Darifenacin 7.5 mg (ER) · Tablets

Darifenacin is a competitive muscarinic receptor antagonist. Muscarinic receptors play a role in cholinergically mediated functions, including contractions of the urinary bladder smooth muscle.

In vitro studies using human recombinant muscarinic receptor subtypes show that darifenacin has greater affinity for the M 3 receptor than for the other known muscarinic receptors (9- and 12-fold greater affinity for M 3 compared to M 1 and M 5, respectively, and 59-fold greater affinity for M 3 compared to both M 2 and M 4). M 3 receptors are involved in contraction of human bladder.

Absorption — After oral administration of darifenacin extended-release tablets to healthy volunteers, peak plasma concentrations of darifenacin are reached approximately seven hours after multiple dosing and steady-state plasma concentrations are achieved by the sixth day of dosing. The mean (SD) steady-state time course of darifenacin 7.5 mg and 15 mg extended-release tablets is depicted in Figure 1.

*Includes 95 EMs and 6 PMs for 7.5 mg; 104 EMs and 10 PMs for 15 mg.

A summary of mean (standard deviation, SD) steady-state pharmacokinetic parameters of darifenacin 7.5 mg and 15 mg extended-release tablets in EMs and PMs of CYP2D6 is provided in Table 3.

The mean oral bioavailability of darifenacin extended-release tablets in EMs at steady-state is estimated to be 15% and 19% for 7.5 mg and 15 mg tablets, respectively.

Effect of Food — Following single dose administration of darifenacin extended-release tablets with food, the AUC of darifenacin was not affected, while the C max was increased by 22% and T max was shortened by 3.3 hours. There is no effect of food on multiple-dose pharmacokinetics from darifenacin extended-release tablets.

Distribution — Darifenacin is approximately 98 % bound to plasma proteins (primarily to alpha-1-acid-glycoprotein). The steady-state volume of distribution (Vss) is estimated to be 163 L.

Metabolism — Darifenacin is extensively metabolized by the liver following oral dosing.

Metabolism is mediated by cytochrome P450 enzymes CYP2D6 and CYP3A4. The three main metabolic routes are as follows:

(ii) dihydrobenzofuran ring opening; — (iii) N-dealkylation of the pyrrolidine nitrogen.

The initial products of the hydroxylation and N-dealkylation pathways are the major circulating metabolites but they are unlikely to contribute significantly to the overall clinical effect of darifenacin.

Variability in Metabolism — A subset of individuals (approximately 7% Caucasians and 2% African Americans) are poor metabolizers (PMs) of CYP2D6 metabolized drugs. Individuals with normal CYP2D6 activity are referred to as extensive metabolizers (EMs). The metabolism of darifenacin in PMs will be principally mediated via CYP3A4. The darifenacin ratios (PM versus EM) for C max and AUC following darifenacin 15 mg once daily at steady-state were 1.9 and 1.7, respectively.

Excretion — Following administration of an oral dose of 14C-darifenacin solution to healthy volunteers, approximately 60% of the radioactivity was recovered in the urine and 40% in the feces. Only a small percentage of the excreted dose was unchanged darifenacin (3%). Estimated darifenacin clearance is 40 L/h for EMs and 32 L/h for PMs. The elimination half-life of darifenacin following chronic dosing is approximately 13 to 19 hours.

Effects of Other Drugs on Darifenacin — Darifenacin metabolism is primarily mediated by the cytochrome P450 enzymes CYP2D6 and CYP3A4. Therefore, inducers of CYP3A4 or inhibitors of either of these enzymes may alter darifenacin pharmacokinetics [see Drug Interactions ( 7)] .

CYP3A4 Inhibitors: In a drug interaction study, when a 7.5 mg once daily dose of darifenacin was given to steady- state and co-administered with the potent CYP3A4 inhibitor ketoconazole 400 mg, mean darifenacin Cmax increased to 11.2 ng/mL for EMs (n = 10) and 55.4 ng/mL for one PM subject (n = 1). Mean AUC increased to 143 and 939 ng •h/mL for EMs and for one PM subject, respectively. When a 15 mg daily dose of darifenacin was given with ketoconazole, mean darifenacin Cmax increased to 67.6 ng/mL and 58.9 ng/mL for EMs (n = 3) and one PM subject (n = 1), respectively. Mean AUC increased to 1,110 and 931 ng •h/mL for EMs and for one PM subject, respectively [see Dosage and Administration (2) and Drug Interactions ( 7.1)] .