Clarithromycin laurate salt: physicochemical properties and pharmacokinetics after oral administration in humans.

OBJECTIVE

To prepare and characterize the physicochemical and pharmacokinetic properties of clarithromycin laurate (CLM-L), a fatty acid salt of clarithromycin (CLM).

METHODS

CLM-L was prepared by a simple co-melting process. The formation of CLM-L was confirmed using FTIR, H NMR, and C NMR. Solubility, intrinsic dissolution rate (IDR), and partitioning properties of CLM-L were determined and compared to those of CLM. Bioavailability of CLM from CLM-L tablets was evaluated in healthy volunteers and compared to immediate release CLM tablets.

RESULTS

CLM-L showed lower aqueous solubility, higher partitioning coefficient, and slower dissolution rate. Tablets of CLM-L also showed a significantly slower in vitro release in comparison to CLM tablets. C, T and AUC of CLM-L tablets and immediate release CLM tablets did not show a significant difference. However, the AUC for the CLM-L tablets tended to be higher than that of CLM tablets at all-time points.

CONCLUSION

CLM-L was successfully prepared and its formation was confirmed. CLM-L was more hydrophobic than CLM. It exhibited a slight in vivo absorption enhancement in comparison to CLM. However, its pharmacokinetic behavior was comparable to that of CLM.