Pharmacokinetics and bioequivalence of ezetimibe tablet in healthy Chinese subjects under fasting and fed conditions.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the pharmacokinetics (PK) parameters of an ezetimibe 10 mg (test drug) and assess its bioequivalence to the branded reference product in healthy Chinese subjects under fasting and fed conditions.

Materials and methods: A single-center, randomized, open-label, four-period, two-sequence, full replicate crossover study was conducted in 88 healthy Chinese subjects under fasting or fed conditions. Subjects received a single oral dose of 10 mg ezetimibe tablet as test or reference formulation. There was a minimum 14-day washout period between each dose. Blood samples were collected at prescribed time intervals, the plasma concentration of free ezetimibe and total ezetimibe (ezetimibe + ezetimibe glucuronide) was determined by a validated ultra performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) method. Pharmacokinetik and bioavailability parameters were estimated via non-compartmental methods. Adverse events were also recorded.

Results: 40 and 48 eligible healthy subjects were enrolled in the fasted and fed study. Under fasting state, total ezetimibe with 90% confidence intervals (CIs) of C_max, AUC_0-t, and AUC_0-∞ were 87.17% (81.99 - 92.66%), 95.98% (92.38-99.72%), and 96.04% (91.37 - 100.95%), respectively. Under fed state, total ezetimibe with 90% confidence intervals (CIs) of C_max, AUC_0-t, and AUC_0-∞ were 98.71% (90.11 - 108.13%), 98.32% (94.71 - 102.06%), and 97.90% (92.68 - 103.42%), respectively. The 90% CIs of the ratio of geometric means (GMRs) of C_max, AUC_0-t, AUC_0-∞ of the test and reference formulation in both fasting and fed conditions fell within the conventional bioequivalence criteria of 0.80 - 1.25. No severe adverse events were observed.

Conclusion: The test and reference 10-mg ezetimibe tablets were bioequivalent under fasting and fed conditions in Chinese subjects. Both preparations showed good safety and tolerability.