Objective: To assess the bioequivalence of a new generic and a branded reference formulation of irbesartan/ hydrochlorothiazide 150/12.5 mg tablets, in healthy Mexican volunteers.
Materials and methods: 36 male and female healthy volunteers participated in an open label, single dose, randomized-sequence, 2-way crossover study. Eligible subjects were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive a single 150/12.5 mg dose of either the test or reference formulations followed by a one week washout period. Blood samples were obtained before (sample control) and 0.34, 0.5, 0.75, 1.00, 1.50, 2.00, 2.50, 3.00, 5.00, 8.00, 12.0, 24.0, 36.0, 48.0 and 72.0 hours after dosing. Plasma concentrations of irbesartan and hydrochlorothiazide were analyzed by ultra-high resolution liquid chromatography coupled to a mass-mass detector.
Results: For irbesartan and hydrochlorothiazide, the 90% confidence intervals for AUC0-t, AUC0-∞, Cmax were within 80 – 125 limits.
Conclusions: According to the Mexican regulations, it may be concluded that both formulations are bioequivalent.
bioequivalence, clinical trial, irbesartan hydrochlorothiazide
Globally cardiovascular disease accounts for approximately 17 million deaths a year, nearly one third of the total [1]. Of these, complications of hypertension account for 9.4 million deaths worldwide every year [2]. Hypertension is responsible for at least 45% of deaths due to heart disease, and 51% of deaths due to stroke [1]. A person over the age of 55 years has a 90% lifetime risk of developing hypertension [3].
In Mexico one of four adults have a diagnosis of hypertension (25.5%) according to the National Health and Nutrition Survey 2016, weighted results [4].
Hypertension plays a major etiologic role in the development of cerebrovascular disease, ischemic heart disease, cardiac and renal failure [3]. Treating hypertension has been associated with about 40% reduction in the risk of stroke and about a 15% reduction in the risk of myocardial infarction [5].
In order to achieve significant reductions in the avoidable cardiovascular disease burden, a combination of population-based in high risk strategies is necessary. These strategies should target lifestyle-related risk factors such as unhealthy diet, physical inactivity and tobacco use, as well as the intermediate manifestations of this lifestyles; hypertension, glucose intolerance and hyperlipidemia [5].
The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) is thought to be involved in the pathogenesis of isolated systolic hypertension by reducing the elastin content and increasing the collagen content of the arterial wall, thickening and fibrotic remodeling of the vascular intima, and inducing proliferation of arterial smooth-muscle cells, resulting in increased thickness, stiffening, and partial loss of contractility. Therefore, agents that block the RAAS, i.e., angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) or angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, provide the potential for beneficial effects on arterial stiffness in patients with isolated systolic hypertension that are independent of the agents’ BP-lowering effects [6,7]
In 2014, the Eighth Joint National Committee (JNC 8) published the evidence-based guideline for the management of high blood pressure in adults, recommended for initial therapy for black should include a thiazide-type diuretic or a calcium channel blocker (including diabetic patients) and for nonblack patients (including diabetic patients) should include a thiazide-type diuretic, a calcium channel blocker, an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, or an angiotensin receptor blocker [8].
Irbesartan is a potent and selective angiotensin II subtype 1 receptor antagonist indicated for use in patients with hypertension, including those with type 2 diabetes mellitus and nephropathy. Once-daily administration of irbesartan provided 24-hour control of blood pressure [9].
Hydrochlorothiazide belongs to a group of medicines called diuretics. Thiazide diuretics are particularly effective in preventing stroke and HF in hypertensive patients. These drugs are very effective in the elderly and very elderly patients [10].
These combinations has an additive antihypertensive effect, reducing blood pressure to a greater degree than either component alone [11].
The association of low-dosed diuretics in combination with RAAS blocking agents allows maximum benefit from potassium depletion and control of compensatory increase in renin secretion, so increasing the efficacy and safety of RAAS blockers. Irbesartan is a potent and selective angiotensin II subtype 1 receptor antagonist indicated for use in patients with hypertension, including those with type 2 diabetes mellitus and nephropathy [11].
The combination of the ARB irbesartan with the thiazide diuretic hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) has demonstrated efficacy and safety as initial therapy in patients with moderate and severe hypertension as well as in a broad range of patients who do not achieve BP goal on antihypertensive monotherapy [12,13].
In Mexico there are few alternatives of drugs with this fixed combination, so it is very important to have generic products that meet the criteria of quality and effectiveness for this disease with high incidence in Mexican population.
Subjects
The study was approved by the Research and Ethic Comittees and the Federal Commission for the Sanitary Risk Protection of Mexico (Comisión Federal de Protección contra Riesgos Sanitarios, COFEPRIS) [14]. It also followed the Good Clinical Practices Guidelines [15], the ethical principles for medical research for humans stated in the Declaration of Helsinki [16], the General Health Law of Mexico (Ley General de Salud, México) [17], and the Regulations of the General Health Law for Health Research (Reglamento de la ley General de Salud en Materia de Investigación para la Salud, México) [18]. Additionally, this study was conducted according to the Mexican Official Norm (NOM177-SSA1-2013) [19].
Thirty-six Mexican subjects were included in this clinical trial and were determined as healthy by clinical and laboratoy test. All of them were informed regarding the posible risks and adverse events after taking the study products. All the subjects gave their informed written consent to participate in the study.
Study design
This clinical trial was conducted according to an open, randomized, single-dose, crossover design, performing under fasting conditions, two periods, two sequences, with a washout period of seven days. The sample size was determined considering an expected power of 80% and the intra-subject variability of irbesartan/hydrochlorothiazide reported in the literature [20]. The test product was irbesartan/hydrochlorothiazide tablets of 150 mg and 12.5 mg respectively (Landsteiner Scientific, S.A. de C.V., México [LP-BE15/004]), whereas the reference product was Coaprovel® (Sanofi-Aventis de México, S.A. de .C.V. [B4B617]). The administration of one tablet in two different periods. The sample schedule was 0.00, 0.34, 0.5, 0.75, 1.00, 1.50, 2.0, 2.50, 3.00, 5.00, 8.00, 12.0, 24.0, 36.0, 48.0 and 72.0 h after the dose. The blood samples were obtained with heparin tubes, the plasma was separated by centrifugation (2500 g × 5 min at 4 ± 2°C) and stored at a temperature below -40°C until the analysis. The safety of the subjects was monitored during the whole study.
Pharmacokinetics and statistical analysis
Concentrations of drug plasmatic samples were obtained using an analitycal validated method by HPLC MS/MS.
Statistical analysis was performed with Phoenix WinNonlin® 6.3 to determine pharmacokinetic values that establish the extent and rate of drug absorption. Cmax values (ng/mL) were obtained directly from experimentally observed data for each volunteer during the bioequivalence study. The AUC values (h * ng/mL) were also obtained using the WinNonlin® 6.3 computer program by the trapezoid method. The elimination rate (Ke) was calculated by log-linear regression of the final elimination phase (λ), and the elimination half-life (t1/2) was calculated by dividing ln 2/Ke. The area under the extrapolated curve at infinity (AUC0 → ∞) was determined by adding the quotient of the last measured concentration between Ke for each volunteer during the bioequivalence study to AUC0-t.
Subsequently, to determine the bioequivalence by the Classical Confidence Interval (CI) the parameters Cmax, AUC0-t, and AUC0→∞ of Hydrochlorothiazide and Irbesartan for formulations evaluated, the bioequivalence criteria was within 80 – 125%.
Study population
Thirty-six Mexican healthy volunteers (17 women and 19 men) were included in this study, aged between 20 and 50 years (26.69 ± 6.64), and body weight between 44 and 85 kg (62.40 ± 10.74 kg) body mass index was 24.0 ± 2.7 kg/m2.
Pharmacokinetic analysis
The next figures show the geometric mean plasma levels versus time of the arithmetic data and transformed semi-logarithmically for both drugs.
Results of the pharmacokinetics analysis after oral tablet administration of 12.5 mg of hydrochlorothiazide and 150 mg of irbesartan (reference and test product) in 35 subjects that completed the study are summarized in Table 1.
Table 1. Pharmacokinetics parameters of hydrochlorothiazide and irbesartan
Hydrochlorothiazide |
Variable |
Coaprovel® |
Hydrochlorothiazide with irbesartan |
Cmax (ng/mL)+ |
126.65 (49.49) |
124.57 (40.55) |
AUC0-t (ng *h/mL)+ |
803.57 (56.78) |
798.31 (35.48) |
AUC0-∞ (ng *h/mL)+ |
777.03 (34.76) |
823.06 (34.82) |
t 1/2 (h) + |
9.57 (16.72) |
9.69 (21.86) |
tmax ++ |
2.50 |
2.00 |
Irbesartan |
Cmax (ng/mL)+ |
2455.08 (36.89) |
2309.68 (41.50) |
AUC0-t (ng *h/mL)+ |
13279.16 (41.62) |
13800.55 (42.62) |
AUC0-∞ (ng *h/mL)+ |
13371.44 (41.78) |
13936.50 (42.82) |
t 1/2 (h) + |
9.26 (36.84) |
10.32 (39.18) |
tmax ++ |
1.50 |
1.50 |
+ Geometric mean, (CV% Geometric Mean)
++ Median
n =35
In Table 2 are shown the results of the 90% CI of the ratio of the geometric means considering the intrasubject variability. As observed, the values of the CI are within the range of acceptance (80 - 125%).
Table 2. 90% CI of Cmax, AUC0-t and AUC0-∞.
Pharmacokinetic parameters |
90% CI of the ratio test/reference |
Intrasubject CV
(%) |
Hydrochlorothiazide |
Ln Cmax (ng/mL) |
87.5180 - 111.4038 |
30.38 |
Ln AUC0-t (ng*h/mL) |
87.8172 - 113.1077 |
31.94 |
Ln AUC0-µ (ng*h/mL) |
100.6860 - 110.8311 |
11.72 |
Irbesartan |
Ln Cmax (ng/mL) |
86.7827 - 102.3793 |
20.56 |
Ln AUC0-t (ng*h/mL) |
97.5541 - 110.3395 |
15.25 |
Ln AUC0-µ (ng*h/mL) |
97.6872 - 110.7788 |
15.58 |
Figure 1. Geometric mean plasma levels of hydrochlorothiazide versus time in linear and semilogarithmic scale. (a) Geometric mean plasma levels of hydrochlorothiazide versus time in linear and (b) in semilogarithmic scale, following the administration of the test (red line) and reference products (blue line). Geometric mean plasma levels of irbesartan versus time in linear and semilogarithmic scale. (c) Geometric mean plasma levels of irbesartan versus time in linear and (d) in semilogarithmic scale, following the administration of the test (red line) and reference products (blue line).
The final number of evaluated subjects was 35, one volunteer was excluded because of receiving concomitant medication (itraconazole and miconazole) for the treatment of a non-serious adverse event not related to the study (dermatitis). A total of 22 non-serious adverse events were presented during the study.
The elimination half-life for hydrochlorotiazide was 9.57 and 9.69 for reference and test products, respectively. The washout period of 7 days was sufficient and no pre-dose concentration were showed. Time to reach maximum plasma concentration for hydrochlorotiazide observed was around 2 h and for irbesartan was 1.5 h, the maximum plasma concentration for hydrochlorotiazide observed was around 125 ng/mL and 2400 ng/mL for irbesartan.
The limits of 90% CIs for ratios of Cmax, AUC0-t and AUC0-∞ for their log-transformed data fell within 80 to 125 as given in table 2, both formulations are statistically equal in terms of rate and extent of absorption, so the bioequivalence between both formulations can be concluded.
The analysis of variance for all the analyzed parameters showed no significant differences for irbesartan and only AUC’s for hydrochlorotiazide showed effect in sequence, nevertheless, no pre-dose concentration were obtained in second session.
With the results obtained it was concluded that the test product is bioequivalent to the reference formulation according to Mexican and world regulations because the 90% CIs are within the acceptance range of 80–125%.
The authors and the trial staff both contributed to the manuscript. The authors acknowledge the staff of Clinica de Enfermedades Crónicas y de Procedimientos Especiales (CECYPE). All named authors meet the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors criteria for authorship for this manuscript, take responsibility for the integrity of the work as a whole, and have given final approval of the version to be published.
This study was performed entirely by CECYPE and was supported by Landsteiner Scientific, S.A. de C.V. Mexico.
Nora Angélica Núñez Guzmán, Daniel Ruiz Molina, Adriana Ivett Muñoz Ibarra, Benigno Figueroa Núñez are employed by CECYPE and declare no conflicts of interest.
Jorge Almada Alba is employee of Landsteiner Scientific, S.A. de C.V. and receives a salary of the organization. He does not hold any stocks or shares in an organization that may gain or lose financially from the publication of this manuscript. The organization is not financing this manuscript.
All procedures followed were in accordance with the ethical standards of the responsible committee on human experimentation (institutional and national) and with the Declaration of Helsinki. Informed consent was obtained from all subjects included in the clinical trial.
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