0000000000142116
AUTHOR
Victor Mangas-sanjuan
Erratum: Mangas-Sanjuán, V.; et al. Assessment of the Inter-Batch Variability of Microstructure Parameters in Topical Semisolids and Impact on the Demonstration of Equivalence. Pharmaceutics 2019, 11, 503
Demonstration of similar microstructure is essential for demonstrating the equivalence of generic topical products since the microstructure of semisolids may affect the drug release. The objective of this study was to compare the microstructure-defining physical parameters of different batches of a reference ointment containing calcipotriol and betamethasone (Daivobet 50 µg/0.5 mg/g) in order to define the acceptance range that allows concluding equivalence between these batches. Being batches of the same reference product, they are expected to be clinically equivalent and possess similar microstructure. The 90% confidence intervals for the test/reference ratio of these physical parameters …
The Role of Mathematical Models in Immuno-Oncology: Challenges and Future Perspectives
Immuno-oncology (IO) focuses on the ability of the immune system to detect and eliminate cancer cells. Since the approval of the first immune checkpoint inhibitor, immunotherapies have become a major player in oncology treatment and, in 2021, represented the highest number of approved drugs in the field. In spite of this, there is still a fraction of patients that do not respond to these therapies and develop resistance mechanisms. In this sense, mathematical models offer an opportunity to identify predictive biomarkers, optimal dosing schedules and rational combinations to maximize clinical response. This work aims to outline the main therapeutic targets in IO and to provide a description …
A promising camptothecin derivative: Semisynthesis, antitumor activity and intestinal permeability.
Oral administration of camptothecin (Cm) derivatives and other antitumoral agents is being actively developed in order to improve the quality of life of patients with cancer. Though several lipophilic derivatives of CPT have shown interesting oral bioavailability in preclinical and clinical studies, only Topotecan has been approved for this route of administration. Semisynthesis, antitumor activity, biological inhibition mechanism, and in situ intestinal permeability of 9, 10-[1,3]-Dioxinocamptothecin (CDiox), an unexplored CPT derivative, have been studied in this paper. The hexacyclic analog was as effective as Topotecan and CPT in different tumor cell lines, showing an expected similar a…
In vitro–in vivocorrelations: general concepts, methodologies and regulatory applications
The major objective of in vitro-in vivo correlations is to be able to use in vitro data to predict in vivo performance serving as a surrogate for an in vivo bioavailability test and to support biowaivers. Therefore, the aims of this review are: (i) to clarify the factors involved during bio-predictive dissolution method development; and (ii) the elements that may affect the mathematical analysis in order to exploit all information available. This article covers the basic aspects of dissolution media and apparatus used in the development of in vivo predictive dissolution methods, including the latest proposals in this field as well as the summary of the mathematical methods for establishing …
Variability of permeability estimation from different protocols of subculture and transport experiments in cell monolayers.
Abstract Introduction In vitro models with high predictive ability have been revealed as strong tools for pharmaceutical industry. However, the variability in permeability estimations complicates the comparison and combination of data from different laboratories and it makes necessary the careful validation of the model and the continuous suitability demonstration. The adequate standardization of pre-experimental, experimental and post-experimental factors might help to reduce the inter- and intra-laboratory variability in permeability values. Methods The objective of this paper is the evaluation of the effect of passage number, experimental protocol, time after seeding and calculation meth…
Modified nonsink equation for permeability estimation in cell monolayers: comparison with standard methods.
Cell culture permeability experiments are valuable tools in drug development and candidate selection, but the monolayer preparation protocols and the calculations procedures can affect the permeability estimation. Hence, standardization and method suitability demonstration are necessary steps for using permeability data for regulatory and in vivo prediction purposes. Much attention is usually paid to experimental procedure validation and less to the mathematical analysis of the results although the standard equations used imply several assumptions that many times do not hold. The aim of this study was to use a simulation strategy to explore the performance of a new proposed modified nonsink…
Current Evidence, Challenges, and Opportunities of Physiologically Based Pharmacokinetic Models of Atorvastatin for Decision Making
Atorvastatin (ATS) is the gold-standard treatment worldwide for the management of hypercholesterolemia and prevention of cardiovascular diseases associated with dyslipidemia. Physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) models have been positioned as a valuable tool for the characterization of complex pharmacokinetic (PK) processes and its extrapolation in special sub-groups of the population, leading to regulatory recognition. Several PBPK models of ATS have been published in the recent years, addressing different aspects of the PK properties of ATS. Therefore, the aims of this review are (i) to summarize the physicochemical and pharmacokinetic characteristics involved in the time-course o…
Estimators and confidence intervals of f2 using bootstrap methodology for the comparison of dissolution profiles
Abstract Background and objectives: The most widely used method to compare dissolution profiles is the similarity factor f 2 . When this method is not applicable, the confidence interval of f 2 using bootstrap methodology has been recommended instead. As neither details of the estimator nor the types of confidence intervals are described in the guidelines, the suitability of five estimators and fourteen types of confidence intervals were investigated in this study by simulation. Methods: One million individual dissolution profiles were simulated for the reference and test populations with predefined target population f 2 values, where random samples of different sizes were drawn without rep…
Semi-Mechanistic Pharmacokinetic Model to Guide the Dose Selection of Nimotuzumab in Patients with Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease
Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is a genetic disease characterized by an overexpression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). Nimotuzumab is a recombinant humanized monoclonal antibody against human EGFR. The aim of this study was to develop a population pharmacokinetic model for nimotuzumab and to identify demographic and clinical predictive factors of the pharmacokinetic variability. The population pharmacokinetics (PopPK) of nimotuzumab was characterized using a nonlinear mixed-effect modeling approach with NONMEM®
Innovative in Vitro Method To Predict Rate and Extent of Drug Delivery to the Brain across the Blood–Brain Barrier
The relevant parameters for predicting rate and extent of access across the blood-brain barrier (BBB) are fu,plasma (unbound fraction in plasma), Vu,brain (distribution volume in brain) and Kp,uu,brain (ratio of free concentrations in plasma and brain). Their estimation still requires animal studies and in vitro low throughput experiments which make difficult the screening of new CNS candidates. The aim of the present work was to develop a new whole in vitro high throughput method to predict drug rate and extent of access across the BBB. The system permits estimation of fu,plasma, Vu,brain and Kp,uu,brain in a single experimental system, using in vitro cell monolayers in different condition…
Computer simulations for bioequivalence trials: Selection of analyte in BCS class II and IV drugs with first-pass metabolism, two metabolic pathways and intestinal efflux transporter.
A semi-physiological two compartment pharmacokinetic model with two active metabolites (primary (PM) and secondary metabolites (SM)) with saturable and non-saturable pre-systemic efflux transporter, intestinal and hepatic metabolism has been developed. The aim of this work is to explore in several scenarios which analyte (parent drug or any of the metabolites) is the most sensitive to changes in drug product performance (i.e. differences in in vivo dissolution) and to make recommendations based on the simulations outcome. A total of 128 scenarios (2 Biopharmaceutics Classification System (BCS) drug types, 2 levels of KM Pgp, in 4 metabolic scenarios at 2 dose levels in 4 quality levels of t…
Pharmacokinetics of Intravitreal Anti-VEGF Drugs in Age-Related Macular Degeneration
Intravitreal administration of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) antibodies has become the standard treatment for Age-Related Macular Degeneration; however, the knowledge of their pharmacokinetics is limited. A comprehensive review of the preclinical and clinical pharmacokinetic data that were obtained in different studies with intravitreal bevacizumab, ranibizumab, and aflibercept has been conducted. Moreover, the factors that can influence the vitreous pharmacokinetics of these drugs, as well as the methods that were used in the studies for analytical determination, have been exposed. These anti-VEGF drugs present different charge and molecular weights, which play an importan…
Semi-physiologic model validation and bioequivalence trials simulation to select the best analyte for acetylsalicylic acid
Abstract The objective of this paper is to apply a previously developed semi-physiologic pharmacokinetic model implemented in NONMEM to simulate bioequivalence trials (BE) of acetyl salicylic acid (ASA) in order to validate the model performance against ASA human experimental data. ASA is a drug with first-pass hepatic and intestinal metabolism following Michaelis–Menten kinetics that leads to the formation of two main metabolites in two generations (first and second generation metabolites). The first aim was to adapt the semi-physiological model for ASA in NOMMEN using ASA pharmacokinetic parameters from literature, showing its sequential metabolism. The second aim was to validate this mod…
Assessment of the Inter-Batch Variability of Microstructure Parameters in Topical Semisolids and Impact on the Demonstration of Equivalence
Demonstration of similar microstructure is essential for demonstrating the equivalence of generic topical products since the microstructure of semisolids may affect the drug release. The objective of this study was to compare the microstructure-defining physical parameters of different batches of a reference ointment containing calcipotriol and betamethasone (Daivobet 50 µ
Influence of Inter- and Intra-Batch Variability on the Sample Size Required for Demonstration of Equivalent Microstructure of Semisolid Dosage Forms
Inter- and intra-batch variability of the quality attributes contribute to the uncertainty for demonstrating equivalent microstructure of post-approval changes and generic/hybrids of semisolid topical products. Selecting a representative sample size to describe accurately the in vitro properties of semisolids and to reach enough statistical power to demonstrate similarity between two semisolid topical products is currently challenging. The objective of this work is to establish the number of batches and units per batch to be compared based on different inter-batch and intra-batch variability to demonstrate equivalence in the physical characteristics of the products that ensure a similar mic…
Defining level A IVIVC dissolution specifications based on individual in vitro dissolution profiles of a controlled release formulation.
Regulatory guidelines recommend that, when a level A IVIVC is established, dissolution specification should be established using averaged data and the maximum difference between AUC and Cmax between the reference and test formulations cannot be greater than 20%. However, averaging data assumes a loss of information and may reflect a bias in the results. The objective of the current work is to present a new approach to establish dissolution specifications using a new methodology (individual approach) instead of average data (classical approach). Different scenarios were established based on the relationship between in vitro-in vivo dissolution rate coefficient using a level A IVIVC of a cont…
Pharmacokinetic Characterization and External Evaluation of a Quantitative Framework of Sublingual Buprenorphine in Patients with an Opioid Disorder in Puerto Rico
Background: The aim of this analysis was to characterize the pharmacokinetics (PK) of sublingual buprenorphine (BUP) and its metabolites (buprenorphine glucuronide
Validation of a semi-physiological model for caffeine in healthy subjects and cirrhotic patients.
The objective of this paper was to validate a previously developed semi physiological model to simulate bioequivalence trials of drug products. The aim of the model was to ascertain whether the measurement of the metabolite concentration-time profiles would provide any additional information in bioequivalence studies (Fernandez-Teruel et al., 2009a,b; Navarro-Fontestad et al., 2010). The semi-physiological model implemented in NONMEM VI was used to simulate caffeine and its main metabolite plasma levels using caffeine parameters from bibliography. Data from 3 bioequivalence studies in healthy subjects at 3 different doses (100, 175 and 400mg of caffeine) and one study in cirrhotic patients …
A multilevel object-oriented modelling methodology for physiologically-based pharmacokinetics (PBPK): Evaluation with a semi-mechanistic pharmacokinetic model.
Abstract Background and objective The aims of this study are (i) to assess the predictive reliability of the physiologically based software PhysPK versus the well-known population approach software NONMEM for the cited semi-mechanistic PK model, (ii) to determine whether these modelling approaches are interchangeable and (iii) to compare acausal with causal modelling approaches in the framework of semi-mechanistic PK models. Methods A semi-mechanistic model was proposed, which assumed oral administration of a solid dosage form with a peripheral compartment and two active metabolites. The model incorporates intestinal transit, dissolution limited by solubility, variable efflux transporter ex…
Topiramate pharmacokinetics in neonates undergoing therapeutic hypothermia and proposal of an optimised dosing schedule.
Aim The adequate dosing of topiramate in neonates undergoing therapeutic hypothermia has not been established. The aim of this study was to design a dosing schedule capable of providing topiramate serum concentrations within the accepted therapeutic range. Methods Neonates (n = 52) with hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy and subjected to therapeutic hypothermia were dosed with topiramate, 5 mg/kg on day one and 3 mg/kg on days two to five, to decrease seizure events. A total of 451 topiramate serum concentrations obtained in the patients were used to develop a population pharmacokinetic model using a non-linear mixed-effects modelling approach. Results A one-compartment model with first-order…
Semi-Mechanistic Model for the Antitumor Response of a Combination Cocktail of Immuno-Modulators in Non-Inflamed (Cold) Tumors.
Simple Summary The clinical efficacy of immunotherapies when treating cold tumors is still low, and different treatment combinations are needed when dealing with this challenging scenario. In this work, a middle-out strategy was followed to develop a model describing the antitumor efficacy of different immune-modulator combinations, including an antigen, a toll-like receptor-3 agonist, and an immune checkpoint inhibitor in mice treated with non-inflamed tumor cells. Our results support that clinical response requires antigen-presenting cell activation and also relies on the amount of CD8 T cells and tumor resistance mechanisms present. This mathematical model is a very useful platform to ev…
Evaluation of ABC gene polymorphisms on the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of capecitabine in colorectal patients: Implications for dosing recommendations.
Aims The aims are to develop a population pharmacokinetic model of capecitabine (CAP) and its main metabolites after the oral administration of CAP in colorectal cancer patients with different polymorphisms of the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) gene and a population pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic model capable of accounting for the neutropenic effects, and to optimize the dosing strategy based on the polymorphisms of the ABC gene and/or the administration regimen as a single agent or in combination. Methods Forty-eight patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer were included, with 432 plasma levels of CAP, 5'-desoxi-5-fluorouridine (5'-DFUR) and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), and 370 neutrophil observa…
Semi-mechanistic Pharmacokinetic/Pharmacodynamic model of three pegylated rHuEPO and ior®EPOCIM in New Zealand rabbits.
Abstract Marketed formulations of erythropoietin (EPO) ior®EPOCIM, MIRCERA® and two newly developed pegylated-EPO analogues (PEG-EPO 32 and 40 kDa) formulations were intravenously administered to New Zealand rabbits. A semi-mechanistic Pharmacokinetic/Pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) model describing in a simultaneous and integrated form the time course of reticulocytes, red blood cells and hemoglobin was built to account for the time course of hematopoiesis stimulation after erythropoietin administration. Data analysis was performed based on the population approach with the software NONMEM version 7.3. Erythropoietin disposition of each of the administered formulations was best described with a two…
Population pharmacokinetic model of lithium and drug compliance assessment.
Population pharmacokinetic analysis of lithium during therapeutic drug monitoring and drug compliance assessment was performed in 54 patients and 246 plasma concentrations levels were included in this study. Patients received several treatment cycles (1-9) and one plasma concentration measurement for each patient was obtained always before starting next cycle (pre-dose) at steady state. Data were analysed using the population approach with NONMEM version 7.2. Lithium measurements were described using a two-compartment model (CL/F=0.41Lh-1, V1/F=15.3L, Q/F=0.61Lh-1, and V2/F = 15.8L) and the most significant covariate on lithium CL was found to be creatinine clearance (reference model). Lith…
Mathematical modeling of oral absorption and bioavailability of a fluoroquinolone after its precipitation in the gastrointestinal tract
The objective was to characterize the in vivo absorption and bioavailability (BA) of a low solubility, high permeability fluoroquinolone (CNV97101) that precipitates in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract by mathematical modeling approach. In situ rat intestinal perfusion studies were performed to characterize the absorption mechanism. The oral fraction absorbed in vivo was lower than the predicted based on the in situ intestinal permeability. Two additional routes of administration, intraduodenal (ID) and intraperitoneal (IP) were investigated to explore if precipitation in stomach and subsequent partial re-dissolution were the causes of the lower in vivo BA. Ex vivo precipitation studies with…
Drug gastrointestinal absorption in rat: Strain and gender differences.
Predictive animal models of intestinal drug absorption are essential tools in drug development to identify compounds with promising biopharmaceutical properties. In situ perfusion absorption studies are routinely used in the preclinical setting to screen drug candidates. The objective of this work is to explore the differences in magnitude and variability on intestinal absorption associated with rat strain and gender. Metoprolol and Verapamil absorption rate coefficients were determined using the in situ closed loop perfusion model in four strains of rats and in both genders. Strains used were Sprague-Dawley, Wistar-Han, Wistar-Unilever, Long-Evans and CD∗IGS. In the case of Metoprolol only…
Comparison of free software platforms for the calculation of the 90% confidence interval of f2 similarity factor by bootstrap analysis
Abstract Introduction The calculation of the 90% confidence interval of f2 based on the bootstrap methodology has been proposed and accepted by the main regulatory authorities when the dissolution data shows excessive variability. Different free software platforms allow the calculation of the 90% CI of f2 by means of bootstrapping. Their use in regulatory submissions is growing, but divergent results have been observed between the available software platforms. Therefore, the objective of this work is to analyze the characteristics of these software platforms and evaluate their results. Methods and materials Highly variable in vitro dissolution data from two products were selected. Three dif…