Development of a Discriminative Dissolution Method, Using In-Silico Tool for Hydrochlorothiazide and Valsartan Tablets.

Hydrochlorothiazide (HTZ) and Valsartan (VAL) are poorly soluble drugs in BCS classes IV and II. This study aimed to develop a method to assess the dissolution profile of tablets containing HTZ (12.5 mg) and VAL (160 mg) as a fixed-dose combination, using in silico tools to evaluate products marketed in Brazil and Peru. Firstly, in vitro dissolution tests were performed using a fractional factorial design 33-1. Then, DDDPlus™ was used to carry out experimental design assays of a complete factorial design 33. Data from the first stage were used to obtain calibration constants for in silico simulations. The factors used in both designs were formulation, sinker use, and rotation speed. Finally, effects and factor interaction assessment was evaluated based on a statistical analysis of the dissolution efficiency (DE) obtained from simulations. Thus, the established final conditions of the dissolution method were 900 mL of phosphate buffer pH 6.8, 75 rpm of rotation speed, and sinker use to prevent formulation floating. The reference product stood out because of its higher DE than other formulations. It was concluded that the proposed method, in addition to ensuring total HTZ and VAL release from formulations, has adequate discriminative power.

In silico bioavailability for BCS class II efavirenz tablets using biorelevant dissolution media for IVIVR and simulation of formulation changes.

OBJECTIVE: This work aims to evaluate the ability of biorelevant dissolution media to simulate the bioavailability of efavirenz tablets, establish an in vitro-in vivo relationship (IVIVR) based on in vivo data using GastroPlus® and simulate formulation changes using DDDPlus™. METHODS: Solubility and drug release profiles were conducted in SLS 0.5% and biorelevant media, such as FaSSIF, FeSSIF, FaSSIF-V2, and FeSSIF-V2. The efavirenz physicochemical properties were used to simulate the plasma concentration profile and compare the simulated pharmacokinetic parameters in fasted and fed states. An IVIVR was developed using Loo-Riegelman as the deconvolution method to estimate drug bioavailability. DDDPlus™ was used to perform virtual trials of formulations to evaluate whether formulations changes and the efavirenz particle size could influence the bioavailability. RESULTS: The drug dissolution displayed higher levels in the biorelevant media that simulated gut-fed state (FeSSIF and FeSSIF-V2). The absorption model successfully predicted the efavirenz pharmacokinetics, and FeSSIF-V2 was chosen as the predictive dissolution media, while an IVIVR was established using the Loo-Riegelman deconvolution method. CONCLUSIONS: The present work provides valuable information about efavirenz solubility and kinetics in the gastrointestinal tract, allowing an IVIVR to support future formulation changes. This understanding is essential for rational science-driven formulation development. At least, this study also showed the validity and applicability of in vitro and in silico tools in the regulatory scenario helping on drug development.

In silico Tools at Early Stage of Pharmaceutical Development: Data Needs and Software Capabilities.

In early drug development, the selection of a formulation platform and decisions on formulation strategies have to be made within a short timeframe and often with minimal use of the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API). The current work evaluated the various physicochemical parameters required to improve the prediction accuracy of simulation software for immediate release tablets in early drug development. DDDPlus™ was used in simulating dissolution test profiles of immediate release tablets of ritonavir and all simulations were compared with experimental results. The minimum data requirements to make useful predictions were assessed using the ADMET predictor (part of DDDPlus) and Chemicalize (an online resource). A surfactant model was developed to estimate the solubility enhancement in media containing surfactant and the software's transfer model based on the USP two-tiered dissolution test was assessed. One measured data point was shown to be sufficient to make predictive simulations in DDDPlus. At pH 2.0, the software overestimated drug release while at pH 1.0 and 6.8, simulations were close to the measured values. A surfactant solubility model established with measured data gave good dissolution predictions. The transfer model uses a single-vessel model and was unable to predict the two in vivo environments separately. For weak bases like ritonavir, a minimum of three solubility data points is recommended for in silico predictions in buffered media. A surfactant solubility model is useful when predicting dissolution behavior in surfactant media and in silico predictions need measured solubility data to be predictive.

Combinação dose fixa de hidroclorotiazida (12, 5 mg) e valsartana (160 mg): Desenvolvimento de metodologia de dissolução in vitro e in silico para avaliar os perfis de dissolução dos produtos comercializados no Brasil e Peru / Fixed dose combination of hydrochlorothiazide (12. 5 mg) and valsartan (160 mg): Development of in vitro and in silico dissolution methodology to evaluate the dissolution profiles of products marketed in Brazil and Peru

Hidroclorothiazida (HTZ) e valsartana (VAL) são fármacos pouco solúveis em meio aquoso e pertencem às classes IV e II do Sistema de Classificação Biofarmacêutica (SCB), respectivamente. O objetivo deste trabalho foi desenvolver um método para avaliar o perfil de dissolução de formas farmacêuticas sólidas de dose fixa combinada contendo HTZ (12,5 mg) e VAL (160 mg) usando ferramentas in silico para avaliar os perfis de dissolução de produtos comercializados no Brasil e Peru. O presente trabalho foi dividido em 4 capítulos. No Capítulo I, foi determinada a solubilidade da HTZ e VAL pelo método shake-flask e potenciométrico, no qual foi possível demonstrar que existe correlação entre ambos os métodos e que HTZ e VAL são solúveis em tampão fosfato pH 6,8. No Capítulo II, um método cromatográfico em HPLC foi desenvolvido com base em Quality by Design (QbD), com auxílio do software Fusion®, no qual foi estabelecido uma zona de confiança dos parâmetros, que garantiu a robustez do método. O Capítulo III descreve o desenvolvimento de um método de dissolução utilizando ferramenta in silico (DDDplus®) na qual foi definido um delineamento experimental do tipo fatorial completo 33 usando como fatores a formulação, utilização de âncora e velocidade de agitação. Para os ensaios de dissolução in vitro, foi proposto um outro delineamento fatorial 3(3-1) com o intuito de obter as constantes de calibração das simulações in silico. Através de uma análise estatística das eficiências de dissolução obtidas nas simulações, foram avaliados os efeitos e as interações entre os fatores. Assim, as condições finais do método de dissolução estabelecidas foram: 900 mL de tampão fosfato pH 6,8 como meio de dissolução, 75 rpm de velocidade de agitação, e utilização de âncora para evitar a flutuação das formulações. O método desenvolvido foi empregado, no contexto do Capítulo IV, para avaliar o perfil de dissolução dos produtos contendo HTZ e VAL comercializados no Brasil e no Peru. Por análise multivariada, a eficiência de dissolução (ED), tempo médio de dissolução (MDT) e as porcentagens de dissolução de 5 até 60 minutos foram utilizadas para agrupar as formulações em grupos distintos. Embora os perfis de dissolução mostrem similaridade entre todas as formulações avaliadas, o produto referência se destacou por apresentar uma maior ED comparado com as outras formulações, devido à maior liberação nos primeiros 5 minutos de ensaio. Concluiu-se que o método proposto, além de garantir a liberação total de HTZ e VAL a partir das formulações, possui adequado poder discriminativo

Hydrochlorothiazide (HTZ) and valsartan (VAL) are poorly soluble drugs in aqueous medium and belong to classes IV and II of the Biopharmaceutical Classification System (BCS), respectively. The objective of this study was to develop a dissolution method to evaluate the dissolution profile of solid pharmaceutical forms of combined dose containing HTZ (12.5 mg) and VAL (160 mg) using in silico tools to evaluate the dissolution profiles of products sold in Brazil and Peru. The present study was divided into four chapters. In Chapter I, the HTZ and VAL solubility were determined by the shake-flask and potentiometric methods, in which it was possible to demonstrate that there is a correlation between both methods and that HTZ and VAL are soluble in pH 6.8 phosphate buffer. In Chapter II, a chromatographic method in HPLC was developed based on Quality by Design (QbD), using the Fusion® software, in which a zone of confidence of the parameters was established, which ensured the robustness of the method. Chapter III presents the development of a dissolution method using in silico (DDDplusTM) as a tool, in which an experimental design of the complete factorial type 33 was defined using as factors: the formulation, use of sinker and agitation speed. For in vitro dissolution assays, another factor design 3(3-1) was proposed to obtain the calibration constants of the in silico simulations. Through a statistical analysis of the dissolution efficiencies obtained in the simulations, the effects and interactions between the factors were evaluated. Thus, the final conditions of the dissolution method established were: 900 mL of pH 6.8 phosphate buffer as a dissolution medium, 75 rpm of stirring speed, and use of sinker to avoid the fluctuation of the formulations. The method developed was used, in the context of Chapter IV, to evaluate the dissolution profile of HTZ and VAL products marketed in Brazil and Peru. By multivariate analysis, the dissolution efficiency (ED), mean dissolution time (MDT) and the dissolution percentages from 5 to 60 minutes were used to group the formulations in different groups. Although the dissolution profiles show a similarity between all the evaluated formulations, the reference product stood out for presenting a higher ED compared to the other formulations, due to the higher release in the first 5 minutes of the test. It was concluded that the proposed method, besides guaranteeing the total release of HTZ and VAL from the formulations, has adequate discriminatory capacity

Análise comparativa de perfis de dissolução in vitro e in silico de comprimidos de liberação modificada contendo metformina / Comparative analysis of dissolution profiles in vitro and in silico of modified release tablets containing metformin

A dissolução de um fármaco a partir de uma forma farmacêutica (FF) sólida oral é um pré-requisito para que o mesmo seja absorvido pelo organismo e cumpra seus efeitos terapêuticos. O ensaio de dissolução de medicamentos permite avaliar a quantidade de princípio ativo que é liberado a partir de sua FF, mimetizando in vitro o processo que ocorre no trato gastrointestinal (TGI). O DDDPlus® é o único programa de computador dedicado exclusivamente a simular ensaios de dissolução. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a capacidade do programa de computador DDDPlus® em fornecer perfis de dissolução in silico de comprimidos matriciais contendo metformina semelhantes aos perfis de dissolução in vitro e avaliar a possibilidade de substituir a comparação de perfis de dissolução in vitro de diferentes formulações de comprimidos matriciais contendo metformina pela comparação de perfis de dissolução in silico fornecidos pelo DDDPlus®.Para tanto, um planejamento estatístico foi realizado para obtenção de perfis de dissolução, variando a velocidade das pás e o uso do sinker. Os perfis de dissolução de 3 formulações teste (T1, T2 e T3) de comprimidos de liberação modificada por matriz polimérica contendo metformina foram comparadas pelos métodos de eficiência de dissolução (ED), tempo médio de dissolução (TMD), fator de diferença (f2) e fator de semelhança (f1). Os resultados indicaram o uso do sinker como fator determinante para a ED e TMD. Assim, o método que utilizava o sinker e a velocidade das pás de 50RPM foi utilizado para avaliar 4 produtos comercializados no Brasil. No DDDPlus® os ensaios de dissolução in vitro das formulações T1, T2 e T3 foram otimizadas para a obtenção das constantes de calibração (CC), as CC foram utilizadas para simular os ensaios de dissolução de T1, T2 e T3 em velocidades de 25 e 50RPM. Os perfis de dissolução simulados foram comparados aos perfis observados, resultando em valores de R2. Valores de R2 acima de 0,90 foram obtidos para todas as simulações realizadas utilizando CC de ensaios in vitro que utilizaram sinker, indicando o potencial do programa em auxiliar o desenvolvimento de novas formulações. Valores de R2 abaixo de 0,70 foram obtidos após a simulação de ensaios utilizando CC de ensaios in vitro que não utilizavam o sinker, indicando que o programa de computador não previu a adesão do comprimido ao fundo da cuba de dissolução durante o ensaio. Os perfis de dissolução simulados das formulações T1, T2 e T3 foram comparadas por f1 e f2 com os perfis de dissolução dos produtos do mercado. Tais comparações concluíram que o software não é indicado como substituto dos ensaios in vitro quando se almeja comparar perfis de dissolução

Dissolution of a drug from an oral solid pharmaceutical form (FF) is a prerequisite for it to be absorbed by the body and to fulfill its therapeutic effects. in vitroDrug dissolution assay allows the amount of active principle released from a FF and mimics the in vivo the process that occurs in the gastrointestinal tract (TGI). DDDPlus® is the only computer program dedicated exclusively to simulating dissolution testing. The objective of this work was to evaluate the ability of DDDPlus® software to provide in silico dissolution profiles of matrix tablets containing metformin similar to in vitro dissolution profiles and to evaluate the possibility of replacing in vitro dissolution profiles comparison of different formulations of matrix tablets containing metformin for a comparison of in silico dissolution profiles provided by DDDPlus®. For this purpose, a statistical design was used, varying agitation speed and the use of sinker to obtain dissolution profiles for 3 test formulations (T1, T2 and T3) of polymer matrix-modified release tablets containing metformin. Dissolution profiles were compared by means of dissolution efficiency (ED), mean dissolution time (TMD), difference factor (f2) and similarity factor (f1). The results indicated the use of sinker as a determinant factor for ED and TMD. Thus, the method that used sinker and agitation speed of 50RPM was used to evaluate 4 products commercialized in Brazil. in vitro dissolution tests of the T1, T2 and T3 formulations were optimized using In DDDPlus® to obtain the calibration constants (CC), which were used to simulate dissolution profiles of T1, T2 and T3 at speeds of 25 and 50RPM. in silico dissolution profiles were compared to in vitro dissolution profiles, resulting in R2 values. R2 values above 0.90 were obtained for all simulations performed using CC from in vitro assays using sinker, indicating the potential of the program to assist the development of new formulations. R2 values below 0.70 were obtained after the simulation of assays using CC from in vitro assays that did not use the sinker, indicating that the computer program did not predict adhesion of the tablet to the bottom of the dissolution cell during the assay. The simulated dissolution profiles of the T1, T2 and T3 formulations were compared by f1 and f2 with the dissolution profiles of the market products. Such comparisons concluded that the software is not indicated as a substitute for in vitro assays when comparing dissolution profiles is desired

Justification of disintegration testing beyond current FDA criteria using in vitro and in silico models.

Drug product performance testing is an important part of quality-by-design approaches, but this process often lacks the underlying mechanistic understanding of the complex interactions between the disintegration and dissolution processes involved. Whereas a recent draft guideline by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has allowed the replacement of dissolution testing with disintegration testing, the mentioned criteria are not globally accepted. This study provides scientific justification for using disintegration testing rather than dissolution testing as a quality control method for certain immediate release (IR) formulations. A mechanistic approach, which is beyond the current FDA criteria, is presented. Dissolution testing via United States Pharmacopeial Convention Apparatus II at various paddle speeds was performed for immediate and extended release formulations of metronidazole. Dissolution profile fitting via DDSolver and dissolution profile predictions via DDDPlus™ were performed. The results showed that Fickian diffusion and drug particle properties (DPP) were responsible for the dissolution of the IR tablets, and that formulation factors (eg, coning) impacted dissolution only at lower rotation speeds. Dissolution was completely formulation controlled if extended release tablets were tested and DPP were not important. To demonstrate that disintegration is the most important dosage form attribute when dissolution is DPP controlled, disintegration, intrinsic dissolution and dissolution testing were performed in conventional and disintegration impacting media (DIM). Tablet disintegration was affected by DIM and model fitting to the Korsmeyer-Peppas equation showed a growing effect of the formulation in DIM. DDDPlus was able to predict tablet dissolution and the intrinsic dissolution profiles in conventional media and DIM. The study showed that disintegration has to occur before DPP-dependent dissolution can happen. The study suggests that disintegration can be used as performance test of rapidly disintegrating tablets beyond the FDA criteria. The scientific criteria and justification is that dissolution has to be DPP dependent, originated from active pharmaceutical ingredient characteristics and formulations factors have to be negligible.