A Biopredictive In Vitro Approach for Assessing Compatibility of a Novel Pediatric Hydrocortisone Drug Product within Common Pediatric Dosing Vehicles

Purpose The objective of the present work was to screen whether a novel pediatric hydrocortisone granule formulation can be co-administered with common food matrices and liquids. Methods Pediatric hydrocortisone granules were studied using a biopredictive in vitro approach. Experiments included an in situ chemical compatibility study of active ingredient and drug product with liquid dosing vehicles and soft foods commonly ingested by infants, pre-school- and school children. Drug solubility and stability experiments in the different vehicle types and, drug release/dissolution experiments mimicking age-related pediatric gastric conditions after administering the hydrocortisone granules together with the dosing vehicles and after different exposure/mixing times were performed. Results In the simulated dosing scenarios applied in dissolution experiments, in vitro dissolution in gastric conditions was rapid and complete. Results of the chemical compatibility/stability studies indicated that mixing with the different dosing vehicles studied should not be an issue regarding drug degradation products. Conclusions A novel in vitro approach ensuring a proper risk assessment of the use of dosing vehicles in the administration of pediatric dosage forms was established and applied to a novel pediatric hydrocortisone drug product. The studied dosing vehicles were shown to not alter performance of the drug product and are thus considered suitable for administration with hydrocortisone granules. Graphical abstract