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.