Development and validation of a discriminative dissolution method for atorvastatin calcium tablets using in vivo data by LC and UV methods.

A dissolution method to analyze atorvastatin tablets using in vivo data for RP and test pilot (PB) was developed and validated. The appropriate conditions were determined after solubility tests using different media, and sink conditions were established. The conditions used were equipment paddle at 50 rpm and 900 mL of potassium phosphate buffer pH 6.0 as dissolution medium. In vivo release profiles were obtained from the bioequivalence study of RP and the generic candidate PB. The fraction of dose absorbed was calculated using the Loo-Riegelman method. It was necessary to use a scale factor of time similar to 6.0, to associate the values of absorbed fraction and dissolved fraction, obtaining an in vivo-in vitro correlation level A. The dissolution method to quantify the amount of drug dissolved was validated using high-performance liquid chromatography and ultraviolet spectrophotometry, and validated according to the USP protocol. The discriminative power of dissolution conditions was assessed using two different pilot batches of atorvastatin tablets (PA and PB) and RP. The dissolution test was validated and may be used as a discriminating method in quality control and in the development of the new formulations.