Pharmacokinetic comparison of a new sustained-release formulation of glimepiride/metformin 1/500 mg combination tablet and a sustained-release formulation of glimepiride/metformin 2/500 mg combination tablet in healthy korean male volunteers: A randomized, 2-sequence, 2-period, 2-treatment crossover study

Background: The combination of glimepiride and metformin is used for glycemic control in patients with diabetes mellitus. A fixed-dose combination of glimepiride/metformin 2/500 mg slow-release (SR) formulation was developed to improve compliance in polymedicated patients. To accommodate the various dosing regimens of glimepiride, a glimepiride/metformin 1/500 mg SR tablet was also developed. Objective: The goal of this study was to compare the pharmacokinetic properties of SR fixed-dose combinations of glimepiride/metformin 2/500 mg and the newly developed glimepiride/metformin 1/500 mg formulation to meet the regulatory requirements for marketing in Korea. Methods: An open-label, randomized, 2-treatment, 2-period, 2-sequence crossover study was conducted with healthy male volunteers. Eligible subjects were randomly assigned to receive a single dose of glimepiride/metformin 1/500 mg SR (test) or glimepiride/metformin 2/500 mg SR (reference) followed by a 1-week washout period and then administration of the alternate treatment. Serial blood samples were collected immediately before and after dosing for 30 hours, and plasma concentrations were determined by using LC-MS/MS with validated methods. Adverse events were assessed by subjects' self-report and interviews addressing general health-related issues. Safety profiles were evaluated throughout the study. Results: Thirty-three subjects were enrolled (mean [SD] age: 27.9 [4.95] years [range, 21-40 years]). Safety profiles were assessed for all 32 subjects who were administered the study drugs, and pharmacokinetic characteristics were evaluated in the 30 subjects who completed the study. The geometric mean ratios (90% CIs) of test to reference for the dose-normalized C _max and AUC _0-last of glimepiride were 0.98 (0.90-1.07) and 1.06 (0.98-1.14), respectively. In the case of metformin, the geometric mean ratios (90% CIs) of test to reference for C _max and AUC _0-last were 1.06 (0.98-1.15) and 1.04 (0.97-1.12), respectively. Nine adverse events were reported. Among them, loose stool, abdominal pain, and headache were considered to be likely related to the study drug. All reported adverse events were mild in intensity. Conclusions: Dose-proportional characteristics of glimepiride and comparable pharmacokinetic properties of metformin were observed between the SR fixed-dose combinations of glimepiride/metformin 1/500 mg and 2/500 mg. A single dose of either treatment was well tolerated, and the safety profiles of the 2 treatments were comparable in this small, selected all-male group of healthy Korean volunteers. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00934323.