RESUMEN
OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effect of ritonavir (RTV) co-administration on the bioavailability of an amorphous dispersion of acetyl-11-keto-beta-boswellic acid (AKBA) and to develop a pharmaceutically acceptable AKBA-RTV combination tablet. METHODS: A pharmacokinetic (PK) study in rats was conducted to evaluate the influence of RTV co-administration on the oral bioavailability of an AKBA amorphous dispersion. KinetiSol was utilized to enable production of an improved RTV formulation that facilitated the development of an AKBA-RTV combination tablet. Following in-vitro characterization, the PK performance of the tablets was evaluated in male beagles. KEY FINDINGS: Co-administration of RTV increased oral absorption of AKBA by about fourfold over the AKBA dispersion alone and approximately 24-fold over the pure compound. The improved RTV amorphous dispersion exhibited similar purity and neutral-phase dissolution to Norvir. The AKBA-RTV combination tablets yielded a substantial increase in AKBA's bioavailability in dogs. CONCLUSIONS: Oral absorption of AKBA is substantially limited by intestinal CYP3A activity and poor aqueous solubility. Consequently, AKBA's oral bioavailability is maximized by administration from a supersaturating formulation in conjunction with a CYP3A inhibitor. The AKBA-RTV combination tablet presented herein represents a breakthrough in the oral delivery of the compound facilitating future use as a drug therapy for broad spectrum cancer treatment.