PHARMACOKINETICS AND DRUG-INTERACTIONS - RELEVANT FACTORS FOR THE CHOICE OF A DRUG

Pharmacokinetics serve as a useful tool in drug development by identif ying the drug's disposition and elimination characteristics, the absor ption characteristics of the biopharmaceutical formulation, and the th erapeutic dose regimen in various patient populations. Where two or mo re drugs of a class have a similar efficacy, the choice of the drug ma y depend upon the reproducibility of the pharmacokinetics and the mini mal risk of drug interaction. Pantoprazole, a selective proton pump in hibitor, appears to meet the above criteria. As opposed to other membe rs of the class, pantoprazole exhibits linear, predictable pharmacokin etics and lack of drug interactions.