Determination of L-735 524, an human immunodeficiency virus protease inhibitor, in human plasma and urine via high-performance liquid chromatography with column switching.

A method for the determination of an HIV protease inhibitor, L-735 524, in human plasma and urine is described. Isolation of the analyte and the internal standard from the matrices was achieved via multiple liquid-liquid extractions with methyl tert.-butyl ether. The analyte lacks significant UV absorption at wavelengths greater than 220 nm, hence a column switching system using a cyano and C18 column was used to further purify the extracts prior to UV detection at 210 nm. The assay has been found to be linear and has been validated over the concentration range of 5 to 500 ng/ml, when 1-ml aliquots of plasma or urine were extracted. The assay has been utilized to support human pharmacokinetic studies.