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Background: Reliable, reproducible deposition to the lung is a major prerequisite for the clinical use of inhaled drugs. Ciprofloxacin dry powder for inhalation (ciprofloxacin DPI; Bayer HealthCare AG, Leverkusen, Germany) is an antibacterial therapy in development using Novartis' PulmoSphere™ technology (Novartis Pharma AG, Basel, Switzerland) for the targeted delivery of ciprofloxacin to the lung via a T-326 inhaler. Methods: This randomized, single-blind, placebo-controlled, dose-escalation study investigated the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of single-dose ciprofloxacin DPI (32.5 mg [ n=6] or 65 mg [ n=6]) and matching placebo ( n=4) in adult patients with cystic fibrosis and stable pulmonary status (forced expiratory volume in 1 sec ≥30%) who were colonized with Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Results: Peak sputum concentrations of 34.9 mg/L (range 2.03-229) and 376 mg/L (8.95-1283) for ciprofloxacin 32.5 mg and 65 mg, respectively, indicated targeting of ciprofloxacin DPI to the lung. This contrasted with low systemic exposure (peak plasma concentrations: 0.0790 mg/L [32.5 mg] and 0.182 mg/L [65 mg]). Single-dose ciprofloxacin DPI 32.5 mg or 65 mg was well tolerated with similar incidences of adverse events across all groups. No deaths, discontinuations, treatment-related serious adverse events, or clinically relevant changes in laboratory parameters, vital signs, or lung function tests were reported. Conclusions: Lung targeting with high pulmonary concentrations of ciprofloxacin combined with low systemic exposure was confirmed. These results support further study of ciprofloxacin DPI as a potentially more convenient alternative to nebulized antibiotic solutions for managing chronic lung infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Moxifloxacin has a broad antibacterial spectrum and rapid bactericidal activity, and is thus a good option for the treatment of bacterial infections in patients who have undergone organ or bone marrow transplantation. Transplant patients also receive immunosuppressant therapy such as ciclosporin. Objectives: The primary objective of this study was to assess the steady-state pharmacokinetics of ciclosporin with and without concomitant treatment with moxifloxacin in transplant recipients. A secondary objective was to determine the safety and tolerability of the combined treatment. Methods: Patients (n=9) with stable graft function after bone marrow or renal transplantation and who were already receiving ciclosporin therapy were enrolled into the study. The patients were given ciclosporin (Sandimmun® Optoral) capsules twice daily (total daily dosage 150-380 mg/day) throughout the study period. Moxifloxacin (Avolox®) tablets 400mg once daily were given on days 2-8 inclusive. The primary outcome measure was the change in ciclosporin pharmacokinetics on coadministration with moxifloxacin. Secondary outcomes were the steady-state pharmacokinetics of moxifloxacin and ciclosporin plus its metabolites in patients receiving moxifloxacin and ciclosporin concomitantly. Moxifloxacin pharmacokinetic parameters in the presence of ciclosporin were compared with previously published pharmacokinetic data for moxifloxacin in healthy individuals. Results: No significant changes occurred in the concentration-time curves of ciclosporin and its metabolites following combination therapy with moxifloxacin. The geometric means of whole blood concentrations of ciclosporin and ciclosporin plus its metabolites on day 1 were similar to those on day 8 following combined administration of ciclosporin and moxifloxacin for 7 days. The ratio of combination treatment to monotherapy for ciclosporin was 1.01(90% CI 0.91, 1.11) for the area under the blood concentration-time curve from time zero to 12 hours at steady state (AUC12,ss) and 0.96 (90% CI 0.88, 1.04) for the maximum steady-state blood drug concentration (Cmax,ss). For ciclosporin plus its metabolites the ratio was 1.07 (90% CI 0.99, 1.17) for AUC12,ss and 1.03 (90% CI 0.98, 1.09) for Cmax,ss. The pharmacokinetic parameters for moxifloxacin were unaffected by the presence of ciclosporin. Conclusions: Concomitant administration of moxifloxacin does not alter the pharmacokinetic parameters of ciclosporin or ciclosporin plus its metabolites in immunosuppressed patients. Therefore, no dose adjustments or additional drug monitoring are required when ciclosporin is coadministered with moxifloxacin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and objective: Intra-abdominal abscesses are usually polymicrobial and involve a variety of aerobic and anaerobic organisms. Thus, in addition to adequate drainage, empirical coverage with broad-spectrum antimicrobials is central to the management of such abscesses and an understanding of pharmacokinetic properties can be valuable when selecting antimicrobial agents. The present study examined the penetration of the fluoroquinolone antimicrobial moxifloxacin into abdominal abscess fluid in patients with an intra-abdominal abscess. Methods: This was a non-randomized, open-label, single-centre trial. Eight patients with CT or ultrasound evidence of a localized intra-abdominal abscess requiring interventional drainage without signs of generalized peritonitis were considered suitable candidates for pharmacokinetic analysis. Each patient received a single dose of moxifloxacin 400 mg by intravenous infusion. Paired samples of blood and abscess fluid were collected over 24 hours for pharmacokinetic analysis. Results: Following intravenous infusion, moxifloxacin penetrated and accumulated in intra-abdominal abscess fluid. The abscess fluid/plasma concentration ratio increased continuously from 0.083 (95% CI 0.047, 0.147) at 2 hours after administration to 1.66 (95% CI 0.935, 2.946) at 24 hours; concentrations in abscess fluid tended to exceed those in plasma after 12-24 hours. Half-life and mean residence time were longer in abscess fluid than in plasma, suggesting that moxifloxacin accumulates in abscess fluid. The abscess fluid/plasma concentration ratio continued to increase throughout the 24-hour sampling period, indicating that equilibrium between plasma and abscess fluid was not reached during this time. High intersubject variability for total moxifloxacin concentrations in intra abdominal abscess fluid was noted, suggesting that abscess wall permeability is likely to be the parameter most strongly influencing moxifloxacin pharmacokinetics in abscess fluid. Comparison of the study results with data obtained from other in vitro studies suggested that abscess fluid concentrations above the minimum inhibitory concentrations for pathogens commonly isolated in intra-abdominal infections were maintained for approximately 8 hours after administration in this study. Conclusions: Moxifloxacin penetrates intra-abdominal abscesses after interventional drainage. Based on the pharmacokinetic data, moxifloxacin is a good candidate therapy for use in patients with intra-abdominal abscesses undergoing CT-guided percutaneous drainage and may also prove valuable in the general systemic management of intra-abdominal abscesses in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Oral and intravenous formulations of ciprofloxacin have established efficacy and safety profiles in respiratory infections. A dry powder for inhalation (DPI) that uses Novartis' PulmoSphere™ technology has been developed to deliver high concentrations of ciprofloxacin to the lung with low systemic exposure using a portable and convenient passive dry powder inhaler (Novartis' T-326 inhaler). Objectives: The primary objective was to investigate the safety and tolerability of ciprofloxacin DPI in healthy male subjects, with a secondary objective to investigate the pharmacokinetics of ciprofloxacin after ciprofloxacin DPI administration. Methods: This was a phase I, single-dose, single-site, randomized, single-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study conducted in the hospital setting. Subjects were followed up for safety for approximately 2 weeks. Six healthy male subjects, aged 27-42 years with no history of pulmonary disease, repeated bronchitis or respiratory allergies were enrolled. In randomized order and separated by a 1-week washout period, subjects inhaled a single dose of ciprofloxacin DPI 32.5 mg or placebo from the T-326 inhaler. Primary safety parameters included vital signs, electrocardiogram, laboratory tests, adverse events and lung function (total specific resistance, thoracic gas volume and forced expiratory volume in 1 s). Plasma concentration-time data were used to calculate pharmacokinetic parameters. Results: Ciprofloxacin DPI was well tolerated with no clinically relevant adverse effects on lung function. Estimates of lung deposition derived from physiology-based pharmacokinetic modelling suggest that approximately 40 % of the total dose of ciprofloxacin DPI reached the trachea/bronchi and alveolar space. Systemic ciprofloxacin was detected soon after inhalation [peak concentration in plasma ( C) 56.42 μg/L, median time to C 0.625 h], but total systemic exposure was minimal (area under the plasma concentration-time curve 354.4 μg·h/L). Terminal elimination half-life (9.5 h), apparent total clearance from plasma after non-intravenous administration (91.7 L/h) and apparent volume of distribution (1,262 L) data suggest that elimination from the respiratory tract was prolonged. Conclusions: In healthy subjects, ciprofloxacin DPI was well tolerated, delivered ciprofloxacin to the lungs and resulted in minimal systemic exposure, allowing further investigation of its clinical use for the management of specific, chronic infections in pulmonary diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sorafenib (twice daily [bid]) plus capecitabine (2 weeks on schedule/1 week off schedule) safety and pharmacokinetics were investigated in patients with advanced solid tumors (N = 35). Cohort 1 (n = 13) included sorafenib 200 mg bid and capecitabine 1050 mg/m2 bid; cohort 2 (n = 4), sorafenib 400 mg bid and capecitabine 1050 mg/m2 bid; cohort 3 (n = 6), sorafenib 200 mg bid and capecitabine 1050 mg/m2 bid (cycles 1 and 2), then 400 mg bid and capecitabine 1050 mg/m2 bid (cycle 3 onwards); and cohort 4 (n = 12), sorafenib 400 mg bid and capecitabine 850 mg/m2 bid. The combination of sorafenib and capecitabine was generally well tolerated. Most frequent drug-related adverse events were hand-foot skin reaction (HFSR, 89%), diarrhea (71%), and fatigue (69%). The HFSR was dose-limiting toxicities in 6 patients. Sorafenib exposure (Cmax and AUC0–12) was unaffected by concomitant capecitabine. Concomitant sorafenib moderately increased capecitabine and 5-fluorouracil (metabolite) exposure when the capecitabine dose was 1050 mg/m2 bid. Simultaneous administration of 400 mg bid sorafenib and 850 mg/m2 bid capecitabine, however, had only minor effects on the exposure to capecitabine and 5-fluorouracil. Based on the overall toxicity profile and pharmacokinetic parameters, the recommended phase 2 doses were therefore sorafenib 400 mg bid and capecitabine 850 mg/m2 bid, as scheduled above. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]