ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to evaluate the bioequivalence of two drug products, generic clopidogrel bisulfate 75 mg film-coated tablets versus the reference Plavix® clopidogrel bisulfate 75 mg film-coated tablets.MethodsBioequivalence of tablets was tested by comparisons against the reference brand product in accordance with the requirements of the Declaration of Helsinki, the current Good Clinical Practice Guidelines, and the International Conference on Harmonization.ResultsThe relationship between concentration and peak area ratio was found to be linear within the range 24.500–1,836.600 pg/mL for clopidogrel. The correlation coefficient (r) was always greater than 0.99 during the course of the validation. Statistical comparison of the main pharmacokinetic parameters showed no significant difference between test and reference. The point estimates (ratios of geometric mean) were 104.122%, 104.184%, and 109.091% for areas under the plasma concentration–time curve (AUC) AUC0-last, AUC0-∞, and peak plasma concentration Cmax, respectively. These pharmacokinetic parameter values of clopidogrel and its main metabolite lie within the bioequivalence limit (80%–125%) specified by the US Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicines Agency.ConclusionThe tested drug product was bioequivalent to the reference drug under fasting conditions and had the same safety profile, which is important to achieve equivalent therapeutic effect with the reference.

A fixed dose combination of desloratadine, a long-acting tricyclic antihistamine with selective peripheral histamine H1 receptor antagonistic activity, and betamethasone, a glucocorticoid, can potentially provide synergistic effect in the treatment of severe allergic conditions and improve clinical outcomes. Co-administration of an anti-allergy medication and a corticosteroid is extensively used in clinical practice, either as single drug tablets or as a fixed dose combination tablet. The current study was conducted to compare the pharmacokinetics of fixed combination tablets of desloratadine and betamethasone in 40 healthy human volunteers after a single oral dose in a randomized two-period, two-treatment, and two-sequence cross-over study. The study protocol was prepared in accordance to the requirements set in the EMA guidance for conducting bioequivalence studies. Reference (Frenaler Cort 5 mg desloratadine/0.6 mg betamethasone film coated tablet, Roemmers S.A.I.C.F., Argentina) and test (Oradus β 5 mg desloratadine/0.6 mg betamethasone film coated tablet, Pharmaline, Lebanon) drugs were administered to fasted volunteers and blood samples were collected up to 72 h and assayed for desloratadine, hydroxydesloratadine metabolite and betamethasone using a validated LC-MS/MS method. The pharmacokinetic parameters AUC 0-t , C max , Tmax, T1/2, Ke, in addition to (for betamethasone only) AUC 0-∞ , MRTinf, and residual area (%) were determined from plasma concentration-time profile by non-compartmental analysis method using thermos Scientific Kinetica (version 5.1). The analysis of variance did not show any significant difference between the two formulations and 90% confidence intervals fell within the acceptable range for bioequivalence (80-125%). The resulting data demonstrated that when administered as fixed dose combination, the pharmacokinetics of desloratadine and betamethasone were bioequivalent and were well-tolerated.