Bioequivalence studies of anticancer drugs in animals have been conducted limitedly for abbreviated drug approval which is intended to be used as interchangeable generic drug after expiry of patent or other exclusivity rights of the innovator drug. Th...
Bioequivalence studies of anticancer drugs in animals have been conducted limitedly for abbreviated drug approval which is intended to be used as interchangeable generic drug after expiry of patent or other exclusivity rights of the innovator drug. The purpose of this study was to suggest a draft guideline for the bioequivalence study of anticancer drugs in animal since current Bioequivalence Guideline (KFDA) does not provide information on the evaluation of the bioequivalence when using experimental animalnot human volunteers in detail. After researching guidelines in foreign countries and published articles related to bioavailability or bioequivalence studies in animals, the procedures for the animal care and use, histological control data of beagle dogs, and study design for bioequivalence study in animals were suggested. Bioanalytical methods were developed and validated for an anticancer drug, doxifluridine, and its active metabolite, 5-fluorouracil, and bioequivalence study was conducted after single oral administration of marketed innovator doxifluridine product in beagle dogs using a two-period cross-over design. Based on the results of the bioequivalence study, a draft guideline for the bioequivalencestudy of doxifluridine product in beagle dogs were prepared. The draft guideline includes general considerations related to the bioequivalence study in animals such as the animal care and use, organization and mission of the judging committee, subject selection, subject number, and doxifluridine-specific considerations such as study design, washout period, dose, method of administration, blood sampling schedule and example bioanalytical method. Careful drug-specific consideration is needed when the draft guideline is referenced for bioequivalence study of other drugs in animal. The draft guideline for the bioequivalence study of doxifluridine product in beagle dogs, a final product of this study, is expected to be used as a ground work to establish official guideline, which will provide standardized study procedure for the sponsor and efficient evaluation for the regulatory evaluator.