Self-emulsifying system enhances progesterone bioavailability.

2004 AUG 5 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- A novel self-emulsifying system (SES) enhances progesterone bioavailability.

In a recent study from England, a "pellet formulation of progesterone" in an SES "was prepared by the process of extrusion/spheronization to provide a good in vitro drug release (100% within 30 min, T[subscript]50% at 13 min)."

"A three-way randomized crossover study was performed in six fasted male beagle dogs with these pellets and the same SES liquid formulation, both contained in a hard shell capsule, and an aqueous suspension," explained C. Tuleu and coauthors at the University of London.

"The same dose of progesterone (16 mg) in pellets and in the SES liquid formulation resulted in similar AUC, C[subscript]max and T[subscript]max values, estimated from progesterone plasma levels by [superscript]125I radioimmunoassay," according to the report. "Although the maximum absorption was slightly retarded (0.5 to 1 h) by SES (pellets and liquid), AUC and C[subscript]max were approximately seven and nine times greater then those obtained when an aqueous suspension formulation of the same dose of progesterone was administered to the same dogs."

"These results showed that it was possible to improve the bioavailability of ...