The bioavailability of a generic preparation of ketoconazole (Zorinax from Xepa-Soul Pattinson, Malaysia) was evaluated in comparison with the innovator product (Nizoral from Janssen Pharmaceutica, Switzerland). Eighteen healthy male volunteers participated in the study conducted according to a two-way crossover design. The bioavailability was compared using the parameters, total area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC0-infinity), peak plasma concentration (Cmax) and time to reach peak plasma concentration (Tmax). No statistically significant difference was observed between the values of the two products in all the three parameters. Moreover, the 90% confidence interval for the ratio of the logarithmic transformed AUC0-infinity and Cmax values of Zorinax over Nizoral was found to lie between 0.82-1.04 and 0.83-1.02, respectively, being within the acceptable equivalence limit of 0.80-1.25. These findings indicate that the two preparations are comparable in the extent and rate of absorption. In addition, the elimination rate constant (ke) and apparent volume of distribution (Vd) were calculated. For both parameters, there was no statistically significant difference between the values obtained from the data of the two preparations. Moreover, the values are comparable to those reported in the literature.
* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.