Single-dose pharmacokinetics of paliperidone extended-release tablets in healthy Chinese subjects

Objective Paliperidone is the active metabolite of risperidone. This single‐center, double‐blind, randomized, single‐dose study characterized the pharmacokinetics of 3 mg and 9 mg of paliperidone ER OROS® in healthy Chinese subjects. Methods 24 subjects (13 male, 11 female), aged 19–35 years, with a BMI of 19.0–24.6 kg/m2 participated. Blood samples were collected immediately before and over 96 h following single oral doses of 3 mg and 9 mg paliperidone. Plasma paliperidone concentrations were determined, and pharmacokinetic parameters were analyzed. Results Paliperidone's disposition after oral administration was characterized by a one‐compartment pharmacokinetic model. Paliperidone was well absorbed (median tmax: 24 h after a 3‐mg dose, and 26 h after a 9‐mg dose). Apparent clearance and apparent volume of distribution were not significantly different between the two doses. Cmax, AUC0‐t, and AUC0‐∞ were dose‐dependent. Pharmacokinetics was linear with respect to time; Geometric mean t1/2 was 22.8 h and 21.4 h in 3‐mg and 9‐mg groups, respectively. No clinically significant safety issues were identified. Conclusions The pharmacokinetic results obtained in Chinese subjects were similar to those obtained in Japanese and Caucasian subjects. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.