Quantitative determination of rosuvastatin in human plasma by ion pair liquid–liquid extraction using liquid chromatography with electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

Altered Expression of BCRP Impacts Fetal Accumulation of Rosuvastatin in a Rat Model of Preeclampsia

Expression of the breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP/ABCG2) transporter is downregulated in placentas from women with preeclampsia (PE) and in an immunological rat model of PE. While many drugs are substrates of this important efflux transporter, the impact of PE associated BCRP downregulation on maternal and fetal drug exposure has not been investigated. Using the PE rat model, we performed a pharmacokinetic study with rosuvastatin (RSV), a BCRP substrate, to investigate this impact. PE was induced in rats during gestational days (GD) 13 to 16 with daily low-dose endotoxin. On GD18, RSV (3 mg/kg) was administrated intravenously, and rats were sacrificed at time intervals between 0.5 and 6 h. As compared to controls, placental expression of Bcrp and Oatp2b1 significantly decreased in PE rats. A corresponding increase in RSV levels was seen in fetal tissues and amniotic fluid of the PE group (p < 0.05), while maternal plasma concentrations remained unchanged from the controls. An increase in Bcrp expression and decreased RSV concentration were seen in the livers of PE dams. This suggests that PE-mediated transporter dysregulation leads to significant changes in the maternal and fetal RSV disposition. Overall, our findings demonstrate that altered placental expression of transporters in PE can increase fetal accumulation of their substrates.

Determination of Drugs in Clinical Trials: Current Status and Outlook

All pharmaceutical drugs, vaccines, cosmetic products, and many medical breakthroughs must first be approved through clinical research and trials before advancing to standard practice or entering the marketplace. Clinical trials are sets of tests that are required to determine the safety and efficacy of pharmaceutical compounds, drugs, and treatments. There is one pre-phase and four main clinical phase requirements that every drug must pass to obtain final approval. Analytical techniques play a unique role in clinical trials for measuring the concentrations of pharmaceutical compounds in biological matrices and monitoring the conditions of patients (or volunteers) during various clinical phases. This review focuses on recent analytical methods that are employed to determine the concentrations of drugs and medications in biological matrices, including whole blood, plasma, urine, and breast milk. Four primary analytical techniques (extraction, spectroscopy, chromatography, and electrochemical) are discussed, and their advantages and limitations are assessed. Subsequent to a survey of evidence and results, it is clear that microelectromechanical system (MEMS) based electrochemical sensor and biosensor technologies exhibit several notable advantages over other analytical methods, and their future prospects are discussed.

A simple, rapid and fully validated HPLC method for simultaneous quantitative bio-analysis of rosuvastatin and candesartan in rat plasma: Application to pharmacokinetic interaction study

A simple, precise and accurate HPLC method was developed, optimized and validated for simultaneous determination of rosuvastatin and candesartan in rat plasma using atorvastatin as an internal standard. Solid-phase extraction was used for sample cleanup and its subsequent optimization was carried out to achieve higher extraction efficiency and to eliminate matrix effect. A quality by design approach was used, wherein three-level factorial design was applied for optimization of mobile phase composition and for assessing the effect of pH of the mobile phase using Design Expert Software. Adequate separation for both analytes was achieved with a Waters C₁₈ column (250 × 4.6 mm, 5 μm) using acetonitrile-5 mm sodium acetate buffer (70:30, v/v; pH adjusted to 3.5 with acetic acid) as a mobile phase at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min and wavelength of 254 nm. The calibration curves were linear over the concentration ranges 5-150 and 10-300 ng/mL for rosuvastatin (ROS) and candesartan (CAN), respectively. The validated method was successfully applied to a pharmacokinetic study in Wistar rats and the data did not reveal any evidence for a potential drug-drug interaction between ROS and CAN. This information provides evidence for clinical rational use of ROS and CAN.

Analytical Methods for the Determination of Rosuvastatin in Pharmaceutical Formulations and Biological Fluids: A Critical Review

Rosuvastatin calcium (ROS), ( Figure 1 ) belongs to the "statins" group, which is the 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitor. This drug is indicated for dyslipidemias treatment and can help to decrease the level of "bad cholesterol" and can consequently reduce the development of atherosclerosis and the risk of heart diseases. ROS was developed by Astra-Zeneca and it was approved in 2003 by the FDA in the United States. In 2015, under the trade name Crestor®, it was the fourth largest selling drug in the United States with sales above $5 billion. This study presents a literature review of analytical methods for the quantification of ROS in pharmaceutical preparations and biological fluids. The major analytical methods described in this study for ROS were spectrophotometry, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled to ultraviolet (UV) detection, and tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS).

Hydrophilic Interaction Liquid Chromatography-Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry for Therapeutic Drug Monitoring of Metformin and Rosuvastatin in Human Plasma

In this work a hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography/positive ion electrospray mass spectrometric assay (HILIC/ESI-MS) has been developed and fully validated for the quantitation of metformin and rosuvastatin in human plasma. Sample preparation involved the use of 100 μL of human plasma, following protein precipitation and filtration. Metformin, rosuvastatin and 4-[2-(propylamino) ethyl] indoline 2 one hydrochloride (internal standard) were separated by using an X-Bridge-HILIC BEH analytical column (150.0 × 2.1 mm i.d., particle size 3.5 μm) with isocratic elution. A mobile phase consisting of 12% (v/v) 15 mM ammonium formate water solution in acetonitrile was used for the separation and pumped at a flow rate of 0.25 mL min⁻¹. The linear range of the assay was 100 to 5000 ng mL⁻¹ and 2 to 100 ng mL⁻¹ for metformin and rosuvastatin, respectively. The current HILIC-ESI/MS method allows for the accurate and precise quantitation of metformin and rosuvastatin in human plasma with a simple sample preparation and a short a chromatographic run time (less than 15 min). Plasma samples from eight patients were further analysed proving the capability of the proposed method to support a wide range of clinical studies.

Development and validation of a green RP-HPLC method for the analysis of rosuvastatin: a step towards making liquid chromatography environmentally benign

The purpose of this study was to formulate and validate a new green high-performance liquid chromatography-ultraviolet (HPLC)-UV method for quick quantification of rosuvastatin calcium (ROC) in standard drugs. The results showed a combination of ethanol:methanol:ethyl acetate (6:3:1 v/v) at a rate of 1.0 ml/min to be the best for identifying ROC and its separation from its breakdown products. The identification of ROC was achieved using a NUCLEODUR 150 mm×4.6 mm RP C8 column packed using 5 μm filler as the stationary phase and detection was performed at 254 nm. The technique developed was checked for linearity, selectivity, accuracy, precision, robustness and sensitivity as well as specificity. The usefulness of the proposed process was confirmed by analyzing ROC in a prepared self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery system (SNEDDS) and over-the-counter products. The amount of ROC in SNEDDS was found to be 98.38%. The HPLC-UV system we developed effectively determined the ROC peak along with its breakdown products which confirmed the stability-indicating property of the projected system. The system could also be used to compare the solubility of rosuvastatin nanoparticles in standard drugs. These outcomes indicated that the developed HPLC could be effectively used for the regular investigation of ROC in standard drugs, various pharmaceutical formulations and drug release samples.

Simultaneous determination of rosuvastatin and amlodipine in human plasma using tandem mass spectrometry: Application to disposition kinetics

The liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometric assay method for the simultaneous determination of rosuvastatin and amlodipine in human plasma using deuterated analogs as internal standards has been developed and validated. The analytes were extracted from 100 μL aliquots of human plasma via liquid–liquid extraction using a mixture of ethyl acetate and n-hexane (80:20, v/v) as an extraction solvent. The optimized mobile phase was composed of 0.1% formic acid in 5 mM ammonium acetate, methanol, and acetonitrile (20:20:60, v/v/v) and delivered at a flow rate of 0.75 mL/min. The calibration curve obtained was linear (R² ⩾ 0.999) over the concentration range of 0.52–51.77 ng/mL for rosuvastatin and 0.10–10.07 ng/mL for amlodipine. A sample turnover rate of less than 2.5 min makes it an attractive procedure in high-throughput bioanalysis of rosuvastatin and amlodipine. The present method was found to be applicable to clinical studies and the results were authenticated by incurred sample reanalysis.

Pharmacokinetic interaction between rosuvastatin and telmisartan in healthy Korean male volunteers: a randomized, open-label, two-period, crossover, multiple-dose study

PURPOSE

Rosuvastatin, a 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitor, and telmisartan, an angiotensin receptor blocker, are commonly prescribed in combination for the treatment of dyslipidemia accompanied by hypertension. However, the nature of the pharmacokinetic interaction between the 2 drugs is not clearly understood. The goal of the present study was to investigate the pharmacokinetic drug-drug interaction between rosuvastatin and telmisartan in a healthy Korean population.

METHODS

This was a randomized, 2-part, open-label, 2-period, crossover, multiple-dose study, with each part composed of different subjects between the ages of 20 and 55 years. In part 1, each subject received rosuvastatin 20 mg with and without telmisartan 80 mg once daily for 6 consecutive days. In part 2, each subject received telmisartan 80 mg with and without rosuvastatin 20 mg once daily for 6 consecutive days. In both parts, there was a 16-day washout period between mono- and coadministration. Blood samples were collected up to 72 hours after the last dose. Adverse events (AEs) were evaluated through interviews and physical examinations.

FINDINGS

In part 1, the 90% CIs of the geometric mean ratios for the primary pharmacokinetic parameters for coadministration of the 2 drugs to monoadministration of each drug were 1.0736-1.2932 for AUCτ and 1.7442-2.3229 for Cmax,ss for rosuvastatin and 0.9942-1.1594 for AUCτ and 1.3593-1.7169 for Cmax,ss for N-desmethyl rosuvastatin, whereas in part 2, the CIs were 1.0834-1.2672 for AUCτ and 1.1534-1.5803 for Cmax,ss for telmisartan. The most frequently noted AE was cough in part 1, which occurred in 2 subjects receiving the combination therapy, and oropharyngeal pain in part 2, which occurred in 3 subjects receiving the combination therapy. All reported AEs were mild or moderate, and there was no significant difference in incidence between the treatments.

IMPLICATIONS

These findings demonstrated that rosuvastatin and telmisartan mutually affected each other's pharmacokinetics, suggesting a possibility of drug-drug interaction. However, based on dose-response characteristics of the 2 drugs and previous results from other interaction studies, the degree of drug interaction observed in this study was not regarded as clinically significant. All treatments were well tolerated, with no serious AEs observed. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01992601.

Pharmacokinetics and tolerability of multiple-dose rosuvastatin: An open-label, randomized-sequence, three-way crossover trial in healthy Chinese volunteers

BACKGROUND

Rosuvastatin has been reported to be beneficial in the treatment of dyslipidemia. The Cmax and AUC0-t of rosuvastatin were reported to be ~2 to 4 times higher in Chinese subjects compared with white subjects after administration of a single 1-mg/kg dose.

OBJECTIVES

The aims of this study were to assess the pharmacokinetics and tolerability of multiple doses of rosuvastatin in healthy Chinese volunteers.

METHODS

This open-label, randomized-sequence, 3-way crossover trial consisted of three 7-day treatment periods and two 10-day washout periods. Healthy volunteers were randomly allocated to 1 of 3 daily treatment regimens: rosuvastatin 5, 10, or 20 mg. To assess the pharmacokinetics and tolerability of rosuvastatin, blood samples were drawn before dosing (hour 0) on days 5, 6, and 7 and 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 12, 15, 24, 36, 48, 72, and 96 hours after the final dose was administered on day 7. A validated HPLC-MS/MS method was used to determine rosuvastatin levels. A 2-compartment pharmacokinetic model was fitted to the plasma concentration-time profiles obtained for each volunteer. Adverse events (AEs) were monitored throughout the study via subject interview, vital signs, and blood sampling. Serious AEs were those requiring hospitalization, treatment discontinuation, or resulting in death.

RESULTS

Twelve healthy Chinese volunteers (6 men: mean [SD] age, 21.8 [1.7] years; weight, 62.3 [5.8] kg; height, 174.3 [7.2] cm; 6 women: age, 20.8 [1.2] years; weight, 53.2 [4.7] kg; height, 161.3 [4.3] cm) participated in and completed the trial. The mean (SD) steady-state Cmax was significantly greater after ro-suvastatin administration in the 20-mg group compared with the 5-mg group (37.69 [29.83] vs 6.17 [6.03] ng/mL; P = 0.04). The t1/2 was significantly greater in the 20-mg group (15.51 [6.43] hours) compared with the 5-mg group (5.65 [5.08] hours; P = 0.001) and the 10-mg group (8.58 [5.17] hours; P = 0.002). The mean AUC0-t was significantly greater in the 20-mg group compared with the 5-mg group (349.16 [257.20] vs 40.63 [39.31] ng/mL/h; P = 0.02). All AEs were considered by the investigators to be mild in intensity, with the exception of 2 cases of abdominal discomfort (1 man and 1 woman, both in the 5-mg dose group). Two women in the 20-mg group experienced dizziness and cold sweats simultaneously. In the 10-mg group, 1 woman had abdominal discomfort and nausea and 1 woman had jaw pain. All reported AEs were considered possibly related to study drug administration.

CONCLUSIONS

In this small study in healthy Chinese volunteers, rosuvastatin systemic exposure appeared to be dose-proportional over the dosing range of 5 to 20 mg with multiple-dose administration. There was no accumulation of rosuvastatin in the body with the 5- and 10-mg doses. However, the results suggest that rosuva-statin might accumulate when the dose is increased to 20 mg. No serious AEs occurred in any of the 3 dosing groups.

Determination of rosuvastatin at picogram level in serum by fluorimetric derivatization with 9-anthryldiazomethane using HPLC

For the first time, a carboxyl group derivatization assay has been developed and validated for the determination of the cholesterol-lowering drug rosuvastatin in human serum at picogram level by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection. The assay procedure involved a simple one-step liquid-liquid extraction of rosuvastatin with lovastatin as internal standard from serum with an ethyl acetate-methyl tertiary buthyl ether (1:1) mixture. After pre-column derivatization with 9-anthryldiazomethane at room temperature for one hour, the reaction mixture was injected onto a Phenomenex, Synergi C18 column (250 × 4.6 mm, 4 µ i.d.). The analytes were separated with a mobile phase composed of acetonitrile-water in gradient elution mode and detected at λ(em) = 410 nm, exciting at 366 nm. Calibration curves were constructed in concentration range of 0.01-20.0 ng/mL and limit of detection and limit of quantification values were found to be 0.68 and 2.30 pg/mL, respectively. To test suitability of the developed methods for clinic use, the pharmacokinetics of rosuvastatin were investigated after oral administration of a 20 mg rosuvastatin film tablet to a healthy volunteer and maximum plasma concentration, time to reach that concentration and elimination half life were found to be 17.5 ng/mL, 3.5 h and 18.09 h, respectively.

A simple assay for the simultaneous determination of rosuvastatin acid, rosuvastatin-5S-lactone, and N-desmethyl rosuvastatin in human plasma using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)

A simple and sensitive assay was developed and validated for the simultaneous quantification of rosuvastatin acid (RST), rosuvastatin-5S-lactone (RST-LAC), and N-desmethyl rosuvastatin (DM-RST), in buffered human plasma using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). All the three analytes and the corresponding deuterium-labeled (d6) internal standards were extracted from 50 μL of buffered human plasma by protein precipitation. The analytes were chromatographically separated using a Zorbax-SB Phenyl column (2.1 mm × 100 mm, 3.5 μm). The mobile phase comprised of a gradient mixture of 0.1% v/v glacial acetic acid in 10% v/v methanol in water (solvent A) and 40% v/v methanol in acetonitrile (solvent B). The analytes were separated at baseline within 6.0 min using a flow rate of 0.35 mL/min. Mass spectrometry detection was carried out in positive electrospray ionization mode. The calibration curves for all three analytes were linear (R ≥ 0.9964, n = 3) over the concentration range of 0.1-100 ng/mL for RST and RST-LAC, and 0.5-100 ng/mL for DM-RST. Mean extraction recoveries ranged within 88.0-106%. Intra- and inter-run mean percent accuracy were within 91.8-111% and percent imprecision was ≤15%. Stability studies revealed that all the analytes were stable in matrix during bench-top (6 h on ice-water slurry), at the end of three successive freeze and thaw cycles and at -80°C for 1 month. The method was successfully applied in a clinical study to determine the concentrations of RST and the lactone metabolite over 12-h post-dose in patients who received a single dose of rosuvastatin.

Generation of polyclonal antibody with high avidity to rosuvastatin and its use in development of highly sensitive ELISA for determination of rosuvastatin in plasma

In this study, a polyclonal antibody with high avidity and specificity to the potent hypocholesterolaemic agent rosuvastatin (ROS) has been prepared and used in the development of highly sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for determination of ROS in plasma. ROS was coupled to keyhole limpt hemocyanin (KLH) and bovine serum albumin (BSA) using carbodiimide reagent. ROS-KLH conjugate was used for immunization of female 8-weeks old New Zealand white rabbits. The immune response of the rabbits was monitored by direct ELISA using ROS-BSA immobilized onto microwell plates as a solid phase. The rabbit that showed the highest antibody titer and avidity to ROS was scarified and its sera were collected. The IgG fraction was isolated and purified by avidity chromatography on protein A column. The purified antibody showed high avidity to ROS; IC₅₀ = 0.4 ng/ml. The specificity of the antibody for ROS was evaluated by indirect ELISA using various competitors from the ROS-structural analogues and the therapeutic agents used with ROS in a combination therapy. The proposed ELISA involved a competitive binding reaction between ROS, in plasma sample, and the immobilized ROS-BSA for the binding sites on a limited amount of the anti-ROS antibody. The bound anti-ROS antibody was quantified with horseradish peroxidase-labeled second anti-rabbit IgG antibody (HRP-IgG) and 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) as a substrate for the peroxidase enzyme. The concentration of ROS in the sample was quantified by its ability to inhibit the binding of the anti-ROS antibody to the immobilized ROS-BSA and subsequently the color intensity in the assay wells. The assay enabled the determination of ROS in plasma at concentrations as low as 40 pg/ml.

A study of the analytical behaviour of selected new molecular entities using electrospray ionisation ion trap mass spectrometry, liquid chromatography, gas chromatography and polarography and their determination in serum at therapeutic concentrations

This paper provides analytical chemical information on selected new molecular entities (NMEs) which are drugs that have recently been approved by the FDA. These are the antiretroviral drugs, atazanavir, indinavir and emtricitabine, the antibacterial gemifloxacin, rosuvastatine which is a cholesterol-lowering drug, the anti-cancer drug gefitinib and aprepitant for neurological disorders. Electrospray ionisation-quadrupole ion trap mass spectrometry (ESI-MS(n)) was employed to generate tandem mass spectrometric (MS(2)) data of the drugs studied and structural assignments of product ions were supported by quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (QToF-MS/MS). These fragmentation studies were then utilised in the development and validation of a specific and sensitive liquid chromatographic method (LC-ESI-MS(2)) to identify and determine these drugs at therapeutic concentration levels in serum after a single protein precipitation procedure with acetonitrile. In addition, this method was compared to the application of gas liquid chromatography-flame ionisation detection (GLC-FID) and differential pulse polarography (DPP) for the analysis of these NMEs in serum.

Pharmacokinetic properties of rosuvastatin after single-dose, oral administration in Chinese volunteers: a randomized, open-label, three-way crossover study

BACKGROUND

Rosuvastatin, a 3-hydroxy-3-methyl glutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitor ("statin"), has been marketed for the treatment of patients with dyslipidemia.

OBJECTIVES

The objective of this study was to assess the dose proportionality and pharmacokinetic (PK) properties of rosuvastatin after single-dose administration in Chinese volunteers. The effects of food and sex on the PK properties of rosuvastatin in these volunteers were also assessed.

METHODS

This single-dose, randomized, open-label, 3-way crossover trial was conducted at West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, People's Republic of China. Healthy, male and female, adult (aged 20-24 years), Han Chinese volunteers were enrolled. Volunteers were allocated to receive, in randomized order according to a computer-generated randomization schedule, single doses of rosuvastatin (5, 10, and 20 mg) administered in separate trial periods, with a 1-week washout between periods. PK properties (C(max), T(max), AUC(0-t), apparent elimination t(1/2)) and tolerability were assessed immediately before (0 hour) and at 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 12, 15, 24, 36, 48, and 72 hours after study drug administration. The Student-Newman-Keuls test was used to test for linearity. The effects of food intake and sex on the PK properties of rosuvastatin were also investigated in subanalyses using standardized meals and the t test of logarithm-transformed (lg) values to detect differences in C(max) and AUC(0-t) between sexes and between the fed (test) and fasted (reference) states. All of the results were corrected for dose by weight (mg/kg).

RESULTS

The study enrolled 12 healthy Chinese volunteers (6 men: mean [SD] age, 22.3 [1.5] years; mean [SD] weight, 61.8 [2.4] kg [range, 59-64 kg]; 6 women: mean [SD] age, 21.6 [1.4] years; mean [SD] weight, 56.4 [6.4] kg [range, 50-64 kg]). Geometric mean (SD) C(max) values of 10.22 (8.05), 25.86 (18.77), and 44.99 (17.99) ng/mL were achieved at a median T(max) of 2.5 hours after administration of single doses of 5, 10, and 20 mg of rosuvastatin, respectively; the corresponding geometric mean (SD) values of AUC(0-t) were 73.67 (48.78), 210.21 (178.70), and 303.81 (193.29) ng/mL . h(-1), and the mean (SD) apparent elimination t(1/2) values were 13.01 (8.68), 13.33 (5.21), and 15.40 (5.43) hours after administration. The Student-Newman-Keuls test results found that C(max) and AUC(0-t) were both linearly related to dose. In men, the mean (SD) C(max) values were 7.57 (6.49), 20.43 (14.10), and 36.80 (15.64) ng/mL, and the mean (SD) AUC(0-t) values were 51.74 (33.92), 136.35 (97.18), and 232.25 (101.66) ng/mL x h(-1), with the 5-, 10-, and 20-mg doses of rosuvastatin, respectively. In women, the corresponding C(max) values were 13.40 (9.27), 32.44 (23.10), and 54.82 (16.78) ng/mL, and AUC(0-t) values were 99.99 (54.07), 298.85 (223.66), and 430.21 (194.61) ng/mL x h-1. Results of the t tests of (lg)C(max) and (lg)AUC(0-t) found no significant differences between the male and female groups. However, C(max) and AUC(0-t) values of 0.82 ng/mL and 6.87 ng/mL x h-1, respectively, after oral administration of 10 mg of rosuvastatin in the fed state were significantly different from the corresponding values under fasting conditions (both, P < 0.05). Two adverse events (pharyngitis and nausea) were reported in 3 subjects (2 women, 1 man) at the 20-mg fasting state. Two cases of elevated laboratory values (bilirubin, from 16.1 micromol/L at baseline to 31.4 micromol/L; phosphocreatine, from 141 U/L at baseline to 307 U/L) were found at the poststudy follow-up immediately after study completion in 2 volunteers (1 man, 1 woman) at the 10-mg fed state; both values had returned to normal 5 days later.

CONCLUSIONS

The PK properties of rosuvastatin are based on first-order kinetics in the dose range tested. In this small, selected group of healthy Chinese volunteers, no clinically significant differences in PK properties between doses or sexes were found. The absorption of rosuvastatin was significantly decreased in the fed state compared with the fasting state, which suggests that rosuvastatin should be administered on an empty stomach. All rosuvastatin doses tested were well tolerated.