Bioequivalence evaluation of two brands of glimepiride 4 mg tablets in healthy subjects.
Author(s): Pistos C, Astraka C, Kalovidouris M, Vassilopoulos E, Koutsopoulou M
Affiliation(s): Independent Research and Laboratory Solutions, Athens, Greece. cpistos@ilsgr.com
Publication date & source: 2005-04, Int J Clin Pharmacol Ther., 43(4):203-8.
Publication type: Clinical Trial; Randomized Controlled Trial
OBJECTIVE: This paper describes a bioequivalence study with two oral glimepiride (4 mg) tablets formulations. The reference preparation was Solosa/Aventis Pharmaceuticals Inc., USA, and the test preparation was Glimepiride/Specifar, Athens, Greece. SUBJECTS, MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study design was open, randomized, two-period, two-sequence, two-treatment with crossover involving 24 healthy male and female subjects. All subjects completed the study. Glimepiride plasma concentrations were measured utilizing a sensitive, reproducible and accurate HPLC method. Pharmacokinetic parameters used to assess bioequivalence were AUC(0_last), AUC(0-inf) for the extent of absorption and Cmax and tmax for the rate of absorption. Statistical evaluation of Cmax, AUC(0_last), and AUC(0-inf) was done after semilogarithmic transformation using a two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Tmax values were tested using the distribution-free Hodges-Lehman interval. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The parametric 90% confidence intervals for ratio T/R ranged from 90.60-108.00% (point estimate 98.90%) for AUC(0-last), 90.70-107.90% (point estimate 98.90%) for AUC(0-inf) and 86.70-103.70% (point estimate 94.80%) for Cmax, respectively. Based on the results of tmax, Kel and t(1/2), there were no statistically significant differences and the two glimepiride preparations are equivalent with respect to rate and extent of absorption as defined by the European Union bioequivalence requirements.
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