title: Evaluation of a scaling approach for the bioequivalence of highly variable drugs.
abstract: Various approaches for evaluating the bioequivalence (BE) of highly variable drugs (CV > or = 30%) have been debated for many years. More recently, the FDA conducted research to evaluate one such approach: scaled average BE. A main objective of this study was to determine the impact of scaled average BE on study power, and compare it to the method commonly applied currently (average BE). Three-sequence, three period, two treatment partially replicated cross-over BE studies were simulated in S-Plus. Average BE criteria, using 80-125% limits on the 90% confidence intervals for C (max) and AUC geometric mean ratios, as well as scaled average BE were applied to the results. The percent of studies passing BE was determined under different conditions. Variables tested included within subject variability, point estimate constraint, and different values for sigma(w0), which is a constant set by the regulatory agency. The simulation results demonstrated higher study power with scaled average BE, compared to average BE, as within subject variability increased. At 60% CV, study power was more than 90% for scaled average BE, compared with about 22% for average BE. A sigma(w0) value of 0.25 appears to work best. The results of this research project suggest that scaled average BE, using a partial replicate design, is a good approach for the evaluation of BE of highly variable drugs.
authors: Office of Generic Drugs, CDER/FDA, 7519 Standish Place, HFD-600, Rockville, Maryland 20855, USA. Sam.haidar@fda.hhs.gov
authors: Sam H
authors: SH
authors: Haidar
authors: Fairouz
authors: F
authors: Makhlouf
authors: Donald J
authors: DJ
authors: Schuirmann
authors: Terry
authors: T
authors: Hyslop
authors: Barbara
authors: B
authors: Davit
authors: Dale
authors: D
authors: Conner
authors: Lawrence X
authors: LX
authors: Yu
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003198:Computer Simulation; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000378:metabolism / Q000592:standards; D013678:Technology, Pharmaceutical / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013810:Therapeutic Equivalency; D014481:United States; D014486:United States Food and Drug Administration
chemical_list: D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations