Bioequivalence Study of 100-mg Cilostazol Tablets in Healthy Thai Adult Volunteers

BACKGROUND: Cilostazol is a vasodilator with anticoagulant effect for treatment of peripheral vascular disease. Cilostazol 100-mg tablet was shown to increase walking distance in this patient population. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate and compare the pharmacokinetic profiles and safety of Bestazol 100-mg tablet (Berlin Pharmaceutical Industry Co Ltd, Bangkok, Thailand), which is a generic formulation of cilostazol, with the original brand Pletaal 100-mg tablet (Korea Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co Ltd, Seoul, South Korea) in healthy Thai adult volunteers. METHODS: The pharmacokinetic profiles of Bestazol (test) and Pletaal (reference) 100-mg tablets were compared in a single-dose, open-label, 2-treatment, 2-period, 2-sequence, randomized crossover study in healthy Thai adult volunteers. This study was conducted at the Siriraj Clinical Research Center, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand. Each volunteer was initially treated according to either the test–reference or the reference–test sequence, after which each volunteer was switched to the other study sequence after a 2-week washout period. Pharmacokinetic analysis was performed using log-transformed ratios for C(max), AUC(0–last), AUC(0–∞,) T(max), t(1/2), and λ(Z) for both cilostazol and 3,4-dehydro-cilostazol (its active metabolite) with 90% CI. Physical examination, clinical laboratory data, vital signs, and adverse events were assessed in all participants. FINDINGS: A total of 28 volunteers were included in the final analysis. The ratios of the geometric mean and the 90% CI compared test to reference of cilostazol formulations and were 101.86% (90% CI, 91.88%–112.92%), 107.78% (90% CI, 99.67%–116.56%), and 110.46% (90% CI, 102.68%–118.82%) for C(max), AUC(0–last), and AUC(0–∞), respectively. The ratios of the geometric mean and the 90% CI compared test to reference of 3,4-dehydro-cilostazol and were 106.72% (95% CI, 95.31%–119.50%), 110.54% (95% CI, 101.92%–119.89%), and 107.37% (95% CI, 96.74%–119.16%) for C(max), AUC(0–last), and AUC(0–∞), respectively. No significant difference was observed between formulations for T(max). The most common adverse event was headache (51.85%), with no significant difference in incidence between the test and reference groups. No serious adverse events related to the studied drugs were reported. The findings of this study indicate these 2 cilostazol tablet formulations to be bioequivalent. CONCLUSIONS: Bestazol 100-mg tablet was bioequivalent to Pletaal 100-mg tablet. Thus, the formulations can be used interchangeably in clinical practice.