Enantioselective oral bioavailability of 0-isovaleryl propranolol as a potential prodrug of propranolol.

The enantioselective oral bioavailability of propranolol (PL) from 0-isovaleryl-PL was determined and compared with parent PL in beagle dogs. The bioavailability of the individual enantiomer from the prodrug increased about 2 fold. The AUC ratio between the S(-)- and R(+)-isomer posed at 0.89 which was statistically not different from that obtained after administration of PL alone. These features indicate that 0-isovaleryl-PL promises to be a potential prodrug of PL from the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic point of view.