B. Malhotra et al., Percutaneous absorption and pharmacokinetics of eflornithine HCl 13.9% cream in women with unwanted facial hair, J CLIN PHAR, 41(9), 2001, pp. 972-978
This article reports the results of an open-label, multiple-dose study to d
etermine percutaneous absorption and pharmacokinetics of eflornithine follo
wing topical treatment with eflornithine HCl 13.9% cream (Vaniqa (TM)). Ten
women with excessive facial hair were treated with two 0.5 g single doses
of [C-14]-labeled eflornithine HCl 13.9% (w/w) cream (periods A and C) sepa
rated by twice-daily application of 0.5 g unlabeled eflornithine HCl 13.9%
cream for 7 days (period B). Analysis of radioactivity excreted in urine an
d feces indicated that percutaneous absorption was minimal. Comparison with
urinary excretion of eflornithine in period A suggested that most of absor
bed eflornithine was excreted in urine without being metabolized. Radioacti
vity was not detectable in blood or plasma, but eflornithine concentrations
were measurable, with peak concentrations of 4.96 ng/ml in period A and 10
.44 ng/ml in period C. Eflornithine was eliminated from plasma with a mean
terminal half-life of 11 hours (first application) and 8 hours (final appli
cation). Trough plasma concentrations reached steady state (4.61-5.50 ng/ml
) after 4 days of twice-dally topical treatment, and multiple dosing had no
apparent effect on disposition kinetics. The low degree of percutaneous ab
sorption and low systemic exposure to eflornithine offer a favorable clinic
al safety profile of eflornithine HCl 13.9% cream. (C) 2001 the American Co
llege of Clinical Pharmacology.