• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.213-218
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• 2000

Ondansetron is a potent, highly selective 5-hydroxytryptamine3(5-HT3) receptor- antagonist, for the management of nausea and vomiting induced by cytotoxic chemotherapy and radiography, and the treatment of post-operative nausea and vomiting. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the bioequivalence of two ondansetron tablets, $Zofran^{TM}$, (Glaxo Wellcome Korea Ltd.) and Hana ondansetron (Hana Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.), according to the guidelines of Korea Food and Drug Administration (KFDA). Eighteen normal male volunteers, $23.56{\pm}1.79$ year in age and $67.35{\pm}8.35\;kg$ in body weight, were divided into two groups and a randomized $2{\times}2$ cross-over study was employed. After one tablet containing 8 mg of ondansetron was orally administered, blood was taken at predetermined time intervals and the concentrations of ondansetron in serum were determined using HPLC with UV detector. 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. The results showed that the differences in $AUC_t,\;C_{max}\;and\;T_{max}$ between two tablets were 7.53%, -0.23% and -3.92%, respectively when calculated against the $Zofran^{TM}$, tablet. The powers $(1-{\beta})$ for $AUC_t,\;C_{max}\;and\;T_{max}$ were above 99.00%, above 99.00% and 84.99%, respectively. Minimum detectable differences $(\Delta)\;at\;{\alpha}=0.1\;and\;1-{\beta}=0.8$ were all less than 20% (e.g., 12.25%, 10.88% and 18.37% for $AUC_t,\;C_{max}\;and\;T_{max}$, respectively). The 90% confidence intervals were all within ${\pm}20%$ (e.g., $-0.70{\sim}15.76,\;-7.53{\sim}7.08\;and\;-16.27{\sim}8.42\;for\;AUC_t,\;C_{max}\;and\;T_{max}$, respectively). All of the above parameters met the criteria of KFDA for bioequivalence, indicating that Hana ondansetron tablet is bioequivalent to $Zofran^{TM}$, tablet.