• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.223-229
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• 1998

A computer program for personal computers, $K-BEtest^{\circledR}$, was developed to analyze bioequivalence data in accordance with Korean Guidelines for Bioequivalence Test (KGBT). This program is user-friendly, interactive, Hangul-compatible and supports $2{\times}2$ cross-over design as well as $2{\times}2$ Latin square design with various significance levels. This program is able to calculate AUC, $C_{max}$ and $T_{max}$ parameters from the blood drug concentration-time profile of individual subjects and evaluate the parameters statistically for the bioequivalence by ${\pm}20%$ rule, the F-test, the Non-centrality test and 90% confidence intervals. All procedures are supported with graphic interface, interactive menu and outputs in Korean. In this paper, two experimental data sets were analyzed by the program and detailed process was demonstrated. The $K-BEtest^{\circledR}$ program appears to be very effective for analyzing bioequivalence data and can be widely used with convenience and accuracy.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.233-242
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• 2009

Bioequivalence (BE) studies provide important information in the overall set of data that ensure the availability of safe and effective medicines to patients and practitioners. Thus its determination of proper criterion for assessing BE is very important. BE is frequently expressed or measured by estimating area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) and maximum concentration ($C_{max}$) that are reflective of systemic exposure. In all countries except Canada, the acceptance criteria of BE is that the 90% confidence interval of difference in the average values of logarithmic AUC and $C_{max}$ between test and reference products is within the acceptable range of log(0.8) ${\sim}$ log(1.25). In Canada, unlike other countries, point estimation instead of applying 90% confidence interval is applied to assess $C_{max}$ which is, in essence, more variable than AUC. We also compared other parts of BE guidelines which include a fed study, average BE (ABE), scaled-ABE, population BE (PBE), individual BE (IBE), dropout & withdrawal, sampling frequency & time and number of subjects. This article reviews the most recent BE guidelines of Korea, USA, Europe, Canada and Japan, highlighting the differences focused on Korean BE guidelines compared to other countries. It will help us to revise BE guideline of Korea reflecting international trends. Finally, it is strongly recommended that the extended acceptance criterion for the highly variable drug among all the considering aspects for the revision of current BE guideline has to be adopted into Korea BE guideline in the nearest future.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.35-42
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• 1998

A $3{\times}3$ Latin square crossover study for the bioequivalence of three ondansetron formulations was conducted. Test products were $Vominon^{\circledR}$ 8 mg and $Vominon^{\circledR}$ 4 mg tablets and reference product was $Zofran^{\circledR}$ tablet. Twenty one healthy Korean male subjects received each formulation at the ondansetron dose of 8 mg and plasma concentrations of ondansetron were monitored by HPLC for over a period of 12 hr after the oral administration. Statistical procedure for bioequivalence evaluation of AUC {e.g., analysis of variance (ANOVA), multiple comparison and confidence intervals} was carried out. There were no significant differences in AUC among the formulations. The confidence intervals for the AUC of $Vominon^{\circledR}$ 8 mg and $Vominon^{\circledR}$ 4 mg were between -0.24 and 15.54% and between -2.41 and 13.36% respectively, within a range that proposed by the Korea Food and Drug Administration Guidelines for Bioequivalence. These statistical procedure could be standardized and generally applicable for the assessment of bioequivalence for multiple (more than two) formulations.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.229-236
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• 1989

Even though two different preparations are chemically equivalent, the variance of bioavailability differenciates the clinical effect of preparations, so that the preparations need to be evaluated by comparing bioavailability in vivo as well as chemical equivalence. In this study, bioequivalence tests of commercially available isoniazid tablets A, B, C and D (standard) were performed to give some guidelines to bioequivalence test. The bioavailability parameters obtained by drug administeration were statistically analyzed. Statistical evaluation of the data involved an analysis of variance for a cross over design. Cross over design was employed with 8 healthy volunteers. The results were within 20% difference of mean value in the AUC, Cmax, Tmax and amount of urinary excretion (Au) between standard and isoniazid tablets. The results of ANOVA showed no significant differences for 'group or sequence', but almost not for 'between subjects'. The tablet. A, B and D were within 20 min, but tablet C was within 50 min. Tablet A was biologically equivalent in the Au. tablet B biologically equivalent in the Au and AUC. Tablet C was biologically equivalent in the Au. The relationship between the dissolution rate and Au was significant.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.96-100
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• 2006

Korea Food and Drug Administration (KFDA) has been expediting the Biological Equivalence Examination (BEE) project to encourage generic substitution without expense of inappropriate therapeutic outcome. However, little is known about which considerations are most important in making the decision to prescribe a drug among many generic drugs. The purpose of this survey was to identify how strongly the KFDA certification of BEE influenced doctors when they make a choice between brand and generics of glimepiride preparations. Telephone survey was performed towards doctors working at local clinics by using a questionnaire. Most influential factor to doctors' decision was drug cost followed by pharmaceutical representatives, therapeutic efficacy, and review guideline for reimbursement. Advertisement of the drug was the least influential followed by KFDA certification of BEE. The meaning of BEE was best understood by relatively young doctors with specialty in surgical parts. This survey result further indicated that the doctors considered the therapeutic equivalence examination a preferred measure to expedite generic substitution.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2010

K-$BEtest^{(R)}$ is a well known program for bioequivalence test using a $2{\times}2$ design. Lee et al.(1998) and Park et al.(1999) suggested a $3{\times}3$ and $3{\times}2$ design, and also discussed their benefits. We developed a computer program, called BioEquiv, which can analyze some complex experimental designs such as, $3{\times}3$ design and $3{\times}2$ design including a standard $2{\times}2$ design. This program is a user-friendly one and overcomes the disadvantages of K-$BEtest^{(R)}$. The detailed statistical formula and structure of BioEquiv are presented with some examples. The comparison between K-$BEtest^{(R)}$ and BioEquiv are given with actual data analysis. BioEquiv is able to present a table of ANOVA test over some complex experimental designs. Moreover K-$BEtest^{(R)}$ and BioEquiv draw the same result when data consists of $2{\times}2$ design.

• The Korean Society of Law and Medicine
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.91-124
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• 2021

In May 2019, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety revised the "Pharmaceutical Determination and Adjustment Criteria" with the content of differentially calculating the price of generic drugs according to the registration of the drug substance and meeting the requirements for their own bioequivalence test. According to this revised rule, if their own bioequivalence test is not conducted, even the generic drugs that have already been approved would be lowered in price. I wondered whether this system was introduced with sufficient public legal considerations regarding its legislative purposes and means. Therefore, I reviewed the contents of the revised notice based on whether or not it is valid to determine and adjust the price of generic drugs in terms of the legitimacy of legislative purposes and the proportionality principle after introducing the history and background of the rule. First, I raised a question as to whether the purpose of preventing the overrun of generic drugs is indeed legitimate in terms of the legitimacy of the purpose. In order for the revised notice of "reduction of drug prices when the test requirements are not met," to meet the conformity principle, the premise that it is difficult to recognize safety and effectiveness through consignment (joint) bioequivalence test or that these tests are insufficient in safety and efficacy verification than their own test must be established. Nevertheless, it seems that suffficient review has not been carried out. In order to achieve the purpose of securing safety and effectiveness, the focus should be on 'reinforcement of the standards for bioequivalence test and the management of the bioequivalence test itself' rather than whether it is a their own test or a consignment (joint) test. Third, it is contrary to the necessity and substantiality principle that strict standards are uniformly applied to the products that can be considered to have been sufficiently verified for safety and effectiveness after a considerable period of time has passed after the product approval. In many cases, revised administrative legislations quickly enacted and amended in the state of lack of legal review or consensus, while the regulatory effects resulting from it are quite direct and specific to the regulated person. In this respect, I emphasized that the administrative legislative process also requires substantial review and prior control of the regulatory purposes and means, and that the participation of stakeholders in the legislative procedure is to be strengthened.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.51 no.6
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• pp.440-446
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• 2007

Arcabose is a competitive inhibitor of the intestinal ${\alpha}$-glucosidases and reduces the postprandial digestion and absorption of carbohydrate and disaccharides. Due to its negligible oral absorption, measuring drug concentration in the plasma is impractical. Thus, the common pharmacokinetic study is not available to determine the bioequivalence of the generic acarbose preparations. The aim of this study is the establishment of pharmacodynamic assessment method for the bioequivalence test of the generic acarbose preparations. Placebo-controlled cross-over ($3{\times}3$) clinical study was conducted in 23 healthy volunteers. Volunteers received a single oral dose of placebo, reference drug ($Glucoby^{(R)}$ 100 mg, Lot # D043) or test drug ($Glucoby^{(R)}$ 100 mg, Lot # E005) just before breakfast, then blood samples for evaluation of serum glucose and insulin levels were taken during for 4 hours. $C_{max},\;AUC_{0-2},\;AUC_{0-4},\;{\Delta}C_{max},\;{\Delta}AUC_{0-2}\;and\;{\Delta}AUC_{0-4}$ of the postprandial plasma glucose level significantly decreased when a single dose of acarbose 100 mg preparations was administered. However, any significant difference was not detected between the groups taken the reference drug and the test drug. These results proposed that the pharmacodynamic protocols of this study is suitable to use for bioequivalence test of acarbose preparations. On the basis of the results of this study and the data of literature on this subject, the standard protocols of bioequivalence study of acarbose preparation are proposed.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.82-88
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• 2005

A new medical system was started in Korea in 2000 and pharmaceutical affairs law was revised in 2001. According to the revised law, generic substitution is permitted only to therapeutically equivalent generic product. Bioequivalence studies are usually used to demonstrate therapeutic equivalence between reference listed drugs and generic drugs. The issues that are recently heating up in Korea are to increase bioequivalent drug products and at the same time to ensure the credibility of the therapeutic equivalence of generic drugs. Sometimes food can change the bioavailability (BA) of a drug and influence the bioequivalence (BE) between test and reference products as well. Food effects on BA can have clinically significant consequences. Food can alter BA by various means including delaying gastric emptying, stimulating bile flow and changing gastointestinal pH. This paper provides the recently published Korean guideline on food-effect BA and fed BE studies.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.223-228
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• 2004

A new medical system was started in Korea in 2000 and pharmaceutical affairs law was revised in 2001. According to the revised law, generic substitution is permitted only to the drug products which are proven to be bioequivalent to the reference listed drugs. To expand the list of bioequivalence-proven drug products and to ensure the credibility of the therapeutic equivalence of generic drug are the hot issues in Korea. Also, the KFDA has a plan to revise the pharmaceutical affairs law that bioequivalence reports of all the generic prescription drug products should be submitted to the KFDA for drug approval after July in 2004. Therefore, it is increasing the necessity to develop the bioequivalence-demonstrating methods for specific drug substances and preparations which require to conduct food-effect bioavailability or bioequivalence study. There are some differences between US and Japanese guidances of food-effect bioavailability and bioequivalence studies. In this paper, we examined the recently published US guidance about food-effect study and it will be a reference to make our own guidance about food-effect bioavailability and bioequivalence guidances in Korea.