AUTHOR=Zhu Min , Wang Mei-xia , Li Zi-ran , Wang Wei , Su Xia , Jiao Zheng 

TITLE=Population Pharmacokinetics of Ropeginterferon Alfa-2b: A Comparison Between Healthy Caucasian and Chinese Subjects

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Pharmacology

VOLUME=Volume 12 - 2021

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pharmacology/articles/10.3389/fphar.2021.673492

DOI=10.3389/fphar.2021.673492

ISSN=1663-9812

ABSTRACT=Objective: To develop a population pharmacokinetic (PK) model for ropeginterferon alfa-2b and to compare its PK properties between Caucasian and Chinese populations. 
Methods: A population PK model was developed based on data from two phase I clinical trials conducted in Caucasian and Chinese individuals, to evaluate the influence of ethnicity on the PKs of ropeginterferon alfa-2b. 
Results: We included 456 observations from 30 healthy Caucasian subjects and 438 observations from 27 healthy Chinese subjects in the population PK analysis. The PKs of ropeginterferon alfa-2b were best described by a one-compartment quasi-equilibrium approximated target-mediated drug disposition model with first-order absorption and absorption lag times. The apparent clearance (CL/F) and volume of distribution of ropeginterferon alfa-2b in 70-kg subjects were 0.778 L/day and 2.32 L, respectively. Body weight was the only significant factor affecting the CL/F. There were no obvious ethnic differences in the PK properties of ropeginterferon alfa-2b, and predicted steady-state exposure was similar in the Chinese and Caucasian populations. 
Conclusion: No significant ethnic differences in ropeginterferon alfa-2b PKs were observed between the Chinese and Caucasian populations, indicating that Chinese individuals can be administered the same doses as Caucasians, from a PK perspective.