Safety of a Hypolipidemic Agent in Healthy Normal Volunteers

Dyslipidemia is a major risk factor for coronary artery disease (CAD) and its management is important in preventing the occurrence of cardiovascular events. Dyslipidemia occurs when there is an imbalance in the metabolism and clearance of lipoproteins resulting in lipoprotein overproduction or deficiency. Lipid related risk factors for atherosclerotic coronary artery disease include elevated levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), intermediate-density lipoprotein cholesterol (IDL-C), very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C) and reduced concentrations of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). This lipid risk profile frequently occurs in association with other cardiovascular risk factors (e.g., obesity, elevated blood pressure, diabetes mellitus), and is associated with premature atherosclerosis (NCEP, 2002).

The Main purpose of this study is to formally evaluate the safety and pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of 1-MNA, a hypolipidemic agent with previous human exposure in normal subjects and patients with Hyperlipidemia.

Inclusion criteria

• Good health (based on medical history, physical examination, electrocardiogram, and clinical laboratory tests)
• Non-smokers (refrained from any tobacco usage, including smokeless tobacco, nicotine patches, etc., for 6 months prior to the Screening visit)
• Between 18 and 50 years old (inclusive)
• Body weight within 20% of the desirable weight for adults at the Screening visit
• Able to execute informed written consent (informed consent must be obtained for all subjects before enrollment in the study.
• Willingness to abstain from alcohol and xanthine-containing food and beverages for the duration of each treatment period
• Willingness to remain in the clinic for the inpatient portions of the study
• Female subjects must be non-pregnant and either surgically sterile, postmenopausal for a least 1 year, or using an acceptable method of contraception defined as an oral, implanted, or transdermal contraceptive plus one of the following barrier methods: diaphragm with spermicidal cream/jelly or use of a condom by sexual partner.

Exclusion criteria

• Currently abusing drugs or alcohol or with a history of drug or alcohol abuse within the past two years
• Unwilling or unable to comply with the protocol or reside in the study unit during the study period or to cooperate fully with the principal investigator and site personnel
• Has used any 1) prescription medication within 14 days prior to treatment in either treatment period or 2), or any over-the-counter (OTC) medication, herbal preparations, and/or vitamins within 48 hours prior to the start of study MNA administration on either treatment period of this study.
• Has a clinically abnormal ECG
• Has a serum potassium, sodium, calcium, or magnesium level that is not within normal limits or has other vital signs or clinical laboratory values at the screening visit that are deemed by the principal investigator to make the subject an inappropriate candidate for the study
• Has taken any other investigational drug during the 30 days prior to screening visit
• Has donated or lost more than a unit of blood within 30 days prior to screening visit
• History of renal, hepatic, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, or hematologic disease
• Serious mental or physical illness within the past year
• Has any condition(s) that in the investigator's opinion would: a) warrant exclusion from the study or b) prevent the subject from completing the study
• Have a positive test for hepatitis B surface antigen, hepatitis C antibody, or HIV antibody at screening
• Be a female subject with a positive serum pregnancy test or who is breast-feeding at screening
• Be unable to understand verbal and/or written English or any other language in which a certified translation of the informed consent is available
• Has a history of hypersensitivity or allergic reaction to Niacin or Nicotinamide
• Has had prior exposure to MNA
• Has a Mental capacity that is limited to the extent that the subject cannot provide legal consent or understand information regarding the side effects or tolerance of the study drug.