Anaplerotic TCA Cycle Prodrugs for Restoring Mitochondrial Metabolism in Inherited Metabolic Disorders
These prodrugs comprise a glycerol backbone esterified at one or more positions with tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle moieties—such as succinate, malate, fumarate, citrate, isocitrate, cis-aconitate or α-ketoglutarate—via short alkyl linkers. Exemplified by trisuccinylglycerol (TSG), these agents enter PCC- or MUT-deficient cells and release multiple anaplerotic substrates to replenish depleted TCA intermediates. In vitro studies using ¹⁴C-palmitate demonstrate restored mitochondrial flux, while in vivo experiments in mouse models of propionic and methylmalonic acidemia show improved survival and normalized metabolite profiles. Human subjects receiving oral or intravenous dosing once or several times daily exhibit normalized blood and urine analytes and improved cardiac function, highlighting effective delivery and systemic correction of metabolic imbalance.
Description
This approach is differentiated by its multi-moiety design that delivers a spectrum of TCA substrates in a single molecule, rather than relying on single-substrate supplementation. The glycerol ester scaffold permits fine-tuning of lipophilicity and hydrolysis rates through R¹ (H or C₁–C₆ alkyl) linkers, optimizing cell permeability and controlled release. By bypassing specific enzymatic blockades in propionyl-CoA carboxylase and methylmalonyl-CoA mutase deficiencies, these prodrugs restore whole-cycle function more comprehensively than conventional dietary or simple anaplerotic treatments. Their oral and intravenous flexibility, coupled with robust preclinical and clinical data, underscores a novel therapeutic paradigm for inborn errors of metabolism.Applications
- Propionic acidemia oral therapy- Methylmalonic acidemia IV therapy
- Fatty acid oxidation disorder treatment
- Mitochondrial TCA cycle replenishment
Advantages
- Replenishes TCA cycle intermediates and restores mitochondrial flux in PCC- or MUT-deficient cells- Improves metabolic profiles and survival rates in PA/MMA animal models
- Normalizes blood and urine analytes in human subjects with PA and MMA
- Enhances cardiac function in patients with cardiomyopathy
- Enables flexible oral or intravenous dosing regimens