Cyclosporin chocolate wafer 'flavour of the month'?

PHARMACOLOGY

It appears that oral cyclosporin formulations have been associated with problems such as fishlike odour, and capsules which are quite large in size and make ingestion difficult, particularly for children.

Help is on the way in the form of a chocolate wafer incorporating cyclosporin. The novel formulation was investigated in a crossover trial, involving 7 paediatric liver transplant recipients, who were receiving cyclosporin as part of their immunosuppressive regimen. US researchers developed the 'sweet' formulation after failed attempts to mix the agent with fruit juice or chocolate milk. Each chocolate wafer contained cyclosporin 0.50mg.

Not surprisingly, the young patients preferred the chocolate preparation over an oral formulation mixed with Isocal. 'We suspect this new preparation may increase patient compliance and ensure administration of a complete dose, , say the researchers.

Pharmacokinetic data in this study indicated no difference between the bioavailability of oral solution and the new chocolate formulation, according to the researchers. They add that further studies with a sample size of at least 82 patients would be required to detect a 20% difference in bioavailability between the formulations. Whipple JK, Lewis KS. Weitman SD. Ausman RK, Bourne DWA. et al. Phannacokinetic evaluation of a new oral cyclosporine formulation. Phannacotherapy 14: 105-110, Jan-Feb 1994

0156-2703194/0928-00019/$01.00'" Adis International Limited 1994. All rights reserved

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INPHARMA" 12 Mar 1994