Cetirizine Chewable Bioequivalence and Food Effect Study

The purpose of this study is to establish bioequivalence of a cetirizine 10 mg chewable tablet manufactured at Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc. (McNeil LLC) with two commercially marketed cetirizine 10 mg immediate release (IR) tablets (ZYRTEC®, US reference) and (Australian/EU reference), establish bioequivalence between the two commercial products (ZYRTEC®, US reference and REACTINE®, Australian/EU reference), and to evaluate the effect of food on bioavailability of the cetirizine 10 mg chewable tablet compared to the bioavailability of cetirizine 10 mg chewable tablet administrated with water only. In addition, subject's sensory experience and ease of swallowing of the test product will be assessed.

Inclusion criteria

• Healthy male or female subject between the ages of 18 and 55 years, inclusive. Health is defined as the absence of clinically relevant abnormalities as judged by the Investigator on the basis of a detailed medical history, physical examination, blood pressure, pulse rate measurements, 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG), as well as clinical laboratory tests. The responsible Investigator may request additional investigations or analyses if necessary.
• Non- or ex-tobacco user, being defined as someone who completely stopped smoking or using any form of tobacco or nicotine-containing product for at least 6 months before screening visit of this study.
• For females: Postmenopausal state (i.e. at least 1 year without menses without an alternative medical condition prior to the first study drug administration) or premenopausal /perimenopausal state with an effective means of contraception (as defined in Section 10.5.5).
• For males: No pregnant or lactating spouse or partner at screening and willingness to utilize an acceptable form of birth control with spouse or any potential partner during the study.
• Body Mass Index (BMI) ≥ 18.5 and ≤ 30 kg/m2 with a total body weight >50 kg.
• A personally signed and dated informed consent document, indicating that the subject has been informed of all pertinent aspects of the study.
• Is able to comprehend the requirements of the study (based upon clinical site personnel's assessment) and is willing and able to comply with scheduled visits, treatment plan, laboratory tests, and other study procedures specified within the protocol.

Exclusion criteria

• Use of prescription or non-prescription medications within 5 half-lives before the first IP administration unless these are contraceptives or occasional use of other medications approved by the Investigator.
• Use of any vitamins, dietary and herbal supplements within seven days before first dose of study drug.
• History of any allergy or hypersensitivity (e.g. skin reaction, asthma, angioedema) to cetirizine or any excipients of the formulations.
• If female: is pregnant, has a positive pregnancy test at screening or prior to the first study drug administration, or is planning to become pregnant during the duration of the study, and/or is breast-feeding.
• Has a history of gastrointestinal surgery other than appendectomy.
• Has hypertension, fluid retention, or heart disease either by history or by the medically qualified Investigator's medical judgment.
• Currently suffering from asthma or has a medically significant history of asthma in the opinion of the investigator.
• Has clinically significant renal or hepatic impairment; according to the medically qualified Investigator discretion.
• Was treated with an investigational product within 28 days or within a period less than 5 times the drug's half-life, whichever is longer, preceding the first dose of study drug.
• Preplanned surgical procedures during the study period as this may interfere with the conduct of the study.
• History of alcoholism or substance abuse, as judged by the Investigator, within the past 6 months preceding this study.
• Consumed alcohol beverage(s) within 48 hours preceding the first dose of study drug.
• History of rare hereditary problems of galactose and/or lactose intolerance, lactase deficiency or glucose-galactose malabsorption.
• Any history of tuberculosis.
• Donation or loss of blood within 28 days prior to the first treatment visit if the estimated lost blood volume equaled or exceeded 50 mL.
• Donation or loss of blood within 56 days prior to the first treatment visit if the estimated lost blood volume equaled or exceeded 500 mL.
• Has any acute or chronic medical or psychiatric condition(s) that may increase the risk associated with study participation or IP administration or may interfere with the interpretation of study results and, in the judgment of the medically qualified Investigator, would make the subject inappropriate for entry into this study.
• Relationship to persons involved directly in the conduct of the study (i.e., principal Investigator, sub-Investigators, study coordinators, other study personnel, employees or contractors of the sponsor or Johnson & Johnson subsidiaries, and the family of each).
• Has any clinically important abnormal value for serum chemistry, hematology, or urinalysis at screening. Laboratory values will generally be within the normal ranges, although minor deviations in tests (except those explicitly specified in the inclusion criteria) that are not considered clinically important by the Investigator are acceptable.
• Has a positive test for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) 1 and 2 antibodies, hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), or hepatitis C antibodies (anti-HCV).
• Has a positive test for alcohol or drugs of abuse at screening or prior to the first study drug administration.