Impact of transporters in oral absorption: A case study of in vitro and in vivo organic anion absorption

Gram L K, Rist G M, Steffansen B

Mol Pharmaceutics 2009; 6(5): 1457–1465
http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/mp8001182

A key determinant for oral bioavailability of a drug candidate is the intestinal epithelial permeation of the drug candidate. This intestinal permeation may be affected by interactions on membrane transporters expressed in the intestinal epithelial cells. The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether transporters were involved in the intestinal absorption of an organic anion A275 and to compare the impact of interactions related to transporters in the Caco-2 cell model versus the in vivo rat model of intestinal absorption. In both models, it was investigated whether intestinal permeation of A275 was concentration dependent and affected by inhibitors or competitive organic anions. Interactions related to transporters in intestinal permeation was clearly demonstrated in the Caco-2 cell model but was not directly evident for in vivo rat absorption. However, an observed biphasic in vivo absorption and a large intervariability between rats might mask a dose-dependent absorption of A275. To avoid these suggested interactions, a dose of at least 10 mg/kg, which saturates the intestinal transporters involved in A275 absorption, should be administered, but at doses below that the risk of such drug interactions should be taken into account.