Study of the effect of food on the bioavailability, safety and tolerability of Aterixen® 100 mg tablet in healthy volunteers

The aim. The primary objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of food on the bioavailability of Aterixen® 100 mg tablet after single oral dose under fasting or fed conditions. The secondary objective was to evaluate the pharmacokinetic parameters, safety, and tolerability of Aterixen® 100 mg tablet after single oral dose under fasting or fed conditions. Materials and methods. Healthy male and female volunteers aged 18 to 45 years were included in the study. Due to lack of data about intra-individual variability of the main pharmacokinetic parameters of the active substance in Aterixen® (XC221GI, 1-[2-(1-Methylimidazol-4-yl)-ethyl]perhydroazin-2,6-dione), an adaptive group sequential approach was used in the study. At Stage I, 24 volunteers were randomized into 2 groups (12 in each group): Group 1 (sequence AAB) received treatment A (administration of the drug under fasting conditions) during period I, treatment A during period II and treatment B (administration of the drug under fed conditions) during period III, Group 2 (sequence BBA) received therapy B during period I, therapy B during period II, and therapy A during period III. In each study period, serial blood samples were collected before and throughout 12 h after administration of the study drug. The quantification of the active substance XC221GI in plasma samples was performed using a validated high-performance liquid chromatography method with mass spectrometric detection. Safety evaluation was performed on the basis of frequency and severity of adverse events (AEs) and serious adverse events (SAEs), which were registered based on complaints, physical examination, laboratory tests, and electrocardiography (ECG). Drug tolerability was evaluated in terms of proportion of volunteers who prematurely discontinued participation in the study due to AE/SAE. Results. 24 randomized volunteers completed the study in compliance with the approved study protocol. The averaged pharmacokinetic curves profiles of XC221GI had similar shapes under fasting and fed conditions. Confidence intervals for the ratio of the geometric means for the primary parameters (AUC(0-t) and Cmax) of XC221GI and AUC(0-∞) were within the 80-125 % acceptance interval, while a small in absolute value, but statistically significant differences were noted in time until Cmax is reached. Throughout the study, 2 volunteers reported AEs (low RBC count, low hemoglobin concentration, and low hematocrit value) after receiving the study drug under fed conditions. All reported AEs were mild. The relationship between AEs and the study drug product was assessed by investigator as doubtful. Conclusion. The results of this study indicate that food does not affect the bioavailability of Aterixen® 100 mg, tablets, and the single oral dose of 100 mg was safe and well tolerated by healthy volunteers.