Comparative bioavailability of two formulations of sibutramine.

This study was conducted in order to compare the bioavailability of two capsule formulations containing 15 mg of sibutramine, N-{1-[1-(4-chlorophenyl)cyclobutyl]-3-methylbutyl}-N,N-dimethylamine hydrochloride monohydrate, 84485-00-7 CAS registry number. 62 healthy subjects were enrolled in a single-center, randomized, single-dose, open-label, 2-way crossover study, with a minimum washout period of 14 days. Plasma samples were collected up to 72.0 hours post-dosing. R-sibutramine, S-sibutramine, N-mono-desmethyl-sibutramine (M1) and N-di-desmethyl-sibutramine (M2) levels were determined by reverse liquid chromatography and detected by tandem mass spectrometry detection, LC/MS/MS method. Pharmacokinetic parameters used for bioequivalence assessment were the area under the concentration-time curve from time zero to time of last non-zero concentration (AUC0-t) and the maximum observed concentration (Cmax). These parameters were determined from sibutramine enantiomers as well from M1 and M2 concentration data using non-compartmental analysis. The 90% confidence intervals obtained by analysis of variance were 89.25 - 122.88% for Cmax, 90.37 - 123.18% for AUC0-t and 91.20 - 122.38% for AUCinf for R-sibutramine and 88.27 - 124.08% for Cmax, 86.15 - 121.78% for AUC0-t and 88.02 - 120.96% for AUCinf for S-sibutramine. These results were all within the range of 80.00 - 125.00% established by regulatory requirements. Bioequivalence between formulations was concluded both in terms of rate and extent of absorption.

Role of specific cytochrome P450 enzymes in the N-oxidation of the antiarrhythmic agent mexiletine.

1. Mexiletine is extensively metabolized in man by C- and N-oxidation and the aim of the present study was to characterize major cytochrome P450 enzyme(s) involved in the formation of N-hydroxymexiletine. 2. Incubations with genetically engineered microsomes indicated that the formation rate of N-hydroxymexiletine was highest in the presence of microsomes expressing high levels of either CYP1A2 or CYP2E1 and the formation of N-hydroxymexiletine by human liver microsomes was inhibited about 40% by antibodies directed against CYP1A1/1A2 or CYP2E1. Additional incubations demonstrated that formation of N-hydroxymexiletine was decreased 47 and 51% by furafylline, 40 microm and 120 microm, respectively, and decreased 55 and 67% by alpha-naphthoflavone, 1 microm and 3 microm, respectively (all p < 0.05 versus control). 3. The formation rate of N-hydroxymexiletine in human liver microsomes was highly correlated with CYP2B6 (RS-mexiletine, r = 0.7827; R-(-)-enantiomer, r = 0.7034; S-(+)-enantiomer, r = 0.7495), CYP2E1 (S-(+)-enantiomer, r = 0.7057) and CYP1A2 (RS-mexiletine, r = 0.5334; S-(+)-enantiomer, r = 0.6035). 4. In conclusion, we have demonstrated that CYP1A2 is a major human cytochrome P450 enzyme involved in the formation of N-hydroxymexiletine. However, other cytochrome P450 enzymes (CYP2E1 and CYP2B6) also appear to play a role in the N-oxidation of this drug.

Who needs individual bioequivalence studies for narrow therapeutic index drugs? A case for warfarin.

Warfarin is, among drugs, considered to have a narrow therapeutic index for which individual bioequivalence has been suggested. To establish the propriety of "switching," an individual bioequivalence study involving a replicate-design study and three "switchings" in healthy subjects was undertaken using the U.S.-brand warfarin sodium tablet and a generic product. A randomized, single-center, open-label, single-dose, four-way crossover replicate bioequivalence study was performed in 24 healthy male volunteers in which each subject received the same 5 mg warfarin test and reference tablets twice on different occasions under fasting conditions. Concentrations of warfarin in plasma were measured by a validated specific HPLC method. The individual pharmacokinetic parameters obtained with test and reference products were compared using pooled data and Liu's method. Bioequivalence was shown with both average and individual bioequivalence methods. The individual bioequivalence assessment did not show a subject-by-formulation interaction, nor did it add value to the bioequivalence assessment of warfarin.

A multiple-dose safety and bioequivalence study of a narrow therapeutic index drug: a case for carbamazepine.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Carbamazepine is among those drugs that have been considered to have a narrow therapeutic plasma concentration range, that is, a narrow therapeutic index. Although the US Food and Drug Administration has approved new generic products based on standard single-dose bioequivalence studies, several state formularies, including the New Jersey Drug Utilization Review Council, have recently established additional criteria for acceptance of bioequivalence of narrow therapeutic index drugs, limiting the use of some approved generic drugs in specific states. To further validate the adequacy of single-dose studies for the determination of bioequivalence of narrow therapeutic index drugs, a multiple-dose study was conducted that more closely reflected therapeutic use. METHODS: A single-center, multiple-dose, randomized, open-label, 2-way crossover bioequivalence study was conducted in 32 fasting volunteers at steady state. Subjects received the test and reference products as a 200 mg carbamazepine tablet 3 times a day in a crossover fashion. Concentrations of carbamazepine and carbamazepine-10,11-epoxide in plasma were measured by a validated specific HPLC method. RESULTS: A total of 28 subjects completed the study. Pharmacokinetic parameters and measures of fluctuation for both products at steady state were similar, with 90% and 95% confidence intervals falling within 90% and 110%. CONCLUSION: The multiple-dose study provided reliable safety and bioequivalence data under rigorous statistical conditions and confirmed bioequivalence of test and reference products determined by a single-dose study.

Stereoselective disposition of the antiarrhythmic agent mexiletine during the concomitant administration of caffeine.

Caffeine consumption is extensive in industrialized countries and its role in drug-drug interactions is often overlooked. CYP1A2, the major cytochrome P450 isoform involved in the metabolism of caffeine, has also been implicated in the formation of N-hydroxymexiletine, the major metabolite of mexiletine. Therefore, the objective of this study was to assess the effects of a clinically relevant dosage of caffeine on the stereoselective disposition of mexiletine. Fourteen healthy volunteers--10 extensive metabolizers (EMs) and 4 poor metabolizers (PMs) of CYP2D6--received a single 200 mg oral dose of racemic mexiletine hydrochloride on two occasions (1 week apart): once by itself and once during administration of caffeine (100 mg four times daily). Serial blood and urine samples were collected and pharmacokinetic parameters were estimated. Although the total clearance of mexiletine was not significantly altered by the coadministration of caffeine in EMs and PMs, a stereoselective decrease (16% in EMs and 14% in PMs) in the urinary recovery of N-hydroxymexiletine from the R-(-)-enantiomer was observed. Also, the partial metabolic clearance of R-(-)-mexiletine to N-hydroxymexiletine glucuronide was reduced from 126 +/- 48 mL/min to 106 +/- 32 mL/min and 152.6 (73.4-196.2) mL/min to 109 (77-127) mL/min by the coadministration of caffeine in EMs and PMs, respectively. Consequently, the R/S ratio for urinary recovery and the partial metabolic clearance of mexiletine to N-hydroxymexiletine were 28% lower during the coadministration of caffeine. In conclusion, data obtained in this study indicate that coadministration of caffeine does not lead to clinically significant changes in mexiletine plasma concentrations. However, results obtained suggest that CYP1A2 is involved in the formation of N-hydroxymexiletine.

Role of polymorphic debrisoquin 4-hydroxylase activity in the stereoselective disposition of mexiletine in humans.

It was reported previously that mexiletine undergoes stereoselective disposition in humans and that formation of three of its major metabolites co-segregates with polymorphic debrisoquin 4-hydroxylase (CYP2D6) activity. In this study, the hypothesis was tested that the CYP2D6-mediated oxidation pathways of mexiletine are responsible for the stereoselective disposition of the racemate in humans. Fourteen healthy subjects (10 extensive metabolizers [EMs] and 4 poor metabolizers [PMs]) participated in this study. They received a single 200-mg oral dose of racemic mexiletine hydrochloride on two occasions: once alone and once during administration of low-dose quinidine (50 mg four times a day). Blood and urine samples were obtained over 48 hr after the administration of mexiletine and analyzed by a stereoselective high-performance liquid chromatography assay. As reported previously, RS-mexiletine disposition was altered by a genetically determined (PM) or drug-induced (quinidine) decrease in CYP2D6 activity. In contrast, R/S ratio of the apparent total and nonrenal clearances of mexiletine and the R/S ratio of the urinary recovery of both enantiomers were similar in EMs and PMs. Moreover, these ratios were unaltered by quinidine administration. Partial metabolic clearance of N-hydroxymexiletine glucuronide, a non-CYP2D6 dependent metabolite, was highly stereoselective; the R/S ratio was 11.3 +/- 3.4. This ratio was similar in subjects with either an EM or a PM phenotype and was not altered by quinidine administration. Thus, the results obtained in this study suggest that non-CYP2D6-dependent metabolic pathways are responsible for the stereoselective disposition of mexiletine in humans.

Improved high-performance liquid chromatographic assay for the stereoselective determination of mexiletine in plasma.

A simple and sensitive high-performance liquid chromatographic procedure for resolution of mexiletine enantiomers has been developed. Proteins from plasma samples containing RS-mexiletine were precipitated with a mixture of barium hydroxide and zinc sulphate before extraction under alkaline conditions with diethyl ether. Organic extracts were evaporated to dryness, and the residues reconstituted with 0.03 M hydrochloric acid (20 microliters). Derivatization with o-phthalaldehyde N-acetyl-L-cysteine reagent was performed after alkalinization with 0.1 M sodium borate. An aliquot of the resulting solution was injected onto a reversed-phase C18 column and resolution of mexiletine diastereoisomeric derivatives was achieved with a mobile phase consisting of methanol-50 mM sodium acetate (65:35), at a flow-rate of 1 ml/min. The retention times of S-(+)- and R-(-)-mexiletine diastereoisomeric peaks were 14 and 15 min, respectively. Product elution was monitored by fluorescence detection using excitation and emission wavelengths fixed at 350 and 445 nm, respectively. Calibration curves were linear over the concentration range 2.5-500 ng/ml for each enantiomer (r greater than 0.99). The assay is shown to be suitable for pharmacokinetic studies after administration of a single oral dose of 200 mg of RS-mexiletine hydrochloride to healthy volunteers.

Modulation of dopamine receptor agonist binding sites by cations and estradiol in intact pituitary and 7315a tumors.

The effects of Na+, K+, Mg2+ and Ca2+ on the agonist binding sites of D2 dopamine (DA) receptors were studied in 7315a pituitary tumors. The agonist high and low affinity states of the D2 receptors were investigated with apomorphine competition for [3H]spiperone binding at 25 degrees. In the tumor, all cations markedly increased the affinity of the high affinity binding site, while the affinity of the low affinity binding site was increased only by Na+. The proportion of high to low affinity states was not affected significantly by K+ and Ca2+, whereas it was decreased by Na+ and increased by Mg2+; none of these cations affected the total density of the D2 receptors. The in vitro regulation of D2 receptors by 17 beta-estradiol (E2) was next studied in 7315a tumors and bovine intact adenohypophysis. In intact anterior pituitary, a partial conversion of the high to the low affinity state was obtained in the presence of GTP, while in tumoral pituitary, a complete conversion was observed. Addition of 1 nM E2 to the in vitro incubation mixture prevented these conversions and resulted in a partial return of the high affinity state of the D2 receptors to their control values in both normal and tumoral pituitary. In another experiment, using increasing concentrations of E2 (0.01 to 100 nM) and GTP (10(-8) to 10(-3) nM) on [3H]n-propylnorapomorphine [( 3H]NPA) binding to the D2 receptors in bovine intact adenohypophysis, 1 and 10 nM E2 doubled the IC50 of GTP to decrease [3H]NPA binding. The results show that agonist high and low affinity states of D2 receptors in 7315a tumors are regulated normally by cations. In addition, E2 inhibited the effect of GTP on the agonist sites of the D2 receptors in both intact anterior pituitary tissue and 7315a tumors.