©© 2008 American College of Clinical Pharmacology, Inc.
The Journal of Clinical Pharmacology
, 10.1177/0091270007313327
Effect of Food, Type of Food, and Time of Food Intake on Deferasirox Bioavailability: Recommendations for an Optimal Deferasirox Administration Regimen
Renzo Galanello 1,
Antonio Piga 2,
Maria Domenica Cappellini 3,
Gian Luca Forni 4,
Antonella Zappu ,
Raffaella Origa 1,
Catherine Dutreix 5,
Rossella Belleli 5,
John M. Ford 5,
Gilles-Jacques Rivière 6,
Sébastien Balez 6,
Daniele Alberti 7,
and
Romain Séchaud 5*
1 Università di Cagliari, Italy
2 Università di Torino, Italy
3 Università di Milano, Italy
4 Odpedale Galliera, Genova, Italy
5 Novartis Pharma AG, Basel, Switzerland
6 Novartis Pharma AG, Rueil Malmaison, France
7 Novartis Pharma AG, Origgio, Italy
* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: romain.sechaud{at}novartis.com.
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Abstract |
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Deferasirox (ICL670) is representative of a new class of tridentate iron chelators, formulated as tablets for dispersion. Deferasirox has exhibited high potency and a clinically manageable safety profile in preclinical models and in an extensive clinical program. The effect of food and time of food intake on the pharmacokinetics of deferasirox was investigated in healthy volunteers and patients with transfusional hemosiderosis. The bioequivalence of a single oral dose of deferasirox (20 mg/kg) was assessed following administration either before a high-fat or standard breakfast or concurrent with a standard breakfast in comparison with fasted conditions in healthy volunteers. The bioavailability of deferasirox was determined following a single oral dose (20 mg/kg) under fed and fasted conditions in patients. These data show that the type of food, caloric content, and fat content of the meal influence the bioavailability of deferasirox when consumed concomitantly. In contrast, this is not the case when deferasirox is administered at least 30 minutes before a meal. In conclusion, it is recommended that deferasirox be administered at least 30 minutes prior to meals. When this is not feasible, deferasirox should be administered consistently at the same time before meals to limit the sources of variability that affect absorption.