BIOEQUIVALENCE EVALUATION OF ORALLY DISINTEGRATING STRIPS OF RIZATRIPTAN IN MALE VOLUNTEERS UNDER FASTING CONDITIONS

Objective: A randomized, open-label, balanced, two-treatment, two-period, two-sequence, single-dose, crossover bioequivalence study comparing Rizatriptan 10 mg Orally Disintegrating Strips (ODS, test) with that of established Oral Lyophilisate Rizatriptan 10 mg, Maxalt-MLT® (reference) was conducted in 24 healthy male volunteers under fasting conditions. A single oral dose of 10 mg Rizatriptan was administrated to each volunteer. Methods: Plasma concentrations of Rizatriptan were determined by a validated LC-MS/MS bioanalytical method. The plasma concentrations of Rizatriptan were considered for statistical analysis and for establishing bioequivalence. Pharmacokinetic analysis was done by using the non-compartmental method. Pharmacokinetic parameters Cmax, AUC0→t, AUC 0→∞, t1/2, Tmax, and Ke1 were estimated for each subject and each treatment. Results: Ninety percent confidence intervals (90% CI) calculated for the ratio of AUC0→t, AUC0→∞, and Cmax values for the test and reference formulations were 96.91-110.30%, 96.24-109.07%, and 90.37-113.56%, respectively for Rizatriptan. The 90% CIs of AUC0→t, AUC0→∞, and Cmax values were totally within 80-125%. Conclusion: Based on a statistical analysis of the results, both formulations of Rizatriptan 10 mg, were found to be bioequivalent in terms of rate and extent of absorption under fasting conditions.