Relative bioavailability and bioequivalence of a newly developed fixed combination sachet of acetylsalicylic acid and pseudoephedrine compared with a preliminary combination.

Acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) and pseudoephedrine (PSE) are often administered together for the treatment of symptoms of the common cold, i.e., nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat and headache. Based on this fact we developed a fixed combination of 500 mg ASA and 30 mg PSE, the recommended doses for both drugs for treating symptoms of the common cold, as granulate to be dissolved in water for administration. The purpose of this open, randomized, three-factorial (three-treatment, three-period, six-sequence) Latin Square clinical study was to investigate the relative bioavailability of ASA and PSE as well as the establishment of bioequivalence after single administration of the fixed combination (final formulation for approval) of 500 mg ASA/30 mg PSE*HCl and the preliminary formulation of this combination. Pharmacokinetic characteristics AUC(norm) and C(max,norm) of ASA, its metabolite SA, and PSE, were determined as measure of rate and extent of absorption of the two formulations. The treatment ratios final/preliminary formulation and their corresponding 90% confidence intervals were calculated to establish bioequivalence. Additionally, descriptive statistics were calculated for the parameters t(max), t((1/2)), and mean residence time (MRT). In total, data from 18 healthy male volunteers were included in the pharmacokinetic evaluation. The primary target parameters were analyzed using an analysis of variance (ANOVA) after logarithmic transformation of the data. Confidence intervals of 90% were calculated for the geometric means of ratios using the mean square error term of the ANOVA. Bioequivalence criteria were fulfilled for AUC(norm) and C(max,norm). Geometric means of individual ratios of AUC(norm) and of C(max,norm) showed equal bioavailability of the new formulation compared with the preliminary. Furthermore, a relative bioavailability of approximately 100% of the preliminary formulation was shown for the newly developed formulation for all parameters. The parameters t(max), t((1/2)), and MRT showed comparable results for ASA, SA, and PSE, respectively, in both formulations. The supplementary evaluation for the non-normalized original parameters AUC and C(max) also revealed bioequivalence. For the newly developed formulation, the arithmetic means of the parameters AUC and C(max) for PSE were 1040.66 mg/h*l and 134.52 mg/l, for SA 142.28 mg/h*l and 30.34 mg/l, respectively. The median t(max) values were 0.67 h for PSE and 0.92 h for SA. Both treatments were safe and well tolerated.

Relative bioavailability of imipramine (Tofranil) coated tablets in healthy volunteers.

OBJECTIVES: Imipramine is a tricyclic antidepressant drug with a considerable hepatic first-pass metabolism resulting in highly variable pharmacokinetic characteristics and desipramine as active major metabolite. This study describes the bioavailability of 3 formulations of imipramine. METHODS: In a randomized, three-period crossover study, 18 healthy male Caucasian subjects received single oral doses of Tofranil 25, Tofranil mite (10 mg) and an aqueous solution containing 25 mg imipramine-HCl. Serum concentrations of imipramine-HCl and its main metabolite desipramine were measured. The pharmacokinetic characteristics, Cmax, AUC, t1/2 and tmax were determined and the relative bioavailability of the two coated tablet formulations was calculated with the aqueous solution as reference. Safety and tolerability were assessed using vital signs, ECG, clinical laboratory and adverse event recording. RESULTS: The relative bioavailabilities of Tofranil 25 and Tofranil mite were 97% and 81%, respectively. The study medication was well tolerated. CONCLUSIONS: A sufficiently high extent of absorption was found for the test formulations ensuring therapeutic efficacy.

Intravesical administration of 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA). Safety and pharmacokinetics of 5-ALA and its metabolite protoporphyrin IX.

OBJECTIVE: In an open study, the local and systemic side effects and pharmacokinetics of 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) and the fluorescent metabolite protoporphyrin IX (PPIX) were investigated after intravesical administration for the fluorescent photodetection of superficial bladder carcinoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In 20 patients with confirmed bladder carcinoma, 5-ALA was introduced into the bladder 2 h (15 patients) and 4 h (5 patients) before an elective endoscopic resection. The 5-ALA and PPIX levels in the plasma were determined before and up to 10 h after application, and in the urine 2 h or 4 h after application. RESULTS: The plasma level of 5-ALA rose rapidly, the maximal concentration (340 ng/ml) being reached in 0.55 h (2 h) or 0.62 h (4 h). The elimination half-life of 5-ALA amounted to 0.74 h (2 h) or 0.79 h (4 h). In five of the patients, there was a measurable plasma concentration which ranged from the detection limit of 4.3 ng/ml to 14 ng/ml between 2 h and 5 h after application, and then fell below the detection limit after 9 h. Absorption of 5-ALA by the bladder was low, i.e. less than 1% of the total amount applied. During a period of observation of 96 h, no 5-ALA-specific side effects appeared. CONCLUSION: Because of the small quantity of 5-ALA resorbed following its intravesical administration, only minimal concentrations of PPIX that are responsible for producing side effects can be metabolised in the plasma. Therefore, no systemic side effects are to be expected after the intravesical administration of 5-ALA.

The alpha-glucosidase inhibitor voglibose (AO-128) does not change pharmacodynamics or pharmacokinetics of warfarin.

OBJECTIVE: Voglibose is a new and potent inhibitor of alpha-glucosidases and is used for the treatment of diabetes mellitus. Since voglibose increases gastrointestinal motility and could thus affect absorption of concomitantly administered drugs, it was investigated whether or not voglibose modifies the pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of warfarin, an oral anticoagulant frequently used in cardiovascular disorders likely to arise in diabetic patients. METHODS: Twelve healthy male subjects were given individually adjusted doses of warfarin to reduce prothrombin time (Quick's method) to a value of about 30-40% of the normal range within the first 8 days. Then, the individuals maintenance dose, given in the morning, was maintained until day 15. On study days 11-15, voglibose was co-administered per os in a dose of 5 mg t.i.d. The prothrombin time was determined on days 10 and 11 (reference) and on days 15 and 16 (test), and the steady-state pharmacokinetic characteristics of the warfarin enantiomers were determined on days 10 (reference) and 15 (test). The ratios test/reference were evaluated according to bioequivalence criteria. RESULTS: The equivalence ratio (test reference) for the pharmacodynamic parameter prothrombin time was 0.97 and for the pharmacokinetic characteristics AUC0-24 h.t.ss: S-(-)-warfarin, 1.05; R-(+)-warfarin, 1.01; and Cmax.ss: S-(-)-warfarin, 1.08; R-(+)-warfarin, 1.04. All parameters were within the predetermined accepted range of 0.7-1.43 (pharmacodynamics) or 0.8-1.25 (pharmacokinetics), thus fulfilling equivalence criteria. CONCLUSIONS: Voglibose modified neither the pharmacodynamics nor the pharmacokinetics of warfarin under steady-state conditions. Concomitant treatment was well tolerated and has been proven to be safe for further clinical use.

Lack of pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic interaction between pantoprazole and phenprocoumon in man.

OBJECTIVE: Pantoprazole is a selective proton pump inhibitor characterized by a low potential to interact with the cytochrome P450 enzymes in man. Due to the clinical importance of an interaction with anticoagulants, this study was carried out to investigate the possible influence of pantoprazole on the pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of phenprocoumon. METHODS: Sixteen healthy male subjects were given individually adjusted doses of phenprocoumon to reduce prothrombin time ratio (Quick method) to about 30-40% of normal within the first 5-9 days and to maintain this level. The individual maintenance doses remained unaltered from day 9 on and were administered until day 15. Additionally, on study days 11-15, pantoprazole 40 mg was given per once daily. As a pharmacodynamic parameter, the prothrombin time ratio was determined on days 9 and 10 (reference value) and on days 14 and 15 (test value), and the ratio test/reference was evaluated according to equivalence criteria. RESULTS: The equivalence ratio (test/reference) for prothrombin time ratio was 1.02 (90% confidence interval 0.95-1.09), thus fulfilling predetermined bioequivalence criteria (0.70-1.43). The pharmacokinetic characteristics AUC0-24h and Cmax of S(-)- and R(+)-phenprocoumon were also investigated using equivalence criteria. Equivalence ratios and confidence limits of AUC0-24h and of Cmax of S(-)-phenprocoumon (0.93, 0.87-1.00 for AUC0-24h; 0.95, 0.88-1.03 for Cmax) and of R(+)-phenprocoumon (0.89, 0.82-0.96; 0.9, 0.83-0.98) were within the accepted range of 0.8-1.25. CONCLUSION: Pantoprazole does not interact with the anticoagulant phenprocoumon on a pharmacodynamic or pharmacokinetic level. Concomitant treatment was well tolerated.

Relative bioavailability of DL-oxyfedrine HCl after single-dose oral administration of tablets as compared to equimolar solutions.

The pharmacokinetics and comparative bioavailability of oxyfedrine after single-dose oral administration of oxyfedrine*HCl tablets in comparison to an equimolar aqueous solution of oxyfedrine*HCl were investigated in 12 healthy male subjects. Six of them received 96 mg DL-oxyfedrine*HCl as tablets and solution and the remaining 6 subjects received 16 mg DL-oxyfedrine*HCl as tablets and solution in a randomized cross-over design. For evaluation of the relative bioavailability of the tablet formulation, the main metabolite norephedrine (expressed as hydrochloride) was analyzed in plasma for all 12 subjects. Furthermore, for determination of the parent drug, samples of whole blood were analyzed for DL-oxyfedrine*HCl. Relevant concentrations of the parent drug were found only in the high dosage group. There was no evidence of dose-linearity referring to AUC and Cmax of norephedrine between 16-mg and 96-mg doses of DL-oxyfedrine*HCl. The relative bioavailability of the tablet formulation after administration of 16 mg DL-oxyfedrine*HCl, based on the metabolite norephedrine*HCl was for AUC: 85.37% within a 90% confidence interval of 69.29-105.17% and for Cmax: 78.79% within a 90% confidence interval of 59.19-104.90%. The figures for the 96 mg dose strength were: AUC: 107.85% (90.06-129.15%) and for Cmax: 74.74% (62.48-89.42%).

Pharmacokinetics and relative bioavailability after single dose administration of 25 mg ketoprofen solution as compared to tablets.

The relative bioavailability of ketoprofen from a liquid formulation as compared to a tablet formulation as reference after single oral dose administration was investigated in 16 healthy male subjects. The subjects received in a randomized, crossover design during one study period of 5 days 2.5 mg of ketoprofen as tablet or liquid formulation administered as single dose with a washout interval of 48 h. The plasma concentrations of S(+)- and R(-)-ketoprofen were determined before and up to 24 h post-administration. S(+)- and R(-)-ketoprofen in the collected plasma samples was determined using an internally standardized validated HPLC method. Regarding the geometric mean concentration-time courses there were no relevant differences between the two ketoprofen enantiomers for both formulations. Remarkable differences in the shape of concentration-time courses between the two formulations were found with higher Cmax (by about 70%) and earlier tmax (by 15 min) values for the ketoprofen solution. The treatments were widely equivalent with regard to AUC. The quotients of geometric means as well as 90% confidence intervals for AUC of R(-)-ketoprofen were 95.72% (92.55-99.00%) and for S(+)-ketoprofen 94.23% (89.91-98.76%). The administration of the ketoprofen solution resulted earlier in higher concentrations (by about 70%) for both enantiomers, whereas the extent of absorption expressed by AUC was nearly the same (about 95%) as compared to the equimolar tablet formulation. The differences between the two formulations for Cmax,norm and tmax were statistically significant.