Results of a randomized, double-blind, active-controlled clinical trial with propiverine extended release 30 mg in patients with overactive bladder.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy and safety of the 30 mg extended release (ER) formulation of propiverine hydrochloride with the 4 mg ER formulation of tolterodine tartrate in patients with overactive bladder (OAB) in a non-inferiority trial. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eligible patients, aged 18-75 years and with symptoms of OAB, were enrolled in this multicentre, randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, active-controlled study. After a 2-week screening period, patients were randomized at a 1:1 ratio to receive either propiverine ER 30 mg or tolterodine ER 4 mg daily during the 8-week treatment period. Efficacy was assessed using a 3-day voiding diary and patient's self-reported assessment of treatment effect. Safety assessment included recording of adverse events, laboratory test results, measurement of post-void residual urine and electrocardiograms. RESULTS: A total of 324 patients (244 female and 80 male) were included in the study. Both active treatments improved the variables included in the voiding diary and in the patient's self-reported assessment. The change from baseline in the number of voidings per 24 h was significantly greater in the propiverine ER 30 mg group compared with the tolterodine ER 4 mg group after 8 weeks of treatment (full analysis set [FAS] -4.6 ± 4.1 vs -3.8 ± 5.1; P = 0.005). Significant improvements were also observed for the change of urgency incontinence episodes after 2 weeks (P = 0.026) and 8 weeks (P = 0.028) of treatment when comparing propiverine ER 30 mg with tolterodine ER 4 mg. Both treatments were well tolerated, with a similar frequency of adverse drug reactions in both the propiverine ER 30 mg and tolterodine ER 4 mg groups (FAS 40.7 vs 39.5%; P = 0.8). More patients treated with tolterodine ER 4 mg discontinued the treatment because of adverse drug reactions compared with propiverine ER 30 mg (7.4 vs 3.1%). CONCLUSIONS: Propiverine ER 30 mg was confirmed to be an effective and well-tolerated treatment option for patients with OAB symptoms. This first head-to-head study showed non-inferiority of propiverine ER 30 mg compared with tolterodine ER 4 mg.

Influence of a fat-rich meal on bioavailability of extended-release and immediate-release propiverine.

The muscarinic receptor antagonist propiverine is unique insofar as extended-release (ER) tablets are of higher bioavailability than immediate-release (IR) tablets; this is caused by lower "first-pass" elimination of propiverine via CYP3A4 and efflux transporters in the distal small intestine and colon. Food may influence gastrointestinal transiting and, in turn, may affect regional absorption of propiverine IR and ER. Therefore, food effects on disposition of 30 mg IR and 45 mg ER were measured in a randomized, open, 4-period interaction study in 24 healthy participants. In fasting participants, ER had higher bioavailability than IR (F(rel) = 169%, P = .03). Fat-rich meal did not change the disposition of ER markedly (AUC(0-∞) ratio, 1.00 [90% confidence interval (CI), 0.90-1.11], C(max) ratio, 0.97 [0.87-1.09]). However, C(max) and renal A(e) of the major N-oxidized metabolite (M-5) significantly increased, whereas t(1/2) decreased. By eating a fat-rich meal before administration, the differences in absorption of IR and ER were nearly abolished (AUC(0-∞) ratio for propiverine, 1.12 [90% CI, 0.95-1.33]; AUC(0-∞) ratio for M-5, 0.89 [0.82-0.95]). In conclusion, propiverine ER has higher bioavailability than IR and no positive food effect because it reaches, independently of food, intestinal absorption areas with lower metabolism and efflux transport, which results in constant absorption rates.

Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of propiverine in children aged between 5 and 10 years with symptoms of overactive bladder.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Pharmacokinetic studies in children are particularly required for drugs with intensive hepatic and regioselective intestinal elimination and pharmacological effects that may be critical for absorption at therapeutic doses, such as a delay in intestinal transit. One example is the antimuscarinic drug propiverine, the pharmacokinetics of which were evaluated in the present study in children with symptoms of overactive bladder. METHODS: The pharmacokinetics of immediate-release propiverine were studied in a dose-escalating, parallel-group study (propiverine 5, 10 and 15 mg twice daily for 14 days) in 25 subjects (11 females and 14 males aged 5-10 years; bodyweight 17-44 kg; body mass index 14-21 kg/m2) with symptoms of overactive bladder during waking hours. Serum concentration-time curves of propiverine and its major metabolite propiverine N-oxide (M-5) were evaluated up to 3 hours and 8 hours after the first and last administration, respectively, using liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry. The voiding frequency, number of incontinence and urgency episodes, single voided volume and urine flow variables were measured before and after treatment. RESULTS: Significant dose-related increases in the serum exposure (the area under the concentration-time curve, the maximum concentration and the minimum concentration) with propiverine and M-5 in the dose groups < or =0.3 mg/kg and 0.3 to < or =0.45 mg/kg after both single-dose and repeated-dose administration were found. The elimination half-lives of propiverine and M-5 at steady state were no different (mean +/- SD 12.2 +/- 11.2 and 14.5 +/- 9.94 hours, respectively). Higher doses did not result in additional dose-proportional increases in the respective pharmacokinetic parameters, particularly not after repeated-dose treatment. The voiding frequency, voided volume and urge symptoms were beneficially changed from baseline; significant dose-dependent changes were not observed. Most of the adverse events that were probably or possibly drug related were reported for patients in the high-dose group (>0.45 mg/kg). CONCLUSIONS: The disposition of propiverine is dose related after repeated administration of the recommended doses below 0.45 mg/kg (0.3-0.45 mg/kg) twice daily in children aged 5-10 years with symptoms of overactive bladder and urinary incontinence. ( TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBERS: [clinicaltrials.gov] NCT00795925; [EudraCT] 2004-001243-30).

Treatment with propiverine in children suffering from nonneurogenic overactive bladder and urinary incontinence: results of a randomized placebo-controlled phase 3 clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Until now no confirmatory clinical trial in children suffering from nonneurogenic overactive bladder (OAB) and urinary incontinence could demonstrate superiority for antimuscarinics over placebo. OBJECTIVES: The following study was conducted to prove efficacy and tolerability of propiverine compared to placebo. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 trial with parallel-group design in children aged 5-10 yr was performed. Prior to the 8-wk medical therapy urologic baseline diagnostics, a 3-wk lifestyle advice (urotherapy) was established. INTERVENTION: After re-evaluation of in- and exclusion criteria and uroflowmetry, only children fulfilling the requested criteria were allocated to a body-weight-adjusted therapy (10 or 15 mg propiverine twice daily or corresponding placebo). MEASUREMENTS: Efficacy parameters derived from bladder diary and a micturition volume protocol. Decrease in voiding frequency per day was chosen as primary efficacy parameter; secondary endpoints included voided volume and incontinence episodes. A safety assessment was conducted. RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS: Of 171 randomized children, 87 were treated with propiverine and 84 with placebo. The primary efficacy parameter showed a decrease in voiding frequency (-2.0 episodes for propiverine versus -1.2 for placebo; p=0.0007). Superiority could also be demonstrated for voided volume (31.4 vs. 5.1 ml; p<0.0001) and incontinence episodes (-0.5 vs. -0.2 episodes per d; p=0.0005). The trial design did not allow for separate evaluation of the effect of urotherapy prior to medical treatment. Propiverine was well-tolerated in children. Altogether 23% of side-effects were reported for propiverine and 20% for placebo. CONCLUSIONS: This clinical trial showed superior efficacy of propiverine over placebo and good tolerability for the treatment of children suffering from OAB and urinary incontinence. An important additional factor for the success of the trial was a modified trial design with previous urotherapy. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00603343.