title: Pharmacokinetics and safety of firocoxib after oral administration of repeated consecutive doses to neonatal foals.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to determine the pharmacokinetics and safety profile of firocoxib in neonatal foals. Seven healthy foals were administered 0.1 mg/kg firocoxib orally q24 h for nine consecutive days, commencing at 36 h of age. Blood was collected for firocoxib analysis using high-pressure liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection at 0 (dose #1 only), 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, and 24 h after doses 1, 5, and 9. For all other doses (2, 3, 4, 6, 7, and 8), blood was collected immediately prior to the next dose (24 h trough). Elimination samples (36, 48, 72, 96, 120, and 144 h) were collected after dose 9. Safety was assessed via physical examinations, body weight measurements, gastroscopy, complete blood count, plasma biochemistry and urinalysis. Firocoxib was rapidly absorbed following oral administration with minimal accumulation after repeat dosing. After the final dose, the terminal half-life was approximately 11 h. Firocoxib was below the limit of detection (<2.5 ng/mL) in plasma 72 h after the final dose. No significant abnormalities were found on blood analyses, urinalysis, or gastroscopy. This study demonstrated that firocoxib is absorbed in neonatal foals with no demonstrable adverse effects after repeated doses of 0.1 mg/kg.
authors.affiliation: Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, Blacksburg, VA, USA.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hovanessian
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: H C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: McKenzie
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Hodgson
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Hodgson
authors.forename: M V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Crisman
mesh_terms: D015107:4-Butyrolactone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D006736:Horses / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D013450:Sulfones / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D013450:Sulfones; D015107:4-Butyrolactone; C487384:firocoxib