Pharmacodynamics as a tool to assess the bioequivalence of non-systemically available drugs: size of the sample required.

Bioequivalence studies of drugs which are not systematically available must rely on the measure of the pharmacological response. Detection of a difference between two such preparations is often hampered by the need to include an elevated number of subjects. The number of subjects can be reduced whenever: (a) the characteristics of the subjects are well defined, (b) the selection of the baseline target effect is done rigorously, (c) the target effect can be quantified reliably, (d) the effect is measured when less variability is expected, e.g. at steady state, (e) the effect is measured repeatedly, and (f) when possible, the predicted maximal effect (Emax) and the concentration to elicit 50% of Emax are estimated. A simple equation has been derived to estimate the number of subjects needed in these bioequivalence studies.