Disposition and urinary metabolic pattern of cabergoline,a potent dopaminergic agonist,in rat,monkey and man

1. The disposition and urinary metabolic pattern of ¹⁴C-cabergoline was studied in rat, monkey and man after oral administration of the labelled drug.

2. In all species radioactivity was mainly excreted in faeces, with urinary excretion accounting for 11, 13 and 22% of the dose in rat, monkey and man, respectively.

3. After oral treatment, biliary excretion of radioactivity in rat accounted for 19% of the dose within 24?h.

4. Unchanged drug in 0-24-h urine samples of rat, monkey and man amounted to 20, 9 and 10% of urinary radioactivity, respectively. In the 24-72-h urine samples of all species the relative percentage of unchanged drug increased compared with that measured in the 0-24-h urine.

5. The main metabolite was the acid derivative (FCE21589), which in 0-24-h urine samples of rat, monkey and man accounted for 30, 21 and 41% of urinary radioactivity, respectively.

6. Other metabolites identified in urine of all species resulted from hydrolysis of the urea moiety, the loss of the 3-dimethylaminopropyl group and the deallylation of the piperidine nitrogen.     

Metabolism of bepridil in laboratory animals and humans

The metabolism of bepridil was studied in the Swiss mouse, Sprague-Dawley rat, New Zealand rabbit, rhesus monkey, and healthy human. After oral administration of bepridil-14C-hydrochloride, recoveries of total radioactivity in urine and feces (7 days) were greater than or equal to 80% of the administered dose in all five species. Bepridil and 25 metabolites have been isolated by HPLC and TLC from representative plasma, urine, and fecal extract pools from all species and identified on the basis of TLC, HPLC, and mass spectrometry. The identified metabolites explained 60-99% of the total radioactivity in each sample for rabbit plasma, in which only 17% of the total radioactivity was characterized. Metabolic pathways involving oxidative reactions at seven sites on the bepridil molecule are proposed for each species. Metabolite formation in the five species is described by four interrelated pathways. The metabolic pathway involving aromatic hydroxylation followed by N-dealkylation, N-debenzylation, and N-acetylation was important in all species. Major metabolites produced by this pathway included 4-hydroxy(at N-phenyl)-bepridil (Ia), N-benzyl-4-amino-phenol (IV), and N-acetyl-4-aminophenol (Vy). Metabolite Ia was isolated in significant amounts (greater than or equal to 5% of sample) in all fecal and urine samples except rat urine. Metabolite IV was a major circulating metabolite in all species and a major urinary metabolite in humans. Metabolite Vy was present in significant quantities in urine in all species except rabbit. Other important pathways involved primary reactions such as iso-butyl hydroxylation, pyrrolidine ring oxidation, and N-debenzylation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Dydrogesterone: metabolism in animals

The metabolic pattern of dydrogesterone was investigated in the rat, dog, mouse, rabbit and rhesus monkey. The drug was administered orally in 3H-labelled form. Following enzymatic hydrolysis of conjugates the radioactive metabolites were extracted from the urine, and in rat and dog also from bile. The separation method used for the development of the metabolite patterns was reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography. Dydrogesterone and 4 derivatives, known or suspected to be metabolites, were used as marker substances. In all the species a substantial portion of the urinary or biliary radioactivity was too polar to be extracted, or it was not resolved in the chromatographic system used. The radioactivity which did develop into a pattern coincided with two or more of the marker substances. Only in the monkey, the pattern contained a peak of some substance which did not coincide with any marker. The urinary patterns of rat, dog, and mouse differed substantially, from each other as well as from those of rabbit and monkey. The patterns for the latter two animals showed certain similarities, both to each other and to the human urinary pattern as reconstructed from previous studies. It is concluded that with regard to the metabolic fate of dydrogesterone, the rabbit resembles man more than does any other species.     

Biotransformation of nevirapine, a non-nucleoside HIV-1 reverse transcriptase inhibitor, in mice, rats, rabbits, dogs, monkeys, and chimpanzees.

The study objectives were to characterize the metabolism of nevirapine (NVP) in mouse, rat, rabbit, dog, monkey, and chimpanzee after oral administration of carbon-14-labeled or -unlabeled NVP. Liquid scintillation counting quantitated radioactivity and bile, plasma, urine, and feces were profiled by HPLC/UV diode array and radioactivity detection. Metabolite structures were confirmed by UV spectral and chromatographic retention time comparisons with synthetic metabolite standards, by beta-glucuronidase incubations, and in one case, by direct probe electron impact ionization/mass spectroscopy, chemical ionization/mass spectroscopy, and NMR. NVP was completely absorbed in both sexes of all species except male and female dogs. Parent compound accounted for <6% of total urinary radioactivity and <5.1% of total fecal radioactivity, except in dogs where 41 to 46% of the radioactivity was excreted as parent compound. The drug was extensively metabolized in both sexes of all animal species studied. Oxidation to hydroxylated metabolites occurred before glucuronide conjugation and excretion in urine and feces. Hydroxylated metabolites were 2-, 3-, 8-, and 12-hydroxynevirapine (2-, 3-, 8-, and 12-OHNVP). 4-carboxynevirapine, formed by secondary oxidation of 12-OHNVP, was a major urinary metabolite in all species except the female rat. Glucuronides of the hydroxylated metabolites were major or minor metabolites, depending on the species. Rat plasma profiles differed from urinary profiles with NVP and 12-OHNVP accounting for the majority of the total radioactivity. Dog plasma profiles, however, were similar to the urinary profiles with 12-OHNVP, its glucuronide conjugate, 4-carboxynevirapine, and 3-OHNVP glucuronide being the major metabolites. Overall, the same metabolites are formed in animals as are formed in humans.     

Excretion and metabolism of recainam, a new anti-arrhythmic drug, in laboratory animals and humans

The metabolic disposition of recainam, an antiarrhythmic drug, was compared in mice, rats, dogs, rhesus monkeys, and humans. Following oral administration of [14C]recainam-HCl, radioactivity was excreted predominantly in the urine of all species except the rat. Metabolite profiles were determined in excreta by HPLC comparisons with synthetic standards. In rodents and rhesus monkeys, urinary excretion of unchanged recainam accounted for 23-36% of the iv dose and 3-7% of the oral dose. Aside from quantitative differences attributable to presystemic biotransformation, metabolite profiles were qualitatively similar following oral or iv administration to rodents and rhesus monkeys. Recainam was extensively metabolized in all species except humans. In human subjects, 84% of the urinary radioactivity corresponded to parent drug. The major metabolites in mouse and rat urine and rat feces were m- and p-hydroxyrecainam. Desisopropylrecainam and dimethylphenylaminocarboxylamino propionic acid were the predominant metabolites in dog and rhesus monkey urine. Small amounts of desisopropylrecainam and p-hydroxyrecainam were excreted in human urine. Selective enzymatic hydrolysis revealed that the hydroxylated metabolites were conjugated to varying degrees among species. Conjugated metabolites were not present in rat urine or feces, while conjugates were detected in mouse, dog, and monkey urine. Structural confirmation of the dog urinary metabolites was accomplished by mass spectral analysis. The low extent of metabolism of recainam in humans suggests that there will not be wide variations between dose and plasma concentrations.     

The Conjugation of Indolylacetic Acid in Man,Monkeys and other Species

Indol-3-yl[2-¹⁴C]acetic acid has been administered to 18 species of animals including man, and the urinary metabolites examined by radiochromatogram scanning. Man received 500 mg orally and the other animals 100 mg/kg by intraperitoneal injection.

In most species, 50–90% of the administered ¹⁴C was excreted in the urine in 48 h. 14–76% of the indolylacetic acid was excreted unchanged in 48 h.

In man, the ¹⁴C excreted in 48 h consisted of about 50% unchanged indolylacetic acid, 30% indolylacetylglucuronide and 10–20% indolylacetyl-glutamine. No glycine conjugate was detected.

The glutamine conjugate was excreted only by the Old World (3 species) and New World (3 species) monkeys and man.

The glycine conjugate was excreted by all species (13) except man, Old World monkeys and the pigeon. The three species of New World monkeys formed both the glutamine and glycine conjugates.

Taurine conjugation of indolylacetic acid was studied in the green monkey, the squirrel monkey, the capuchin monkey, the ferret and pigeon. Indolylacetyltaurine was a substantial metabolite in these species and in the pigeon it was the only conjugate of indolylacetic acid found.

Synthesis of indolylacetylglutamine and indolylacetyltaurine is described.     

Urinary metabolites of a novel quinoxaline non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor in rabbit, mouse and human: identification of fluorine NIH shift metabolites using NMR and tandem MS

1. The urinary metabolites of (S)-2-ethyl-7-fluoro-3-oxo-3,4-dihydro-2H-quinoxaline-carboxylic acid isopropylester (GW420867X) have been investigated in samples obtained following oral administration to rabbit, mouse and human. GW420867X underwent extensive biotransformation to form hydroxylated metabolites and glucuronide conjugates on the aromatic ring, and on the ethyl and isopropyl side-chains in all species. In rabbit urine, a minor metabolite was detected and characterized as a cysteine adduct that was not observed in mouse or man. 2. The hydroxylated metabolites and corresponding glucuronide conjugates were isolated by semi-preparative HPLC and characterized using NMR, LC-NMR and LC-MS/MS. The relative proportions of fluorine-containing metabolites were determined in animal species by 19F-NMR signal integration. 3. The fluorine atom of the aromatic ring underwent NIH shift rearrangement in the metabolites isolated and characterized in rabbit, mouse and human urine. 4. The characterization of the NIH shift metabolites in urine enabled the detection and confirmation of the presence of these metabolites in human plasma.     

The biotransformation of [14C]lormetazepam in dogs,rabbits, rats and rhesus monkeys

1. After oral or intravenous doses (0.25?mg/kg) of [¹⁴C]lormetazepam to rats, most of the urinary radioactivity was associated with polar components and < 1% dose was excreted as unconjugated lormetazepam. About 30% of an oral dose was excreted in rat bile as a conjugate of lormetazepam and about 50% dose as polar metabolites. Plasma also contained mainly polar metabolites, and unchanged lormetazepam represented at most 10% of total plasma radioactivity after an oral dose.

2. Almost all the radioactivity in dog, rhesus monkey and rabbit urine, after oral or intravenous doses (0.5–0.7?mg/kg) of [¹⁴C]lormetazepam, was associated with conjugated material. In the dog there were only two major components, conjugates of lormetazepam and lorazepam (N-desmethyl-lormetazepam) which accounted for about 24% and 14% respectively of the oral dose in the 0–24?h urine. The same two conjugated components were also present in dog bile. Conjugated lormetazepam was the only major component in monkey and rabbit urine and accounted for about 60% dose in the 0–24?h urine of each species, while conjugated lorazepam accounted for only about 0.5% and 4% respectively.

3. Dog and monkey plasma contained mostly conjugated material after oral and intravenous doses (0.05–0.07?mg/kg of [¹⁴C]lormetazepam. Dog plasma after an oral dose contained conjugates of both lormetazepam and lorazepam with peak concn. at 1?h of 130 and 47 ng/ml respectively. Concn. of these conjugates in plasma declined with apparent terminal half-lives of about 17 and 27?h respectively after oral doses, and 13?h in both cases after intravenous doses. Conjugated lormetazepam was the only major component in monkey plasma representing a peak concn. of 180 ng/ml at 1?h after an oral dose, and declined with an apparent terminal half-life of about 11?h after oral or intravenous doses.

4. Lormetazepam crosses the placental ‘barrier’ of rabbits: its concn. in the foetus were similar to those in maternal plasma after intravenous doses.     

Urinary metabolites of a novel quinoxaline non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor in rabbit,mouse and human: identification of fluorine NIH shift metabolites using NMR and tandem MS

1. The urinary metabolites of (S)-2-ethyl-7-fluoro-3-oxo-3,4-dihydro-2H-quinoxaline-carboxylic acid isopropylester (GW420867X) have been investigated in samples obtained following oral administration to rabbit, mouse and human. GW420867X underwent extensive biotransformation to form hydroxylated metabolites and glucuronide conjugates on the aromatic ring, and on the ethyl and isopropyl side-chains in all species. In rabbit urine, a minor metabolite was detected and characterized as a cysteine adduct that was not observed in mouse or man. 2. The hydroxylated metabolites and corresponding glucuronide conjugates were isolated by semi-preparative HPLC and characterized using NMR, LC-NMR and LCMS/MS. The relative proportions of fluorine-containing metabolites were determined in animal species by ¹⁹F-NMR signal integration. 3. The fluorine atom of the aromatic ring underwent NIH shift rearrangement in the metabolites isolated and characterized in rabbit, mouse and human urine. 4. The characterization of the NIH shift metabolites in urine enabled the detection and confirmation of the presence of these metabolites in human plasma.     

The metabolite patterns of eltoprazine in man, dog, rat and rabbit

To compare the metabolism of eltoprazine of dog, rat and rabbit with that in man, urine samples were collected after dosing with 14C-eltoprazine. The 14C-labelled metabolites were separated by chromatography and detected by their radioactivity. This resulted in so-called metabolite patterns. The human metabolite pattern contained peaks that were all found in that obtained from the dog's urine. The dog's metabolite pattern had two peaks that were (almost) absent in all other species. The rat's urine gave a pattern which had only two peaks in common with the human pattern. Unchanged drug was excreted in significant amounts by man, dog, and rat, but not by rabbit. This excretion was even a little more pronounced after intravenous injection of the drug. In man, the ratio between unchanged drug and metabolites was fairly constant with time after dosing, while this ratio decreased in the animal species. The major part of the metabolites were sulphate- or glucuronide conjugates, but hydrolysis of these required extraordinary amounts of enzyme. We do not yet know whether the observed species differences reflect differences in conjugating activity or (and) oxidative metabolism. We could not identify important differences in the metabolite patterns that were due to sex or route of drug administration. Also, the site of the 14C-label in the drug molecule hardly affected the metabolite patterns; the only effect was the excretion by the rat of a very polar but minor component when it was dosed with 14C-piperazine labelled eltoprazine. This component was absent when 14C-phenyl labelled eltoprazine was given.     

Metabolism of actisomide in the dog, monkey and man: a novel rearrangement of N-dealkylated metabolites.

The metabolism of actisomide, a novel antiarrhythmic agent, was studied in the dog, monkey and man and was found to be more extensive in the monkey than in the dog or man. The major metabolites identified were a piperidinyl hydroxylated metabolite, the mono-N-dealkylated, cyclized and piperidine hydroxylated metabolite, and the cyclized and mono-N-dealkylated metabolite. Excretion of the parent drug was higher in urine than in feces in the dog, but in the monkey and man, urinary and fecal excretion of actisomide was similar. In all species the metabolites were primarily excreted in feces.     

Metabolism of Femoxetine

Abstract: The metabolism of femoxetine, a serotonin uptake inhibitor, has been investigated in rats, dogs, monkeys, and human subjects using two ¹⁴C-femoxetine compounds with labelling in different positions. The metabolic pathways were oxidation (and glucuronidation) and demethylation, both reactions most probably taking place in the liver. Nearly all femoxetine was metabolised, and the same metabolites were found in urine from all four species. Only a small percentage of the radioactivity excreted in the urine was not identified. Rat and dog excreted more N-oxide than monkey and man, while most of the radioactivity (60–100%) in these two species was excreted as two hydroxy metabolites. The metabolic pattern in monkey and man was very similar. About 50% was excreted in these two species as one metabolite, formed by demethylation of a methoxy group. A demethylation of a N-CH₃ group formed an active metabolite, norfemoxetine. The excretion of this metabolite in urine from man varied from 0 to 18% of the dose between individuals. Most of the radioactivity was excreted with the faeces in rat and dog, while monkey and man excreted most of the radioactivity in urine. This difference in excretion route might be explained by the difference in the metabolic pattern. No dose dependency was observed in any of the three animal species investigated.     

Metabolism of [14C]phenol by sheep, pig and rat.

1. Following an oral dose of [14C]phenol (12.5 or 25 mg/kg) to sheep, pig and rat, urinary elimination of radioactivity was rapid, 80-90% dose being excreted in the first 8 h. 2. In anaesthetized, ureter-cannulated rats, 70-80% of an intraduodenal dose was eliminated in 2 h; 2% dose was excreted as phenol conjugates in the urine within 10 min. 3. The major urinary metabolites from phenol (25 mg/kg) were phenylglucuronide and phenylsulphate. In the sheep, pig and rat, the glucuronide accounted for 49%, 83% and 42% respectively, of the total urinary metabolites and sulphate accounted for 32%, 1% and 55%. Conjugates of quinol were minor urinary metabolites (less than 7%) in all three species. 4. In sheep some 12% of the urinary metabolites was conjugated with phosphate; this metabolite was not found in rat or pig.     

Metabolism of thymoxamine. II. Studies with 14C-thymoxamine in man

Thymoxamine is rapidly and completely absorbed in man. Rapid biotransformation is observed after intravenous and oral administration of 40 mg 14C-thymoxamine HCl. No unchanged compound is found in the body. More than 90% of plasma and urine radioactivity could be ascribed to six metabolites: the desacetyl compound (metabolite I), the monodemethylated metabolite I (metabolite II), the sulfate conjugates of I and II (metabolites III and IV) and the glucuronides of I and II (metabolites V and VI). The unconjugated metabolites are observed in plasma only after intravenous administration. Similar patterns for polar metabolites are found in plasma and urine for both routes of administration. The sulfate fraction amounts to about 50-60% and the glucuronide fraction to about 30-40% of the radioactivity, the conjugates of metabolite I being more abundant than those of metabolite II. The elimination of the metabolites is rapid, the half-life of radioactivity elimination being 1.5 h during the first 12 hours and 12 h thereafter. 80% of the radioactivity dose is recovered in the urine within 4 hours. Recovery after four days amounts to 99.8% (i.v.) and 97.7% (oral). The results are discussed with regard to the application of the drug in man, taking into account that not only the unconjugated metabolites but also the sulfate conjugates are pharmacologically active.     

Distribution of zeranol in bovine tissues determined by selected ion monitoring capillary gas chromatography/mass spectrometry

Bovine tissues, including liver, muscle, kidney, bile, serum, and urine, have been quantified by selected ion monitoring capillary gas chromatography/mass spectrometry to establish the distribution of the anabolic drug, zeranol, and its metabolites, taleranol and zearalanone, after administration of zeranol to 9 bovine animals. The method used to isolate, confirm, and quantify zeranol is undergoing validation by the United States Department of Agriculture, Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS). Application of this method demonstrates utility in determining residue levels of zeranol in a variety of tissues with levels ranging over 4 orders of magnitude (i.e., 100 parts per trillion (ppt) to 1 part per million (ppm]. The analyte levels determined in this study complement previously reported pharmacokinetic data on the distribution of zeranol in addition to providing more specific information for taleranol and zearalanone. In this quantitative study it is shown that the liver is the main organ of deposition for zeranol, taleranol, and zearalanone, that taleranol is the main metabolite in the bovine, and that zeranol is efficiently eliminated.     

Comparative biodisposition and metabolism of 14C-(+/-)-fenfluramine in mouse, rat, dog and man.

1. The comparative metabolism of fenfluramine was investigated in mouse, rat, dog and man following a single oral dose of 14C-(+/-)-fenfluramine hydrochloride (1 mg/kg), and also in rat after eight consecutive 12-h subcutaneous doses (24 mg/kg). 2. Main route of excretion of radioactivity in all species and at all doses was into urine (> 80%), with only minor amounts of radioactivity found in faeces. 3. From all species examined a total of 11 metabolites were observed in urine and plasma by t.l.c. and h.p.l.c. analysis and no metabolite was present in the plasma which was not present in urine. 4. All species dealkylate fenfluramine to the active metabolite norfenfluramine, to a relative greater or lesser extent, with plasma metabolic ratios (norfenfluramine/fenfluramine) showing inter-animal variation (rat > dog > mouse = man). 5. These differences are due to the efficient deamination of both compounds to polar inactive metabolites in man, with less dealkylation and lower plasma levels of norfenfluramine compared with the other species studied. 6. In conclusion, major species differences in the metabolism of (+/-)-fenfluramine, both qualitative and quantitative were observed, and no one species had a similar metabolic profile to that found in man.     

Biotransformation of the antidepressant D,L-rolipram. II. Metabolite patterns in man,rat, rabbit,rhesus and cynomolgus monkey

1. The metabolism of D,L-rolipram in man was studied by comparison of?h.p.l.c. radiochromatograms of plasma and urine obtained at various times following oral and/or s.c. administration to man, rat, rabbit, and rhesus and cynomolgus monkey.

2. Seven metabolites isolated previously from man, rat, and rhesus monkey urine by preparative?h.p.l.c. and identified by mass spectrometry and n.m.r. analysis were used for metabolite identification.

3. In plasma, 3-5 metabolites were found in addition to the unchanged drug. In urine, which was the main excretion route for rolipram metabolites, >10 metabolites were detected but not the parent compound.

4. Between 40 and 70% of the compounds eliminated renally, were identified by reference to isolated metabolites.

5. Biotransformation proceeded by ether cleavage at the methoxy and pentyloxy groups, and by hydroxylation in positions 2 or 3 of the pentyloxy ring followed by sulphation.

6. In man, not in the other species studied, the 5-position of the pyrrolidone ring was also hydroxylated. This compound cross-reacted with the antibody raised against rolipram which was used formerly for the determination of rolipram in biological fluids.     

Urinary and biliary metabolites of mephentermine in male Wistar rats

1. Excretion of urinary and biliary radioactivity, and metabolites of [3H]mephentermine (MP), after i.p. or subcutaneous administration of [3H]MP to male Wistar rats, were determined by preparative t.l.c.-liquid scintillation counting. 2. About 45% of the radioactivity administered i.p. was excreted in the 24 h urine. The major urinary metabolite was conjugated p-hydroxymephentermine (p-hydroxy-MP), which accounted for about 18% of the administered radioactivity in the 24 h urine. 3. About 4.2% of the radioactivity administered subcutaneously was excreted in bile during 24 h. The major biliary metabolite was conjugated p-hydroxy-MP, which accounted for about 39% of the radioactivity excreted in the bile in 24 h. 4. Urinary and biliary minor metabolites detected were phentermine (Ph), p-hydroxyphentermine (p-hydroxy-Ph), N-hydroxyphentermine (N-hydroxy-Ph), N-hydroxymephentermine (N-hydroxy-MP) and their conjugates, and conjugated MP. 5. The conjugates were considered to be glucuronides from the inhibitory effect of saccharic acid 1,4-lactone on their hydrolysis with beta-glucuronidase. 6. Biliary excretion rates of conjugated p-hydroxy-Ph and p-hydroxy-MP reached maxima at 3 to 4 h, and non-conjugated metabolites were maximal at 1 to 2 h, after administration. 50% of the biliary metabolites was excreted within 5 h.     

Absorption, metabolism and excretion of safrole in the rat and man.

The metabolic disposition of different doses of [14C] safrole were studied in rat and man. In both species, small amounts of orally administered safrole were absorbed rapidly and then excreted almost entirely within 24 h in the urine. In the rat, when the dose was raised from 0.6 to 750 mg/kg, a marked decrease in the rate of elimination occurred as only 25% of the dose was excreted in the urine in 24 h. Furthermore, at the high dose level, plasma and tissue concentrations of both unchanged safrole and its metabolites remained elevated for 48 h probably indicating impairment of the degradation/excretion pathways. The main urinary metabolite in both species was 1,2-dihydroxy-4-allylbenzene which was excreted in a conjugated form. Small amounts of eugenol or its isomer 1-methoxy-2-hydroxy-4-allylbenzene were also detected in rat and man. 1'-Hydroxysafrole, a proximate carcinogen of safrole, and 3'-hydroxyisosafrole were detected as conjugates in the urine of the rat. However, in these investigations we were unable to demonstrate the presence of the latter metabolites in man.     

Comparison of celecoxib metabolism and excretion in mouse,rabbit, dog,cynomolgus monkey and rhesus monkey

1. The metabolism and excretion of celecoxib, a specific cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) inhibitor, was investigated in mouse, rabbit,the EM(extensive) and PM(poor metabolizer) dog, and rhesus and cynomolgus monkey. 2. Some sex and species differences were evident in the disposition of celecoxib. After intravenous (i.v.) administration of [¹⁴C]celecoxib, the major route of excretion of radioactivity in all species studied was via the faeces: EM dog (80.0%), PM dog (83.4%), cynomolgus monkey (63.5%), rhesus monkey (83.1%). After oral administration, faeces were the primary route of excretion in rabbit (72.2%) and the male mouse (71.1%), with the remainder of the dose excreted in the urine. After oral administration of [¹⁴C]celecoxib to the female mouse, radioactivity was eliminated equally in urine (45.7%) and faeces (46.7%). 3. Biotransformation of celecoxib occurs primarily by oxidation of the aromatic methyl group to form a hydroxymethyl metabolite, which is further oxidized to the carboxylic acid analogue. 4. An additional phase I metabolite (phenyl ring hydroxylation) and a glucuronide conjugate of the carboxylic acid metabolite was produced by rabbit. 5. The major excretion product in urine and faeces of mouse, rabbit, dog and monkey was the carboxylic acid metabolite of celecoxib.