Bioequivalence and Safety of Bilastine 20 mg Orodispersible Tablets and Conventional Tablets: A Randomized, Single-Dose, Two-Period Crossover Study in Healthy Volunteers Under Fasting Conditions

Background and ObjectiveOrodispersible tablets (ODT) rapidly dissolve in the oral cavity and can improve patient's convenience. This pharmacokinetic study assessed the bioequivalence of a novel 20 mg ODT formulation of bilastine compared with bilastine 20 mg tablets in healthy volunteers under fasting conditions.MethodsA phase I, single-center, open-label, two-period, two-sequence crossover randomized clinical trial was conducted. The study comprised two periods, in which participants were administered a single oral dose of bilastine 20 mg in the form of ODT as the test product, or conventional tablets as the reference product, and a washout of 7 days between each period. Blood samples were collected for up to 72 h. Bioequivalence was established if the 90% confidence intervals of the Cmax and AUC0-t were within the acceptance range (80-125%). Safety was evaluated at the follow-up visit (days 4-7 after the second dose) and throughout the study.ResultsA total of 42 healthy volunteers were randomized, and 41 completed the study. Pharmacokinetic parameters were comparable for both formulations after a single dose of 20 mg. Bilastine ODT and conventional tablets were bioequivalent as the 90% confidence intervals of the test over reference ratios were within the predefined range (80-125%). Both formulations were well tolerated and showed a similar safety profile.ConclusionsBilastine ODT was bioequivalent to the reference treatment formulated as conventional tablets when administered as a single oral dose of 20 mg under fasting conditions. Both formulations showed a similar tolerability and safety profile, with no serious adverse events or significant analytical alterations reported.Trial Registration: 2019-004071-39.Date of authorization: 10 December 2019.ConclusionsBilastine ODT was bioequivalent to the reference treatment formulated as conventional tablets when administered as a single oral dose of 20 mg under fasting conditions. Both formulations showed a similar tolerability and safety profile, with no serious adverse events or significant analytical alterations reported.Trial Registration: 2019-004071-39.Date of authorization: 10 December 2019.ConclusionsBilastine ODT was bioequivalent to the reference treatment formulated as conventional tablets when administered as a single oral dose of 20 mg under fasting conditions. Both formulations showed a similar tolerability and safety profile, with no serious adverse events or significant analytical alterations reported.Trial Registration: 2019-004071-39.Date of authorization: 10 December 2019.