Effects of food on the bioavailability of gepirone from extended-release tablets in humans: Results of two open-label crossover studies

Background: The new antidepressant gepirone acts preferentially on 5-hydroxytryptamine type 1A (5-HT1A) receptors and functions as a 5-HT1A agonist. Placebo-controlled clinical studies have established that gepirone has a good safety profile and is effective for the treatment of depression. A previous study showed that administration of gepirone immediate release 15 minutes after a meal instead of during a fast increased the mean area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) by 37%. Gepirone was reformulated into extended release (ER), which necessitated further exploration of the effects of food on bioavailability. Objective: This article describes 2 studies of the pharmacokinetic properties of gepirone ER and 1 of its metabolites, 1(2-pyrimidinyl)-piperazine (1-PP), in healthy subjects. In study 1, we assessed the effects of food and the influence of time of food intake relative to dosing on the bioavailability of gepirone ER. The objective of study 2 was to confirm that gepirone ER has similar pharmacokinetic characteristics under fed and fasting conditions. Methods: Two open-label, randomized, single-dose, crossover studies balanced for first-order residual effects were conducted to assess the bioavailability of gepirone from ER tablets. Healthy male subjects received a 20-mg oral dose of gepirone ER. In study 1, subjects took the gepirone ER dose after a 10-hour overnight fast or I hour before, 15 minutes after, or 2 hours after a standard high-fat meal. In study 2, subjects either took the gepirone ER dose after a 10-hour overnight fast and continued to fast for 4 more hours or took the gepirone ER dose 15 minutes after a standard high-fat meal. Results: Twenty-eight men (mean [SD] age, 27.2 [6.6] years) participated in study 1, and 27 men (mean [SD] age, 31.8 [9.6] years) participated in study 2. In study 1, the mean (SD) maximum peak plasma concentration (C-max) for gepirone ER was 69.2% higher (3.25 [1.71] vs 1.92 [0.96] ng/mL) (P less than or equal to 0.05) and the AUC from time 0 to 30 hours for gepirone ER was 31.9% higher (39.3 [20.6] vs 29.8 [15.3] ng/mL.h) (P less than or equal to 0.05) for the 15-minute postprandial dose than for the fasting dose, respectively. In study 2, the mean C-max for gepirone was 62.0% higher (4.13 vs 2.55 ng/mL) and the mean AUC from time 0 to infinity for gepirone was 24% higher (38.71 vs 31.14 ng/mL.h) for the postprandial dose than for the fasting dose (P < 0.05). All reported adverse effects were mild to moderate in intensity, and most (study 1) or all (study 2) occurred during the fasting state. Conclusions: When administered with food, the bioavailability (AUC and C-max) of gepirone ER was greater than during the fasting state, with the greatest bioavailability seen when the drug was taken 15 minutes after eating. Based on this pharmacokinetic analysis, it may be prudent to administer gepirone ER consistently, either always with or always without food.