Safety and tolerability of bismuthyl ecabet suspension, a novel anti-ulcer agent, following single and multiple oral dose administration in healthy Chinese subjects.

Background: Bismuthyl ecabet is a combination of sulfodehydroabietic acid and bismuth, which forms a new type of salt that is useful in treating peptic ulcers and gastritis.

Objective: This study was designed to assess the safety and tolerability of bismuthyl ecabet suspension in healthy Chinese subjects.

Methods: For the study 77 volunteers were randomized into single- or multiple-dose groups for oral administration of bismuthyl ecabet 200-1600 mg once daily or 1200 mg twice daily for 7 days. Safety and tolerability were assessed by adverse events, physical examination and serum biochemistry.

Results: In both the single- and multiple-dose studies, no severe adverse events were observed in any of the volunteers. The main adverse events caused by the drug in single-dose groups were an increase in serum alanine transaminase (ALT), γ-glutamyl transpeptidase, blood urea nitrogen, total bilirubin and skin rash. The numbers of adverse events judged to be possibly related to the drug were 2/18 in the 400 mg, 2/18 in the 800 mg, 1/8 in the 1200 mg, and none in the 200 or 1600 mg dose groups. In the multiple-dose studies, an increased serum ALT and aspartate transaminase (AST) was found in one subject after 7 days of administration of the drug. All serum biochemistry returned to normal levels and skin rash resolved after 7 days without any special treatment.

Conclusion: Bismuthyl ecabet was shown to be safe and well tolerated in healthy Chinese subjects. The oral dosing regimen selected for subsequent phase II/III clinical trials was 800 mg twice daily.