Pharmacokinetics of Ambroxol Sustained Release (Mucosolvan® Retard) Compared with Other Formulations in Healthy Volunteers.

Ambroxol is used in the treatment of acute and chronic respiratory conditions characterized by abnormal mucus secretion and impaired mucus transport and is available in a variety of formulations. This study aimed to compare the steady-state (SS) pharmacokinetic characteristics of extended-release (ER) 75-mg retard capsules with two immediate-release (IR) formulations (60-mg effervescent tablets and 30-mg tablets) over a 24-h period. An open-label, randomized, three-period, six-sequence crossover study was conducted in healthy volunteers aged 18-45 years who had a normal body mass index. The test (ER 75-mg retard capsule once daily) and reference treatments (half of IR 60-mg effervescent tablet twice daily or 30-mg IR tablet twice daily) were administered on days 1-5 of each treatment period. Meals were standardized and concomitant therapy was prohibited. Blood samples for pharmacokinetic assessment were collected on day 5 (SS) of each treatment period. The co-primary endpoints were exposure (AUCSS 0-24) and maximum plasma level (Cmax SS). Twenty-four participants received ambroxol (male n = 13, 54.2%; mean ± standard deviation [SD] age 25.0 ± 6.4 years) and 23 completed the study. ER retard capsules provided similar AUCSS 0-24 compared to IR tablets (geometric means ratio [GMR] 110.7%; 90% confidence interval [CI] 99.8%, 122.7%) and effervescent tablets (GMR 106.9%; 90% CI 100.3%, 114.0%). ER retard capsules provided similar Cmax SS compared to IR tablets (GMR 84.7%, 90% CI 77.0%, 93.3%), and lower Cmax SS compared to effervescent tablets (GMR 80.9%, 90% CI 73.9%, 88.6%). Time to Cmax SS (tmax SS) was longer with ER retard capsules (6.0 h) than with IR tablets (2.0 h) or effervescent tablets (1.0 h). ER ambroxol 75-mg retard capsules given once daily showed a similar pharmacokinetic profile to IR ambroxol formulations and therefore can be used instead of these in the treatment of respiratory conditions. CLINICALTRIALS. NCT02036775.

Citation

Celine Ollier, Ulrike Sent, Margarida Mesquita, Martin C Michel. Pharmacokinetics of Ambroxol Sustained Release (Mucosolvan® Retard) Compared with Other Formulations in Healthy Volunteers. Pulmonary therapy. 2020 Jun;6(1):119-130

PMID: 32372294

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