Bioequivalence and pharmacokinetics of two zidovudine formulations in healthy Brazilian volunteers: an open-label, randomized, single-dose, two-way crossover study.

Background: Zidovudine is a thymidine nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor with activity against HIV type 1. Some (approximately 8) generic formulations of zidovudine are available in Brazil; however, based on a literature search, information concerning their bioavailability and pharmacokinetic properties in the Brazilian population has not been reported.

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the bioavailability and pharmacokinetic properties of 2 capsule formulations of zidovudine 100 mg in healthy Brazilian volunteers.

Methods: This open-label, randomized, 2-way crossover study utilized a 1-week washout period between doses. Blood samples were collected for 8 hours after a single dose of zidovudine 100-mg test (Zidovudina, Fundação para o Remédio Popular, São Paulo, Brazil) or reference formulation (Retrovir, GlaxoSmithKline, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania). Plasma zidovudine concentrations were determined using a validated high-performance liquid chromatography method with ultraviolet detection at 265 nm. C(max), T(max), AUC(0-t), AUC(0-infinity), t(1/2), and the elimination constant (k(e)) were determined using noncompartmental analysis. The formulations were considered bioequivalent if the 90% CIs for C(max), AUC(0-t), and AUC(0-infinity) fell within the interval of 80% to 125%,the regulatory definition set by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Results: Twenty-four healthy volunteers (12 males, 12 females; mean age, 27 years; weight, 60 kg; height, 167 cm) were enrolled and completed the study. The 90% CIs of the treatment ratios for the logarithmic transformed values of C(max), AUC(max)0-t, and AUC(0-infinity) were 80.0% to 113.6%, 93.9% to 109.7%, and 93.6% to 110.1%, respectively. The values for the test and reference formulations were within the FDA bioequivalence definition intervals of 80% to 125%.

Conclusions: In this small study in healthy subjects, no statistically significant differences in C(max), AUC(0-t), and AUC(0-infinity) were found between the test and reference formulations of zidovudine 100-mg capsules. The 90% CIs for the mean ratio values for the test and reference formulations of AUC(0-t), AUC(0-infinity), and C(max) indicated that the reported data were entirely within the bioequivalence acceptance range proposed by the FDA of 80% to 125% (using log-transformed data).