Development and validation of automated SPE-HPLC-MS/MS methods for the quantification of asenapine, a new antipsychotic agent, and its two major metabolites in human urine.

ABSTRACT To support the evaluation of the pharmacokinetic parameters of asenapine (ASE) in urine, we developed and validated online solid-phase extraction high-performance liquid chromatography methods with tandem mass spectrometry detection (SPE-LC-MS/MS) for the quantification of ASE and two of its major metabolites, N-desmethylasenapine (DMA) and asenapine-N⁺-glucuronide (ASG). The linearity in human urine was found acceptable for quantification in a concentration range of 0.500-100 ng/mL for ASE and DMA and 10.0-3000 ng/mL for ASG, respectively. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]