General Pharmacokinetic Characteristics
Posaconazole Injection
Posaconazole injection exhibits dose proportional pharmacokinetics after single doses between 200 and 300 mg in healthy volunteers and patients. The mean pharmacokinetic parameters after single doses with posaconazole injection in healthy volunteers and patients are shown in Table 18.
Table 18: Summary of Mean Pharmacokinetic Parameters (%CV) in Healthy Volunteers (30-minute infusion via peripheral venous line) and Patients (90 minute infusion via central venous line) after Dosing with Posaconazole Injection on Day 1
| Dose (mg)
| n
| AUC0-∞ (ng·hr/mL)
| AUC0-12 (ng·hr/mL)
| Cmax (ng/mL)
| t1/2 (hr)
| CL (L/hr)
|
Healthy Volunteers
| 200
| 9
| 35400 (50)
| 8840 (20)
| 2250 (29)
| 23.6 (23)
| 6.5 (32)
|
300
| 9
| 46400 (26)
| 13000 (13)
| 2840 (30)
| 24.6 (20)
| 6.9 (27)
|
Patients
| 200
| 30
| N/D
| 5570 (32)
| 954 (44)
| N/D
| N/D
|
300
| 22
| N/D
| 8240 (26)
| 1590 (62)
| N/D
| N/D
|
AUC0-∞ =Area under the plasma concentration-time curve from time zero to infinity; AUC0-12 = Area under the plasma concentration- time curve from time zero to 12 hr after the first dose on Day 1; Cmax = maximum observed concentration; t½ = terminal phase half- life; CL = total body clearance; N/D = Not Determined
|
|
Table 19 displays the pharmacokinetic parameters of posaconazole in patients following administration of posaconazole injection 300 mg taken once a day for 10 or 14 days following twice daily dosing on Day 1.
Table 19: Arithmetic Mean (%CV) of PK Parameters in Serial PK-Evaluable Patients Following Dosing of Posaconazole Injection (300 mg)*
Day
| N
| Cmax (ng/mL)
| Tmax † (hr)
| AUC0-24 (ng*hr/mL)
| Cav (ng/mL)
| Cmin (ng/mL)
|
10/14
| 49
| 3280 (74)
| 1.5 (0.98-4.0)
| 36100 (35)
| 1500 (35)
| 1090 (44)
|
AUC0-24 = area under the concentration-time curve over the dosing interval (i.e. 24 hours); Cav= time-averaged concentrations (i.e., AUC0-24h/24hr); Cmin = POS trough level immediately before a subject received the dose of POS on the day specified in the protocol; Cmax = observed maximum plasma concentration; CV = coefficient of variation, expressed as a percent (%); Day = study day on treatment; Tmax = time of observed maximum plasma concentration. * 300 mg dose administered over 90 minutes once a day following twice daily dosing on Day 1 † Median (minimum-maximum)
|
Distribution:
The mean volume of distribution of posaconazole after intravenous solution administration was 261 L and ranged from 226-295 L between studies and dose levels.
Posaconazole is highly bound to human plasma proteins (>98%), predominantly to albumin.
Metabolism:
Posaconazole primarily circulates as the parent compound in plasma. Of the circulating metabolites, the majority are glucuronide conjugates formed via UDP glucuronidation (phase 2 enzymes). Posaconazole does not have any major circulating oxidative (CYP450 mediated) metabolites. The excreted metabolites in urine and feces account for ~17% of the administered radiolabeled dose.
Posaconazole is primarily metabolized via UDP glucuronidation (phase 2 enzymes) and is a substrate for p-glycoprotein (P-gp) efflux. Therefore, inhibitors or inducers of these clearance pathways may affect posaconazole plasma concentrations. A summary of drugs studied clinically with the oral suspension or an early tablet formulation, which affect posaconazole concentrations, is provided in Table 27.
Table 27: Summary of the Effect of Coadministered Drugs on Posaconazole in Healthy Volunteers
Coadministered Drug (Postulated Mechanism of Interaction)
| Coadministered Drug Dose/Schedule
| Posaconazole Dose/Schedule
| Effect on Bioavailability of Posaconazole
|
Change in Mean C max (ratio estimate*; 90% CI of the ratio estimate)
| Change in Mean AUC (ratio estimate*; 90% CI of the ratio estimate)
|
Efavirenz (UDP-G Induction)
| 400 mg once daily × 10 and 20 days
| 400 mg (oral suspension) twice daily × 10 and 20 days
| ↓45% (0.55; 0.47-0.66)
| ↓ 50% (0.50; 0.43-0.60)
|
Fosamprenavir (unknown mechanism)
| 700 mg twice daily x 10 days
| 200 mg once daily on the 1st day, 200 mg twice daily on the 2nd day, then 400 mg twice daily x 8 Days
| ↓21% 0.79 (0.71-0.89)
| ↓23% 0.77 (0.68-0.87)
|
Rifabutin (UDP-G Induction)
| 300 mg once daily x 17 days
| 200 mg (tablets) once daily × 10 days†
| ↓ 43% (0.57; 0.43-0.75)
| ↓ 49% (0.51; 0.37-0.71)
|
Phenytoin (UDP-G Induction)
| 200 mg once daily x 10 days
| 200 mg (tablets) once daily × 10 days†
| ↓ 41% (0.59; 0.44-0.79)
| ↓ 50% (0.50; 0.36-0.71)
|
*Ratio Estimate is the ratio of coadministered drug plus posaconazole to posaconazole alone for Cmax or AUC. † The tablet refers to a non-commercial tablet formulation without polymer.
|
In vitro studies with human hepatic microsomes and clinical studies indicate that posaconazole is an inhibitor primarily of CYP3A4. A clinical study in healthy volunteers also indicates that posaconazole is a strong CYP3A4 inhibitor as evidenced by a >5-fold increase in midazolam AUC. Therefore, plasma concentrations of drugs predominantly metabolized by CYP3A4 may be increased by posaconazole. A summary of the drugs studied clinically, for which plasma concentrations were affected by posaconazole, is provided in Table 28 [see Contraindications (4) and Drug Interactions (7.1) including recommendations].
Table 28: Summary of the Effect of Posaconazole Coadiministered Drugs in Healthy Adult Volunteers and Patients
Coadministered Drug (Postulated Mechanism of Interaction is Inhibition of CYP3A4 by posaconazole)
| Coadministered Drug Dose/Schedule
| Posaconazole Dose/Schedule
| Effect on Bioavailability of Coadministered Drugs
|
Change in Mean C max (ratio estimate*; 90% CI of the ratio estimate)
| Change in Mean AUC (ratio estimate*; 90% CI of the ratio estimate)
|
Sirolimus
| 2-mg single oral dose
| 400 mg (oral suspension) twice daily × 16 days
| ↑572% (6.72; 5.62-8.03)
| ↑ 788% (8.88; 7.26-10.9)
|
Cyclosporine
| Stable maintenance dose in heart transplant recipients
| 200 mg (tablets) once daily x 10 days†
| ↑ cyclosporine whole blood trough concentrations Cyclosporine dose reductions of up to 29% were required
|
Tacrolimus
| 0.05-mg/kg single oral dose
| 400 mg (oral suspension) twice daily × 7 days
| ↑ 121% (2.21; 2.01-2.42)
| ↑ 358% (4.58; 4.03-5.19)
|
Simvastatin
| 40-mg single oral dose
| 100 mg (oral suspension) once daily × 13 days 200 mg (oral suspension) once daily x 13 days
| Simvastatin ↑ 841% (9.41, 7.13-12.44) Simvastatin Acid ↑ 817% (9.17, 7.36-11.43) Simvastatin ↑1041% (11.41, 7.99-16.29) Simavastatin Acid ↑851% (9.51, 8.15-11.10)
| Simvastatin ↑ 931% (10.31, 8.40-12.67) Simvastatin Acid ↑ 634% (7.34, 5.82-9.25) Simvastatin ↑960% (10.60, 8.63-13.02) Simavastatin Acid ↑748% (8.48, 7.04-10.23)
|
Midazolam
| 0.4-mg single intravenous dose‡ 0.4-mg single intravenous dose‡ 2-mg single oral dose‡ 2-mg single oral dose‡
| 200 mg (oral suspension) twice daily x 7 days 400 mg (oral suspension) twice daily x 7 days 200 mg (oral suspension) once daily x 7 days 400 mg (oral suspension) twice daily x 7 days
| ↑ 30% (1.3; 1.13-1.48) ↑62% (1.62; 1.41-1.86) ↑ 169% (2.69; 2.46-2.93) ↑ 138% (2.38; 2.13-2.66)
| ↑ 362% (4.62; 4.02-5.3) ↑524% (6.24; 5.43-7.16) ↑ 470% (5.70; 4.82-6.74) ↑ 397% (4.97; 4.46-5.54)
|
Rifabutin
| 300 mg once daily x 17 days
| 200 mg (tablets) once daily x 10 days†
| ↑ 31% (1.31; 1.10-1.57)
| ↑ 72% (1.72; 1.51-1.95)
|
Phenytoin
| 200 mg once daily PO x 10 days
| 200 mg (tablets) once daily x 10 days†
| ↑ 16% (1.16; 0.85-1.57)
| ↑ 16% (1.16; 0.84-1.59)
|
Ritonavir
| 100 mg once daily x 14 days
| 400 mg (oral suspension) twice daily x 7 days
| ↑ 49% (1.49; 1.04-2.15)
| ↑ 80% (1.8; 1.39-2.31)
|
Atazanavir Atazanavir/ritonavir boosted regimen
| 300 mg once daily x 14 days 300 mg/100 mg once daily x 14 days
| 400 mg (oral suspension) twice daily x 7 days 400 mg (oral suspension) twice daily x 7 days
| ↑ 155% (2.55; 1.89-3.45) ↑ 53% (1.53; 1.13-2.07)
| ↑ 268% (3.68; 2.89-4.70) ↑ 146% (2.46; 1.93-3.13)
|
*Ratio Estimate is the ratio of coadministered drug plus posaconazole to coadministered drug alone for Cmax or AUC. † The tablet refers to a non-commercial tablet formulation without polymer. ‡ The mean terminal half-life of midazolam was increased from 3 hours to 7 to 11 hours during coadministration with posaconazole.
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Additional clinical studies demonstrated that no clinically significant effects on zidovudine, lamivudine, indinavir, or caffeine were observed when administered with posaconazole 200 mg once daily; therefore, no dose adjustments are required for these coadministered drugs when coadministered with posaconazole 200 mg once daily.
Excretion:
Following administration of Noxafil® Oral Suspension, posaconazole is predominantly eliminated in the feces (71% of the radiolabeled dose up to 120 hours) with the major component eliminated as parent drug (66% of the radiolabeled dose). Renal clearance is a minor elimination pathway, with 13% of the radiolabeled dose excreted in urine up to 120 hours (<0.2% of the radiolabeled dose is parent drug).
Posaconazole injection is eliminated with a mean terminal half-life (t½) of 27 hours and a total body clearance (CL) of 7.3 L/h.
Specific Populations
No clinically significant differences in the pharmacokinetics of posaconazole were observed based on age, sex, renal impairment, and indication (prophylaxis or treatment).
Race/Ethnicity:
In a population pharmacokinetic analysis of posaconazole, AUC was found to be 25% higher in Chinese patients relative to patients from other races/ethnicities. This higher exposure is not expected to be clinically relevant given the expected variability in posaconazole exposure.
Patients Weighing More Than 120 kg:
Weight has a clinically significant effect on posaconazole clearance. Relative to 70 kg patients, the Cavg is decreased by 25% in patients greater than 120 kg. Patients administered posaconazole weighing more than 120 kg may be at higher risk for lower posaconazole plasma concentrations compared to lower weight patients [see Use in Specific Populations (8.10)].