Bioequivalence of two tacrolimus 1-mg formulations under fasting conditions in healthy subjects: A randomized, two-period crossover trial

• Published in: International journal of clinical pharmacology and therapeutics Vol. 58; no. 3; pp. 183 - 193
• Main Authors: Mohanty, Lalitendu, Bhushan, Sumit, Rüttger, Bernd
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany Dustri - Verlag Dr. Karl Feistle GmbH & Co. KG 01.03.2020; Dustri-Verlag Dr. Karl Feistle
• Subjects: Adult; Area Under Curve; Bioequivalence; Biological Availability; Chromatography, Liquid; Cross-Over Studies; Drug dosages; Drugs, Generic - administration & dosage; Drugs, Generic - pharmacokinetics; Fasting; FDA approval; Humans; Liver; Male; Middle Aged; Pharmacology; Tablets; Tacrolimus - administration & dosage; Tacrolimus - pharmacokinetics; Tandem Mass Spectrometry; Therapeutic Equivalency; Transplants & implants; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0946-1965
• DOI: 10.5414/CP203534

The present study compared the pharmacokinetics of two (1 mg) tacrolimus formulations (test (generic from Panacea) and reference (innovator from Astellas)) after a single-dose administration as per the European Medicine Agency (EMA) guidelines to grant marketing authorization. This study was a randomized, open-label, balanced, two-treatment, two-period, two-sequences, single-dose, truncated-area, crossover design with a washout period of 19 days between the phases. Healthy subjects aged 18 - 45 years (both inclusive) were included. Eligible subjects received a single oral dose of 5 × 1-mg capsule of tacrolimus either test or reference formulation. Blood samples were collected until 72.00 hours postdose, and peak concentration (C ) and area under the curve (AUC ) were evaluated in whole blood using validated LC-MS/MS. Safety was also assessed in each period. Of 56 subjects enrolled, 52 completed both study periods. The arithmetic mean (SD) C for the reference and test formulations was 40.62 (11.30) and 46.20 (10.73) ng/mL, and AUC was 348.34 (156.41) and 361.04 (158.71) ng×h/mL, respectively. The geometric least square mean ratio (90% confidence interval (CI)) was 115.07% (90% CI: 109.81, 120.59) for C and 103.78 (90% CI: 97.40, 110.58) for AUC , which fell within the acceptance range as per EMA guidelines for narrow therapeutic index drugs (C : 80.00 - 125.00%; AUC: 90.00 - 111.11%). No serious adverse event was observed. The generic tacrolimus was bioequivalent to the reference formulation, was well tolerated, and provides a well-acceptable alternative to the reference drug. Switching treatment to generic tacrolimus medication may reduce the cost and economic burden of treating transplanted patients.