Determination of a potential anxiolytic drug (CGS 20625) in human plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography

An analytical method employing reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography is described for the determination of a potential anxiolytic agent in human plasma. This experimental drug candidate has potent and selective affinity for the central benzodiazepine receptor complex. The compound and internal standard are extracted from buffered plasma (pH 9.0) into ethyl acetate. The solvent is evaporated and the residue is reconstituted in chromatographic mobile phase. Separation is achieved on a 5-microns phenyl column with ultraviolet absorbance detection of the drug and internal standard at 270 nm. Recovery and reproducibility assessments indicate good accuracy (overall relative recovery of 101%) and precision (coefficients of variation from 2.0 to 11%) over the concentration range 10-1000 ng/ml. The limit of quantification for the method is 10 ng/ml. The method is suitable for pharmacokinetic analysis following the administration of 80 mg of drug to normal volunteers.