Bioavailability of budesonide delivered by the clickhaler® and turbuhaler® dry powder inhalers in healthy volunteers : a pilot study.

OBJECTIVE

To compare the pharmacokinetic profile and bioavailability of budesonide after inhalation from the Clickhaler® dry powder inhaler with the Turbuhaler® as standard.

DESIGN

Randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind, double-dummy, crossover pilot study.

SUBJECTS

Six healthy adult males aged 19 to 44 years (mean age 28 ± 9 years).

METHODS

Each subject received budesonide 1000μg from the Clickhaler® or Turbuhaler® inhaler devices, and oral charcoal was administered to block gastrointestinal absorption. Plasma levels of budesonide and cortisol were determined at timepoints up to 8 hours postdose. Cortisol was also determined 24 hours postdose.

RESULTS

The ratio of the plasma budesonide area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) calculated to 8 hours for the Clickhaler® to Turbuhaler® was 1.17 [90% confidence interval (CI) 0.90 to 1.54], indicating that pulmonary bioavailability was similar following inhalation from the two devices. Likewise, the time to the highest plasma concentration and maximum plasma concentration of budesonide following delivery from the Clickhaler® were similar to those following delivery of budesonide from the Turbuhaler®, with ratios of 0.95 (90% CI 0.51 to 1.77) and 1.14 (90% CI 0.76 to 1.72), respectively. The corresponding ratio for plasma cortisol AUC was 1.03 (90% CI 0.77 to 1.39).

CONCLUSION

Budesonide Clickhaler® and budesonide Turbuhaler® dry powder inhalers demonstrated similar pharmacokinetic profiles, pulmonary bioavailability and systemic activity. As this was a small pilot study, it was not possible to determine the clinical implications of these results, but they suggest that the Clickhaler® and the Turbuhaler® achieve similar drug delivery.