Prediction of In-vivo Performance of Naproxen and Esomeprazole Magnesium Delayed-Release Tablets using Biorelevant Dissolution Tests

Main objective of this research work was to develop a biorelevant dissolution method by correlating the in-vivo behavior of Naproxen and Esomeprazole magnesium delayed release tablets 500/20mg, when administered orally under pre-prandial condition. The target dissolution profile for bio-relevant dissolution media was derived, by deconvoluting mean blood plasma concentration time profile of Naproxen and Esomeprazole, achieved after oral administration under pre-prandial condition. The dissolution media volume and RPM were optimized using full factorial design of experiment. The dissolution profile observed with office of generic drugs recommended dissolution media was faster in release for Naproxen part and slower in release for Esomeprazole part in comparison to target release of bio-relevant dissolution method, with the F₂ value of 31 for Naproxen and 29 for Esomeprazole. USP Apparatus-I with fasted state simulated gastro intestinal change over dissolution media were used for method development. Based on ANOVA results, for Naproxen part, 250ml of fasting change over dissolution medium, and 50RPM, with the desirability factor of 0.508 was concluded as bio relevant dissolution medium. For esomeprazole part, the 900ml of fasting change over dissolution medium, and 100RPM, with the desirability factor of 0.479 was concluded as bio-relevant dissolution medium. The F₂ value observed between in-vitro and in-vivo dissolution profile is 64 and 63, the regression co-efficient (R²) value of 0.987 and 0.997 for Naproxen and Esomeprazole respectively demonstrates a very good in-vitro/in-vivo correlation under pre-prandial condition. The developed method shall be used as a predictive in-vitro tool for evaluation Naproxen from Naproxen and Esomeprazole magnesium delayed release tablets, and also gives the advantage for claiming bio-waiver for remaining strengths.