Comparative bioavailability study of two phenoxymethylpenicillin potassium tablet formulations in healthy volunteers.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of 2 phenoxymethylpenicillin 500,000 UI tablet formulations in healthy human volunteers.


METHODS
The study was conducted using an open, randomized crossover design with a 7-day washout interval. A single dose of each formulation was administered to 26 healthy volunteers as assessed by clinical and laboratory test evaluations. The plasma samples were obtained over an 8-h interval and phenoxymethylpenicillin concentrations were quantified by a suitable and validated HPLC-UV method with detection at 220 nm. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure and pulse rate measurement were taken pre dose and at intervals up to 8 h.


RESULTS
Tolerance of both products was adequate. The mean of Meracilina/Pen-Ve-Oral 500,000 UI% geometric mean was 99.89% for AUC0-t, 100.86% for AUC0-infinity and 101.11% for Cmax. The 90% confidence intervals were 94.62 - 105.46%, 95.22 - 106.83% and 98.61 - 103.87%, respectively. The mean recovery of phenoxymethylpenicillin was 94.8%, while the retention time observed for phenoxymethylpenicillin and phenytoin (internal standard) was 4 and 10 min, respectively. The limit of quantification was 0.10 mg/l.


CONCLUSIONS
Since the 90% CI for AUC0-t, AUC0-infinity and Cmax ratios were all within the 80 - 125% interval proposed by the US FDA and accepted by ANVISA, it was concluded that the Meracilina formulation (manufactured by AchA(c) S.A.) is bioequivalent to Pen-Ve-Oral (manufactured by Eurofarma) for both the rate and the extent of bioavailability.
Moreno
R A
RA
Synchrophar Assessoria e Desenvolvimento de Projetos Clínicos, State University of Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil. moreno@synchrophar.com
Boldrina
L
L
Guermani
A
A
Mazucheli
J
J
Sverdloff
C
C
Borges
N C
NC
D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D019540:Area Under Curve; D001682:Biological Availability; D002626:Chemistry, Pharmaceutical; D005260:Female; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010404:Penicillin V / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D013607:Tablets; D013810:Therapeutic Equivalency
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D013607:Tablets; D010404:Penicillin V