Bioequivalence of a Single-dose of 12 mg IVERMECTIN as Orally Disintegrating Mini Tablets Versus a Single-dose of 12 mg Regular IVERMECTIN Tablets in Healthy Adults Under Fasting Conditions

Single-center, Open-label, Randomized, Two-period, Two-way Crossover Study to Investigate the Bioequivalence of a Single-dose of 12 mg IVERMECTIN Administered as Orally Disintegrating Mini Tablets (CHILD-IVITAB) Versus a Single-dose of 12 mg Regular IVERMECTIN Tablets (STROMECTOL) in Healthy Adults Under Fasting Conditions

This is a phase I, single-center, open-label, randomized, two-period, two-way crossover, single-dose bioequivalence study in which the active substance ivermectin is administered as a single dose of 12 mg as either CHILD-IVITAB or STROMECTOL during two study drug administration periods. Each treatment will be investigated in the same subgroup of 16 healthy male or female study participants under fasted conditions.

Ivermectin is used in humans as an oral antiparasitic agent. Currently approved ivermectin tablets are designed for adult patients. A child-appropriate formulation is not yet available. Ivermectin in suspension is not practicable as the stability is fragile, the shelf-life is very short, and the suspension is affected by UV light exposure. If tablets are offered to infants and young children as crushed or in a suspended form they are prone to imprecise dosing (loss of product after crushing or sedimentation of product after suspension). They are not palatable, and thereby frequently expelled out of the mouth by the child. All above compromise drug-adherence and effectiveness of treatment. In this bioequivalence study in healthy adults, CHILD-IVITAB, a novel orally disintegrating tablet (ODT) formulation containing the active ingredient ivermectin, will be evaluated. CHILD-IVITABs are stable in hot and humid atmosphere and no external agent is required for taste masking or swallowing. This study aims to determine if 12 mg of CHILD-IVITAB administered in a single dose is bioequivalent (with 0.80, 1.25 as the bioequivalence boundaries for AUC0-∞) to 12 mg administered as a single dose of the reference formulation STROMECTOL under fasting conditions. Further this study aims to characterize tolerability of CHILD-IVITAB in healthy adults.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Male or female aged between 18 and 45 years (inclusive) at screening.
• Healthy adult females on contraceptives at least 1 month prior to the start of the study until 1 month after the completion of the study and urine pregnancy test at screening and pre-study drug administration negative.
• No history of alcohol or drug abuse.
• No history of chronic liver or kidney disease.
• No clinically significant findings on the physical examination at screening.
• Body mass index (BMI) between 18.0 and 30.0 kg/m2 (inclusive) at screening.
• Normal blood pressure and heart rate (Systolic blood pressure (SBP) 100-145 mmHg, diastolic blood pressure (DBP) 50-90 mmHg, and heart rate (HR) 45-90 bpm (inclusive), measured after 5 minutes in the supine position at screening).
• Hematology and blood chemistry results not deviating from the normal range to a clinically relevant extent at screening. Gilbert's syndrome (increased total and unconjugated bilirubin when fasting) will be accepted if mild.
• A 12-lead ECG without significant abnormalities (QTc ³450 msec at screening or pronounced sinus bradycardia (<40 bpm/min), even if elicited by sport)
• Negative urine drug screen (amphetamines, benzodiazepines, cannabis, cocaine, and opiates).
• Ability to communicate well with the investigator, in the local language, and to understand and comply with the requirements of the study.
• The participant agrees to be available for scheduled visits.
• Informed and signed consent obtained prior to any study-mandated procedure (including specific request for HIV serology and hepatitis as well as for urinary screen for drugs).

Exclusion Criteria:

• Eligible participants must meet none of the following exclusion criteria:
• Known hypersensitivity to any excipients of the drug formulations.
• Treatment with another investigational drug within 3 months prior to screening.
• Participation in a clinical study/trial in the previous 3 months unless no treatment taken or large amounts of blood collected
• History or clinical evidence of alcoholism or drug abuse within the 3-year period prior to screening.
• Significant caffeine consumption defined as > 400 mg per day at screening.
• History or clinical evidence of any disease and/or existence of any surgical or medical condition, which might interfere with the absorption, distribution, metabolism or excretion of the study drug.
• History of moderate or severe allergy or asthma at any time. Allergic rhinitis is acceptable if non symptomatic when starting the study and if symptoms are not anticipated to occur during the first 4 weeks of each period and are not expected to require a corticosteroid treatment.
• History of cardiovascular dysfunction if considered as clinically relevant (conduction abnormality, arrhythmia, bradycardia, angina pectoris, cardiac hypertrophy unless elicited by training, embolism).
• Recurrent hypotensive events considered as clinically relevant.
• Intense sport activities up to 4 days before inclusion
• Use of any medication the week prior to study or as based on 5 plasma half-life rule (before screening, after screening) and throughout study. Paracetamol is permissible before the study as a rescue medication but only with investigator's permission.
• Smoking (consumption of ≤5 cigarettes/day or equivalent is acceptable, provided the subject commits to quit entirely during the study)
• Loss of 350 ml or more of blood or blood donation within 3 months prior to screening.
• Positive results from the hepatitis serology, except for vaccinated (hepatitis B virus) participants, at screening.
• Positive results from the HIV serology at screening.
• Any circumstances or conditions, which, in the opinion of the investigator, may affect full participation in the study or compliance with the protocol.
• Legal incapacity or limited legal capacity at screening. l