Quantitative evaluation and pharmacokinetic characteristics of the irreversible BTK inhibitor zanubrutinib in mouse plasma using LC-MS/MS

Zanubrutinib (BGB-3111) belongs to the class of irreversible inhibitors of Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) for treating B-cell malignancies. A validated assay with excellent sensitivity, selectivity, and simplicity is required to measure plasma concentration and investigate its pharmacokinetics. The plasma of mice containing zanubrutinib and roxithromycin (internal standard) was processed with acetonitrile for protein precipitation. Then the supernatant was analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer using electrospray ionization in the positive mode. Zanubrutinib was given to mice intragastrically at 30 mg/kg to determine its pharmacokinetic parameters. The method was verified and showed good linearity in the range of 0.1-100 ng/mL. The method's sensitivity, accuracy, and precision were all within acceptable bounds. By this method, the pharmacokinetic profile of zanubrutinib in mouse plasma was measured.