Pharmacokinetic and Bioequivalence Com-parison Between Artemether Tablets 80mg: an Open Label, Balanced, Randomized-sequence, Single-dose, Two-period Cross-over Study in Healthy Male Volunteers

Background: This present bioequivalence study was designed to determine the pharmacokinetic, bioavailability and bioequivalence of Artemether (80mg tablets in comparison with COARTEMTM Artemether (4x20mg) tablets after single dose administration under fed conditions in healthy adult male subjects. Therefore the design of an open label, balanced, randomized, two-sequence, single dose, two way crossover study with a wash-out period of at least 7 days was used. Methods: An open-labeled, balanced, single-dose with food, two-treatment, two-period, two-sequence, randomized crossover study was conducted in 12 healthy male volunteers. Each volunteer received 80mg Artemether tablet of the reference or test drug respectively. On the day of dosing, blood samples were collected before dosing and at various time points up to 216 hours after dosing. Analysis of Artemether concentrations was performed using a validated liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method. The pharmacokinetic parameters including Cmax, AUC0-t, AUC0-inf, Tmax, t1/2 and Kel were analyzed using the non-compartmental model. Drug safety and tolerability were assessed. Results: The pharmacokinetic parameters including Cmax, AUC0-t, AUC0-inf, Tmax, t1/2 and Kel were analyzed using the non-compartmental model. Drug safety and tolerability were assessed. The primary pharmacokinetic parameters (Cmax, AUC0-t, AUC0-inf) 90%CI were within the 80 to 125% interval required for bioequivalence as stipulated in the current regulations of the USFDA acceptance criteria. The geometric mean ratios (Test/Reference) between the two products of 80mg tablets under fed condition 105.7% (81.23%-110.58%) for Cmax ratios, 91.0% (90.43%-108.32%) for AUC0-t ratios, 84.8% (80.45%-104.98%) for AUC0-inf ratios of Artemether, respectively. 12 volunteers had completed both treatment periods. There was no significant difference of the Tmax parameter between the two formulations (p >0.05). No serious adverse events related to the study drugs were found. ...