title: Pharmacodynamic effects of bezafibrate and niacin combination: implications of the mode of administration.
abstract: The goal of this investigation was to optimize antilipid therapy by utilizing the combined activity of two lipid-lowering agents, niacin and bezafibrate, and improve their efficacy by targeting them to their presumed presystemic site(s) of action. Thus, continuous duodenal (IGI) administration of the drug combination should augment their efficacy in comparison with intermittent oral treatment. Three hyperlipidemic rat models were studied: Models A and B were based on cholesterol-enriched diets and Model C was based on on acute hyperlipidemia induced by triton injection. Continuous IGI administration of the drug combination [bezafibrate, 30mg/kg/day, and niacin, 40 mg/kg/day for 3 days (Models A and B) or for 18 h (Model C)] produced significantly greater lowering of total cholesterol and triglycerides and elevation of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol in comparison with intermittent oral administration of the same doses either given individually or in combination (Models A and B). Similar results were found in Model C for the IGI administration of the drug combination in contrast to oral and also to intravenous infusions. The results indicate that the combination of bezafibrate and niacin produces a significant hypolipidemic response, with major site(s) of action located presystemically. Because a slow-release matrix tablet of the drug combination resulted in a similar magnitude of effect as the IGI administration, the present study provides a pharmacodynamic rationale for the use of a slow-release low-dose niacin-bezafibrate combination.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, P.O. Box 12065, Jerusalem 91120, Israel.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lomnicky
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Haimov
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Luria
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Friedman
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hoffman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001629:Bezafibrate / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D009525:Niacin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D014280:Triglycerides; D009525:Niacin; D002784:Cholesterol; D001629:Bezafibrate