Bioequivalence Study of Rivastigmine 6 mg Capsules (Single Dose) in Healthy Volunteers.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the bioequivalence of generic formulation of rivastigmine (test) and Exelon (reference). METHODS: This randomized, open-label, 2-period, single-dose, 2-treatment, 2-sequence, crossover study was conducted in 40 healthy men under fed condition. Participants were randomized to receive a single dose of Exelon or rivastigmine capsule. RESULTS: A total of 31 participants completed the study. Area under the concentration-time curve from time zero to time t (AUC0- t) and area under the concentration-time curve from time zero to infinity (AUC0-∞) for Exelon (mean [standard deviation], h·ng/mL) were 126.40 (56.95) and 129.46 (59.94), respectively, while they were 122.73 (43.46) and 125.08 (45.39) for rivastigmine. Geometric mean ratios of rivastigmine/Exelon were 99.17% for AUC0- t, 98.81% for AUC0-∞, and 105% for maximum observed plasma concentration ( Cmax). The 90% confidence intervals (CIs) were 94.14% to 104.46%, 93.77% to 104.12%, and 93.08% to 118.44%, respectively. Both formulations were well tolerated. CONCLUSION: The generic and reference formulations were bioequivalent, as the 90% CIs for Cmax, AUC0- t, and AUC0-∞ were within the range of 80% to 125%.

Application of Quality by Design: Development to Manufacturing of Diclofenac Sodium Topical Gel.

The objective of the present study was to develop and optimize generic topical gel formulation of diclofenac sodium through quality by design approaches. The quality target product profile was set for the critical quality attributes of the gel. The key material variables like hydrophilic gelling agent carbopol and penetration enhancer kolliphor were optimized using design of experiments. A central composite design was used considering viscosity and cumulative percent diffusion of the drug after 0.5, 1, 2, 4 and 6 h as responses. The p values for all models generated for different responses were statistically significant (<0.5). Design space was established and verified at the laboratory scale. The predicted and observed values were in close agreement. The robustness of the formula was tested at a higher scale (10X and 200X). The capability index was calculated followed by Monte Carlo simulation and the Cpk values for all the responses were more than 1.33.

Pharmacokinetics of fixed-dose combination of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate, lamivudine, and efavirenz: results of a randomized, crossover, bioequivalence study.

The objective of this study was to assess the bioequivalence between a fixed-dose combination of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate/lamivudine/efavirenz 300/300/600 mg and the individual innovator products. A randomized, balanced, open-label, two-sequence, two-treatment, two-period, single dose, crossover study in 48 healthy adults was conducted. Dosing was separated by a washout period of 32 days. Twenty-seven blood samples were collected in each period from pre-dose to 72 h post-dose. The data of 45 subjects were analyzed for pharmacokinetics and safety. Ninety percent CIs of geometric mean ratio on Cmax, AUC0-t, and AUC0-inf for tenofovir and lamivudine and on Cmax and AUC0-72 for efavirenz were within the acceptance criteria (80-125%). For tenofovir disoproxil fumarate, the Tmax, Kel, and t1/2 values for the test and reference products were 1.02 versus 0.91 h, 0.04 versus 0.04/h, 18.67 versus 18.46 h, respectively. For lamivudine, the Tmax, Kel, and t1/2 values were: 1.38 versus 1.30 h, 0.21 versus 0.19/h, 3.44 versus 3.91 h, respectively. For efavirenz, the Tmax values for the test and reference products were 3.71 and 3.65 h, respectively. Both the treatments were well tolerated. Our findings suggest that the tested formulation is bioequivalent to the innovators' formulations, and both treatments were well tolerated.

Bioequivalence study of cyclizine hydrochloride 50 mg tablets in healthy volunteers: a randomized, open-label, single-dose study.

BACKGROUND: Cyclizine is used in the treatment and prevention of nausea and vomiting. We aimed to demonstrate bioequivalence between two formulations of cyclizine 50 mg tablets. METHODS/RESULTS: This single-dose, two-treatment, two-period, two-sequence, open-label, randomized crossover study was conducted on 32 healthy male volunteers. The average values for Cmax, Tmax, AUC0-t and AUC0-inf were 21.50 ng/ml, 3.85 h, 423.71 ng.h/ml and 489.26 ng.h/ml, for cyclizine 50 mg (test) versus 20.39 ng/ml, 4.34 h, 410.56 ng.h/ml and 473.86 ng.h/ml for Valoid 50 mg (reference). The 90% CI of the mean ratios of Cmax (geometric mean ratio: 101.81 ng/ml), and AUC0-t (101.81 ng.h/ml) were within the bioequivalence range of 80 to 125%. Both drugs were well tolerated. CONCLUSION: Cyclizine 50 mg is bioequivalent to the reference.

Thermosensitive PLA based nanodispersion for targeting brain tumor via intranasal route.

Delivery of drugs to the brain via nasal route has been studied by many researchers. However, low residence time, mucociliary clearance and enzymatically active environment of nasal cavity pose many challenges to successful nasal delivery of drugs. We aim to deliver methotrexate by designing thermosensitive nanodispersion exhibiting enhanced residence time in nasal cavity and bypassing the blood brain barrier (BBB). PLA nanoparticles were developed using solvent evaporation technique. The developed nanoparticles were further dispersed in prepared thermosensitive vehicle of poloxamer 188 and Carbopol 934 to impart the property of increased residence time. The formulated nanoparticles demonstrated no interaction with the simulated nasal fluids (SNF), mucin, serum proteins and erythrocytes which demonstrate the safety of developed formulation for nasal administration. The penetration property of nanoparticles though the nasal mucosa was higher than the pure drug due to low mucociliary clearance. The developed nanoparticles diffused though the membrane pores and rapidly distributed into the brain portions compared to the pure drug. There was detectable and quantifiable amount of drug seen in the brain as demonstrated by in vivo brain distribution studies with considerably low amount of drug deposition in the lungs. The pharmacokinetic parameters demonstrated the enhancement in circulation half life, area under curve (AUC) and Cmax of the drug when administered intranasal in encapsulated form. Thus, the thermosensitive nanodispersions are surely promising delivery systems for delivering anticancer agents though the nasal route for potential treatment of brain tumors.

Surface-coated PLA nanoparticles loaded with temozolomide for improved brain deposition and potential treatment of gliomas: development, characterization and in vivo studies.

Hydrophobicity of PLA nanoparticles makes them a good substrate for macrophageal and reticulo-endothelial system uptake. Long-circulating properties can be imparted to these particles by coating them with hydrophilic stabilizers. Surface-modified PLA nanoparticles loaded with anti-cancer agent temozolomide were fabricated by solvent evaporation method and coated with surface modifiers. Selection of the surface modifier was based upon uptake of nanoparticles by K9 cells (liver cells). The particles were prepared and characterized for various physicochemical properties using transmission electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, powder X-ray diffraction and in vitro dissolution studies. In vitro BBB permeation studies were performed using the co-culture model developed by using Madin-Darby canine kidney and C6 glioma cells as endothelial and glial cells, respectively. In vitro C6 glioma cell cytotoxicity, cellular proliferation, cellular migration and cellular uptake studies due to developed nanoparticles was assessed. In vivo studies such as pharmacokinetics, qualitative and quantitative biodistribution studies were performed for the developed nanoparticles. Drug-loaded nanoparticles with entrapment efficiency of 50% were developed. PEG-1000 and polysorbate-80 coated nanoparticles were least taken up by the liver cells. Characterization of the nanoparticles revealed formation of spherical shape nanoparticles, with no drug and excipient interaction. In vivo pharmacokinetics of developed nanoparticles depicted enhancement of half-life, area under the curve and mean residence time of the drug. Qualitative and quantitative biodistribution studies confirmed enhanced permeation of the drug into the brain upon loading into nanoparticles with less deposition in the highly perfused organs like lung, liver, spleen, heart and kidney.