The Degradation Product of Ramipril Is Potentially Carcinogenic, Genotoxic and Mutagenic

(1) Background: The aim of this study was to identify the degradation product of ramipril (RAM) formed under dry air and to verify its potential modes of carcinogenicity. We intended to check whether its formation and presence in final dosage forms could pose a cancer risk to humans who are treated with RAM due to cardiological indications. The carcinogenicity of this compound was evaluated with respect to two mechanisms: a potential direct DNA-damage and indirect toxicity, secondary to forming mutagenic N-nitroso metabolites. (2) Methods: Firstly, a forced ageing test under dry air was conducted for pure RAM in order to induce its degradation. The validated HPLC system was used to describe the kinetic order of this reaction. The emerging degradation impurity was identified by HPLC-MS. In the second stage, the cancer risk of the identified RAM degradant was predicted using a structure-based assessment by in silico QSAR model, employing three endpoints: carcinogenicity, genotoxicity and mutagenicity. In the third stage, the obtained QSAR results were experimentally verified. To verify genotoxicity prediction, in vitro micronucleus assay was employed. It enabled us to assess the potential direct DNA-damaging properties of RAM degradant at high concentrations (as screening series) and at concentrations usually observed in human blood (to mimic the clinical scenario). To verify the QSAR mutagenicity prediction, an in vitro Ames test was carried out. It was designed so as to detect two mechanisms of mutagenicity: a direct one (for pure degradant) and an indirect one (via N-nitroso-metabolites formation). N-nitroso-metabolites for mutagenicity assessment were obtained using NAP test. (3) Results: The kinetic mechanism of RAM degradation was first-order, the degradation rate constant was k = 1.396 ± 0.133 × 10−5 s−1 (T = 373 K), thus the formation of impurity was rapid. Energy of activation was 174.12 ± 46.2 kJ/mol, entropy was positive, thus reaction was bimolecular and favored; enthalpy was 171.65 ± 48.7 kJ/mol, thus reaction was endothermic. Only one degradation impurity was formed, and it was identified as RAM diketopiperazine derivative (DKP). QSAR simulation predicted that DKP could be carcinogenic and genotoxic, but this result had only moderate reliability. DKP was also predicted to be non-mutagenic and this prediction was strong (endpoint score 0.2). The confirmatory micronucleus experiment for genotoxicity prediction suggested that DKP was cytotoxic and it could be also aneugenic at a high concentration (0.22 mg/mL), evidenced by a three-fold increase in micronuclei relative to the control (11.86:33.33%, p = 0.0184). At physiologic concentrations, its cytotoxicity and genotoxicity did not occur. This means that the genotoxicity of DKP was limited by a threshold mechanism. In the mutagenicity in vitro assessment, pure DKP was not mutagenic, but its nitrosation product induced base substitutions mutations in test bacteria TA100 following metabolic activation at a concentration of 4.5 mg/mL, confirming its mutagenicity. (4) Conclusions: RAM rapidly cyclizes to diketopiperazine derivative under dry air. This impurity resides in drugs administered to patients. DKP is potentially aneugenic and cytotoxic at high concentrations, yet at concentrations typically occurring in human blood, this effect is unlikely. The exposure of patients to high concentrations of DKP, exceeding the typical blood level and standard RAM dosing, could lead to cancer development, thus the safe threshold for human exposure to DKP must be verified in follow-up in vivo experiments. Based on our results, it is impossible to establish the maximum safe dose of pure DKP to humans. Furthermore, DKP itself is not mutagenic, but it is liable to the formation of mutagenic nitroso-metabolites in vivo. Nitroso-derivatives of DKP are in vitro mutagens and their real-life impact on humans must be further evaluated in in vivo studies. Until this is carried out, RAM should not be formulated by manufacturers using dry procedures to minimize DKP formation and reduce risk of human carcinogenesis, since DKP could cause cancer via two independent mechanisms: direct genotoxicity when the exposure over standard RAM dosing occurs, and indirect mutagenicity via in vivo N-nitrosamine formation