Effects of the moderate CYP3A4 inhibitor, fluconazole, on the pharmacokinetics of fesoterodine in healthy subjects

AIMS

To assess the effects of fluconazole, a moderate CYP3A4 inhibitor, on the pharmacokinetics (PK) and safety/tolerability of fesoterodine.

METHODS

In this open-label, randomized, two-way crossover study, 28 healthy subjects (18–55 years) received single doses of fesoterodine 8 mg alone or with fluconazole 200 mg. PK endpoints, including the area under the plasma concentration–time curve from 0 to infinity (AUC(0,∞)), maximum plasma concentration (C_max), time to C_max (t_max), and half-life (t_1/2), were assessed for 5-hydroxymethyl tolterodine (5-HMT), the active moiety of fesoterodine.

RESULTS

Concomitant administration of fesoterodine with fluconazole increased AUC(0,∞) and C_max of 5-HMT by approximately 27% and 19%, respectively, with corresponding 90% confidence intervals of (18%, 36%) and (11%, 28%). There was no apparent effect of fluconazole on 5-HMT t_max or t_½. Fesoterodine was generally well tolerated regardless of fluconazole co-administration, with no reports of death, serious adverse events (AEs) or severe AEs. Following co-administration of fesoterodine with fluconazole, 13 subjects (48%) experienced a total of 40 AEs; following administration of fesoterodine alone, six subjects (22%) experienced a total of 19 AEs. The majority of AEs were of mild intensity. There were no clinically significant changes in laboratory or physical examination parameters.

CONCLUSION

Fesoterodine 8 mg single dose was well tolerated when administered alone or with fluconazole. Based on the observed increase in 5-HMT exposures being within the inherent variability of 5-HMT pharmacokinetics, adjustment of fesoterodine dose is not warranted when co-administered with a moderate CYP3A4 inhibitor provided they are not also inhibitors of transporters.