On the absorption, distribution and excretion of sorbinicate in the rat and the monkey

Absorption, distribution and excretion of 14C-D-glucitol hexanicotinate (sorbinicate, SN) were studied after oral dosing in the rat against 14C-nicotinic acid (NA). SN is absorbed in large quantities from the gastro-intestinal tract, even if to a lesser extent than NA. The serum 14C-radioactivity after SN presents a distinctly different trend from that after NA administration: peak at 8 h (against 15 min for NA), slow excretion, very low and constant levels (peak 1/10 of that induced by NA). The superior performance of SN is explained partly by the different absorption of the two drugs and partly by a strong tropism for the tissues, especially for the liver, of which SN gave proof in the distribution tests. The excretion of 14C after SN in the urine is about half of that after NA whereas excretion in the feces is several times greater. Some results obtained in the monkey substantially confirm the findings in the rat.