Mefloquine Bioequivalence Among 3 Commercially Available Tablets.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Status: Completed

Conditions: Malaria

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other; Other U.S. Federal agency

Identifiers

NCT00544024

DoD#31595

CDC-NCZVED-3620

Details and patient eligibility

About

The objective of this study was to determine the bioequivalence among three commercial tablet formulations of MQ, i.e. Lariam, Mephaquin, and Mefloquine-(AC Farma) when given in combination with artesunate.

Full description

Pharmacokinetic parameters were determined for mefloquine in whole blood from Peruvian subjects with uncomplicated falciparum malaria administered Mephaquin®, Mefloquine-AC Farma, and Lariam®. The Mefloquine-AC Farma arm comprised 13 patients while the reference (Lariam) and Mephaquin arms consisted of 12 patients. Although Cmax was significantly less (p=0.04) in the Mephaquin arm (AUC0-t = 2500 ng/ml/day) relative to the reference (AUC0-t = 2820 ng/ml/day) arm, there were no significant differences in the AUC∞, tmax, and t1/2 for Mefloquine-AC Farma or Mephaquin relative to the reference. Except for the Cmax of the Mefloquine-AC Farma, the 90% confidence intervals for all parameters of both treatments were outside the specified FDA range of 80-125%. Therefore both formulations were not considered bioequivalent to the reference.

Enrollment: 39 patients

Sex: All

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• The inclusion criteria for enrolling patients included; male or non-pregnant female ≥ 18 years of age, infection with P. falciparum alone, with a parasite density between 250 and 50,000 asexual parasites/mm3 as determined by microscopic examination of a thick blood smear, informed consent from patient, and a willingness to be hospitalized for the first 24 hours after therapy is initiated and to return for follow-up visits through day 56.

Exclusion criteria

• Patients exhibiting evidence of severe malaria or with a history of an underlying chronic disease or illness that could interfere with the absorption of MQ, a history of hypersensitivity to MQ, or a history of neuropsychiatric illness or cardiac conduction problems were excluded.

Trial design

39 participants in 3 patient groups

Reference

Description:

Lariam was administered as whole tablets with food and water at a dose of 25 mg/kg (15 mg/kg on the first day and 10mg/kg on the second day) along with artesunate at a dose of 4 mg/kg/day for three days under supervision by clinical staff

T1

Description:

Mephaquin was administered as whole tablets with food and water at a dose of 25 mg/kg (15 mg/kg on the first day and 10mg/kg on the second day) along with artesunate at a dose of 4 mg/kg/day for three days under supervision by clinical staff

T2

Description:

Mefloquine-AC Farma was administered as whole tablets with food and water at a dose of 25 mg/kg (15 mg/kg on the first day and 10mg/kg on the second day) along with artesunate at a dose of 4 mg/kg/day for three days under supervision by clinical staff