Effect of age on the pharmacokinetics of fimasartan (BR-A-657)

Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare the pharmacokinetics (PK) and safety of fimasartan (BR-A-657), an angiotensin II receptor antagonist, between healthy young (19 - 45 years) and older (>= 65 years) male subjects. Methods: To assess the effect of age on PK and safety, fimasartan was administered as a single 240mg tablet to 12 young and 10 older male subjects, followed by serial blood sampling over 48 h. Plasma concentrations of fimasartan were analyzed using validated HPLC-MS/MS. Clinical and laboratory adverse events were assessed. Results: After oral administration of 240 mg fimasartan, the mean area under the plasma concentration-time curve from time zero to infinity (AUC(0 ->infinity)) was 2899.0 ng/ml/h in the older, which was significantly greater than in young subjects (1767.4 ng/ml/h; p = 0.03). The geometric mean AUC(0 ->infinity) was 69.4% higher in older than in young subjects. The maximum plasma concentration (C-max), time to reach C-max and elimination half-life for fimasartan did not differ significantly between the older and young groups. Importantly, fimasartan was well tolerated during this study. Conclusions: While some PK parameters were statistically different between the two groups, the effect of age on the PK was modest (e. g., AUC increase < twofold in older subjects).