The Biopharmaceutics Classification System (BCS) represents the framework for predicting
the intestinal drug absorption based on its solubility and intestinal permeability.
Recent research has lead to the use of in vitro tests to waive additional in vivo bioequivalence studies for some pharmaceutical products (i. e. biowaiver). The current
regulations permit waivers for BCS Class I (highly soluble/highly permeable) drug
substances, which represent up to 25 % of the drugs. Efforts in both the science and
regulatory bodies are being made to extend biowaivers to certain Class II and III
products, which would represent more than 50 % of all drugs coming to the market.
The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of experimental conditions
on metformin hydrochloride (CAS 1115-70-4) release from two immediate-release tablet
formulations with proven bioequivalence and justify the biowaiver request for dissolution
profile similarity in three pH media.
Key words
Antihyperglycemic drug - BCS Class III drugs - CAS 1115-70-4 -
In vitro - in vivo correlation - Metformin hydrochloride, bioequivalence, dissolution, immediate-release