To investigate the pharmacokinetics, safety, and tolerability of the novel tetrameric high-relaxivity gadolinium-based contrast agent gadoquatrane in Japanese (Study 1) and Chinese men (Study 2).

In two similarly designed single-center, randomized, single-blind, placebo-controlled, consecutive-cohort dose-escalation studies, healthy volunteers were randomly assigned to intravenous administration of gadoquatrane (0.01–0.1 mmol gadolinium/kg body weight) or placebo. Study procedures included blood sampling and collection of urine for pharmacokinetic analyses and safety assessments.

Twenty-five healthy Japanese men (mean age ± standard deviation: 26±5.9 years) and 23 healthy Chinese men (31±7.6 years old) were evaluated. In both studies, the pharmacokinetic profile of gadoquatrane was characterized by rapid distribution of the drug into the extracellular space and fast renal elimination. Postdose gadolinium concentrations rapidly declined with a geometric mean effective half-life of 1.3–1.4 h. The exposure increased approximately dose-proportionally with dose. The body weight-normalized volume of distribution was constant across dose levels (0.21–0.24 L/kg). Total recovery of gadolinium in urine amounted to 82–95 % (Study 1) and 96–99 % (Study 2) of the dose administered.

Only a few mild, transient adverse events were reported, none of which gave rise to any safety concerns. Exploratory drug concentration–QTc modeling indicated no risk of a clinically relevant QT/QTc prolongation at the anticipated diagnostic dose.

Gadoquatrane was safe and well tolerated at all doses tested. The pharmacokinetic profile was essentially the same as that of other extracellular macrocyclic gadolinium-based contrast agents and was consequentially also similar for Japanese and Chinese participants.