Aims To assess the absolute bioavailability, pharmacokinetics and metabolism of beclomethasone dipropionate (BDP) in man following intravenous, oral, intranasal and inhaled administration. Methods Twelve healthy subjects participated in this seven-way cross-over study where BDP was administered via the following routes: intravenous infusion (1000 mg), oral (4000 mg, aqueous suspension), intranasal (1344 mg, aqueous nasal spray) and inhaled (1000 mg ex-valve, metered dose inhaler). The contribution of the lung, nose and gut to the systemic exposure was assessed by repeating the inhaled, intranasal and oral dosing arms together with activated charcoal, to block oral absorption. Blood samples were collected for 24 h postdose for the measurement of BDP, beclomethasone-17-monopropionate (B-17-MP) and beclomethasone (BOH) in plasma by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Results Intravenous administration of BDP (mean CL 150 l h x1 , V ss 20 l, t K 0.5 h) was associated with rapid conversion to B-17-MP which was eliminated more slowly (t 1/2 2.7 h). In estimating the parameters for B-17-MP (mean CL 120 l h x1 , V ss 424 l) complete conversion of BDP to B-17-MP was assumed. The resultant plasma concentrations of BOH were low and transient. BDP was not detected in plasma following oral or intranasal dosing. The mean absolute bioavailability (%F, 90% CI; nominal doses) of inhaled BDP was 2% (1±4%) and not reduced by coadministration of charcoal. The mean percentage F of the active metabolite B-17-MP was 41% (31±54%), 44% (34±58%) and 62% (47±82%) for oral, intranasal and inhaled dosing without charcoal, respectively. The corresponding estimates of nasal and lung absorption, based on the coadministration of charcoal, were <1% and 36% (27±47%), respectively. Conclusions Unchanged BDP has negligible oral and intranasal bioavailability with limited absorption following inhaled dosing due to extensive (95%) presystemic conversion of BDP to B-17-MP in the lung. The oral and intranasal bioavailabilities of the active metabolite B-17-MP were high and similar, but direct absorption in the nose was insigni®cant. The total inhaled bioavailability of B-17-MP (lung + oral) was also high (62%) and approximately 36% of this was due to pulmonary absorption. Estimates of oral bioavailability and pulmonary deposition based on total BOH were approximately half those found for B-17-MP.

The effect of food on the bioavailability of GW420867X, a novel nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor, was investigated in 15 young, healthy, male volunteers. A single oral dose of GW420867X 100 mg was administered in the fasted state, after a high-fat meal, and after a meal of normal fat composition. Tolerability and pharmacokinetic sampling were assessed at baseline and up to 600 hours. The median concentration-time plots for each treatment group were essentially superimposable. Neither the rate nor the extent of absorption of GW420867X was significantly affected by food. The median time to peak plasma concentration was 3 to 4 hours, irrespective of treatment. Pairwise comparisons using the fasted treatment as the comparator showed no impact of food on GW420867X pharmacokinetics. GW420867X was well tolerated. There were no serious or treatment-limiting adverse events; all episodes reported were rated as mild to moderate. The bioavailability of GW420867X was unaffected by food. GW420867X may be administered independently of food and fat intake.