A review of the animal pharmacology of roxatidine acetate.

Roxatidine acetate (TZU 0460/HOE 760) [N-(3-[3-(1-piperidinylmethyl)-phenoxy]-propyl)acetoxyacetamide hydrochloride] is a specific and competitive H2-receptor antagonist with a chemical structure different from those of cimetidine, ranitidine and famotidine. Roxatidine acetate and its main metabolite roxatidine inhibit histamine-induced gastric acid secretion in vitro with a potency greater than that of cimetidine, and in the range of that produced by ranitidine. Gastric acid secretion following stimulation with dibutyryl cyclic adenosine monophosphate remains unaffected by roxatidine acetate. In vivo experiments in rats and dogs confirm these in vitro findings. Thus, in rats roxatidine acetate inhibits gastric acid secretion with similar values following intraduodenal or intraperitoneal injection, indicating excellent absorption of the drug from the gastrointestinal tract. In all studies it was shown that roxatidine acetate was more potent than cimetidine. In rats single or repeated dosing with roxatidine acetate did not influence drug metabolising enzymes in the liver nor did the drug show antiandrogenic activity in long term animal studies. Extensive general pharmacological studies with roxatidine acetate demonstrate the lack of effects on the central nervous system, on gastrointestinal motility, the autonomic nervous system and the cardiovascular and urogenital systems. Studies on the pharmacokinetics and metabolism of roxatidine acetate demonstrate that there is a presystemic deacetylation producing the main metabolite roxatidine, which is responsible for the in vivo effects of the drug.