Drug substances biopharmaceutical classification

Bioavailability depends not only on having the drug in solution, but also on the drug s permeability. A jejunal permeability of at least 2-4 x 10 4cm/s, measured in human subjects by intubation, is considered high [97]. For many drugs and other substances, this permeability corresponds to a fraction absorbed of 90% or better. Amidon et al. [97] thus proposed a Biopharmaceutics Classification System (BCS) for drugs based on the above definitions of these two parameters. Table 3 defines the BCS and includes some drugs representative of each class. 

Since solubility and permeability are the two most important factors influencing oral absorption of drugs, the following biopharmaceutical classification system (BCS) for drug substances, based on the work by Amidon et al.,67 has been recommended by the FDA 68... 

With the advent of new biotechnological techniques endogenous compounds like insulin, buserelin or octreotide have become available at affordable prices. All of these substances still have to undergo needle application. Until today the development of alternative delivery systems for the nasal, buccal, peroral, rectal and pulmonary routes for the administration of those class III drugs according to the biopharmaceutics classification system (BCS) (Amidon et al. 1995) could not keep pace with this development of endogenous compounds or is not economic enough for the health care payers (e.g. insulin application via the pulmonary route). 

In 1995, the Biopharmaceutics Classification System (BCS) was devised to classify drugs based on their aqueous solubility and intestinal permeability [1], According to the BCS, drug substances are classified as follows [2] ... 

Aqueous solubility of ionizable molecules at different pH values is an important characteristic because it indicates the potential substance behavior in the stomach and intestinal tract and its potential impact on bioavailability. Moreover, it also provides important information for formulation scientists to define the class of a drug substance in the Biopharmaceutics Classification System (BCS), a regulatory guidance for bioequivalence studies. The BCS is a scientific framework proposed by the FDA to classify drug substances based on their aqueous solubility and intestinal permeability and defines important parameters in the selection of drug candidates into development. According to the BCS, drug substances are classified as shown in Table 12-4. 

Biopharmaceutic classification (BCS) system Immediate release solid oral drug products Drug must be a highly soluble and highly permeable substance that is in a rapidly dissolving dosage form... 

Figure 3.1 The Biopharmaceutics Classification System as defined by Amidon et al. [6]. The BCS is a classification of drug substances according to their solubility and permeability properties, in orderto stand forthe most fundamental viewofthe drug intestinal absorption process following oral administration.

The Biopharmaceutics Classification System (BCS) is based on aqueous solubility and intestinal permeability of the drug substance. It classifies the API into one of four classes ... 

Recently the FDA has proposed the waiver of bioequivalence studies for immediate-release solid oral dosage forms for a Class 1 drug substance based on the Biopharmaceutics Classification System (highly soluble and highly permeable) and for a rapidly dissolving product. ... 

---