Biopharmaceutical characterization of oral immediate release drug products. In vitro/in vivo comparison of phenoxymethylpenicillin potassium, glimepiride and levofloxacin.

The development of in vitro dissolution tests using the paddle and basket apparatus is described with respect to the qualification/validation of the testing procedure. Three examples of immediate release products containing phenoxymethylpenicillin potassium, glimepiride, and levofloxacin providing different solubility characteristics are evaluated. The solubility was high in the case of phenoxymethylpenicillin potassium and levofloxacin and low for glimepiride according to the biopharmaceutics classification system. The permeability is studied using the human colorectal carcinoma cell line CaCo-2. The permeability (10(-6) cm/s) of phenoxymethylpenicillin potassium, glimepiride, and levofloxacin was high. The determined permeability data are confirmed by absorption data obtained by means of numerical deconvolution of plasma concentrations. Recommendations are given for the biopharmaceutical characterization of the three immediate release drug products, taking into account in vitro and in vivo comparison as well as the biopharmaceutics drug classification system. The evaluated acceptance criteria are the following: phenoxymethylpenicillin potassium (80% in 30 min), glimepiride (80% in 15 min) and levofloxacin (80% in 30 min). Typically, for immediate release formulations, one limit is specified for the dissolution to ensure the release of the active ingredient within the present time period. Since phenoxymethylpenicillin potassium and levofloxacin belong to Case 1, no in vitro/in vivo correlation is expected, absorption may be gastric emptying dependent. Glimepiride is categorized to Case 2. Nevertheless, a correlation with the in vivo dissolution profile does not exist, because of the pH-dependent low solubility of the drug. Finally, recommendations are made for the batch control of drug products in accordance with the four Cases. Copyright 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.

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