Sartan blood pressure regulators in classical and biofilm wastewater treatment - Concentrations and metabolism.

Sartans are a group of pharmaceuticals widely used to regulate blood pressure. Their concentration levels were monitored in 80 wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) in the Baltic Sea Region, reached from limit of detection up to 6 µg/L. The concentrations were significantly different in different countries, but consistent within the respective country. The degradation of sartans (losartan, valsartan, irbesartan) in moving bed biofilm reactors (MBBRs) that utilize biofilms grown on mobile carriers to treat wastewater was investigated for the first time, and compared with the degradation in a conventional activated sludge (CAS) treatment plant. The results showed the formation of six microbial transformation products (TPs) of losartan, four of valsartan, and four of irbesartan in biological wastewater treatment. Four of these metabolites have not been described in the literature before. Chemical structures were suggested and selected TPs were verified and quantified depending on availability of true standards. Valsartan acid was a common TP of losartan, valsartan, and irbesartan. Losartan and irbesartan also shared one TP: losartan/irbesartan TP335. Based on the mass balance analysis, losartan carboxylic acid is the main TP of losartan, and valsartan acid is the main TP of valsartan during the biotransformation process. For irbesartan, TP447 is likely to be the main TP, as its peak areas were two orders of magnitude higher than those of all the other detected TPs of this compound. The effects of adapting biofilms to different biological oxygen demand (BOD) loading on the degradation of sartans as well as the formation of their TPs were investigated. Compared to feeding a poor substrate (pure effluent wastewater from a CAS), feeding with richer substrate (1/3 raw and 2/3 effluent wastewater) promoted the metabolism of most compounds (co-metabolization). However, the addition of raw wastewater inhibited some metabolic pathways of other compounds, such as from losartan/irbesartan to TP335 (competitive inhibition). The formation of irbesartan TP447 did not change with or without raw wastewater. Finally, the sartans and their TPs were investigated in a full-scale CAS wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). The removal of losartan, valsartan, and irbesartan ranged from 3.0 % to 72% and some of the transformation products (TPs) from human metabolism were also removed in the WWTP. However, some of the sartan TPs, i.e., valsartan acid, losartan carboxylic acid, irbesartan TP443 and losartan TP453, were formed in the WWTP. Relative high amounts of especially losartan carboxylic acid, which was detected with concentrations up to 2.27 µg/L were found in the effluent.

Evaluation and optimization of a HS-SPME-assisted GC-MS/MS method for monitoring nitrosamine impurities in diverse pharmaceuticals.

The probable carcinogenic nitrosamine impurities, such as N-nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA) and N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), have been detected from various pharmaceuticals in recent years. The sensitive chromatographic methods, including liquid chromatography (LC) and gas chromatography (GC), have been applied for analyzing nitrosamines in the pharmaceutical substrates, such as sartans, ranitidine and metformin. In comparison of LC, the efficacy of GC for analyzing multiple nitrosamines in diverse pharmaceuticals will be limited or attenuated owing to the chemical properties of target analytes or matrix hinderance of pharmaceutical substrates. To extend the applicability of GC analysis for multiple nitrosamines in pharmaceuticals, this study presented a gas chromatograph tandem mass (GC-MS/MS) method for monitoring 14 nitrosamines within 44 pharmaceuticals, whereas the headspace-solid phase microextraction (HS-SPME) sampling mode was introduced. Chromatographic separation was achieved on a DB-heavyWax column (30 m × 0.25 mm; i.d., 0.25 µm), whereas the HS-SPME sampling mode with a 50/30 µm DVB/CAR/PDMS extracting fiber was applied for comparison of the direct injection mode. Meanwhile, the HS-SPME conditions were optimized to evaluate the effects of the parameters on analyzing total nitrosamines in pharmaceuticals by GC-MS/MS. The optimal conditions of HS-SPME were as follows: extracting solution of 90% NaCl, HS incubation time 1 min, SPME adsorbing at 80 â„ƒ for 30 min, and desorbing at 250 â„ƒ for 5 min. The limit of quantification (LOQ) for 14 nitrosamines in pharmaceutical matrices under the optimal conditions was 0.05 µg/g for the optimal HS-SPME, whereas the value was 0.05-0.25 µg/g for direct injection.

Electrospun orally disintegrating film formulation of telmisartan.

Telmisartan (TEL) is an antihypertensive BCS class II drug with low solubility at physiological pH. However, the solubility of TEL increases with the presence of an alkalizer. Electrospinning is one of the most recent techniques for the solubility enhancement studies. In this study, an electrospun orally disintegrating film (ODF) formulation of TEL was developed with L-arginine and polyvinylpyrrolidone K90 (PVP), and its characterization studies were performed. Preformulation studies were performed to investigate possible incompatibilities in the components of formulation with differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FT-IR) analyses. ODFs were characterized in terms of drug content and uniformity, mechanical properties, fiber shape and diameter and in vitro dissolution profile. Smooth nanofibers without any beads were obtained. The dissolution rate of the TEL significantly increased. The chosen formulation had acceptable mechanical properties with much faster dissolution compared to the commercially available product. Developed ODF and marketed product were compared with a dissolution study in phosphate-buffered solution (pH 7.4). ODF and marketed product both reached 100% release in the 45th minute, and ODF results showed that ODF had much faster release than marketed product. In this study, TEL ODF formulation was successfully produced and characterized.

Reflections of the Angiotensin Receptor Blocker Recall by the FDA and Repercussions on Healthcare.

PURPOSE: Beginning in July of 2018, the FDA issued a voluntary recall regarding the presence of a contaminant found in the manufacturing of valsartan. What would ensue has become a largely unprecedented sequence of alarming events since the FDA began reporting public recalls, withdrawals and safety alerts on their website in 2016. Since then, the United States has been significantly impacted by drug recalls affecting angiotensin receptor blockers. This report arms clinicians with additional guidance and provides a framework for responding appropriately to future similar incidents and includes an overview of the angiotensin receptor blockers, and their effects and safety profiles. METHODS: This report includes a review of data from all pertinent clinical and scientific sources including information from the FDA's inspection documents and recall website. Additional information is provided on the specific bottles including all lot numbers, expiration dates, etc. RESULTS: The recalls/withdrawals are attributable to the presence of cancer-causing contaminants identified during the manufacturing process from drug manufacturers abroad. The root causes behind the recalls and subsequent shortage appear multifactorial, and stem to a certain extent from the outsourcing of medication manufacturing overseas and lack of quality checks and appropriate oversight. CONCLUSIONS: This inherent issue is not likely to resolve soon and has eroded the public trust of/in the healthcare system and the pharmaceutical industry. Patients and healthcare providers are significantly affected and should have a full understanding of the matter in order to guide appropriate response and actions.

Simultaneous detection of nitrosamines and other sartan-related impurities in active pharmaceutical ingredients by supercritical fluid chromatography.

Since July 2018, the pharmacological class of "sartans" has been the subject of considerable media and analytical interest, as it became known that they are contaminated with nitrosamines such as N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), N-nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA) and N-nitrosodiisopropylamine (NDiPA). Previous compendial methods are not able to detect these new contaminants. Using the latest and innovative Quality-by-Design (QbD) approach, it has now been possible to develop an analytical method that enables to investigate sartans, such as valsartan and losartan. Also a large class of different nitrosamines in the ppb range and sartan-related impurities can thus be determined simultaneously in a single analysis using supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC). By using SFC, a broad spectrum of nonpolar and very polar impurities can be separated and analyzed in under 20 min. The analytical method developed is validated for limit testing according to ICH Q2(R1) and fulfills default thresholds of EMA and FDA for testing of drug substances and genotoxic impurities. Additionally, it can also be adapted to other pharmaceuticals that may be contaminated with nitrosamines, since tetrazole synthesis as the underlying cause of nitrosamine contamination is important for a set of other non-sartan drug substances.

Lesson Learnt from Recall of Valsartan and Other Angiotensin II Receptor Blocker Drugs Containing NDMA and NDEA Impurities.

The presence of N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) and N-nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA) impurities in angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) drugs containing tetrazole ring has triggered worldwide product recalls. The purpose of this article is to identify the potential gap area in current pharmaceutical industry practice that might have led to the NMDA and NDEA impurities escaping the drug manufacturer's and FDA's attention. The impact of process change was not adequately assessed by the manufacturer of contaminated APIs (active pharmaceutical ingredients), and potential for generation of mutagenic or other toxic impurities was not considered. The safety and risk associated with a chemical synthetic process was also not evaluated. This is primarily due to current industry practice which focuses on controlling the impurities above reporting threshold. ICH Q3A and FDA guidance on genotoxic and carcinogenic impurities in drug substances and products need to be integrated so that the ICH Q3A decision tree (attachment 3) begins by checking whether the synthetic process has been evaluated for the potential to generate toxic impurities. The compliance with ICH Q3A limits should be carried out only after the process has been determined to be safe without the risk of generating mutagenic and carcinogenic impurities.

Chromatographic resolution of angiotensin II receptor antagonists (sartans).

First time a simple, sensitive and unified quantification method has been developed to analyze the complete class of angiotensin II receptor antagonists which are used in the treatment of hypertension either alone or in combination with some other drugs. The most important advantage of developed method was that the eight separate drugs can be determined on a single chromatographic system without modifications in detection wavelength and mobile phase. The drugs were separated on a Purospher Star 4.6mm×25cm, 5µm, C18 column maintained at 40°C with 1mLmin(-1) flow rate using ultra violet detection at 254nm. Good separation (Rs>2.0) was achieved in a short analysis allowing simultaneous determination of all eight sartans. The effect of variation in flow rate, detection wavelength and column oven temperature was also studied. The proposed method was statistically validated in terms of precision, accuracy, linearity, specificity and robustness. The newly developed method proved to be specific, robust and accurate for the quantification of eight sartans in commercial pharmaceutical formulations.

Synthesis and Physicochemical Characterization of the Process-Related Impurities of Olmesartan Medoxomil. Do 5-(Biphenyl-2-yl)-1-triphenylmethyltetrazole Intermediates in Sartan Syntheses Exist?

During the process development for multigram-scale synthesis of olmesartan medoxomil (OM), two principal regioisomeric process-related impurities were observed along with the final active pharmaceutical ingredient (API). The impurities were identified as N-1- and N-2-(5-methyl-2-oxo-1,3-dioxolen-4-yl)methyl derivatives of OM. Both compounds, of which N-2 isomer of olmesartan dimedoxomil is a novel impurity of OM, were synthesized and fully characterized by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), infrared spectroscopy (IR), nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) and high-resolution mass spectrometry/electrospray ionization (HRMS/ESI). Their ¹H, (13)C and (15)N nuclear magnetic resonance signals were fully assigned. The molecular structures of N-triphenylmethylolmesartan ethyl (N-tritylolmesartan ethyl) and N-tritylolmesartan medoxomil, the key intermediates in OM synthesis, were solved and refined using single-crystal X-ray diffraction (SCXRD). The SCXRD study revealed that N-tritylated intermediates of OM exist exclusively as one of the two possible regioisomers. In molecular structures of these regioisomers, the trityl substituent is attached to the N-2 nitrogen atom of the tetrazole ring, and not to the N-1 nitrogen, as has been widely reported up to the present. This finding indicates that the reported structural formula of N-tritylolmesartan ethyl and N-tritylolmesartan medoxomil, as well as their systematic chemical names, must be revised. The careful analysis of literature spectroscopic data for other sartan intermediates and their analogs with 5-(biphenyl-2-yl)tetrazole moiety showed that they also exist exclusively as N-2-trityl regioisomers.

LC-MS screening techniques for wastewater analysis and analytical data handling strategies: Sartans and their transformation products as an example.

A large number of anthropogenic trace contaminants such as pharmaceuticals, their human metabolites and further transformation products (TPs) enter wastewater treatment plants on a daily basis. A mixture of known, expected, and unknown molecules are discharged into the receiving aquatic environment because only partial elimination occurs for many of these chemicals during physical, biological and chemical treatment processes. In this study, an array of LC-MS methods from three collaborating laboratories was applied to detect and identify anthropogenic trace contaminants and their TPs in different waters. Starting with theoretical predictions of TPs, an efficient workflow using the combination of target, suspected-target and non-target strategies for the identification of these TPs in the environment was developed. These techniques and strategies were applied to study anti-hypertensive drugs from the sartan group (i.e., candesartan, eprosartan, irbesartan, olmesartan, and valsartan). Degradation experiments were performed in lab-scale wastewater treatment plants, and a screening workflow including an inter-laboratory approach was used for the identification of transformation products in the effluent samples. Subsequently, newly identified compounds were successfully analyzed in effluents of real wastewater treatment plants and river waters.

Simultaneous determination of valsartan, amlodipine besylate and hydrochlorothiazide using capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE).

A capillary zone electrophoresis method was developed for the simultaneous determination of valsartan (VAL), amlodipine besylate (AML) and hydrochlorothiazide (HCZ) in their combined tablets. Separation was achieved on a fused silica capillary by applying a potential of 15 kV (positive polarity) and a running background electrolyte containing 40 mM phosphate buffer at pH 7.5 with UV detection at 230 nm. The samples were injected hydrodynamically for 3s at 0.5 psi and the temperature of the capillary cartridge was kept at 25 degrees C. Pyrazinoic acid was used as an internal standard. The method was validated according to ICH guidelines regarding specificity, linearity, limits of detection and quantitation, accuracy and precision, (Supplementary materials, Table S2). The method showed satisfactory linearity in the ranges of 10-200, 2-20 and 2-20 µg mL(-1) with LODs of 1.82, 0.39, 0.65 µg mL(-1) and LOQs of 5.51, 1.17, 1.96 µg mL(-1) for VAL, AML and HCZ, respectively. The proposed method was successfully applied for the analysis of the studied drugs in their laboratory prepared mixtures and co-formulated tablets. The results were compared with reported methods and no significant differences were found. The proposed method can be used for quality control of the cited drugs in ordinary laboratories.

Stability-indicating RP-LC method for determination of azilsartan medoxomil and chlorthalidone in pharmaceutical dosage forms: application to degradation kinetics.

A RP-LC method was developed and validated for simultaneous determination of the active components, azilsartan medoxomil (AZL) and chlorthalidone (CLT), in their novel antihypertensive combined recipe. The chromatographic separation was achieved on an Eclipse XDB-C18 (4.6 × 150 mm, 5 µm) column using a mobile phase consisting of methanol/potassium hydrogen phosphate buffer (pH 8, 0.05 M) (40:60, v/v) in isocratic mode. The flow rate was maintained at 0.8 mL min(-1) at ambient temperature. Detection was carried out at 210 nm. The method was validated according to the ICH guidelines. Linearity, accuracy, and precision were satisfactory over the concentration range of 5.0-50.0 and 2.5-25.0 µg mL(-1) for AZL and CLT, respectively (r (2) = 0.9999). LODs for AZL and CLT were 0.90 and 0.32 µg mL(-1), whereas LOQs were 2.72 and 0.98 µg mL(-1), respectively. Both drugs were subjected to forced degradation studies under hydrolysis (neutral, acidic, and alkaline), oxidative, and photolytic extensive stress conditions. The proposed method is stability indicating by the resolution of the investigated drugs from their degradation products. Moreover, the kinetics of the acidic degradation of AZL as well as the kinetics of the alkaline degradation of CLT were investigated. Arrhenius plots were constructed and the apparent first-order rate constants, half-life times, shelf-life times, and the activation energies of the degradation processes were calculated. The method was successfully applied for the determination of the studied drugs simultaneously in their coformulated tablet. The developed method is specific and stability indicating for the quality control and routine analysis of the cited medications in their pharmaceutical preparations.

Behavior of sartans (antihypertensive drugs) in wastewater treatment plants, their occurrence and risk for the aquatic environment.

Pharmaceuticals and other anthropogenic trace contaminants reach wastewaters and are often not satisfactorily eliminated in sewage treatment plants. These contaminants and/or their degradation products may reach surface waters, thus influencing aquatic life. In this study, the behavior of five different antihypertonic pharmaceuticals from the sartan group (candesartan, eprosartan, irbesartan, olmesartan and valsartan) is investigated in lab-scale sewage plants. The elimination of the substances with related structures varied broadly from 17 % for olmesartan up to 96 % for valsartan. Monitoring data for these drugs in wastewater effluents of six different sewage treatment plants (STPs) in Bavaria, and at eight rivers, showed median concentrations for, e.g. valsartan of 1.1 and 0.13 µg L(-1), respectively. Predicted environmental concentrations (PEC) were calculated and are mostly consistent with the measured environmental concentrations (MEC). The selected sartans and the mixture of the five sartans showed no ecotoxic effects on aquatic organisms in relevant concentrations. Nevertheless, the occurrence of pharmaceuticals in the environment should be reduced to minimize the risk of their distribution in surface waters, ground waters and bank filtrates used for drinking water.

Phase quantification of antihypertensive drugs - Chlorthalidone, Hydrochlorothiazide, Losartan and combinations, Losartan/Chlorthalidone and Losartan/Hydrochlorothiazide - by the Rietveld method.

The identification and quantification of crystalline phases of antihypertensive drugs - Losartan potassium (LOS-K), Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) and Chlorthalidone (CTD) were carried out by means of X-ray powder diffraction data and the Rietveld method. Quantitative phase analyses of Losartan potassium/Chlorthalidone (LOS-K/CTD) and Losartan potassium/Hydrochlorothiazide (LOS-K/HCTZ) combinations were also evaluated. The results indicated that for diuretics (HCTZ and CTD) only one crystalline phase was found in samples, and for LOS-K the crystal structure showed similarity between the Bragg peaks to the phase described as monoclinic and space group P21/c. After one year storage, the orthorhombic one was also observed in this sample.

Molecularly imprinted SPE combined with dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction for selective analysis of telmisartan in biological and formulation samples.

BACKGROUND: The present communication describes the combination of molecularly imprinted SPE and dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction for the selective preconcentration and determination of telmisartan (TEL) in rat urine, plasma and pharmaceutical formulation by HPLC. RESULTS: Various factors that can affect the extraction efficiency of molecularly imprinted SPE and dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction were optimized. The LOD and LOQ were found to be 0.19 and 0.63 µg ml(-1) in urine, while in plasma it was found to be 0.28 and 0.87 µg ml(-1), respectively. The percentage recovery of TEL in different matrices was found to be in the range of 81-97%. CONCLUSION: The proposed method may find wide applications in clinical, toxicological and QC laboratories for the routine analysis of TEL.

HPTLC method for estimation of olmesartan medoxomil in tablet formulation with stability studies.

A rapid resolution high performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) method has been developed and validated for estimation of olmesartan medoxomil in tablet formulations. This paper describes accurate, precise, specific and reproducible method and its degradation products, related impurities for assessment of purity of bulk drug and stability of its tablet formulations. The method involve silica gel 60 F254 high performance thin layer chromatography and densitometric detection at 264 nm using toluene - acetonitrile- methanol - ethyl acetate - acetic acid (5:3.5:0.3:1:0.3 v/v/v/v). Calibration curve ranges between 300-800 ng/spot-1 olmesartan medoxomil. Experimental design was involved forced degradation of drug, optimization of mobile phase, detection made and other chromatographic phase and study of linearity range. The total time for chromatographic separation was 6 min with a total analysis time 15 min. The proposed method was validated for its linearity, precision, recovery studies and robustness.

Development of self-microemulsifying bilayer tablets for pH-independent fast release of candesartan cilexetil.

The aim of this study was to design self-microemulsifying tablets for pH-independent fast release of poorly soluble candesartan cilexetil (CDC). To improve the solubility of CDC, a self-microemulsifying drug delivery system (SMEDDS) was prepared composed of Capryol 90, Tween 80 and tetraglycol at a ratio of 5:35:60. Drug containing SMEDDS was adsorbed onto Fujicalin and Neusilin UFL2, respectively, used as solidification carriers and subsequently compressed into tablets (self-microemulsifying tablet, SMET). SMET using Fujicalin exhibited immediate CDC release in pH 1.2 medium while Neusilin UFL2-based SMET showed fast release, especially at pH 6.5. Thus, optimized SMET could be produced with one layer of Fujicalin and the other layer with Neusilin UFL2, demonstrating CDC release of 75% of the initial dose within 15 min in all pH conditions (1.2, 4.5, and 6.5). The average diameter of emulsion droplets formed from SMET was less than 200 nm. It was thus expected that Fujicalin and Neusilin UFL2-based bi-layer SMET would overcome low oral bioavailability of CDC due to its limited solubility at physiological pH conditions in the gastrointestinal tract.

Identification and determination of selected angiotensin II receptor antagonist group drugs by HPLC method.

Losartan potassium, valsartan, telmisartan, irbesartan, eprosartan mesylate and candesartan cilexitil, the angiotensin II receptor antagonists, were analyzed in bulk substances and in tablets: Lorista tablets 50 mg, Diovan tablets 160 mg, Micardis tablets 20 mg, Aprovel tablets 300 mg, Teveten tablets 600 mg and Blopress tablets 16 mg. The conditions for identification by HPLC method in a gradient system and for determination of those compounds in isocratic systems were developed. The determination was carried out using Zorbax SB-Phenyl column with UV-VIS detector set at 230 nm and the following mobile phases: 0.1 mol/L sodium acetate (pH = 5.5) - acetonitrile - methanol in 35:9:6 v/v/v ratio for eprosartan mesylate and valsartan, in 15:6:4 v/v/v ratio for losartan potassium and irbesartan and in 10:9:6 v/v/v ratio for telmisartan and candesartan cilexitil. The recovery from simulated tablets was determined and amounted to: for eprosartan mesylate - 99.04%, valsartan - 100.0%, losartan potassium - 100.03%, irbesartan - 100.35%, telmisartan - 100.06% and candesartan cilexitil - 100.40%.

The involvement of organic anion transporting polypeptide in the hepatic uptake of telmisartan in rats: PET studies with [¹¹C]telmisartan.

Telmisartan, a selective angiotensin II receptor antagonist, is primarily excreted via hepatobiliary transport. The predominant contribution of organic anion transporting polypeptide (OATP) 1B3 in its hepatic uptake of telmisartan has been demonstrated by in vitro transport studies. In the present study, a quantitative positron emission tomography (PET) methodology was developed for in vivo kinetic assessment of hepatobiliary transport of telmisartan. Serial abdominal PET scans were performed in rats following intravenous administration of [(11)C]telmisartan as a radiotracer. PET scans revealed that [(11)C]telmisartan was localized primarily in the liver and some of the radioactivity moved to the intestine, which corresponds to biliary excretion. Radiometabolite analysis by radiometric HPLC showed that [(11)C]telmisartan was converted to its acylglucuronide, which was mainly detected in bile, but little in plasma and liver. Integration plot analysis revealed that [(11)C]telmisartan was taken up into the liver as rapidly as the hepatic blood flow rate, and the radiometabolite was subsequently excreted into the bile. When rifampicin, a typical Oatp inhibitor, was coadministered with [(11)C]telmisartan in rats, hepatic uptake clearance of [(11)C]telmisartan was significantly decreased, whereas biliary efflux clearance was not changed. Coinjection with unlabeled telmisartan (4 and 10 mg/kg) also decreased hepatic uptake clearance of [(11)C]telmisartan. On the other hand, PET imaging analysis revealed a significant increase of biliary efflux when telmisartan dose was increased to more than 4 mg/kg. These results suggested that the hepatic uptake of [(11)C]telmisartan mainly consists of a saturable process mediated by Oatps in rats, according to noninvasive real-time measurement of tissue radioactivity with the use of PET. The present study with rats is expected to provide the feasibility of PET imaging study to quantitatively estimate OATP1B3 function in humans.

Investigation and structural elucidation of a process related impurity in candesartan cilexetil by LC/ESI-ITMS and NMR.

Four impurities were detected in candesartan cilexetil bulk drug samples by HPLC and LC/MS. These impurities were marked as CDC-I, II, III and IV. One of the impurities CDC-II was unknown and has not been reported previously. An optimized method using liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization ion trap mass spectrometry (LC/ESI-ITMS) in positive ion mode has been developed to carry out structural identification of unknown impurity. Based on mass spectrometric data and synthetic specifics the structure of CDC-II was proposed as 2-ethoxy-1-[[2'-(1-ethyl-1H-tetrazol-5-yl)biphenyl-4-yl]methyl]-1H-benzimidazole-7-carboxylic acid ethyl ester. The impurity was isolated by semi-preparative HPLC and structure was confirmed by NMR spectroscopy. The plausible mechanism for the formation of impurities is also discussed.

Simultaneous spectrofluorimetric determination of amlodipine besylate and valsartan in their combined tablets.

Amlodipine, a dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker, and valsartan, an angiotensin II receptor blocker, are co-formulated in a single-dose combination for the treatment of hypertension. The combination is used by patients whose blood pressure is not adequately controlled on either component monotherapy. This work describes a simple, sensitive, and reliable spectrofluorimetric method for the simultaneous determination of the two antihypertensive drugs; amlodipine besylate (AML) and valsartan (VAL) in their combined tablets. The method involved measurement of the native fluorescence at 455 nm (λ(Ex) 360 nm) and 378 nm (λ(Ex) 245 nm) for AML and VAL, respectively. Analytical performance of the proposed spectrofluorimetric procedure was statistically validated with respect to linearity, ranges, precision, accuracy, selectivity, robustness, detection, and quantification limits. Regression analysis showed good correlation between fluorescence intensity and concentration over the concentration ranges 0.2-3.6 and 0.008-0.080 µg mL⁻¹ for AML and VAL, respectively. The limits of detection were 0.025 and 0.0012 µg mL⁻¹ for AML and VAL, respectively. The proposed method was successfully applied for the assay of the two drugs in their combined pharmaceutical tablets with recoveries not less than 98.85%. No interference was observed from common pharmaceutical additives. The results were favourably compared with those obtained by a reference spectrophotometric method.