Absorption of oral lornoxicam in healthy volunteers using a granular formulation in comparison with standard tablets

The bioavailability of lornoxicam (CAS 70374-39-9), a novel highly potent anti-inflammatory and analgesic agent, was studied in healthy volunteers after single doses of a new oral formulation (8 mg granules) in comparison to tablets (8mg). Eighteen healthy volunteers (6 males and 12 females) with a mean age of 29.4 were given a single 8 mg dose of each formulation in an open, cross-over study, with randomized sequences. Lornoxicam plasma levels were detd. by an HPLC method. Cmax, AUC0-∞ and t1/2VFb values were similar for both the granules and tablets, but tmax and lag time values after lornoxicam granules were significantly shorter than after the tablets. No side-effects were noted with either of the formulations studied. The results show that lornoxicam granular formulation had a faster absorption than tablets even though the two formulations can be considered bioequivalent.