Bioequivalence Testing Research Articles

Physiologically based in vitro – in vivo correlation of modified release oral formulations with non-linear intestinal absorption: A case study using mirabegron

Establishing an in vitro – in vivo correlation (IVIVC) for oral modified release (MR) formulations would make it possible to substitute an in vitro dissolution test for human bioequivalence (BE) studies when changing the formulation or manufacturing methods. However, the number of IVIVC applications and approvals are reportedly low. One of the main reasons for failure to obtain IVIVCs using conventional methodologies may be the lack of consideration of the dissolution and absorption mechanisms of drugs in the physiological environment. In particular, it is difficult to obtain IVIVC using conventional methodologies for drugs with non-linear absorption processes. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to develop a physiologically based biopharmaceutics model (PBBM) that enables Level A IVIVCs for mirabegron MR formulations with non-linear absorption characteristics.Using human pharmacokinetic (PK) data for immediate-release formulations of mirabegron, the luminal drug concentration-dependent membrane permeation coefficient was calculated through curve fitting. The membrane permeation coefficient data were then applied to the human PK data of the MR formulations to estimate the in vivo dissolution rate by curve fitting. It was assumed that in vivo dissolution could be described using a zero-order rate equation. Furthermore, a Levy plot was generated using the estimated in vivo dissolution rate and the in vitro dissolution rate obtained from the literature. Finally, the dissolution rate of the MR formulations from the Levy plot was applied to the PBBM to predict the oral PK of the mirabegron MR formulations.This PB-IVIVC approach successfully generated linear Levy plots with slopes of almost 1.0 for MR formulations with different dose strengths and dissolution rates. The Cmax values of the MR formulations were accurately predicted using this approach, whereas the prediction errors for AUC exceeded the Level A IVIVC criteria. This can be attributed to the incomplete description of colonic absorption in the current PBBM.

Bioequivalence Analysis of Terazosin Hydrochloride Tablets Based on Parallel Artificial Membrane Permeability Analysis.

Parallel artificial membrane permeability analysis (PAMPA) is used to determine the permeability of compounds through concentrated negatively charged phospholipid bilayer barriers. We employed MacroFlux (a scaled-up version of PAMPA) to test the permeation rate of terazosin hydrochloride (TH) tablets and predict in vivo bioequivalence. The dissolution profiles and permeability of one reference formulation, and seven generic TH tablets, were compared. The dissolution profiles of these generic tablets were equivalent to that of the reference drug in four different media. However, the flux and the total permeated amount of some generic TH tablets were below the lower limit of the confidence interval of the original acceptance range in MacroFlux, which implied risk in the bioequivalence test in vivo. We further evaluated potential factors responsible for this discrepancy by µFlux, including active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) permeability and excipient prescriptions. The analysis showed that different properties of API were a main factor leading to biological inequivalence in the MacroFlux assay, while excipient prescriptions did not have an impact on bioequivalence risk. These data indicated that the flux assay may be a helpful as an auxiliary method for predicting bioequivalence of generic drugs and analyze the factors responsible for bioequivalence risk.

Pharmacokinetics and Bioequivalence of Vardenafil Hydrochloride in Healthy Chinese Volunteers.

Vardenafil hydrochloride tablet is an inhibitor of phosphodiesterase type 5, primarily for the treatment of erectile dysfunction. This postprandial study evaluated the pharmacokinetics and bioequivalence of the test and reference formulations of vardenafil hydrochloride tablets in healthy Chinese volunteers. An open, randomized, single-center, single-dose, 2-period, 2-sequence bioequivalence test was conducted on 66 healthy subjects under fed conditions. Subjects were randomly assigned to a 20-mg test or reference formulation with a 7-day washout period. Venous blood samples (4mL) were collected from each subject 25 times spanning predose (0hour) to 24hours after dosing. The plasma concentration of vardenafil was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Sixty-two volunteers completed the study. Under fed conditions, the maximum plasma concentration was 29.1ng/mL, the area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) from time 0 to the time of the last measurable concentration was 85.3ng•h/mL, and AUC from time 0 to infinity was 87.1ng•h/mL. The 90% confidence intervals of the geometric mean ratio of AUC time 0 to the time of the last measurable concentration and AUC from time 0 to infinity were within the bioequivalence acceptance range of 0.80-1.25. The test formulation was a bioequivalent alternative to the reference formulation when taken under fed conditions in healthy Chinese subjects.

Evaluating gender effect in the generic bioequivalence studies by physiologically based pharmacokinetic modeling - A case study of dextromethorphan modified release tablets.

The United States Food and Drug Administration guidelines for the bioequivalence (BE) testing of the generic drug products suggests that there should be an equal proportion of male and female population in the BE study. Despite this requirement, many generic drug companies do not maintain the suggested proportion of female population in their studies. Several socio-economic and cultural factors lead to lower participation of the females in the BE studies. More recently, the regulatory agencies across the globe are requesting the generic drug companies to demonstrate the performance of their drug products in the under-represented sex via additional studies. In this work, we describe the case of Dextromethorphan modified release tablets where the gender effect on the product performance was evaluated by physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modeling approach. We have compared the drug product's performance by population simulations considering four different scenarios. The data from all-male population (from in house Pharmacokinetic [PK] BE studies) was considered as a reference and other scenarios were compared against the all-male population data. In the first scenario, we made a comparison between all-male (100% male) vs all-female (100% female) population. Second scenario was as per agency's requirements-equal proportion of male and female in the BE study. As an extreme scenario, 100% male vs 30:70 male:female was considered (higher females than males in the BE studies). Finally, as a more realistic scenario, 100% male versus 70:30 male:female was considered (lower females than males in the BE studies). Population PK followed by virtual BE was employed to demonstrate the similarity/differences in the drug product performance between the sexes. This approach can be potentially utilized to seek BE study waivers thus saving cost and accelerating the entry of the generic products to the market.

Analysis of an eligible protocol for bioequivalence testing of two Canine anthelmintics products with two active molecules

This study is intended to analyze the design implemented in the bioequivalence testing of a generic product based on praziquantel and milbemycin oxime. The main objective of the study is to develop a protocol suitable for testing the bioequivalence and bioavailability of a new generic anthelmintic product intended for the therapeutic interchange of the innovative product Milbemax, whose patent has expired. The achievement of the proposed objective was ensured by the implementation of a single-center, cross-over, randomized, two-phase design separated by a break of 30 days between them. The current study was conducted on 22 clinically healthy Siberian Husky dogs. The analysis of the values obtained during the monitoring of the clinical and hematologic parameters, revealed evolutions within the allowed ranges, with the deviations being rare and devoid of clinical or statistical significance. Providing information regarding the field of bioequivalence of two similar antiparasitic products, being aware of the regulations in force as well as their recommendation by the treating veterinarian, in prophylaxis and anthelmintic therapy, is a good strategy to promote the use and acceptance of the new generic drugs.

Performance of different nebulizers in clinical use for Pressurized Intraperitoneal Aerosol Chemotherapy (PIPAC).

Technical ex-vivo comparison of commercial nebulizer nozzles used for Pressurized Intraperitoneal Aerosol Chemotherapy (PIPAC). The performance of four different commercial nebulizer nozzles (Nebulizer; HurriChemTM; MCR-4 TOPOL®; QuattroJet) was analysed concerning: i) technical design and principle of operation, ii) operational pressure as function of the liquid flow rate, iii) droplet size distribution via laser diffraction spectrometry, iv) spray cone angle, spray cone form as well as horizontal drug deposition by image-metric analyses and v) chemical resistance via exposing to a cytostatic solution and chemical composition by means of spark optical emission spectral analysis. The Nebulizer shows quasi an identical technical design and thus also a similar performance (e.g., mass median droplet size of 29 μm) as the original PIPAC nozzles (MIP/ CapnoPen). All other nozzles show more or less a performance deviation to the original PIPAC nozzles. The HurriChemTM has a similar design and principle of operation as the Nebulizer, but provides a finer aerosol (22 μm). The principle of operation of MCR-4 TOPOL® and QuattroJet differ significantly from that of the original PIPAC nozzle technology. The MCR-4 TOPOL® offers a hollow spray cone with significantly larger droplets (50 μm) than the original PIPAC nozzles. The QuattroJet generates an aerosol (22 μm) similar to that of the HurriChemTM but with improved spatial drug distribution. The availability of new PIPAC nozzles is encouraging but can also have a negative impact if their performance and efficacy is unknown. It is recommended that PIPAC nozzles that deviate from the current standard should be subject to bioequivalence testing and implementation in accordance with the IDEAL-D framework prior to routine clinical use.

Knowledge-based: facilitating access to medicines in Latin America

The World Health Organization (WHO), with the scientific support of the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP), guides the development of multisource pharmaceutical products for market authorization using in vivo bioequivalence studies or, where applicable, in vitro biowaiver strategies based on the Biopharmaceutical Classification System (BCS). A review of the regulatory framework guiding generic medicines approval in Latin American countries revealed that less than 50% of regional health authorities offer a generic medicines development pathway utilizing a BCS-based biowaiver strategy. Aligned with the ONE FIP Strategy to facilitate access to medicines, a regional case study was carried out to implement and harmonize BCS-based biowaiver knowledge in Latin American countries. A steering committee involving regional representatives from health authorities, the pharmaceutical industry, and universities were established to coordinate to develop activities. A series of digital engagement events were held in Spanish and English with representatives from Latin America to share knowledge on BCS-based regulatory strategy, promote collaborations, and explore the alignment of biowaiver approval and regulatory pathways among Latin American countries. Feedback from diverse Latin American stakeholders demonstrated inconsistent implementation of bioequivalence testing within the region. However, there is support for a synergistic approach among countries to reduce duplication and increase efficiency in market authorization for generic medicines. This includes alignment with the WHO Prequalification of Medicines program as well as the development of a computational database for the classification of active pharmaceutical ingredients to demonstrate therapeutic interchangeability of immediate-release oral dosage forms according to the BCS. FIP-facilitated digital learning opportunities raised awareness of the BCS-based biowaiver regulatory strategy among Latin American stakeholders. It resulted in a plan to continually strengthen collaborative efforts in the region to harmonize regulations relevant to drug development generics medicines to introduce cost-effective medicines products that benefit public health.

In Vivo Bioequivalence Study of Drug: An Analysis of Bidding in Vietnam Period 2018 - 2022

To promote the development of bioequivalent drugs, the Ministry of Health of Vietnam has classified a separate bidding group for bioequivalent drugs. According to the results of bidding for bioequivalent drugs in the period 2018 - 2022 has achieved very encouraging results, the ratio of domestic bioequivalent drugs compared to foreign bioequivalent drugs winning bids is from 2.13 to 3.63 times higher. Regarding active pharmaceutical ingredients of bioequivalent drugs, bioequivalent drugs with the highest total winning value (including all dosage forms, concentrations,...) focus mainly on antibiotics (cefuroxime, cefixime,…), anti-diabetic drugs (gliclazide, metformin,...), high blood pressure drugs (amlodipine), antipyretic and pain relievers (paracetamol). The winning drug dosage forms are still mainly conventional dosage forms (tablets, film-coated tablets, capsules) and their active ingredients are almost single. In particular, several multi-component bioequivalence drugs have a large total winning value but do not belong to the pharmaceutical group on the list of mandatory bioequivalence test reports when registering the drug, such as the combination of Gliclazide + Metformin; Glibenclamide + Metformin; Glimepiride + Metformin. The trend of selecting pharmaceutical substances/groups of pharmaceutical substances that manufacturers focus on researching/registering bioequivalent drugs in Vietnam is focused on drugs on the list of drugs covered by health insurance.

Towards More Robust Evaluation of the Predictive Performance of Physiologically Based Pharmacokinetic Models: Using Confidence Intervals to Support Use of Model-Informed Dosing in Clinical Care.

With the rise in the use of physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modeling over the past decade, the use of PBPK modeling to underpin drug dosing for off-label use in clinical care has become an attractive option. In order to use PBPK models for high-impact decisions, thorough qualification and validation of the model is essential to gain enough confidence in model performance. Currently, there is no agreed method for model acceptance, while clinicians demand a clear measure of model performance before considering implementing PBPK model-informed dosing. We aim to bridge this gap and propose the use of a confidence interval for the predicted-to-observed geometric mean ratio with predefined boundaries. This approach is similar to currently accepted bioequivalence testing procedures and can aid in improved model credibility and acceptance. Two different methods to construct a confidence interval are outlined, depending on whether individual observations or aggregate data are available from the clinical comparator data sets. The two testing procedures are demonstrated for an example evaluation of a midazolam PBPK model. In addition, a simulation study is performed to demonstrate the difference between the twofold criterion and our proposed method. Using midazolam adult pharmacokinetic data, we demonstrated that creating a confidence interval yields more robust evaluation of the model than a point estimate, such as the commonly used twofold acceptance criterion. Additionally, we showed that the use of individual predictions can reduce the number of required test subjects. Furthermore, an easy-to-implement software tool was developed and is provided to make our proposed method more accessible. With this method, we aim to provide a tool to further increase confidence in PBPK model performance and facilitate its use for directly informing drug dosing in clinical care.

Update on the advances and challenges in bioequivalence testing methods for complex topical generic products.

Most of the government regulatory agencies, including the United States Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicine Agency, demand that the generic complex topical products prove pharmaceutical and bioequivalence. The evaluation of bioequivalence for complex topical dermatological formulations is a challenging task that requires careful consideration of several factors. Although comparative clinical studies are still considered the gold standard approach for establishing bioequivalence in most formulations, these studies can be costly and insensitive to detect formulation differences. Therefore, significant efforts have been made to develop and validate alternative approaches that demonstrate bioequivalence and expedite the availability of high-quality generic topical dermatological products. This article reviews the current methods for determining the bioequivalence of topical formulations in humans, with particular emphasis on recent advances in these methodologies. Most of the alternative methods are sensitive and reproducible, with the capability to ease the financial burden of comparative clinical studies within a short delivery time. The limitations associated with each technique are reviewed in detail.

An Explanation of Why Dose-Corrected Area Under the Curve for Alternate Administration Routes Can Be Greater than for Intravenous Dosing

It is generally believed that bioavailability (F) calculated based on systemic concentration area under the curve (AUC) measurements cannot exceed 1.0, yet some published studies report this inconsistency. We teach and believe, based on differential equation derivations, that rate of absorption has no influence on measured systemic clearance following an oral dose, i.e., determined as available dose divided by AUC. Previously, it was thought that any difference in calculating F from urine data versus that from systemic concentration AUC data was due to the inability to accurately measure urine data. A PubMed literature search for drugs exhibiting F > 1.0 and studies for which F was measured using both AUC and urinary excretion dose-corrected analyses yielded data for 35 drugs. We show and explain, using Kirchhoff’s Laws, that these universally held concepts concerning bioavailability may not be valid in all situations. Bioavailability, determined using systemic concentration measurements, for many drugs may be overestimated since AUC reflects not only systemic elimination but also absorption rate characteristics, which is most easily seen for renal clearance measures. Clearance of drug from the absorption site must be significantly greater than clearance following an iv bolus dose for F(AUC) to correctly correspond with F(urine). The primary purpose of this paper is to demonstrate that studies resulting in F > 1.0 and/or greater systemic vs urine bioavailability predictions may be accurate. Importantly, these explications have no significant impact on current regulatory guidance for bioequivalence testing, nor on the use of exposure (AUC) measures in making drug dosing decisions.Graphical

Problem and Prospect of Pharmaceuticals Industry of Bangladesh amid LDC Graduation

Aims: The paper aims to identify the prospects and challenges of the pharmaceutical sector of Bangladesh after graduation and explores potential areas of market and product diversification. Addressing the upcoming graduation challenges, the paper sheds light on trade-related challenges of pharmaceutical industry and digs out a way forward. Study Design: The study is conducted using primary data from the Key Informant Interview (KII) and secondary data from different publications and sources. A qualitative survey tool is used for assessing the view of stakeholders and graduation challenges for pharmaceutical sector. Methodology: The study uses qualitative tools to evaluate the area of market and product diversification of the pharmaceutical industry and finally uses the Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) model to forecast export figure from 2023 to 2032 and what interventions need to be taken to reach the expected level of growth amid LDC graduation. Results: The pharmaceutical industry will confront significant hurdles in terms of value addition, TRIPS-waiver erosion, patent payments, and license fees for producing pharmaceuticals product and medicine after graduation. Moreover, the industry faces difficulties due to excessive reliance on Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) imports, limited diversified products, lack of Research and Development (R&D) and lab testing facilities, lack of infrastructure in the API park, dearth of bioequivalence test facilities, and patentable molecules in the post-graduation era. Recommendation: Bangladesh needs to accentuate API production, R&D, reverse engineering, and technical know-how as well as make a functional API Park, develop a curriculum to have experts in synthesis chemistry, and establish an accredited bioequivalence study center to secure patentable molecules and API.

Comparative Pharmacokinetics and Bioequivalence of Pour-On Ivermectin Formulations in Korean Hanwoo Cattle.

This study aimed to conduct a bioequivalence study of applying three pour-on ivermectin formulations at a dose of 1 mg/kg on the back of Korean native beef cattle (Hanwoo). To conduct bioequivalence testing, the pharmacokinetics of three groups (control Innovator, test Generic A, and test Generic B) of five clinically healthy Korean Hanwoo cattle (average weight 500 kg) were studied. After topical application to the skin, blood samples were drawn at the indicated times. These blood samples were analyzed using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The time required to reach the maximum concentration (Tmax), the maximum concentration (Cmax), and the area under the curve (AUClast) of each pharmacokinetic parameter were compared for bioequivalence. The results showed that the control had a Tmax of 41 ± 1.24 h, a Cmax of 0.11 ± 0.01 μg/mL, and an AUClast of 9.33 ± 0 h*μg/mL). The comparator Generic A had a Tmax of 40 ± 1.14 h, a Cmax of 0.10 ± 0.01 (μg/mL, and an AUClast of 9.41 ± 0.57 h*μg/mL, while Generic B had a Tmax of 40 ± 2.21 h, a Cmax of 0.10 ± 0.01 μg/mL, and an AUClast of 9 h*μg/mL. The values of the bioequivalence indicators Cmax, Tmax, and AUC were all within the range of 80% to 120%, confirming that all three tested formulations were bioequivalent. In conclusion, the study showed that the two generic products were bioequivalent to the original product in Hanwoo cattle.

BIOEQUIVALENCE OF METFORMIN AS AN ORAL ANTIDIABETIC: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

Metformin is the first line in type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (DM). Metformin is available as an innovator drug and copy drug. The high price of innovator drugs makes it difficult for patients to obtain the required drugs. Therefore, many pharmaceutical industries have developed a copy of the innovator drug. To obtain .a distribution license, the pharmaceutical industry must conduct a bioequivalence test on metformin copy tablets to ensure that the copy drug has the same efficacy, safety, and quality as the innovator drug. However, several surveys show that most patients believe that the effectiveness of copy drugs is not equivalent to the innovator drug. This study aims to determine the bioavailability profile and bioequivalence profile of Metformin copy tablets to Glucophage® (Merck) innovator tablets so that it can provide an overview of the effectiveness of copy drugs with innovator drugs and the public no longer hesitate to use copy drugs. Metformin copy tablets are declared bioequivalent to the innovator drug if they provide a Confidence Interval (CI) value of 90% in the 80-125% range. All 500 mg, 850 mg, and 1000 mg doses of metformin copy tablets, both fasting and eating conditions, gave bioequivalent results to the innovator Glucophage® based on 90% CI.

The Effect of Using Different Anticoagulant Types for Determination of Esomeprazole Levels in Human Plasma by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography

Esomeprazole is a Proton Pump Inhibitor (PPI) drug formulated in delayed-release tablets, that are included in the mandatory bioequivalence test. In vitro method validation used human plasma from the Indonesian Red Cross that used citrate as an anticoagulant. In the implementation of in vivo study, usually using human plasma used EDTA or heparin as an anticoagulant. This study aims to evaluate the effect of using anticoagulant types that may affect the analysis of esomeprazole in human plasma. Optimum chromatographic conditions used column C18 SunfireTM (5 μm, 250 mm x 4.6 mm); column temperature 40°C; mobile phase acetonitrile - phosphate buffer (40:60% v/v) pH 7.6; 1.0 mL/min flow rate with lansoprazole as an internal standard and wavelength 300 nm (PDA). The extraction was carried out by liquid-liquid extraction method using 500 μl plasma and 5 ml dichloromethane as extraction solvent. The result showed that the concentration range of calibration curve linearity in 5 – 1500 ng/mL. Recovery and broad peak response data of esomeprazole in plasma have significant differences between heparin-EDTA and citrate-EDTA anticoagulants (p<0.05), but there is no significant difference for the stability test. In conclusion, heparin is better than EDTA as an anticoagulant for esomeprazole bioanalysis

Investigating the Impact of Co-processed Excipients on the Formulation of Bromhexine Hydrochloride Orally Disintegrating Tablets (ODTs)

PurposeOrodispersible tablets (orally disintegrating tablets, ODTs) have been used in pharmacotherapy for over 20 years since they overcome the problems with swallowing solid dosage forms. The successful formula manufactured by direct compression shall ensure acceptable mechanical strength and short disintegration time. Our research aimed to develop ODTs containing bromhexine hydrochloride suitable for registration in accordance with EMA requirements.MethodsWe examined the performance of five multifunctional co-processed excipients, i.e., F-Melt® C, F-Melt® M, Ludiflash®, Pharmaburst® 500 and Prosolv® ODT G2 as well as self-prepared physical blend of directly compressible excipients. We tested powder flow, true density, compaction characteristics and tableting speed sensitivity.ResultsThe manufacturability studies confirmed that all the co-processed excipients are very effective as the ODT formula constituents. We noticed superior properties of both F-Melt’s®, expressed by good mechanical strength of tablets and short disintegration time. Ludiflash® showed excellent performance due to low works of plastic deformation, elastic recovery and ejection. However, the tablets released less than 30% of the drug. Also, the self-prepared blend of excipients was found sufficient for ODT application and successfully transferred to production scale. Outcome of the scale-up trial revealed that the tablets complied with compendial requirements for orodispersible tablets.ConclusionsWe proved that the active ingredient cannot be absorbed in oral cavity and its dissolution profiles in media representing upper part of gastrointestinal tract are similar to marketed immediate release drug product. In our opinion, the developed formula is suitable for registration within the well-established use procedure without necessity of bioequivalence testing.

Development and Comparative Evaluation of Two Different Label-Free and Sensitive Fluorescence Platforms for Analysis of Olaparib: A Recently FDA-Approved Drug for the Treatment of Ovarian and Breast Cancer.

Olaparib (OLA) is a PARP inhibitor drug which has been recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of ovarian and breast cancer. A convenient analytical tool for the quantitation of OLA in its dosage form and plasma samples was urgently needed. This study describes, for the first time, the development of two different label-free and sensitive fluorescence-based platforms for the pharmaceutical and bioanalysis of OLA. These platforms were microwell-assisted with a fluorescence microplate reader (MW-FLR) and high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection (HPLC-FD). Both MW-FLR and HPLC-FD employed the native fluorescence of OLA as an analytical signal. The MW-FLR involved measuring the fluorescence signals in 96-well white-opaque plates. The HPLC-FD involved chromatographic separation of OLA and duvelisib (DUV), as an internal standard on a Nucleosil-CN HPLC column (250 mm length × 4.6 mm i.d., 5 µm particle diameter) with a mobile phase composed of acetonitrile: water (25:75, v/v) pumped at a flow rate of 1.7 mL/min. Elution of OLA and DUV was detected using a fluorescence detector. The optimal conditions of both MW-FLR and HPLC-FD were established, and they were validated according to the guidelines of the International Council for Harmonization for the validation of analytical procedures. The linear ranges of MW-FLR and HPLC-FD were 25-1000 and 5-200 ng/mL, respectively, with limits of detection of 15 and 1.7 ng/mL, respectively. The accuracy and precision of both platforms were confirmed as the recovery values were ≥98.2% and the relative standard deviations (RSD) were ≤2.89%. Both methodologies were satisfactorily applied to the quantitation of OLA in its commercial dosage form (Lynparza® tablets) and plasma samples with high accuracy and precision. The greenness of both MW-FLR and HPLC-FD was assessed using two different multiple parameter-based metric tools, and the results proved their greenness and adherence to the requirements of green analytical approaches. Both platforms have simple procedures and acceptable levels of analytical throughput. In conclusion, the proposed MW-FLR and HPLC-FD are valuable tools for routine use in quality control and clinical laboratories for the quantitation of OLA for the purposes of pharmaceutical quality control, pharmacokinetic studies, and bioequivalence testing.

Bioequivalence Study of Salbutamol 400 mg Tablet in Healthy Indonesian Volunteers by Liquid Chromatography Tandem with Mass Spectrometry

This study objective was to determine the bioequivalence of Salbutamol 4 mg Tablet manufactured by PT Kimia Farma Tbk compared to Ventolin® 2x2 mg Tablet manufactured by Glaxo Wellcome Indonesia, in healthy Indonesian volunteer. The pharmacokinetic parameters calculated in this study are AUC0-24, AUC0-inf, Cmax, Tmax, and T1/2. The study was conducted in a randomized, single-dose, open-label, two-way crossover design (2 treatments, 2 periods, and 2 sequences) under fasting state with 7 (seven) days washed-out period. The number of subjects who participated in the study were 24 volunteers ((12 males and 12 females). The participants were provided with an overview of the study and signed the informed consent form. The study participants underwent a minimum 8-hour fasting period prior to receiving both the test drug and the reference drug, and blood samples were collected at 14 specified time points: 0 hours (before drug administration), minutes-20, minutes-40, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, 16, and 24 hours after drug administration. Plasma concentrations of the drug were determined by LCMS/MS method. The acceptance criteria for the bioequivalence test are 80.00 - 125.00% for AUC0-t and Cmax with 90% Confidence Interval (CI) with α = 5.00%. The mean SD value of AUC0-24, AUC0-inf, Cmax, Tmax, and T1/2 respectively for test drug is 84.49 ±18.99 ng.mL-1.hour; 89.66 ±21.29 ng.mL-1.hour; 13.85 ±4.25 ng/mL; 2.00 ±0.71 hour and 5.08 ±1.27 hour. The mean SD values of AUC0-24, AUC0-inf, Cmax, Tmax, and C1/2 respectively for reference drug are 88.81 ±26.50 ng.mL-1.jam; 93.78 ±27.97 ng.mL-1.jam; 13.39 ±5.39 ng/mL; 2.63 ±1.45 hour and 5.03 ±1.16 hour. Meanwhile, the geometric mean ratio of test drug to reference drug (90% confidence interval) is 96.35% (90.55- 102.53%) for AUC0-24 and 105.39% (93.62-118.65%) for Cmax. Based on the AUC0-24 and Cmax values, Salbutamol 4 mg Tablet manufactured by PT Kimia Farma Tbk is bioequivalent to Ventolin® 2x2 mg Tablet manufactured by Glaxo Wellcome Indonesia.

Physiologically Based Pharmacokinetic Model Development and Verification for Bioequivalence Testing of Bempedoic Acid Oral Suspension and Reference Tablet Formulation.

The bioequivalence of bempedoic acid oral suspension and commercial immediate release (IR) tablet formulations were assessed using a physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model. The mechanistic model, developed from clinical mass balance results and in vitro intrinsic solubility, permeability, and dissolution data, was verified against observed clinical pharmacokinetics (PK) results. Model inputs included a fraction of a dose in solution (0.01%), viscosity (118.8 cps), and median particle diameter (50 µm) for the suspension and particle diameter (36.4 µm) for IR tablets. Dissolution was determined in the relevant media (pH 1.2-6.8) in vitro. Model simulations of bioequivalence predicted oral suspension (test) to IR tablet (reference) geometric mean ratio estimates of 96.9% (90% confidence interval [CI]: 92.6-101) for maximum concentration and 98.2% (90% CI: 87.3-111) for the area under the concentration-time curve. Sensitivity analyses showed gastric transit time had a minor impact on model predictions. Oral suspension biopharmaceutical safe space was defined by extremes of particle size and the percent of bempedoic acid in solution. PBPK model simulations predicted that the rate and extent of bempedoic acid absorption are unlikely to exhibit clinically meaningful differences when dosed as an oral suspension compared with an IR tablet without requiring a clinical bioequivalence study in adults.

Application in silico Modeling Simulation in Bioequivalence Studies: A Review

Bioequivalence testing aims to ensure that the therapeutic performance of the drug is consistent and reproducible when it is administrated. Modeling and simulation in silico methods are currently performed to conduct virtual bioequivalence studies. Various computer simulation software is used to generate the simulation and model input data. This review summarizes the software used for predicting in vivo performance which supports the analysis of virtual bioequivalence testing. GastroPlus™ and SimCyp® are widely used platforms in generating data for virtual bioequivalence studies. The studies suggest that the validity procedure is necessary for modeling and simulation. The in silico method has become a valuable tool in bioequivalence studies as supporting extension of the biowaiver drug list and contributing to future drug development.