Determination of nuvenzepine in human plasma by a sensitive [3H]pirenzepine radioreceptor binding assay

A sensitive method for the quantitation of small amounts of nuvenzepine, a new M1-selective antimuscarinic drug, in plasma is described. The analytical method involves the use of a radioreceptor binding assay based on [3H]pirenzepine displacement in rat cerebral cortex homogenates; no previous extraction is required. The method is reliable, with an interassay CV ranging from 5 to 10%, and allows the analysis of greater than 100 samples/experiment. The limit of detection is approximately 0.1 ng/assay. Using this method we have determined the plasma levels of nuvenzepine in eight healthy volunteers treated PO with 15 or 25 mg of nuvenzepine.HCl. The pharmacokinetic parameters obtained were (for 15 and 25 mg): Cmax, 64 and 131 ng/mL; AUC0-infinity, 851 and 1379 ng.h/mL; t1/2, 8.6 and 7.2 h. These values are in good agreement with those obtained using an HPLC method. Therefore, this radioreceptor binding assay proved to be simple, rapid, and specific for the determination of low levels of nuvenzepine in human plasma.