Development and validation of a rapid HPLC method for the determination of oseltamivir phosphate in Tamiflu and generic versions.

Oseltamivir phosphate (OP) is an antiviral drug that is used in the treatment and prophylaxis of both influenza A and influenza B. It is effective against all known influenza viruses than can infect humans, including pandemic influenza viruses and may be the most appropriate antiviral option against avian influenza caused by H5N1 virus. Tamiflu, the registered trademark used under exclusive license by Roche laboratories with OP as active pharmaceutical ingredient, is considered the best treatment for the bird flu disease. A simple, selective, linear, accurate and precise HPLC method was developed and validated for rapid assay of OP aimed to the quality control of Tamiflu capsules and generic versions. Isocratic elution at a flow rate of 1.2 mL/min was employed on a Zorbax CN column (150 mm x 4.6mm; 5 microm) at ambient temperature. The mobile phase consisted of methanol and 0.04 M formic acid pH 3.0 (50:50, v/v). The UV detection wavelength was 226 nm and 20 microL of sample was injected. Sotalol hydrochloride was used as the internal standard (IS). The retention times for OP and IS were 3.40 and 2.25 min, respectively. The method was successfully applied to commercial pharmaceuticals, Tamiflu and generic versions. The proposed method could be applicable for routine analysis of OP and monitoring of the quality of marketed drugs as possibly counterfeit Tamiflu.