Abstract
A bioequivalence study of $Dilast^{TM}$ Capsule (Chong Kun Dang Pharma. Co., Ltd.) to $Ketas^{(R)}$ Capsule (Han Dok Pharma. Co., Ltd.) was conducted according to the guidelines of Korea Food and Drug Administration (KFDA). Twenty eight healthy male Korean volunteers received each medicine at the ibudilast dose of 20 mg in a $2{\times}2$ crossover study. There was one week wash-out period between the doses. Plasma concentrations of ibudilast were monitored by a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) for over a period of 36 hours after drug administration. $AUC_t$ (the area under the plasma concentration-time curve from time zero to 36 hr) was calculated by the linear trapezoidal rule method. $C_{max}$ (maximum plasma drug concentration) and $T_{max}$ (time to reach $C_{max}$) were compiled from the plasma concentration-time data. Analysis of variance was carried out using logarithmically transformed $AUC_t\;and\;C_{max}$. No significant sequence effect was found for all of the bioavailability parameters indicating that the crossover design was properly performed. The 90% confidence intervals of the $AUC_t$ ratio and the $C_{max}$ ratio for $Dilast^{TM}$ $Capsule/Ketas^{(R)}$ Capsule were $log0.93{\sim}log1.06$ and $log0.93{\sim}log1.11$, respectively. These values were within the acceptable bioequivalence intervals of $log0.80{\sim}log1.25$. Thus, our study demonstrated the bioequivalence of $Dilast^{TM}$ Capsule and $Ketas^{(R)}$ Capsule with respect to the rate and extent of absorption.
