Bioequivalence Study of Two Formulations of Pregabalin Capsules 150 mg

This was a randomized, open label, two-period, two-sequence, crossover study under fasting condition. The participating subjects were required to have an overnight fast and in the next morning were given orally one capsule of the test drug (Pregabalin 150 mg produced by Dexa Medica) or one capsule of the reference drug (Lyrica® 150 mg, Pfizer Manufacturing Deutschland GmbH, Germany).

Blood samples were drawn immediately before taking the drug (control), at 20, 40 minutes, and 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 6, 9, 12, 24, 36 hours after drug administration. Seven days after the first drug administration (washout period), the procedure was repeated using the alternate drug. The plasma concentrations of pregabalin were determined by using validated liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry detection (LC-MS/MS) method.

Inclusion criteria

• Male and female subjects with absence of significant disease or clinically significant abnormal laboratory values or laboratory evaluation, medical history, or physical examination during the screening and could be considered healthy based on the evaluation
• Aged 18-55 years inclusive
• Preferably non-smokers or smoke less than 10 cigarettes per day
• Able to participate, communicate well with the investigators and willing to provide written informed consent to participate in the study
• Body mass index within 18 to 25 kg/m2
• Vital signs (after 10 minutes rest) within the following ranges:

• Systolic blood pressure: 100-120 mmHg
• Diastolic blood pressure: 60-80 mmHg
• Pulse rate: 60-90 bpm

Exclusion criteria

• Personal/family history of allergy or hypersensitivity or contraindication to pregabalin or allied drugs
• Pregnant or lactating women (urinary pregnancy test was applied to women subjects at screening and before taking the study drug)
• Any major illnesses in the past 90 days or clinically significant ongoing chronic medical illness e.g. congestive cardiac failure (heart failure), hepatitis, hypotensive episodes, hyperglycemia, etc
• Presence of any clinically significant abnormal values during screening, e.g. significant abnormality of liver function test (ALT, alkaline phosphatase, total bilirubin >= 1.5 ULN), renal function test (serum creatinine concentration > 1.4 mg/dL), etc
• Positive hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), anti-HCV, or anti-HIV
• Clinically significant electrocardiogram (ECG) abnormalities
• Any surgical or medical condition (present or history) which might significantly alter the absorption, distribution, metabolism, or excretion of the study drug, e.g. gastrointestinal disease including gastric or duodenal ulcers or history of gastric surgery
• Past history of anaphylaxis or angiodema
• History of drug or alcohol abuse within 12 months prior to screening for this study
• Participation in any clinical trial within the past 90 days calculated from the last visit
• History of any bleeding or coagulative disorders
• History of seizure, epilepsy, or any kind of neurological disorders
• History of difficulty with donating blood or difficulty in accessibility of veins in left or right arm
• A donation or loss of 300 mL (or more) of blood within 3 months before this study's first dosing day
• Intake of any prescription, non-prescription drug, food supplements, or herbal medicines within 14 days of this study's first dosing day