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Published in: European Journal of Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics 1/2018

01-02-2018 | Short Communication

Biocomparison Study of Adult and Paediatric Dose Strengths of the Prostacyclin Receptor Agonist Selexipag

Authors: Margaux Boehler, Shirin Bruderer, Ivan Ulč, Jasper Dingemanse

Published in: European Journal of Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics | Issue 1/2018

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Abstract

Background and objectives

Selexipag is an oral, non-prostanoid, selective prostacyclin receptor agonist recently marketed for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in adults. Selexipag may also be an effective treatment in children with PAH. The aim of this study was to compare the pharmacokinetics of selexipag and its active metabolite ACT-333679 following single oral administration of one tablet of 200 µg selexipag (Treatment A) vs. 4 paediatric tablets of 50 µg (Treatment B) in healthy adult male subjects.

Methods

This was an open-label, randomized, two-treatment, two-period, crossover biocomparison study. Bioequivalence criteria were explored and safety variables (vital signs, electrocardiogram, and laboratory parameters) were assessed.

Results

The exploratory analysis showed that the 90% confidence intervals of geometric mean ratio (Treatment B/Treatment A) for maximum plasma concentration (C max), area under the plasma concentration–time curve from zero to infinity (AUC0–∞) of ACT-333679, as well as AUC0–∞ of selexipag, were within the bioequivalence interval (0.80, 1.25). In addition, no relevant difference in C max for selexipag between the two treatments can be concluded. Single oral dose administration of 200 µg selexipag as one tablet of 200 µg or four tablets of 50 µg was well tolerated.

Conclusions

Pharmacokinetic characteristics of selexipag and its metabolite ACT-333679 following administration of one adult tablet of 200 µg selexipag and four paediatric tablets of 50 µg selexipag were comparable.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02745860.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
Biocomparison Study of Adult and Paediatric Dose Strengths of the Prostacyclin Receptor Agonist Selexipag
Authors
Margaux Boehler
Shirin Bruderer
Ivan Ulč
Jasper Dingemanse
Publication date
01-02-2018
Publisher
Springer International Publishing
Published in
European Journal of Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics / Issue 1/2018
Print ISSN: 0378-7966
Electronic ISSN: 2107-0180
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s13318-017-0424-z

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