Slipping past P glycoprotein

NIH researchers have shown that sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor agonists such as Novartis AG's Gilenya fingolimod could transiently reduce P glycoprotein-mediated drug efflux and enhance drug delivery to the brain.¹ The group at NIH's National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences thinks the transient mode of action of these agonists could avoid the adverse effects seen with direct P glycoprotein inhibitors.

The researchers now are elucidating the underlying mechanism and evaluating the approach for improving drug delivery to brain tumors...