Effect of Food Intake and Body Position on the Pharmacokinetics of Swallowed APT‐1011, a Fluticasone Orally Disintegrating Tablet, in Healthy Adult Volunteers

Eosinophilic esophagitis is a common atopic disease of the esophagus. APT‐1011 is an orally disintegrating tablet formulation of fluticasone propionate under development for the treatment of eosinophilic esophagitis. The objective of this study was to evaluate the pharmacokinetics, safety, and tolerability of APT‐1011 under fed or fasted conditions in the morning (am) or at bedtime (hs) in the supine position. The study was a randomized, single‐dose, 3‐way, crossover design in healthy adult volunteers. In each study period participants received 2 3‐mg orally disintegrating APT‐1011 tablets. Serial plasma samples were collected before dosing and up to 72 hours after each dose. Twenty‐two participants completed the study. The fluticasone propionate peak concentration (Cmax) ranged from 5.97 to 200 pg/mL. Compared with am‐fasted dosing, am‐fed dosing was associated with a modestly higher Cmax (∼21%) but lower net exposure (area under the concentration‐time curve ∼56% difference) and shorter time to reach Cmax (Tmax) (Tmax fasted = 10 hours, fed = 5 hours). Dosing at hs resulted in an 18% and 32% decrease in Cmax relative to am‐fasted and am‐fed conditions, respectively. Dosing at hs led to an exposure that was higher than am‐fed but lower than am‐fasted dosing. Tmax with hs dosing (14 hours) was later than that with am dosing (Tmax fasted = 10 hours, fed = 5 hours). Adverse events were mild. There is low systemic exposure of fluticasone propionate with APT‐1011. The rate of absorption was increased with a high‐fat meal but decreased with hs dosing, suggesting the potential for longer dwell times in the esophagus.