• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.182-186
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• 2007

Cefixime is an orally absorbed cephalosporin with a broad spectrum of activity against Gram-negative bacteria and is highly resistant to beta-lactamase degradation. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the bioequivalence of two cefixime capsules, Suprax capsule (Dong-A Pharmaceutical Co., reference drug) and Alpha-Cefixime capsule (Alpha Pharmaceutical Co., test drug), according to the guidelines of Korea Food and Drug Administration (KFDA). Twenty-four normal subjects, $23.5{\pm}3.72$ years in age and $68.3{\pm}8.89$ kg in body weight, were divided into two groups and a randomized $2{\times}2$ cross-over study was employed. There was one week washout period between the doses. After one capsule containing 100 mg of cefixime was orally administered, plasma was taken at predetermined time intervals and the concentrations of cefixime in plasma were determined using HPLC with UV detector. 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. The results showed that the differences in $AUC_{t}$, $C_{max}$ and $T_{max}$ between two products were -3.91%, -2.23% and -3.18%, respectively, when calculated against the reference drug. The 90% confidence intervals using logarithmically transformed data were within the acceptance range of $log0.8{\leq}{\delta}{\leq}log1.25$ (e.g., $log0.8786{\leq}{\delta}{\leq}log1.0523$ and $log0.8889{\leq}{\delta}{\leq}log1.0512$ for $AUC_{t}$ and $C_{max}$, respectively). The 90% confidence intervals using untransformed data was within ${\pm}20%$(e.g., $-10.37%{\leq}{\delta}{\leq}6.73%$ for $T_{max}$). All parameters met the criteria of KFDA for bioequivalence, indicating that Alpha-Cefixime capsule (Alpha Pharmaceutical Co.) is bioequivalent to Suprax capsule (Dong-A Pharmaceutical Co.).

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.145-149
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• 1999

Bioequivalence of two cefixime capsules, test drug ($Cepirin^R$ capsule: Cheiljedang Corp.) and reference drug ($Suprax^R$ capsule: Dong A Pharm. Com.), was evaluated according to the guidelines of Korea Food and Drug Administration (KFDA). Sixteen healthy volunteers were divided randomly into two groups and administered the drug orally at the dose of 400 mg as cefixime in a $2{\times}2$ crossover study. There was a 1-week washout period between the administrations. Blood samples were taken at predetermined time intervals for 12 hour and the plasma concentration of cefixime was determined with a HPLC method. $AUC_{0-12hr}$ (area under the plasma concentration-time curve form time zero to 12 hour), $C_{max}$ (maximum plasma drug concentration) and $T_{max}$ (time to reach $C_{max}$) were estimated from the plasma drug concentrationtime data. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed no difference in $AUC_{0-12hr}$, $C_{max}$ and $T_{max}$ between the formulations. The apparent differences of these parameters between the formulations were less than 20% (i.e., 8.62, 11.10 and 0.00% for $AUC_{0-12hr}$, $C_{max}$ and $T_{max}$,respectively). The powers $(1-{\beta})$ for $AUC_{0-12hr}$ $C_{max}$ and $T_{max}$ were over 0.9. Minimal detectable difference $({\Delta})$ at ${\alpha}=0.05$, $1-{\beta}=0.8$ were less than 20% (i.e., 12.84, 11.05 and 17.99% for $AUC_{0-12hr}$, $C_{max}$ and $T_{max}$, respectively). The 90% confidence intervals $({\delta})$ for these parameters were also within ${\pm}20%$ (i.e., $-0.53{\le}{\delta}{\le}17.76$, $3.23{\le}{\delta}{\le}18.97$ and $-12.81{\le}{\delta}{\le}12.81$ for $AUC_{0-12hr}$, $C_{max}$ and $T_{max}$, respectively). These results satisfied the criteria of KFDA guideline for bioequivalence, indicating the two formulations of cefixime were bioequivlent.