of a new hypolipidemic drug of prolonged activity, the tetraester of pantethine with 3-(3-pyridinemethoxycarbonyl)propionic acid.

The hypolipidemic activity of the tetraester of pantethine with 3-(3-pyridinemethoxycarbonyl)propionic acid (MG 28362) was assessed in various experimental conditions versus the corresponding activities of nicotinyl alcohol (NA), nicotinyl alcohol hemisuccinate (NAH), nicotinic acid (NAC), and pantethine tetranicotinate (PTN). In the normolipidemic rat, MG 28362 causes a more durable reduction of non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) and serum triglycerides than the reference products. NEFA values return slowly to pretreatment levels without causing the rebound effect typical of most nicotinic acid derivatives. Likewise in the test of ethanol-induced hypertriglyceridemia, MG 28362 shows more pronounced and sustained activity compared to the reference products. It is also more effective on Triton hyperlipidemia and on diet-induced hypercholesterolemia; in the latter test, MG 28362 caused no triglyceride accumulation in the liver. Even at high dosage levels, MG 28362 did not cause the characteristic flushing of nicotinic acid congeners. Last, the new substance displays a fairly marked antiaggregating activity on blood platelets, some anti-hypoxic activity, and a generally low order of toxicity.