Abstract
Aceclofenac is an orally effective non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent of the phenylacetic acid derivative. Bioequivalence study of two aceclofenac preparations, the test drug (Senafe $n_{R}$: Daewon Phar-maceutical Company) and the reference drug (Airta $l_{R}$: Daewoong Pharmaceutical Company), was conducted according to the guidelines of Korea Food and Drug Administration (KFDA). Sixteen healthy male volunteers, 24$\pm$4 years old and 63.9$\pm$6.9 kg of body weight in average, were divided randomly into two groups and administered the drug orally at the dose of 100 mg as aceclofenac in a 2$\times$2 crossover study. Plasma concentrations of aceclofenac were monitored by HPLC method for 12 hr after administration. AU $Co_{-12h}$ (area under the plasma concentration-time curve from initial to 12 hr) was calculated by the linear trapezoidal method. $C_{max}$ (maximum plasma drug concentration) and $T_{max}$ (time to reach $C_{msx}$) were compiled directly from the plasma drug concentration-time data. Student's t-test indicated no significant differences between the formulations in these parameters. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed that there are no differences in AU $Co_{12h}$, $C_{max}$ and $T_{max}$ between the formulations. The apparent differences between the formulations were far less than 20% (e.g., 0.25, 0.01 and 7.32 for AU $Co_{-12h}$, $C_{max}$. and $T_{max}$, respectively). Minimum detectable differences (%) between the formulations at $\alpha$=0.05 and 1-$\beta$=0.8 were less than 20% (e.g., 14.65, 12.47 and 15.46 for AU $Co_{-l2h}$, $C_{max}$ and $T_{max}$, respectively). The 90% confidence intervals for these parameters were also within $\pm$ 20% (e.g.,-10.19~10.68, -8.87~8.89 and -3.69~ 18.33 for AU $Co_{-12h}$, $C_{msx}$ and $T_{max}$, respectively). These results satisfy the bioequivalence criteria of KFDA guidelines, indicating that two formulations of aceclofenac are bioequivalent.quivalent.ivalent.ent.t.ent.
