Enantioselective pharmacokinetics of lercanidipine in healthy volunteers.

Objective: The enantioselective kinetic disposition of lercanidipine, a dihydropyridine type of third-generation calcium antagonist, was investigated in six healthy male volunteers following a single 20 mg racemic oral dose.
Methods: Serial plasma samples were obtained from 0 to 24 h after drug administration. Lercanidipine enantiomers were analysed using a chiral LC-MS-MS method.
Results: The following differences (p < 0.05, Wilcoxon test) between (S) and (R) enantiomers were found (median): C(max) 2.071 ng mL(-1) versus 1.681 ng mL(-1); AUC(0-24)12.352 ng h mL(-1) versus 10.063 ng h mL(-1) and Cl/f 732.16 L h(-1) versus 1891.84 L h(-1). The AUC(0-infinity) values for (S)-LER were 1.21-fold higher than those for (R)-LER.
Conclusion: The pharmacokinetics of LER was enantioselective in healthy volunteers following a single dose of 20 mg of the unlabeled racemic drug.