Determination of candesartan cilexetil, candesartan and a metabolite in human plasma and urine by liquid chromatography and fluorometric detection.

Liquid chromatographic methods are described for the determination of a new effective anti-hypertensive drug candesartan (CV-11974), its prodrug candesartan cilexetil (TCV-116) and a metabolite, CV-15959 in human plasma and urine. The assays comprise liquid-liquid extraction and separation on a phenyl column with fluorometric detection. The methods give absolute recoveries of 70, 83 and 78% for candesartan cilexetil, candesartan and CV-15959, respectively, and the limit of quantification is 5, 1 and 3 nM of plasma (RSD < 20%), respectively. The methods were applied to plasma and urine samples from biopharmaceutical and clinical studies in man.