Abstract
The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the bioequivalence of two donepezil tablets, $Aricept^{TM}$ tablet (Dae Woong Pharm. Co., Ltd., Korea, reference drug) and $Donpezil^{TM}$ tablet (Dong Wha Pharm. Ind. Co., Ltd., Korea, test drug), according to the guidelines of Korea Food and Drug Administration (KFDA). Twenty-four healthy male Korean volunteers received one tablet containing donepezil hydorchloride 10 mg in a $2{\times}2$ crossover study. There was a three-week washout period between the doses. Plasma concentrations of donepezil were monitored by an LC-MS/MS far over a period of 240 hr after the administration. $AUC_t$, (the area under the plasma concentration-time curve from time zero to 240 hr) was calculated by the linear trapezoidal rule method. $C_{max}$ (maximum plasma drug concentration) and $T_{max}$ (time to reach $C_{max}$)were compiled from the plasma concentration-time data. Analysis of variance was carried out using logarithmically transformed $AUC_t$ and $C_{max}$, No significant sequence effects were found for all of the bioavailability parameters indicating that the crossover design was properly performed. The 90% confidence intervals of the $AUC_t$ and $C_{max}$ were log 0.95${\sim}$log 1.03 and log 0.94${\sim}$log 1.08, respectively. These values were within the acceptable bioequivalence intervals of log 0.80${\sim}$log 1.25. Taken together, our study demonstrated the bioequivalence of $Aricept^{TM}$ and $Donpezil^{TM}$ with respect to the rate and extent of absorption.
