Pharmacokinetics of Salmeterol Via HandiHaler® in Healthy Male Volunteers

A Randomised, Open-label Three-way Crossover Study to Evaluate the Pharmacokinetics of Salmeterol After Inhalation of a 25 μg and 50 μg Single Dose (Inhalation Powder, Hard PE Capsule for HandiHaler®2) and a 50 μg Single Dose (Serevent® Diskus®) in Healthy Male Volunteers

The objective of this study is to investigate if the systemic drug exposure of at least 25 μg and perhaps 50 μg salmeterol presented as inhalation powder in PE capsules and administered via HandiHaler® 2 does not exceed that of 50 μg Serevent® Diskus® and to investigate safety and tolerability of salmeterol presented as inhalation powder in PE capsules and administered via HandiHaler® 2

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Healthy male based upon a complete medical history, including the physical examination, regarding vital signs ((Blood Pressure (BP), Pulse Rate (PR)), 12-lead ECG measurement, and clinical laboratory tests. There is no finding deviating from normal and of clinical relevance. There is no evidence of a clinically relevant concomitant disease.
2. Age ≥21 and ≤50 years
3. BMI ≥18.5 and <30 kg/m2 (Body Mass Index)
4. Signed and dated written informed consent prior to admission to the study in accordance with Good Clinical Practice (GCP) and the local legislation

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Any finding of the medical examination (including BP, PR, and ECG measurements) deviating from normal and of clinical relevance

2. Evidence of a clinically relevant concomitant disease

3. Gastrointestinal, hepatic, renal, respiratory, cardiovascular, metabolic, immunological or hormonal disorders

4. Diseases of the central nervous system (such as epilepsy) or psychiatric disorders or neurological disorders

5. History of relevant orthostatic hypotension, fainting spells or blackouts

6. Chronic or relevant acute infections

7. History of relevant allergy/hypersensitivity (including allergy to the drug or its excipients) as judged clinically relevant by the investigator

8. Intake of drugs with a long half-life (>24 hours) within at least 1 month or less than 10 half-lives of the respective drug prior to randomization

9. Use of drugs which might reasonably influence the results of the trial based on the knowledge at the time of protocol preparation within 10 days prior to randomization

10. Participation in another trial with an investigational drug within 2 months prior to randomization

11. Smoker (>10 cigarettes or >3 cigars or >3 pipes/day)

12. Inability to refrain from smoking on trial days as judged by the investigator

13. Alcohol abuse (more than 60 g alcohol a day)

14. Drug abuse

15. Blood donation (more than 100 mL blood within 4 weeks prior to randomization or during the trial)

16. Excessive physical activities within 1 week prior to randomization or during the trial

17. Any laboratory value outside the reference range that is of clinical relevance

18. Inability to comply with dietary regimen of the study centre

    The following exclusion criteria are specific for this study due to the known class side effect profile of ß2-mimetics:

19. Asthma or history of pulmonary hyperreactivity

20. Hyperthyrosis

21. Allergic rhinitis in need of treatment

22. Clinically relevant cardiac arrhythmia

23. Paroxysmal tachycardia (>100 beats per minute)