Population pharmacokinetics of a posaconazole tablet formulation in transplant adult allogeneic stem cell recipients

Posaconazole is an antifungal agent extensively used as a prophylaxis for invasive fungal infections (IFIs) in allogeneic stem cell transplant (SCT) recipients. Low posaconazole concentrations have been associated with reduced clinical response. The aim of this study was to develop a population pharmacokinetic (popPK) model of a posaconazole tablet formulation in allogeneic SCT adult recipients for supporting model-informed precision dosing (MIPD).

Materials and method
Prospective observational study performed in adult allogeneic SCT recipients receiving posaconazole as prophylaxis for IFIs and followed up by a therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) program. Posaconazole plasma concentrations were quantified using an ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) with UV detector. A popPK model was developed using NONMEM v.7.4.0. Deterministic and stochastic simulations were carried out with the final model to evaluate the differences across physiological variables with impact on drug exposure.

Results
A one-compartment model with sequential absorption (zero and first order) and first order elimination described adequately 55 posaconazole concentrations from 36 patients. Higher doses of posaconazole were found to be required by males and patients with lower values of total serum proteins. A nomogram to estimate the posaconazole daily dose based on pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PKPD) criterion for males and females for different values of total proteins was developed.

Conclusions
Gender and total serum proteins have been identified as covariates influencing posaconazole CL/F in adult allogeneic SCT recipients receiving the delay-released tablet formulation. Additional studies are required to better characterize the absorption of posaconazole and implications on dosage recommendations together with potential safety concerns.

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Article Information
Diego Peña-Lorenzo, Noemí Rebollo, José Germán Sánchez-Hernández, Aránzazu Zarzuelo-Castañeda, Lourdes Vázquez-López, María José Otero, Jonás Samuel Pérez-Blanco, Population pharmacokinetics of a posaconazole tablet formulation in transplant adult allogeneic stem cell recipients, European Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences,
Volume 168, 2022, 106049, ISSN 0928-0987, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejps.2021.106049. (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0928098721003511)