Comparison of generic cyclosporine microemulsion versus neoral in de novo renal transplant recipients managed by 2-hour postdose monitoring.
BACKGROUND
The bioequivalence of generic formulations is established by measuring pharmacokinetic parameters in healthy volunteers. Cyclosporine (CsA) absorption and exposure is known to differ between healthy volunteers and transplant recipients. Therefore bioequivalence testing may be inadequate to ensure therapeutic equivalence. We sought to compare the efficacy of generic cyclosporine (ArpimuneME, RPG Life Sciences) versus Sandimmune Neoral in de novo renal transplant recipients.


METHODS
A prospective single-center, open-label study enrolled 20 de novo renal transplant patients (group 1: mean age 30.55 +/- 9.81 years, M:F 19:1, mean donor age 43.4 +/- 10.8). All patients received ArpimuneME along with azathioprine and prednisolone. The results were compared with 17 matched controls (group 2: mean age 28.1 +/- 9.5 years, M:F 13:4, mean donor age 47.8 +/- 6.8) who received Neoral and were transplanted during the same period. C(2) levels were monitored by the cloned enzyme donor immunoassay (CEDIA).


RESULTS
Patient and graft survivals were 100% and 100% and 100% and 92.8% in groups 1 and 2, respectively (P = NS). Six patients (30%) experienced rejection in group 1 as compared eight patients (47.1%) in group 2. Mean CsA levels (ng/mL) during the first month were 1419.1 +/- 213.6 and 1460.5 +/- 290.7 and at 3 months, 1296.3 +/- 227.8 and 1342.4 +/- 303.4 in the two groups, respectively (P = NS). The mean serum creatinine levels (mg%) in group 1 and group 2 were 1.6 +/- 0.8 and 2.0 +/- 1.4 at discharge and 1.5 +/- 0.4 and 1.5 +/- 0.8 at 6 months, respectively (P = NS).


CONCLUSIONS
Use of a generic microemulsion form of CsA provided safe and effective immunosuppression compared with Sandimmune Neoral when drug monitoring was performed by C(2) levels.
Sharma
A
A
Department of Transplant Surgery, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.
Shekhar
C
C
Heer
M
M
Minz
M
M
D000328:Adult; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016903:Drug Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D016568:Drugs, Generic; D004655:Emulsions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies
D016568:Drugs, Generic; D004655:Emulsions; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D016572:Cyclosporine