Tolerability, Safety, Pharmacokinetics and Drug Interaction of Cefotaxime Sodium–Tazobactam Sodium Injection (6:1) Following Single and Multiple Intravenous Doses in Chinese Healthy Subjects

PURPOSE: To evaluate the tolerability, safety, pharmacokinetics and drug interaction of cefotaxime sodium–tazobactam sodium injection (6:1) in Chinese healthy subjects. The results of the safety and pharmacokinetic studies supported further clinical trials. METHOD: A randomized, single-blind, ascending dose, placebo-controlled, single-center study was conducted. Sixty healthy subjects (38 males, 22 females) participated in this study. For the single-dose part, 0.47, 1.17, 2.34, 3.51, and 4.68 g of cefotaxime sodium–tazobactam sodium injection (6:1) was administered. For the multiple-dose part, the subjects were administered 2.34 and 3.51 g cefotaxime sodium–tazobactam sodium injection (6:1) three times a day for 7 consecutive days. For the drug interaction part, the subjects received 2.0 g cefotaxime sodium and 0.34 g tazobactam sodium alone and in combination. RESULTS: Most adverse events and adverse drug reactions were mild. Moderate rash was considered a serious adverse event because of prolongation of hospitalization. The main pharmacokinetic parameters of cefotaxime and tazobactam had no significance difference between the 1.17, 2.34, and 3.51 g dose cohorts and between genders. There was no difference in trough concentrations on days 6, 7, and 8. The R(C) (max) and R(AUC) were (0.921 ± 0.070) and (0.877 ± 0.057) for cefotaxime, and (0.913 ± 0.046) and (0.853 ± 0.060) for tazobactam, respectively. Following the administration of cefotaxime and tazobactam alone and in combination, the 90% confidence intervals of the geometric mean ratios for C (max) and AUC were within the predetermined range of 80–125%. In the single-dose part, the renal cumulative excretion ratios were (51.7 ± 6.2)% for cefotaxime, and (84.3 ± 8.1)% for tazobactam. There was no significant difference in the maximum excretion rates and cumulative excretion ratios for cefotaxime and tazobactam, alone or in combination. CONCLUSIONS: Cefotaxime sodium–tazobactam sodium injection (6:1) was well-tolerated at doses of 0.47 to 4.68 g. The pharmacokinetics of cefotaxime and tazobactam were reported as linear over a dose range of 1.17–3.51 g. Cefotaxime was partially excreted via urine, whereas tazobactam was mainly excreted via urine. There was no significant accumulation after administration over 7 consecutive days. The pharmacokinetics and excretion of cefotaxime and tazobactam were not affected by the co-administration of cefotaxime–tazobactam.