Exposure-response analysis using time-to-event data for bevacizumab biosimilar SB8 and the reference bevacizumab.

Purpose: This analysis aimed to characterize the exposure-response relationship of bevacizumab in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and evaluate the efficacy of SB8, a bevacizumab biosimilar, and Avastin®, the reference bevacizumab sourced from the European Union (EU), based on the exposure reported in a comparative phase III efficacy and safety study (EudraCT, 2015-004026-34; NCT02754882). Materials and methods: The overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) data from 224 patients with steady-state trough concentrations (Css,trough) were analyzed. A parametric time-to-event (TTE) model was developed using NONMEM®, and the effects of treatments (SB8 and bevacizumab-EU) and patient demographic and clinical covariates on OS and PFS were evaluated. Simulations of median OS and PFS by bevacizumab Css,trough were conducted, and concentrations required to achieve 50% and 90% of the maximum median TTE were computed. Results: A log-logistics model with Css,trough best described the OS and PFS data. Treatment was not a predictor of the hazard for OS or PFS. Simulations revealed steep exposure-response curves with a phase of rapid rise before saturating to a plateau. The median Css,trough values of SB8 and bevacizumab-EU reported from the clinical study were on the plateaus of the exposure-response curves. The concentrations required to achieve 50% and 90% of the maximum effect were 82.4 and 92.2 µg/mL, respectively, for OS and 79.7 and 89.1 µg/mL, respectively, for PFS. Conclusion: Simulations based on the constructed TTE models for OS and PFS have well described the exposure-response relationship of bevacizumab in advanced NSCLC. The analysis demonstrated comparable efficacy between SB8 and bevacizumab-EU in terms of OS and PFS based on their exposure levels.

Interchangeability for Biologics is a Legal Distinction in the USA, Not a Clinical One.

Biologics are increasingly vital medicines that significantly reduce morbidity as well as mortality, yet access continues to be an issue even in apparently wealthy countries, such as the USA. While patient access is expected to improve with the introduction of biosimilars, misperceptions in a significant part based on terminology continue to make a sustained contribution by biosimilars difficult. Patients are and will continue to suffer needlessly if biosimilars continue to be impugned. Consequently, it is increasingly urgent that semantics are clarified, and in particular, the implication that interchangeable biologics are better biosimilars dismissed. This paper distinguishes between the real differences between biologics that matter clinically to patients and discusses the actual meaning of a US Food and Drug Administration designation of interchangeability for a biosimilar product. This will help highlight where there is need for further Food and Drug Administration education and which stakeholders likely need that education the most.

Para-aminosalicylic acid significantly reduced tenofovir exposure in human subjects: Mismatched findings from in vitro to in vivo translational research.

AIMS: Tenofovir and para-aminosalicylic acid (PAS) may be coprescribed to treat patients with concomitant infections of human immunodeficiency virus and Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria. Both drugs are known to have remarkable renal uptake transporter-mediated clearance. Owing to the lack of clinical studies on drug-drug interaction between the 2 drugs, we conducted a translational clinical study to investigate the effect of PAS on tenofovir pharmacokinetics (PK). METHODS: Initially, we studied in vitro renal uptake transporter-mediated drug-drug interactions using stably transfected cells with human organic anion transporters (OAT1 and OAT3). Later, we estimated clinical drug interactions using static and physiologically based PK modelling. Finally, we investigated the effects of PAS-calcium formulation (PAS-Ca) on tenofovir disoproxil fumarate PK in healthy male Korean subjects. RESULTS: PAS inhibited OAT1- and OAT3-mediated tenofovir uptake in vitro. The physiologically based PK drug-drug interaction model suggested a 1.26-fold increase in tenofovir peak plasma concentration when coadministered with PAS. By contrast, an open-label, randomized, crossover clinical trial evaluating the effects of PAS-Ca on tenofovir PK showed significantly altered geometric mean ratio (90% confidence intervals) of maximum plasma concentration (Cmax ) and area under the curve (AUC0-inf ) by 0.33 (0.28-0.38) and 0.29 (0.26-0.33), respectively. CONCLUSION: Our study findings suggest that the PAS-Ca formulation significantly reduced systemic exposure to tenofovir through an unexplained mechanism, which was contrary to the initial prediction. Caution should be exercised while predicting in vivo PK profiles from in vitro data, particularly when there are potential confounders such as pharmaceutical interactions.

Effect of Cilostazol on the Pharmacokinetics of Simvastatin in Healthy Subjects.

PURPOSE: We evaluated potential drug-drug interactions between cilostazol and simvastatin, both CYP3A substrates, in healthy subjects. METHODS: An open-label, two-period, fixed-sequence clinical study was conducted. Seventeen subjects were given a single oral dose of simvastatin 40 mg on day 1 and multiple oral doses of cilostazol 100 mg twice daily on days 2 to 5 followed by a single dose of cilostazol and simvastatin on day 6. Plasma concentrations of simvastatin and its active metabolite, simvastatin acid, were measured using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry for pharmacokinetic assessment. Moreover, serum lipid profiles under fasting conditions were determined. RESULTS: The geometric mean ratios of the area under the plasma concentration-time curve from time zero to time infinity of simvastatin combined with cilostazol to that of simvastatin alone were 1.64 (90% CI, 1.38-1.95) for simvastatin and 1.31 (1.04-1.66) for simvastatin acid. In addition, coadministration with cilostazol significantly increased the maximum concentration of simvastatin and simvastatin acid, up to 1.8-fold and 1.6-fold, respectively. However, the effects of a single dose of simvastatin on serum lipid profiles were not affected notably when simvastatin was coadministered with cilostazol. CONCLUSIONS: Multiple doses of cilostazol increased the systemic exposure of simvastatin and simvastatin acid following a single dose of simvastatin.

Prediction of the human in vivo antiplatelet effect of S- and R-indobufen using population pharmacodynamic modeling and simulation based on in vitro platelet aggregation test.

Indobufen (Ibustrin®), a reversible inhibitor of platelet aggregation, exists in two enantiomeric forms in 1:1 ratio. Here, we characterized the anti-platelet effect of S- and R-indobufen using response surface modeling using NONMEM® and predicted the therapeutic doses exerting the maximal efficacy of each enantioselective S- and R-indobufen formulation. S- and R-indobufen were added individually or together to 24 plasma samples from drug-naïve healthy subjects, generating 892 samples containing randomly selected concentrations of the drugs of 0-128 mg/L. Collagen-induced platelet aggregation in platelet-rich plasma was determined using a Chrono-log Lumi-Aggregometer. Inhibitory sigmoid Imax model adequately described the anti-platelet effect. The S-form was more potent, whereas the R-form showed less inter-individual variation. No significant interaction was observed between the two enantiomers. The anti-platelet effect of multiple treatments with 200 mg indobufen twice daily doses was predicted in the simulation study, and the effect of S- or R-indobufen alone at various doses was predicted to define optimal dosing regimen for each enantiomer. Simulation study predicted that 200 mg twice daily administration of S-indobufen alone will produce more treatment effect than S-and R-mixture formulation. S-indobufen produced treatment effect at lower concentration than R-indobufen. However, inter-individual variation of the pharmacodynamic response was smaller in R-indobufen. The present study suggests the optimal doses of R-and S-enantioselective indobufen formulations in terms of treatment efficacy for patients with thromboembolic problems. The proposed methodology in this study can be applied to the develop novel enantio-selective drugs more efficiently.

Evaluation of para-Aminosalicylic Acid as a Substrate of Multiple Solute Carrier Uptake Transporters and Possible Drug Interactions with Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs In Vitro.

para-Aminosalicylic acid (PAS) is a second-line antituberculosis drug that has been used to treat multidrug-resistant and extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis for more than 60 years. Renal secretion and glomerular filtration are the major pathways for the elimination of PAS. We comprehensively studied PAS transport by using cell lines that overexpressed various transporters and found that PAS acts as a novel substrate of an organic anionic polypeptide (OATP1B1), organic cationic transporters (OCT1 and OCT2), and organic anion transporters (OAT1 and OAT3) but is not a substrate of any ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters. Net PAS uptake was measured, and the transport affinities (Km values) for OATP1B1, OCT1, OCT2, OAT1, and OAT3 were found to be 50.0, 20.3, 28.7, 78.1, and 100.1 µM, respectively. The net uptake rates suggested that renal OAT1 and OAT3 play relatively major roles in PAS elimination. The representative inhibitors rifampin for OATP1B1, probenecid for OAT1 and OAT3, and verapamil for OCT1 and OCT2 greatly inhibited PAS uptake, suggesting that PAS is dependent on multiple transporters for uptake. We also evaluated nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), and metformin for the inhibition of PAS uptake via these transporters. Half-maximal (50%) inhibitory concentrations (IC50s) were kinetically determined and used to predict the drug-drug interactions (DDIs) affecting these transporters' activity toward PAS. We found that rifampin, probenecid, ibuprofen, naproxen, cimetidine, and quinidine each exhibited a significant potential for in vivo DDIs with PAS. In this study, PAS was found to be a novel substrate of several transporters, and drugs that inhibit these transporters can reduce PAS elimination.

Population Pharmacokinetic-Pharmacodynamic Analysis to Compare the Effect of Moxifloxacin on QT Interval Prolongation Between Healthy Korean and Japanese Subjects.

PURPOSE: The goal of this study was to evaluate the moxifloxacin-induced QT interval prolongation in healthy male and female Korean and Japanese volunteers to investigate interethnic differences. METHODS: This multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 2-way crossover study was conducted in healthy male and female Korean and Japanese volunteers. In each period, a single dose of moxifloxacin or placebo 400 mg was administered orally under fasting conditions. Triplicate 12-lead ECGs were recorded at defined time points before, up to 24 hours after dosing, and at corresponding time points during baseline. Serial blood sampling was conducted for pharmacokinetic analysis of moxifloxacin. The pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic data between the 2 ethnic groups were compared by using a typical analysis based on the intersection-union test and a nonlinear mixed effects method. FINDINGS: A total of 39 healthy subjects (Korean, male: 10, female: 10; Japanese, male: 10, female: 9) were included in the analysis. The concentration-effect analysis revealed that there was no change in slope (and confirmed that the difference was caused by a change in the pharmacokinetic model of moxifloxacin). A 2-compartment model with first-order absorption provided the best description of moxifloxacin's pharmacokinetic parameters. Weight and sex were selected as significant covariates for central volume of distribution and intercompartmental clearance, respectively. An Emax model (E[C]=[Emax⋅C]/[EC50+C]) described the QT interval data of this study well. However, ethnicity was not found to be a significant factor in a pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic link model. IMPLICATIONS: The drug-induced QTc prolongations evaluated using moxifloxacin as the probe did not seem to be significantly different between these Korean and Japanese subjects. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01876316.

Pharmacokinetics and relative bioavailability of fixed-dose combination of clopidogrel and aspirin versus coadministration of individual formulations in healthy Korean men.

BACKGROUND: Simultaneous prescription of clopidogrel and low-dose aspirin is recommended for the treatment of acute coronary syndrome because of improvements in efficacy and patient compliance. In this study, the pharmacokinetics of a fixed-dose combination (FDC) of clopidogrel and aspirin was compared with coadministration of individual formulations to clarify the equivalence of the FDC. METHODS: This was a randomized, open-label, two-period, two-treatment, crossover study in healthy Korean men aged 20-55 years. Subjects received two FDC capsules of clopidogrel/aspirin 75/100 mg (test) or two tablets of clopidogrel 75 mg and two capsules of aspirin 100 mg (reference) with a 14-day washout period. Plasma concentrations of clopidogrel, aspirin, and salicylic acid were measured using validated ultraperformance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Bioequivalence was assessed by analysis of variance and calculation of the 90% confidence intervals (CIs) of the ratios of the geometric means (GMRs) for AUClast and Cmax for clopidogrel and aspirin. RESULTS: Sixty healthy subjects were enrolled, and 53 completed the study. Clopidogrel, aspirin, and salicylic acid showed similar absorption profiles and no significant differences in Cmax, AUClast, and Tmax between FDC administration and coadministration of individual formulations. The GMRs (90% CI) for the Cmax and AUClast of clopidogrel were 1.08 (0.95, 1.23) and 0.93 (0.84, 1.03), respectively. The GMRs (90% CI) for the Cmax and AUClast of aspirin were 0.98 (0.84, 1.13) and 0.98 (0.93, 1.04), respectively. Both treatments were well tolerated in the study subjects. CONCLUSION: The FDC of clopidogrel and aspirin was bioequivalent to coadministration of each individual formulation. The FDC capsule exhibited similar safety and tolerability profiles to the individual formulations. Therefore, clopidogrel/aspirin 75 mg/100 mg FDC capsules can be prescribed to improve patient compliance.

Population Pharmacokinetic Analysis of Piperacillin/Tazobactam in Korean Patients with Acute Infections.

BACKGROUND: For more effective and safer usage of antibiotics, the dosing strategy should be individualized based on the patients' characteristics, including race. The aim of this study was to investigate the population pharmacokinetic (PK) profiles of piperacillin and tazobactam in Korean patients with acute infections. MATERIALS AND METHODS: At least four consecutive 2/0.25 g or 4/0.5 g doses of piperacillin/tazobactam (TZP) were intravenously infused over 1 h every 8 h for patients with creatinine clearance (CL(cr)) ≤50 ml/min or CL(cr) >50 mL/min, respectively. Blood samples from 33 patients at a steady-state were taken pre-dose and at 0 min, 30 min, and 4-6 h after the fourth infusion. The population PK analysis was conducted using a non-linear mixed-effects method. A likelihood ratio test was used to select significant covariates, with significance levels of P < 0.05 for selection and P < 0.01 for elimination. RESULTS: Both piperacillin PK and tazobactam PK were well described by a two-compartment model with first-order elimination. Creatinine clearance and body weight, as covariates on clearance (CL) and volume of central compartment (V1), were selected among the covariates possibly affecting PK parameters of both drugs. CL was defined as CL = 2.9 + 4.03 × CL(cr) /47 for piperacillin and CL = 1.76 + 4.81 × CL(cr) /47 for tazobactam. V1 was defined as V1 = 19.5 × weight/60 for piperacillin and V1 = 22.6 × weight/60 for tazobactam. CONCLUSION: The PK profiles of TZP at a steady-state in Korean patients with acute infections were well described by a two-compartment model with first-order elimination. Both piperacillin and tazobactam clearances were significantly influenced by creatinine clearance.

Inhibitory Interaction Potential of 22 Antituberculosis Drugs on Organic Anion and Cation Transporters of the SLC22A Family.

Twenty-two currently marketed antituberculosis drugs were comprehensively evaluated for their inhibitory effect on organic anionic transporter (OAT)- and organic cation transporter (OCT)-mediated uptake using stably transfected HEK293 cells in vitro We observed moderate to strong inhibitory effects on OAT1- and OAT3-mediated para-aminohippurate (PAH) uptake and OCT1- and OCT2-mediated N-methyl-4-phenylpylidinium acetate (MPP+) uptake. Ciprofloxacin, linezolid, para-aminosalicylic acid (PAS), and rifampin were observed to have strong inhibitory effects, with the concentrations for a 50% inhibitory effect (IC50s) being 35.1, 31.1, 37.6, and 48.1 µM, respectively, for OAT1 and >100, 21.9, 24.6, and 30.2 µM, respectively, for OAT3. Similarly, pyrazinamide, rifabutin, and levofloxacin were observed to have inhibitory effects, with IC50 values being 36.5, 42.7, and 30.3 µM, respectively, for OCT1 and with the IC50 value for PAS being 94.2 µM for OCT2. In addition, we used zidovudine and metformin as clinically prescribed substrates of OATs and OCTs, respectively, and zidovudine and metformin uptake was also strongly inhibited by the antituberculosis drugs. Among the tested drugs, the highest drug-drug interaction (DDI) indexes were found for PAS, which were 9.3 to 13.9 for OAT1 and 12.0 to 17.7 for OAT3, and linezolid, which were 1.18 to 2.15 for OAT1 and 1.7 to 3.01 for OAT3. Similarly, the DDI indexes of pyrazinamide and levofloxacin were 0.57 and 0.30, respectively, for OCT1, and the DDI index of PAS was 3.8 for OCT2, suggesting a stronger possibility (DDI index value cutoff, >0.1) of in vivo DDIs. This is the first comprehensive report of the inhibitory potential of anti-TB drugs on OAT- and OCT-mediated uptake of prototype and clinically prescribed substrate drugs in vitro, providing an ability to predict DDIs between anti-TB drugs and other coprescribed drugs in clinical studies in vivo.

Characterization of 22 Antituberculosis Drugs for Inhibitory Interaction Potential on Organic Anionic Transporter Polypeptide (OATP)-Mediated Uptake.

We investigated the inhibitory interaction potential of 22 currently marketed antituberculosis (TB) drugs on organic anion-transporting polypeptide 1B1 (OATP1B1)-, OATP2B1-, and OATP1B3-mediated uptake using in vitro Xenopus oocytes and HEK cells. Rifabutin, ethambutol, amoxicillin, linezolid, p-amino salicylic acid, and rifapentine exhibited mild to moderate inhibitory effects on OATP-mediated uptake of estrone-3 sulfate, estradiol 17ß-d-glucuronide, and rosuvastatin. The 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) values of rifabutin, amoxicillin, ethambutol, p-amino salicylic acid, and linezolid were 35.4, 36.2, 57.6, 72.6, and 65.9 µM, respectively, for uptake mediated by organic anionic transporter polypeptide 1B1 (OATP1B1) and 28.8, 28.9, 53.9, 31.5, and 61.0 µM, respectively, for uptake mediated by organic anionic transporter polypeptide 1B3 (OATP1B3). Streptomycin and linezolid showed greater inhibition of organic anionic transporter polypeptide 2B1 (OATP2B1)-mediated uptake, with IC50 values of 33.2 and 35.6 µM, respectively, along with mild inhibition of other drugs. Furthermore, rifabutin, amoxicillin, and rifapentine significantly inhibited OATP1B1-mediated rosuvastatin uptake, with IC50 values of 12.3, 13.0, and 11.0 µM, respectively, which showed a similar profile to estrone-3 sulfate uptake. The calculated R values ([I]u inlet,max/Ki, where [I]u inlet,max represents the maximum estimated inhibitor concentration inlet to the liver and Ki is the inhibition constant) as the drug-drug interaction (DDI) indexes of PAS, ethambutol, and amoxicillin were 26.1, 6.5, and 4.3 for OATP1B1 and 52.0, 8.0, and 4.6 for OATP1B3, and those for streptomycin, amikacin, and linezolid were 5.0, 4.2, and 4.4 for OATP2B1, respectively, suggesting a higher possibility of in vivo DDIs. This study is the first comprehensive report to show the novel inhibitory potential of 22 marketed anti-TB drugs on OATP-mediated uptake, providing evidence for future in vivo clinical DDI studies.

The Effect of Age on the Pharmacokinetics of Udenafil in Healthy Subjects.

Udenafil, a cyclic guanosine monophosphate-specific phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor, has been developed to treat erectile dysfunction. We evaluated the effect of age on the pharmacokinetics and tolerability of udenafil. A single-center, open-label, parallel-group phase 1 study was conducted in healthy adult subjects who took a single oral dose of udenafil (100 mg). The pharmacokinetics and tolerability of udenafil were compared between 12 healthy young men (21-27 years) and 12 healthy elderly men (65-78 years). Serial blood and urine samples were collected for up to 60 and 48 hours after dosing. The plasma concentrations of udenafil and its major metabolite, DA-8164, were analyzed using a validated liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method. The mean Cmax of udenafil tended to be slightly less (214.0 vs 292.8 µg/L) in the elderly compared with the young (GMR, 68.9; 95% CI, 48.9-97.1); however, the AUC did not differ between the groups (1858.8 vs 2100.6 µg·h/L; GMR, 84.6; 95% CI, 66.1-108.4). The mean t1/2 was prolonged by approximately 5 hours in the elderly (P < .05). The clearance and metabolic AUC ratio did not differ between the elderly and young. In terms of tolerability, all adverse events were mild, and all subjects recovered without additional therapy. The systemic exposure of elderly subjects to udenafil appears to be comparable to or slightly less than that of young healthy subjects. Based on our pharmacokinetic comparisons, udenafil dose adjustment is unlikely to be required in the elderly population.

Population plasma and urine pharmacokinetics of ivabradine and its active metabolite S18982 in healthy Korean volunteers.

Ivabradine, a selective inhibitor of the pacemaker current (If ), is used for heart failure and coronary heart disease and is mainly metabolized to S18982. The purpose of this study was to explore the pharmacokinetics (PK) of ivabradine and S18982 in healthy Korean volunteers. Subjects in a phase I study were randomized to receive 2.5, 5, or 10 mg of ivabradine administered every 12 hours for 4.5 days, and serial plasma and urine concentrations of ivabradine and S18982 were measured. The plasma PK of ivabradine was best described by a 2-compartment model with mixed 0- and first-order absorption, linked to a 2-compartment model for S18982. The introduction of interoccasional variabilities and period as covariate into absorption-related parameters improved the model fit. Urine data have been applied to estimate renal and nonrenal clearance, enabling a more detailed description of the elimination process. We developed a population PK model describing the plasma and urine PK of ivabradine and S18982 in healthy Korean adult males. This model might be useful for predicting the plasma and urine PK of ivabradine, potentially helping to identify the optimal dosing regimens in various clinical situations.

A proposal for an individualized pharmacogenetic-guided isoniazid dosage regimen for patients with tuberculosis.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Isoniazid (INH) is an essential component of first-line anti-tuberculosis (TB) treatment. However, treatment with INH is complicated by polymorphisms in the expression of the enzyme system primarily responsible for its elimination, N-acetyltransferase 2 (NAT2), and its associated hepatotoxicity. The objective of this study was to develop an individualized INH dosing regimen using a pharmacogenetic-driven model and to apply this regimen in a pilot study. METHODS: A total of 206 patients with TB who received anti-TB treatment were included in this prospective study. The 2-hour post-dose concentrations of INH were obtained, and their NAT2 genotype was determined using polymerase chain reaction and sequencing. A multivariate regression analysis that included the variables of age, sex, body weight, and NAT2 genotype was performed to determine the best model for estimating the INH dose that achieves a concentration of 3.0-6.0 mg/L. This dosing algorithm was then used for newly enrolled 53 patients. RESULTS: Serum concentrations of INH were significantly lower in the rapid-acetylators than in the slow-acetylators (2.55 mg/L vs 6.78 mg/L, median, P<0.001). A multivariate stepwise linear regression analysis revealed that NAT2 and body weight independently affected INH concentrations: INH concentration (mg/L) = 13.821-0.1× (body weight, kg) -2.273× (number of high activity alleles of NAT2; 0, 1, 2). In 53 newly enrolled patients, the frequency at which they were within the therapeutic range of 3.0-6.0 mg/L was higher in the model-based treatment group compared to the standard treatment group (80.8% vs 59.3%). CONCLUSION: The use of individualized pharmacogenetic-guided INH dosage regimens that incorporate NAT2 genotype and body weight may help to ensure achievement of therapeutic concentrations of INH in the TB patients.

Impact of CYP2D6, CYP3A5, CYP2C19, CYP2A6, SLCO1B1, ABCB1, and ABCG2 gene polymorphisms on the pharmacokinetics of simvastatin and simvastatin acid.

OBJECTIVE: The effects of various polymorphisms in cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzyme and transporter genes on the pharmacokinetics (PK) of simvastatin were evaluated in healthy Korean men. METHODS: Plasma concentration data for simvastatin and simvastatin acid were pooled from four phase I studies comprising 133 participants. The polymorphisms CYP2D6*4, CYP2D6*5, CYP2D6*14, CYP2D6*41, CYP3A5*3, CYP2C19*2, CYP2C19*3, CYP2A6*7, and CYP2A6*9; SLCO1B1 rs4149056, rs2306283, and rs4149015; ABCB1 rs1128503, rs2032582, and rs1045642; and ABCG2 rs2231142 were evaluated in each participant. Noncompartmental PK results were compared by genotype. RESULTS: CYP2D6*5 and CYP2D6*14 were found to be associated with a higher area under the curve (AUC) for simvastatin, whereas the AUC of simvastatin acid was significantly increased in patients with the SLCO1B1 rs4149056, ABCG2 rs2231142, and CYP2D6*41 allele variants. Patients with the CYP2D6*41 variant showed a higher peak serum concentration (Cmax) of both simvastatin and simvastatin acid. The SLCO1B1 rs4149056 and rs4149015 polymorphisms were associated with an increased AUC ratio (i.e. ratio of simvastatin acid to simvastatin), whereas the SLCO1B1 rs4149056 and CYP2D6*5 variants were related to a higher Cmax ratio. CONCLUSION: The CYP2D6*5, CYP2D6*14, CYP2D6*41, CYP3A5*3, SLCO1B1 rs4149056 and rs4149015, and ABCG2 rs2231142 genetic polymorphisms are associated with the PK of both simvastatin and simvastatin acid. This could potentially be used as a basis for individualized simvastatin therapy by predicting the clinical outcomes of this treatment.

Effects of amoxicillin/clavulanic acid on the pharmacokinetics of valproic acid.

Valproic acid (VPA) is mainly metabolized via glucuronide, which is hydrolyzed by ß-glucuronidase and undergoes enterohepatic circulation. Amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (AMC) administration leads to decreased levels of ß-glucuronidase-producing bacteria, suggesting that these antibiotics could interrupt enterohepatic circulation and thereby alter the pharmacokinetics of VPA. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of AMC on the pharmacokinetics of VPA. This was an open-label, two-treatment, one-sequence study in 16 healthy volunteers. Two treatments were evaluated; treatment VPA, in which a single dose of VPA 500 mg was administered, and treatment AMC + VPA, in which multiple doses of AMC 500/125 mg were administered three times daily for 7 days and then a single dose of VPA was administered. Blood samples were collected up to 48 hours. Pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated using noncompartmental methods. Fifteen subjects completed the study. Systemic exposures and peak concentrations of VPA were slightly lower with treatment AMC + VPA than with treatment VPA (AUClast, 851.0 h·mg/L vs 889.6 h·mg/L; C max, 52.1 mg/L vs 53.0 mg/L). There were no significant between-treatment effects on pharmacokinetics (95% confidence interval [CI]) of AUClast and C max (95.7 [85.9-106.5] and 98.3 [91.6-105.6], respectively). Multiple doses of AMC had no significant effects on the pharmacokinetics of VPA; thus, no dose adjustment is necessary.

Pharmacokinetic comparison of sustained- and immediate-release formulations of cilostazol after multiple oral doses in fed healthy male Korean volunteers.

BACKGROUND: A new extended-release form of cilostazol has recently been developed. This study was conducted to compare the pharmacokinetic characteristics of sustained-release (SR) and immediate-release (IR) formulations of cilostazol after multiple oral doses in healthy male Korean volunteers. METHODS: This was an open-label, randomized, multiple-dose, crossover study conducted in 30 healthy Korean subjects. In each treatment period, subjects received oral doses of 200 mg SR formulation every 24 hours or 100 mg IR formulation every 12 hours for 5 consecutive days in a fed state, with a washout period of 9 days. The plasma concentrations of cilostazol and its metabolites were determined using a validated liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method. The area under the plasma concentration-time curve within a dosing interval (AUC T ), the measured peak plasma concentration at steady state (C max,ss), and the time to reach C max,ss (t max,ss) were analyzed using a noncompartmental method. RESULTS: A total of 24 healthy male subjects completed the study. The mean (standard deviation [SD]) AUC T (96-120 hours) values for SR and IR were 27,378.0 (10,301.6) ng·h/mL and 27,860.3 (7,152.3) ng·h/mL, respectively. The mean (SD) C max,ss values were 2,741.4 (836.0) ng/mL and 2,051.0 (433.2) ng/mL, respectively. The median t max,ss values were 8.0 hours and 4.0 hours, respectively. The geometric mean ratios (90% confidence intervals) of the SR to IR formulations were 0.937 (0.863-1.017), 0.960 (0.883-1.043), and 0.935 (0.859-1.017) for AUC T and 0.644 (0.590-0.703), 0.586 (0.536-0.642), and 0.636 (0.577-0.702) for dose-normalized C max,ss of cilostazol, OPC-13015 (3,4-dehydro-cilostazol), and OPC-13213 (4'-trans-hydroxyl-cilostazol), respectively. All formulations were well tolerated. CONCLUSION: At steady state, the AUC T of cilostazol SR 200 mg is comparable to that of cilostazol IR 100 mg twice a day in healthy male Korean subjects. Both formulations are well tolerated.

Bioequivalence evaluation of two amlodipine salts, besylate and orotate, each in a fixed-dose combination with olmesartan in healthy subjects.

A fixed-dose combination of amlodipine and olmesartan is used to treat high blood pressure in patients whose hypertension is not sufficiently controlled with either drug alone. The objective of this study was to evaluate the bioequivalence of two fixed-dose combinations, ie, amlodipine orotate/olmesartan medoxomil 10/40 mg and amlodipine besylate/olmesartan medoxomil 10/40 mg, in healthy subjects. A randomized, open-label, single-dose, two-sequence, two-period, crossover study was conducted in 30 healthy adult volunteers. Blood samples were collected for up to 72 hours post-dose in each period. Safety data included the results of physical examinations, clinical laboratory tests, vital signs, an electrocardiogram, and adverse events. For both amlodipine and olmesartan, the 90% confidence intervals for the geometric mean ratios of AUClast and time to peak plasma concentration fell within the bioequivalence acceptance criteria. The two fixed-dose combinations showed similar safety profiles. Amlodipine orotate/olmesartan medoxomil 10/40 mg was bioequivalent to amlodipine besylate/olmesartan medoxomil 10/40 mg.

Multiple-Dose Study to Evaluate Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacodynamics, and Safety in Healthy Subjects: A Comparison of Controlled-Release Sarpogrelate and Immediate-Release Sarpogrelate.

AIMS: To compare the pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and safety of sarpogrelate between controlled-release (CR) and immediate-release (IR) formulations after multiple-dose administration. METHODS: This study was a randomized, open-label, 2-period, 2-treatment, crossover study in healthy subjects. All subjects received CR sarpogrelate 300 mg once daily and IR sarpogrelate 100 mg three times daily by random order each for 3 days with a 7-day washout period. Serial blood sampling was performed over 24 h. Pharmacokinetic parameters were determined by noncompartmental methods. Platelet aggregation to collagen, measured by light transmission aggregometry, was reported as maximal platelet aggregation. RESULTS: Thirty-two subjects completed the study. CR sarpogrelate increased rapidly, reaching Cmax in 1.25 h (vs. 1.00 h in IR sarpogrelate) and declined with a t1/2 of 3.59 h (vs. 1.12 h in IR sarpogrelate). The 90% CIs for the geometric mean ratio of AUCτ and Cmax,ss between IR and CR formulations were 1.18 to 1.40 and 0.99 to 1.29, respectively. The degree of inhibition of platelet aggregation was similar between two formulations. CONCLUSIONS: CR sarpogrelate showed slightly higher systemic exposure and similar peak concentration compared with IR sarpogrelate. The profiles of pharmacodynamics and safety were comparable between two formulations.

Efficacy of mitiglinide and sitagliptin, alone or in combination, on postprandial excursion and glycemic variability assessed by continuous glucose monitoring: a post hoc analysis with single-day treatment.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy of mitiglinide and sitagliptin, alone or in combination, on postprandial excursion and glycemic variability assessed by continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) in a single-day treatment setting. METHODS: This was a post hoc analysis of a randomized crossover study comparing the efficacy of sitagliptin, mitiglinide and the combination of these two drugs. Twenty-four hour CGM was performed before and after a single-day treatment with each drug alone or in combination. RESULTS: Mean glucose levels were decreased in all groups. The average of three postprandial glucose excursions AUC (average of all three 4-h postprandial periods throughout the day) (AUCpp-average) decreased in the mitiglinide and combination treatment groups, but not in the sitagliptin group. The lowering effect on AUCpp-average was greater in patients given mitiglinide (-47 mg/dl, p < 0.001) or combination treatment (-66 mg/dl, p < 0.001) compared with sitagliptin alone (-18 mg/dl). The reduction in mean amplitude of glycemic excursion was greater with mitiglinide (-29.3 mg/dl, p < 0.001) and combination treatment (-28.3 mg/dl, p < 0.01) than with sitagliptin alone (-8.9 mg/dl). CONCLUSIONS: Mitiglinide or combination treatment resulted in lower glycemic variability and postprandial glucose excursion than sitagliptin alone; however, the results of this single-day pharmacodynamics study cannot be generalized to a clinical setting.