Bioequivalence and Safety Assessment of 2 Formulations of Low-Dose Metformin Hydrochloride under Fasting Conditions in Healthy Chinese Participants: A Randomized Phase 1 Clinical Trial.

The incidence of type 2 diabetes is high, and the existing metformin hydrochloride (MH) tablets of 250 mg cannot meet the demands of the Chinese drug market. This study aimed to evaluate the bioequivalence and safety of generic formulations of MH tablets (test formulation [T], 250 mg/tablet) and innovative products (reference formulation [R], 250 mg/tablet) under fasting conditions. This was an open-label, single-dose, 2-period, 2-sequence crossover, single-center, randomized phase I clinical trial. T and R were considered bioequivalent if the adjusted geometric mean ratios (GMRs) and 90% confidence intervals of the area under the curve (AUC) and maximum concentration (Cmax ) were within the range of 0.8-1.25. Thirty-five participants completed the trial. The T/R adjusted GMRs (95.7% for Cmax , 98.7% for AUC0→t , 98.8% for AUC0→∞ ) were within the acceptable bioequivalence range of 80%-125%. No serious adverse events or suspected or unexpected serious adverse reactions occurred during this trial. The study findings confirmed that generic MH is a well-tolerated and bioequivalent alternative to innovative products under fasting conditions in healthy Chinese participants. (www.chinadrugtrials.org.cn; registration no. CTR20190356).

Bioequivalence and safety evaluation of two preparations of metformin hydrochloride sustained-release tablets (Boke® and Glucophage®-XR) in healthy Chinese volunteers: a randomized phase I clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: As per the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) requirements, the quality and efficacy of generic drugs must be consistent with those of the innovator drug. We aimed to evaluate the bioequivalence and safety of generic metformin hydrochloride sustained-release (MH-SR) tablets (Boke®) developed by Beijing Wanhui Double-crane Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., China and the innovator product metformin hydrochloride extended-release tablets (Glucophage®-XR) manufactured by Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, New York, NY, in healthy Chinese volunteers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a bioequivalence and safety assessment of MH-SR (500 mg/tablet) and Glucophage®-XR (500 mg/tablet) tablets in a randomized, open-label, two-period, two-sequence crossover, single-dose oral study in 48 healthy Chinese adult participants under fasting conditions (Chinese Clinical Trial Registration No. CTR20171306). The washout period was seven days. Bioequivalence (80.00-125.00%) was assessed using adjusted geometric mean ratios (GMRs) and two-sided 90% confidence intervals (CIs) of the area under the curve (AUC) and maximum concentration (Cmax) for each component. RESULTS: The 90% CIs of the test/reference preparation for key pharmacokinetic parameters were 97.36-108.30% for AUC0→t, 97.26-108.09% for AUC0→∞ and 96.76-111.37% for Cmax. No severe adverse events (AEs) were observed. However, 38 adverse drug reactions (ADRs) occurred, including metabolic or nutritional conditions (n = 8), infections (n = 2), gastrointestinal conditions (n = 10) and abnormal inspection (n = 18). No significant difference was observed between MH-SR (23 ADRs, 10 participants) and Glucophage®-XR (15 ADRs, 12 participants) (p = .500). Bioequivalence was concluded since the 90% CIs of the main pharmacokinetic parameters were within the equivalence interval (80.00-125.00%). CONCLUSIONS: MH-SR (500 mg/tablet) and Glucophage®-XR (500 mg/tablet) were found to be bioequivalent and safe under fasting conditions in healthy Chinese participants. Thus, the market demand for MH-SR tablets (500 mg/tablet) can be met using the generic alternative.KEY MESSAGESGeneric MH-SR tablets (500 mg, Beijing Wanhui Double-crane Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Beijing, China) and innovator MH-SR tablets (Glucophage®-XR, 500 mg, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, New York, NY, USA) were bioequivalent and safe in healthy Chinese volunteers under single-dose administration and fasting conditions.The main goal of this study is to support an increase in the supply of MH-SR tablets in China by proving the efficacy and safety of a generic alternative.Although no sugar was administered in the BE trial of the MH-SR tablets under fasting conditions, no hypoglycaemic event occurred. The method used in this study is expected to serve as a reference for BE studies of different MH-SR formulations.

Pharmacokinetic bioequivalence and safety assessment of two metformin hydrochloride tablet formulations using a phase I, randomized, open, two-period, two cross-over, single-dose, fed study in healthy Chinese adult subjects.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the bioequivalence and safety of generic metformin hydrochloride (test preparation) and glucophage (reference preparation) in healthy Chinese subjects. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A bioequivalence and safety assessment of two formulations of metformin (850 mg) using a randomized, open, two-period, two cross-over, single-dose, fed trial in 36 healthy Chinese adult subjects was performed at our center from March 22, 2018, to April 9, 2018. Bioequivalence was determined as two-sided 90% confidence intervals (CI) of the test-to-reference ratio of area under the curve (AUC) and peak concentration (Cmax) for each constituent within 80.00 - 125.00%. SAS 9.4 software was employed for the statistical analysis. RESULTS: One subject was excluded from the trial. The 90% CIs (95.36 - 101.43% for AUC0→t, 95.65 - 101.66% for AUC0→∞; 94.43 - 101.74% for Cmax) of test/reference preparation for these pharmacokinetic parameters were within the range of 80.00 - 125.00%. No severe adverse events were observed during this trial. The two preparations were safe and well-tolerated. CONCLUSION: It was concluded that generic metformin was bioequivalent and as safe as glucophage under fed conditions in healthy Chinese subjects.