The biopharmaceutics classification system (BCS): class III drugs - better candidates for BA/BE waiver?

Eur J Pharm Sci. 1999 Dec;9(2):117-21. doi: 10.1016/s0928-0987(99)00076-7.

Abstract

Current guidelines (CPMP Note for Guidance in Europe and FDA Guidance for Industry in the USA) consider a waiver of bioavailability/bioequivalence studies for immediate release dosage forms of highly soluble, highly permeable drug substances (Class I according to the BCS). In this paper, a waiver of BA/BE studies is being proposed also for Class III compounds (high solubility and low permeability) in fast dissolving products without excipients which may modify gastro-intestinal transit or membrane permeation. This type of drug substance may be an even better candidate for a waiver as, in this case, bioavailability will not so much depend on the formulation characteristics, as on drug substance properties (e.g. permeability).

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Biological Availability*
  • Biopharmaceutics / classification*
  • Europe
  • Gastrointestinal Transit / drug effects
  • Permeability
  • Practice Guidelines as Topic
  • Solubility
  • Therapeutic Equivalency*
  • Time Factors
  • United States
  • United States Food and Drug Administration