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Pharmacokinetics of Glycopyrronium Following Repeated Once-Daily Inhalation in Healthy Chinese Subjects

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Abstract

Background and Objectives

Glycopyrronium is a once-daily long-acting muscarinic antagonist for the maintenance treatment of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. This study assessed the pharmacokinetics of inhaled glycopyrronium 50 µg once-daily for 14 days in healthy Chinese subjects.

Methods

In this open-label study, 12 Chinese healthy subjects (six males and six females; mean age 23.1 years [range 18–26 years]) were enrolled and completed the study. Glycopyrronium in plasma was determined using validated liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry method with a lower limit of quantification of 1.5 pg/mL. Plasma pharmacokinetic parameters were determined on Day 1 after first dose and on Day 14 (steady state) after last dose using non-compartmental analysis. Trough pharmacokinetic samples (Days 5, 7, 10 and 12) were collected. Safety was also assessed.

Results

Glycopyrronium was rapidly absorbed into the systemic circulation after inhalation and its plasma concentrations decreased rapidly thereafter. Median time to reach maximum concentration (T max) was reached within 5 min after inhalation on both Days 1 and 14. Accumulation in the systemic exposure to glycopyrronium was observed from the time of first dose administration on Day 1 up to Day 14 and the observed accumulation ratio (R acc) values of area under the plasma drug concentration–time curve [AUC] from time 0 to 24 h post-dose (AUC0–24h) and maximum plasma drug concentration (C max) (Day 14/Day 1) were 2.77 and 1.59, respectively. The elimination half-life (T 1/2) was not reported. Mean effective half-life (T 1/2,acc) was 37.7 h. Pharmacokinetic steady state was reached after 5 days of daily dosing. One subject experienced dry mouth; otherwise glycopyrronium was well tolerated.

Conclusions

Comparison of systemic exposure to glycopyrronium in Chinese versus the non-Chinese population did not indicate clinically relevant ethnic differences. Multiple inhaled doses of glycopyrronium were safe and well tolerated.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank the subjects and the staff at the participating clinical center. The authors also thank Vivek Khanna (professional medical writer; Novartis) for assistance in the preparation of this paper. Writing support was funded by Novartis Pharma AG, Basel, Switzerland. All authors participated in the development and writing of the manuscript and take full responsibility for the content of the article. All authors approved the final version that was submitted.

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Correspondence to Romain Sechaud.

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Funding

The study was supported and funded by Novartis Pharma AG, Basel, Switzerland. Writing support was funded by Novartis Pharma AG, Basel, Switzerland.

Conflict of interest

All authors have completed the Conflict of Interest Disclosure form and declare: RS, SM, HCT, HH, XT, RZ and SR are employees of Novartis. JH has no conflict of interest to declare.

Ethical approval

All procedures in this study were in accordance with the 1964 Helsinki declaration (and its amendments), and the Ethical Committee or institutional review board which approved the study.

Informed consent

Written informed consent was obtained from patients, parents or care givers.

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Sechaud, R., Machineni, S., Tillmann, HC. et al. Pharmacokinetics of Glycopyrronium Following Repeated Once-Daily Inhalation in Healthy Chinese Subjects. Eur J Drug Metab Pharmacokinet 41, 723–731 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13318-015-0300-7

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