Bioequivalence study of two different clopidogrel bisulfate film-coated tablets

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the bioequivalence of two oral clopidogrel (CAS 113665-84-2) formulations.

The study was conducted as a monocentric, open, randomized, single-dose, two-period crossover trial in 48 healthy volunteers with a duration of hospitalization of approximately 24 h after dosing on day 1 and with a real wash-out period of 7 days. Blood samples were collected for 24 h post dosing in each period. The plasma was separated and the concentrations of clopidogrel were determined by a LC-MS/MS method. AUC(0-tlast), Cmax, tmax, AUC(0-inf), MRT and t1/2 were calculated for both formulations.

The arithmetic means of AUC(0-tlast) and Cmax were 3,656.01 pg x h/ml and 1970.22 pg/ml for the test formulation and 3771.51 pg x h/ml and 1756.52 pg/ml, respectively, for the reference formulation. The mean tmax was 1.16 h for the test and 1.13 h for the reference formulation. The point estimators of the ratios of the test and reference formulations for AUC(0-tlast) and Cmax were 1.042 and 1.115, respectively. Furthermore, the 90% confidence intervals calculated by means of ANOVA-log for the first primary endpoint of the trial, the intra-individual ratio (T/R) of AUC(0-tlast) of clopidogrel was between 0.932 and 1.165. The 90% confidence interval calculated by means of ANOVA-log for Cmax of clopidogrel was between 0.973 and 1.277. The 90% confidence intervals for both parameters were within the predefined acceptance ranges (0.80-1.25 for AUC(0-tlast) and 0.75-1.33 for Cmax). The intraindividual coefficients of variation determined by means of ANOVA-log were 33.51% for AUC(0-tlast) and 41.29% for Cmax.

While both products were bioequivalent in terms of the rate and extent of absorption, the present study also confirmed a high variability for clopidogrel suggesting high volunteer numbers in bioequivalence trials.