Absorption
The total absorption of mesalamine from mesalamine delayed-release tablets 2.4 g or 4.8 g given once daily for 14 days to healthy subjects was found to be approximately 21% to 22 % of the administered dose.
Gamma-scintigraphy studies have shown that a single dose of mesalamine delayed-release tablets 1.2 g (one tablet) passed intact through the upper gastrointestinal tract of fasted healthy subjects. Scintigraphic images showed a trail of radio-labeled tracer in the colon, suggesting that mesalamine had distributed through this region of the gastrointestinal tract.
In a single-dose study, mesalamine delayed-release tablets 1.2 g, 2.4 g and 4.8 g were administered in the fasted state to healthy subjects. Plasma concentrations of mesalamine were detectable after 2 hours and reached a maximum by 9 to 12 hours on average for the doses studied. The pharmacokinetic parameters are highly variable among subjects (Table 4). Mesalamine systemic exposure in terms of area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) was slightly more than dose proportional between 1.2 g and 4.8 g mesalamine delayed-release tablets. Maximum plasma concentrations (C
max) of mesalamine increased approximately dose proportionately between 1.2 g and 2.4 g and sub-proportionately between 2.4 g and 4.8 g of mesalamine delayed-release tablets, with the dose normalized value at 4.8 g representing, on average, 74 % of that at 2.4 g based on geometric means.
Table 4 Mean (SD) Pharmacokinetic Parameters for Mesalamine Following Single-Dose Administration of Mesalamine Delayed-Release Tablets Under Fasting Conditions |
|
Parameter
*of Mesalamine
| Mesalamine Delayed-Release Tablets 1.2 g (N=47)
| Mesalamine Delayed-Release Tablets 2.4 g (N=48)
| Mesalamine Delayed-Release Tablets 4.8 g (N=48)
|
AUC
0-t(ng.h/mL)
| 9039
†(5054)
| 20538 (12980)
| 41434 (26640)
|
AUC
0-∞(ng.h/mL)
| 9578
‡(5214)
| 21084 (13185)
| 44775
§(30302)
|
C
max(ng/mL)
| 857 (638)
| 1595 (1484)
| 2154 (1140)
|
T
max¶(h)
| 9
#(4 to 32.1)
| 12 (4 to 34.1)
| 12 (4 to 34)
|
T
lag¶(h)
| 2
#(0 to 8)
| 2 (1 to 4)
| 2 (1 to 4)
|
T
1/2(h) (Terminal Phase)
| 8.56
‡(6.38)
| 7.05
Þ(5.54)
| 7.25
§(8.32)
|
Food Effects
Administration of a single dose of mesalamine delayed-release tablets 4.8 g with a high-fat meal resulted in further delay in absorption, and plasma concentrations of mesalamine were detectable 4 hours following dosing. However, a high-fat meal increased systemic exposure of mesalamine (mean C
max: increased 91 %; mean AUC: increased 16 %) compared to results in the fasted state. Mesalamine delayed-release tablets were administered with food in the controlled clinical trials
[see Dosage and Administration (
2)]
.
In a single and multiple dose pharmacokinetic study of mesalamine delayed-release tablets, 2.4 g or 4.8 g was administered once daily with standard meals to 28 healthy subjects per dose group. Plasma concentrations of mesalamine were detectable after 4 hours and were maximal by 8 hours after the single dose. Steady state was achieved generally by 2 days after dosing. Mean AUC at steady state was only modestly greater (1.1- to 1.4-fold) than predictable from single dose pharmacokinetics.
Distribution
Mesalamine is approximately 43% bound to plasma proteins at the concentration of 2.5 mcg/mL.
Elimination
Metabolism
The only major metabolite of mesalamine (5-aminosalicylic acid) is N-acetyl-5-aminosalicylic acid. Its formation is brought about by N-acetyltransferase (NAT) activity in the liver and intestinal mucosa cells, principally by NAT-1.
Excretion
Excretion of mesalamine is mainly via the renal route following metabolism to N-acetyl-5-aminosalicylic acid (acetylation); however, there is also limited excretion of the parent drug in urine. Of the approximately 21% to 22% of the dose absorbed, less than 8% of the dose was excreted unchanged in the urine after 24 hours, compared with greater than 13% for N-acetyl-5-aminosalicylic acid. The mean renal clearance (CL
R) in adults ranged from 1.8 L/h to 2.9 L/h following single dose administration and ranged from 5.5 L/h to 6.4 L/h after a multiple dosing for 14 days. The apparent terminal half-lives for mesalamine and its major metabolite after administration of mesalamine 2.4 g and 4.8 g were, on average, 7 to 9 hours and 8 to 12 hours, respectively.
Systemic exposures in adult subjects were inversely correlated with renal function as assessed by estimated creatinine clearance
[see Use in Specific Populations (
8.6)]
.
Specific Populations
Geriatric Patients
In a single-dose pharmacokinetic study of mesalamine, 4.8 g was administered in the fasted state to 71 healthy male and female subjects (28 young (18 to 35 years); 28 elderly (65 to 75 years); 15 elderly (>75 years)). Increased age resulted in increased systemic exposure (approximately 2-fold in C
max) to mesalamine and its metabolite N-acetyl-5-aminosalicylic acid. Increased age resulted in a slower apparent elimination of mesalamine, though there was high between-subject variability.
Table 5 Mean (SD) Pharmacokinetic Parameters for Mesalamine Following Single-Dose Administration of Mesalamine Delayed-Release Tablets 4.8 g under Fasting Conditions to Young and Elderly Subjects |
|
Parameter of 5-ASA
| Young Subjects (18 to 35 years) (N=28)
| Elderly Subjects (65 to 75 years) (N=28)
| Elderly Subjects (75 years and older) (N=15)
|
AUC
0-t(ng.h/mL)
| 51570 (23870)
| 73001 (42608)
| 65820 (25283)
|
AUC
0-∞(ng.h/mL)
| 58057
*(22429)
| 89612
†(40596)
| 63067
‡(22531)
|
C
max(ng/mL)
| 2243 (1410)
| 4999 (4381)
| 4832 (4383)
|
t
max§(h)
| 22 (5.98 to 48)
| 12.5 (4 to 36)
| 16 (4 to 26)
|
t
lag§(h)
| 2 (1 to 6)
| 2 (1 to 4)
| 2 (2 to 4)
|
t
½(h), terminal phase
| 5.68
*(2.83)
| 9.68
†(7.47)
| 8.67
‡(5.84)
|
Renal clearance (L/h)
| 2.05 (1.33)
| 2.04 (1.16)
| 2.13 (1.20)
|
Pediatric Patients
In pediatric patients 5 years to 17 years of age diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, systemic exposure of mesalamine, as measured by mean AUCss and Cmax,ss, increased in a dose-proportional manner between 30 and 60 mg/kg/day of mesalamine and increased in a sub-proportional between 60 and 100 mg/kg/day doses. Pharmacokinetic parameters had moderate to high inter-subject variability with CV% ranging from 36% to 52% in pediatric patients.
The overall systemic exposure of mesalamine following oral administration of 4.8 g once daily for 7 days in a limited number of pediatric patients 5 years to 17 years of age (AUC range of 30,556 to 50,388 ng⋅hr/mL, n=3) was in similar range to that was observed in the healthy adults (AUC of 41,434 ± 26,640 ng⋅hr/mL, n=48) after single dose administration.
The mean renal clearance (CL
R) of mesalamine in pediatric patients (range from approximately 5.0 to 6.5 L/h) seems to be similar to that observed with healthy adult subjects after multiple dose administration.
Drug Interaction Studies
The potential effect of mesalamine (4.8 g given once daily) on the pharmacokinetics of four commonly used antibiotics were evaluated in healthy subjects. The four antibiotics studied and their dosing regimens were as follows: amoxicillin (single 500 mg dose), ciprofloxacin XR (single 500 mg dose), metronidazole (750 mg twice daily for 3.5 days), and sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim (800 mg/160 mg twice daily for 3.5 days). The change in C
maxand AUC of amoxicillin, ciprofloxacin and metronidazole when they were co-administered with mesalamine were all 3% or less. There was an increase of 12% in C
maxand an increase of 15% in AUC of sulfamethoxazole when sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim was co-administered with mesalamine. Coadministration of mesalamine did not result in clinically significant changes in the pharmacokinetics of any of the four antibiotics.