Formulation and in vitro and in vivo evaluation of film-coated montelukast sodium tablets using Opadry(®) yellow 20A82938 on an industrial scale

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to formulate stable film-coated montelukast sodium (MS) tablets using Opadry(®) yellow 20A82938 (Montikast(®) tablets) and to evaluate their in vitro and in vivo release profile. METHODS: MS core tablets were manufactured using a direct compression method. Opadry yellow 20A82938 aqueous coating dispersion was used as the film-coating material. Dissolution of the film-coated tablets was tested in 900 mL of 0.5% sodium lauryl sulfate solution and the bioequivalence of the tablets was tested by comparing them with a reference formulation – Singulair(®) tablets. In vitro–in vivo correlation was evaluated. The stability of the obtained film-coated tablets was evaluated according to International Conference on Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Registration of Pharmaceuticals for Human Use guidelines. RESULTS: The efficiency of the film coating was determined by subjecting the coated tablets to gastric pH and drug release was analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography. The coated tablets had no obvious defects. MS release met the study criterion of not less than 80% dissolved after 30 minutes in 0.5% sodium lauryl sulfate solution. Statistical comparison of the main pharmacokinetic parameters clearly indicated no significant difference between test and reference in any of the calculated pharmacokinetic parameters. Level A correlation between in vitro drug release and in vivo absorption was found to be satisfactory. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that aqueous film coating with Opadry yellow 20A82938 is an easy, reproducible, and economical approach for preparing stable MS film-coated tablets without affecting the drug-release characteristics.