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Solubility Determination of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients Which Have Been Recently Added to the List of Essential Medicines in the Context of the Biopharmaceutics Classification System-Biowaiver. J Pharm Sci 2018; 107:1478-1488. [PMID: 29421214 DOI: 10.1016/j.xphs.2018.01.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2017] [Revised: 01/22/2018] [Accepted: 01/26/2018] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Since the publication of Lindenberg et al., which classified orally administered active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) on the 2004 Essential Medicines List (EML) of the World Health Organization according to the Biopharmaceutics Classification System (BCS), various APIs have been added to the EML. In this work, BCS classifications for 16 of the orally administered APIs which were added to the EML after 2004 were determined. To establish a reliable solubility classification for all these compounds, a miniaturized shake-flask method was introduced. This method enables a fast, economical determination of the BCS solubility class while reliably discriminating between "highly soluble" and "not highly soluble" compounds. Nine of the 16 APIs investigated were classified as "highly soluble" compounds, making them potential candidates for an approval of multisource drug products via the BCS-based biowaiver procedure. The choice of dose definition (which currently varies among the guidances pertaining to BCS-based bioequivalence published by various regulatory authorities) had no effect on the solubility classification of any of the 16 substances evaluated. BCS classification of the compounds was then completed using permeability data obtained from the literature. As several APIs decomposed at one or more pH values, a decision tree for determining their solubility was established.
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Hofsäss MA, Souza JD, Silva-Barcellos NM, Bellavinha KR, Abrahamsson B, Cristofoletti R, Groot DW, Parr A, Langguth P, Polli JE, Shah VP, Tajiri T, Mehta MU, Dressman JB. Biowaiver Monographs for Immediate-Release Solid Oral Dosage Forms: Folic Acid. J Pharm Sci 2017; 106:3421-3430. [PMID: 28842299 DOI: 10.1016/j.xphs.2017.08.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2017] [Revised: 08/14/2017] [Accepted: 08/14/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
This work presents a review of literature and experimental data relevant to the possibility of waiving pharmacokinetic bioequivalence studies in human volunteers for approval of immediate-release solid oral pharmaceutical forms containing folic acid as the single active pharmaceutical ingredient. For dosage forms containing 5 mg folic acid, the highest dose strength on the World Health Organization Essential Medicines List, the dose/solubility ratio calculated from solubility studies was higher than 250 mL, corresponding to a classification as "not highly soluble." Small, physiological doses of folic acid (≤320 μg) seem to be absorbed completely via active transport, but permeability data for higher doses of 1-5 mg are inconclusive. Following a conservative approach, folic acid is classified as a Biopharmaceutics Classification System class IV compound until more reliable data become available. Commensurate with its solubility characteristics, the results of dissolution studies indicated that none of the folic acid products evaluated showed rapid dissolution in media at pH 1.2 or 4.5. Therefore, according to the current criteria of the Biopharmaceutics Classification System, the biowaiver approval procedure cannot be recommended for immediate-release solid oral dosage forms containing folic acid.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin A Hofsäss
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Technology, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Jacqueline de Souza
- CiPharma-Post Graduation Course, School of Pharmacy, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Neila M Silva-Barcellos
- CiPharma-Post Graduation Course, School of Pharmacy, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Karime R Bellavinha
- CiPharma-Post Graduation Course, School of Pharmacy, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | | | - Rodrigo Cristofoletti
- Division of Bioequivalence, Brazilian Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa), Brasilia, Brazil
| | - D W Groot
- RIVM-National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Alan Parr
- Bioceutics LCC, Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina 28594
| | - Peter Langguth
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmaceutics, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany
| | - James E Polli
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland 21201
| | - Vinod P Shah
- International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP), The Hague, The Netherlands
| | - Tomokazu Tajiri
- Astellas Pharma Inc., Analytical Research Laboratories, Yaizu, Japan
| | - Mehul U Mehta
- United States Food and Drug Administration, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Silver Spring, Maryland 20993
| | - Jennifer B Dressman
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Technology, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
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Rosario FJ, Powell TL, Jansson T. mTOR folate sensing links folate availability to trophoblast cell function. J Physiol 2017; 595:4189-4206. [PMID: 28374905 DOI: 10.1113/jp272424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2017] [Accepted: 03/29/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
KEY POINTS Folate deficiency during pregnancy is associated with restricted fetal growth, although the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. Here we show that mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) functions as a folate sensor in primary human trophoblast (PHT) cells. Folate sensing by mTOR in PHT cells involves both mTOR Complex 1 and 2 and requires the proton-coupled folate transporter. We report a previously unknown molecular mechanism by which folate regulates trophoblast cell function. Because mTOR is a positive regulator of placental amino acid transport and mitochondrial function, placental mTOR folate sensing may constitute the mechanistic link between maternal folate status and fetal growth. These findings provide new insight into how folate influences human cell physiology and may have implications for our understanding of how altered folate availability causes diseases such as fetal growth restriction, fetal malformations and cancer. ABSTRACT Folate is a water-soluble B vitamin that is essential for cellular methylation reactions and DNA synthesis and repair. Low maternal folate levels in pregnancy are associated with fetal growth restriction, but the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. Mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) links nutrient availability to cell growth and function by regulating gene expression and protein translation. Here we show that mTOR functions as a folate sensor in primary human trophoblast (PHT) cells. Folate deficiency in PHT cells caused inhibition of mTOR signalling and decreased the activity of key amino acid transporters. Folate sensing by mTOR in PHT cells involves both mTOR Complex 1 and 2 and requires the proton-coupled folate transporter (PCFT, SLC46A1). The involvement of PCFT in mTOR folate sensing is not dependent on its function as a plasma membrane folate transporter. Increasing levels of homocysteine had no effect on PHT mTOR signalling, suggesting that mTOR senses low folate rather than high homocysteine. In addition, we demonstrate that maternal serum folate is positively correlated to placental mTORC1 and mTORC2 signalling activity in human pregnancy. We have identified a previously unknown molecular link between folate availability and cell function involving PCFT and mTOR signalling. We propose that mTOR folate sensing in trophoblast cells matches placental nutrient transport, and therefore fetal growth, to folate availability. These findings may have implications for our understanding of how altered folate availability causes human diseases such as fetal growth restriction, fetal malformations and cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fredrick J Rosario
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Theresa L Powell
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA.,Section of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Thomas Jansson
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
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Abstract
From a public health perspective, some of the new insights into folic acid nutrition are of significance. Folate intake recommendations vary under different conditions. Intake of 350 microg is required to maintain plasma homocysteine levels, 650 microg for those with elevated plasma homocysteine, about 400 microg for women planning to become pregnant and 4000 microg for those with history of neural tube defect affected pregnancy. This raises the question whether the folate intake is adequate for the general population, particularly in the vulnerable groups or whether there is a need for scientists to take a fresh view of the requirements, recommended dietary intakes, and consider intervention measures which will have impact on the folate nutritional status. The recommendations should provide a margin of safety to allow for decreased intake, increased requirements, individual variability and bioavailability of natural food folates. The folate intake and nutriture in relation to India and other developing countries needs careful consideration to reduce anemia, neural tube defects and possibly impact on the high incidence of cardiovascular diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Krishnaswamy
- National Institute of Nutrition, Jamai-Osmania, Hyderabad-500007, India.
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