Abstract
Fluconazole is an orally active bis-triazole antifungal agent, which is used in the treatment of superficial and systemic candidiasis and in the treatment of cryptococcal infections in patients with the acquired immuno deficiency syndrome (AIDS). The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the bioequivalence of two fluconazole capsules, Diflucan (Pfizer Pharmaceuticals Korea Inc.) and Flucona (Korean Drug Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd.), according to the guidelines of Korea Food and Drug Administration (KFDA). The fluconazole release from the two fluconazole capsules in vitro was tested using KP VII Apparatus II method at 0.1 M hydrochloride dissolution media. Twenty normal male volunteers, $23.60{\pm}1.88$ years in age and $63.57{\pm}6.17\;kg$ in body weight, were divided into two groups and a randomized $2{\times}2$ cross-over study was employed. After three capsules containing 50 mg as fluconazole was orally administered, blood was taken at predetermined time intervals and the concentrations of fluconazole in serum were determined using HPLC method with UV detector. The dissolution profiles of two fluconazole capsules were very similar at 0.1 M hydrochloride dissolution media. Besides, the pharmacokinetic parameters such as $AUC_t,\;C_{max}\;and\;T_{max}$ were calculated and ANOVA test was utilized for the statistical analysis of the parameters using logarithmically transformed $AUC_t$ and $C_{max}$ and untransformed $T_{max}$. The results showed that the differences in $AUC_t,\;C_{max}\;and\;T_{max}$ between two capsules based on the Diflucan were 4.96%, 5.65% and -13.76%, respectively. There were no sequence effects between two capsules in these parameter. The 90% confidence intervals using logarithmically transformed data were within the acceptance range of log(0.8) to log(1.25) $(e.g.,\;log(1.01){\sim}log(1.08)\;and\;log(1.00){\sim}log(1.12)\;for\;AUC_t\;and\;C_{max},\;respectively)$, indicating that Flucona capsule is bioequivalent to Diflucan capsule.
