Abstract
Purpose:
This study aimed to systematically evaluate the pharmacokinetics, bioequivalence, and safety of a single postprandial oral dose of testosterone undecanoate (TU) and its originator drug Andriol Testocaps® in healthy postmenopausal Chinese women, providing theoretical support for optimizing hormone replacement therapy protocols.
Methods:
A randomized, open-label, two-treatment, four-period, single-center, single-dose crossover clinical trial was conducted at Xinxiang Central Hospital. Participants received single oral doses of 40 mg TU or Andriol Testocaps® in each period. Serial blood samples were collected from 0 to 24 h post-dose.
Results:
The average adjusted geometric mean ratios (GMR) (90% CI) for the primary PK parameters Cmax, AUC0-t, and were 102.20% (90.32%–115.63%), 99.85% (92.82%–107.41%), and 99.79% (92.90%–107.20%). All 90% CI for Cmax, AUC0-t, and fell within the 80%–125% bioequivalence range. The two drugs showed comparable results for the other PK parameters. These results indicate that the two drugs were bioequivalent.
Conclusion:
TU demonstrated bioequivalence to Andriol Testocaps® under fed conditions in Chinese healthy participants, with comparable safety and tolerability profiles. These results advocate the clinical application of generic TU as a potential alternative to originator drug Andriol Testocaps® in the treatment.
Introduction
Late-Onset Hypogonadism (LOH) is a clinical syndrome closely associated with aging, characterized by serum testosterone (T) levels below the normal reference range for healthy adult males, accompanied by a series of clinical symptoms (; ). Given that testosterone deficiency is the direct pathophysiological basis of LOH, testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) has been established as the standard treatment for this condition, irrespective of fertility requirements (; ). As a core drug in TRT, testosterone undecanoate (TU) exerts its clinical effects by externally supplementing testosterone to effectively alleviate low-testosterone-related symptoms in LOH patients, such as decreased libido, reduced muscle mass, fatigue, and mood disorders (; ). TU, an ester derivative of testosterone, functions through enzymatic hydrolysis by esterases in vivo to slowly release active testosterone, which is subsequently converted to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) via 5α-reductase in target tissues. It ultimately binds to androgen receptors, regulating gene expression and exerting physiological effects such as promoting protein synthesis and inhibiting protein catabolism ().
TU is available in diverse dosage forms, including oral and injectable preparations, each addressing different clinical needs: intramuscular suspensions are suitable for patients requiring long-term testosterone replacement therapy, with efficacy comparable to marketed injections and lower local irritation (; ); transdermal formulations avoid first-pass effects through skin absorption, making them appropriate for patients intolerant to injections or oral administration (; ).
TU possess unique pharmaceutical properties: their lipid-soluble structure enables absorption via the intestinal lymphatic system, circumventing hepatic first-pass metabolism and thereby ensuring the effectiveness of oral administration (). This characteristic positions them as a critical long-term treatment option for LOH patients.
Globally, TU oral preparations primarily include originator drugs and generics. In the Chinese market, the imported originator drug—TU soft capsules (Andriol Testocaps®, 40 mg)—manufactured by N.V. Organon and Catalent France Beinheim S.A.—has long been a key therapeutic choice for LOH patients. In December 2020, Merck & Co., Inc. (China) Investment Co., Ltd. discontinued the supply of this product in the Chinese market due to the global withdrawal plan of the parent company, with formal market exit occurring in January 2021. This led to an urgent clinical need for alternative, high-quality TU preparations to ensure treatment continuity. Following the delisting of Andriol Testocaps® in China, domestic LOH treatment faced a sharp decline in short-term drug accessibility, necessitating the development of domestic generics to fill the market gap.
In accordance with the requirements of the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA), any generic drug must undergo re-evaluation of its quality equivalence to the originator drug before adopting new regulatory measures. This study aimed to evaluate and compare the pharmacokinetics (PK), bioequivalence (BE), and safety of a single postprandial dose of the test formulation versus the reference formulation in healthy postmenopausal Chinese female participants, adhering to relevant regulatory guidelines for bioequivalence trials.
Methods
Study materials
The test formulation, TU soft capsules, was supplied by manufactured by Zhejiang Medicine Co., Ltd. Xinchang Pharmaceutical Factory (Bath NO.: 1052202, 40 mg), while the reference formulation, Andriol Testocaps®, was provided by Catalent France Beinheim S.A. (Bath NO.: T023247, 40 mg). All study drugs were offered by Xinchang Pharmaceutical Factory.
Study population and design
This clinical trial was carried out at the Clinical Trial Research Center of Xinxiang Central Hospital. According to the requirements of the sponsor, the clinical trial was registered at chinadrugtrials.org.cn (CTR20223150, registered on 14 December 2022), Which was an authoritative registration authority widely recognized under Chinese laws and regulations. The study protocol and its amendments met the Good Clinical Practice guidelines and Declaration of Helsinki. The study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of Xinxiang Central Hospital (approval number: 2022-075). All participants willingly consented to take part in this study and provided written informed consent.
The clinical trial recruited Chinese healthy naturally postmenopausal females who were in good health and aged between 45 and 65 years (inclusive), with cessation of menses for≥12 months, and the BMI range was 18–28 kg/m2 (inclusive). Postmenopausal women were chosen as surrogates for hypogonadal men due to their stable, low endogenous testosterone levels, which minimize confounding fluctuations inherent in male subjects. This selection aligns with regulatory guidance for endogenous compound bioequivalence studies. Female participants had a minimum weight of 45 kg and a total testosterone level ≤0.75 ng/mL. The participants underwent a comprehensive evaluation. Participants who satisfied the eligibility criteria were included, whereas those who fulfilled any of the exclusion criteria were not recruited. Additional details regarding the criteria for including and excluding individuals from the study can be found in the Supplementary Material.
Healthy participants were randomly assigned to either the T-R-T-R sequence group or the R-T-R-T sequence group in a 1:1 ratio. Participants received oral administration of 40 mg TU soft capsules (T/R) under postprandial conditions on Day 1/Day 6/Day 11/Day 16. On the first day of each dosing cycle, participants, after an overnight fast of at least 10 h, initiate the consumption of a high-fat meal (800–1000 calories) 30 min prior to medication administration. Subsequently, participants orally take 40 mg of Andriol Testocaps® or TU according to the schedule. The washout period between periods was set to be no less than 5 days.
Sample size determination
To compare the bioequivalence of TU and Andriol Testocaps®, a single-center, open-label, randomized, single-dose, four-period, fully repeated crossover design was conducted. The determination of the sample size was based on prior reports indicating that the intra-participant variability (CVW%) of testosterone undecanoate Cmax and AUC ranged from 30% to 50% (; ). This study employed a four-period fully replicated crossover design with pharmacokinetic parameters (AUC, Cmax) as primary analysis indices. Assuming α = 0.05, β = 0.2, Intra-CV = 30%, geometric mean ratio (GMR) of test/reference formulation = 0.90, and bioequivalence interval of 80.00%–125.00%, PASS software calculated a minimum sample size of 40 participants. Considering a certain dropout rate, 48 participants were ultimately enrolled in the postprandial trial.
Blood sampling and bioanalytical assays
Blood samples were collected in each study period. For sample collection, vacuum collection tubes pre-cooled in an ice-water bath containing K2-ethylenediaminetetraacetic (EDTA-K2) anticoagulant were used, with blood drawn at 24 time points: 2.0 h before dosing (−2.0 h), 1.0h before dosing (−1.0 h), 0 h (dosing time), and 1.0 h, 2.0 h, 3.0 h, 3.5 h, 4.0 h, 4.5 h, 5.0 h, 5.5 h, 6.0 h, 6.5 h, 7.0 h, 7.5 h, 8.0 h, 9.0 h, 10.0 h, 11.0 h, 12.0 h, 13.0 h, 14.0 h, 16.0 h, 24.0 h after dosing. Biologic sample collection and processing were conducted under ice-bath white light conditions. The collected whole blood was centrifuged at 2 °C–8 °C with a relative centrifugal force (RCF) of 1700 g for 10 min to separate plasma. The resulting plasma supernatant was stored at −80 °C prior to analysis.
The plasma concentrations of Testosterone undecanoate and Testosterone were measured with a validated liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method developed by Shanghai Xihua Scientific Co. Ltd. Testosterone undecanoate, Testosterone and their internal standards (D3-Testosterone undecanoate and Testosterone-13C3) were isolated from human plasma using solid-phase extraction with C18 (Cleanert ODS C18, Agela). Elution was performed using acetonitrile. The eluate was evaporated to dryness, and the residue subsequently dissolved in methanol and water 60:40 (V:V). For calibration samples, the internal standard solution was vortexed with surrogate matrix and working solutions. The concentration range of the calibration curve used for sample analysis was 0.300–120 ng/mL for Testosterone undecanoate and 0.0750–15.0 ng/mL for Testosterone.
Bioanalysis was performed on a Shimadzu LC-30AD system with an Applied Biosystems Triple Quadrupole 6500+ mass spectrometer equipped with an APCI source. The data were recorded using the Analyst1.7.2 software (Applied Biosystems, USA). Chromatographic separation was achieved on an Poroshell 120 EC-C18 column (100 × 2.1 mm, 2.7 μm; Agilent). The mobile phase consisted ofwater with 0.1% formic acid and 2 mM ammonium acetate (A) and methanol (B), and the flow rate was 0.50 mL/min. Quantification was performed in positive ion mode through the multiple reaction monitoring of the ion pairs of 457.2/271.2 for Testosterone undecanoate, 460.2/274.2 for D3-Testosterone undecanoate, 289.2/97.2 for Testosterone and 292.2/100.2 for Testosterone-13C3.
Safety evaluations
Vital signs (including auricular temperature, pulse rate, and sitting blood pressure) were measured at 1.0 h before dosing and at 2.0 ± 0.5, 6.0 ± 0.5, 12.0 ± 0.5, and 24.0 ± 1.0 h post-dosing in each study period. Researchers promptly documented adverse events (AEs) throughout the trial. For participants in Period 4, safety assessments (physical examination, vital sign reevaluation, 12-lead electrocardiogram, and laboratory tests) were conducted on the day of pharmacokinetic blood sampling completion. A telephone follow-up was performed 7 ± 2 days after study discharge to inquire about subsequent AEs and document their outcomes. All AEs observed during the trial were followed until resolution.
Statistical analysis
Pharmacokinetic parameters of testosterone undecanoate—including Cmax (maximum plasma concentration), AUC0-t, , tmax, λz (elimination rate constant), t1/2, and AUC_%Extrap—were calculated using Phoenix WinNonlin 8.3 software via non-compartmental pharmacokinetic analysis. Descriptive statistics were generated for all parameters using SAS 9.4. For test and reference formulations, the natural logarithm-transformed Cmax, AUC0-t, and values underwent mixed-effects model analysis of variance. GMRs of the two formulations were computed at the 90% confidence level, with ratios converted back to linear scale via antilogarithmic transformation. A statistical significance threshold of P < 0.05 was applied.
Equivalence criteria were evaluated based on reference formulation CVw%. If CVw% < 0.294 (i.e., CVw% < 30%), the average bioequivalence (ABE) method was applied, requiring the 90% confidence interval (CI) of GMR for Cmax, AUC0-t, and to fall within 80.00%–125.00%. For CVw% ≥ 30%, the reference-scaled average bioequivalence (RSABE) method was implemented, mandating simultaneous fulfillment of two conditions: (1) GMR upper confidence bound ≤ pre-specified upper limit (calculated via FDA-recommended formula) and (2) GMR point estimate within 80.00%–125.00%. Both testosterone undecanoate (primary analyte) and testosterone (supportive analyte) adhered to these equivalence criteria.
Results
Participants
A total of 127 participants were screened, and 48 participants (all female) were ultimately enrolled, including 47 Han Chinese and 1 Miao ethnic participant. The mean (±SD) age was 53.67 ± 3.33 years, with average height of 158.40 ± 5.16 cm, weight of 60.08 ± 6.07 kg, and body mass index (BMI) of 23.93 ± 1.89 kg/m2, as shown in Table 1. The study employed a four-period replicate crossover design with two treatment sequences: T-R-T-R and R-T-R-T, each comprising 24 participants. All enrolled participants completed the trial without premature withdrawal, adhering to the scheduled drug administration protocol.
TABLE 1
| Parameters | Mean ± SD |
|---|---|
| Age (years) | 53.67 ± 3.33 |
| Height (cm) | 158.40 ± 5.16 |
| Weight (kg) | 60.08 ± 6.07 |
| BMI (kg/m2) | 23.93 ± 1.89 |
Baseline demographics characteristics.
Pharmacokinetic properties
Figure 1 presents the mean plasma concentration-time profiles of testosterone undecanoate under postprandial conditions for both test and reference formulations. The corresponding pharmacokinetic parameters are summarized in Table 2. For testosterone undecanoate, the primary pharmacokinetic parameters (Cmax, AUC0-t, ) were analyzed using a mixed-effects model after natural logarithm transformation. The model incorporated the effects of dosing sequence, formulation factors, and dosing periods to compare their influences on parameter variability.
FIGURE 1
TABLE 2
| Pharmacokinetic parameters | T | R |
|---|---|---|
| Tmax#(h) | 6.49 (1.9917, 13.9917) | 6.49 (1.9919, 15.9917) |
| Cmax (ng/mL) | 113.39 ± 75.73 (66.78) | 110.09 ± 67.59 (61.39) |
| AUC0-t (h·ng/mL) | 280.44 ± 129.92 (46.33) | 279.48 ± 122.95 (43.99) |
| (h·ng/mL) | 285.26 ± 128.66 (45.10) | 285.07 ± 120.40 (42.24) |
| λZ (1/h) | 0.8116 ± 0.3395 (41.83) | 0.8378 ± 0.3672 (43.82) |
| t1/2(h) | 1.11 ± 0.79 (71.36) | 1.08 ± 0.78 (72.34) |
| AUC_%Extrap (%) | 1.53 ± 5.19 (339.67) | 1.66 ± 5.16 (310.27) |
The pharmacokinetic parameters (N = 95–96).
Data are presented as mean ± SD (%CV), except for Tmax, which is expressed as median (minimum, maximum). For randomization number C010 (sequence R-T-R-T) in Period 1 and randomization number C028 (sequence T-R-T-R) in Period 3, fewer than 3 non-below-the-limit-of-quantification (non-BQL) sampling points were available following the Cmax of testosterone undecanoate. Accordingly, the corresponding pharmacokinetic parameters λz, t1/2, , and AUC_%Extrap for these periods were treated as missing.
The results indicated no statistically significant differences (P > 0.05) in Cmax, AUC0-t and between the test and reference formulations for both dosing sequence and formulation factors. However, significant differences (P < 0.05) were observed across dosing periods. Detailed pharmacokinetic analyses of testosterone (baseline-corrected and non-corrected) are provided in Supplementary Material S1, S2.
Assessment of bioequivalence
As shown in Table 3, the within-participant coefficient of variation (SWR) for the reference formulation’s Cmax of testosterone undecanoate was 0.4801 (>0.294), indicating CVW% of 50.91% (>30%). Therefore, reference-scaled average bioequivalence (RSABE) was applied for bioequivalence evaluation with a regulatory acceptance range of −0.1329 (<0). The geometric mean ratio (GMR) of Cmax between the test and reference formulations was 102.20%, falling within the 80.00%–125.00% range.
TABLE 3
| | ABE | | RSABE | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pharmacokinetic parameters | T | R | T/R ratio (%) | 90% CI (%) | SWR | CVw (%) | Acceptance criterion | T/R ratio (%) | Power% | Application methods |
| Cmax (ng/mL) | 92.50 | 90.51 | 102.20 | 90.32–115.63 | 0.4801 | 50.91 | −0.1329 | 102.20 | >99.99 | RSABE |
| AUC0-t (h·ng/mL) | 254.23 | 254.61 | 99.85 | 92.82–107.41 | 0.2871 | 29.31 | −0.0485 | 99.85 | 99.93 | ABE |
| (h·ng/mL) | 259.62 | 260.15 | 99.79 | 92.90–107.20 | 0.2838 | 28.96 | −0.0471 | 99.58 | 99.95 | ABE |
Summary of bioequivalence assessment.
The acceptance criterion was defined as the upper bound of the one-sided 95% confidence interval. For participant C010 (sequence R-T-R-T) in Period 1 and participant C028 (sequence T-R-T-R) in Period 3, fewer than 3 non-below-the-limit-of-quantification (non-BQL) sampling points were available following the testosterone undecanoate Cmax. Consequently, the (area under the curve extrapolated to infinity) values for these periods were treated as missing data.
For the AUC0-t and parameters of testosterone undecanoate, the SWR values (0.2871 and 0.2838) were <0.294, corresponding to CVW% values of 29.31% and 28.96% (<30%), respectively. Thus, average bioequivalence (ABE) criteria were applied. The GMRs and 90% confidence intervals for AUC0-t and were 99.85% (92.82%–107.41%) and 99.79% (92.90%–107.20%), both within the 80.00%–125.00% range. Sensitivity analyses of testosterone undecanoate confirmed consistency with the primary analysis, supporting bioequivalence between the test and reference formulations (Supplementary Material S3). Bioequivalence was also demonstrated for both baseline-corrected and non-corrected testosterone levels (Supplementary Material S4, S5).
Safety evaluations
As shown in the study, a total of 7 participants experienced 8 AEs with an incidence rate of 14.6% (7/48), all occurring during the test formulation period. Additionally, 5 participants reported 6 adverse drug reactions (ADRs) with an incidence rate of 10.4% (5/48), also exclusively during the test formulation administration phase. The most common AE was urine leukocyte positivity.
All adverse events were classified as Grade 1 severity, with no serious adverse events (SAEs), serious adverse drug reactions (SADRs), AEs/ADRs leading to withdrawal, or irreversible outcomes observed. Notably, all 8 AEs resolved spontaneously without sequelae under non-intervention conditions, demonstrating full reversibility. These findings collectively indicate comparable acute tolerability for both the test and reference formulations of testosterone undecanoate soft capsules when administered postprandially to healthy participants. Detailed AE summaries are provided in Table 4.
TABLE 4
| Adverse events | Test preparation (N = 48) | Reference reagent (N = 48) | Total (N = 48) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SOC/PT | Number of cases | Number of cases (%) | Number of cases | Number of cases (%) | Number of cases | Number of cases (%) |
| Total | 8 | 7 (14.6) | 0 | 0 (0) | 8 | 7 (14.6) |
| Various examinations | 7 | 6 (12.5) | 0 | 0 (0) | 7 | 6 (12.5) |
| Positive urinary leukocytes | 3 | 3 (6.3) | 0 | 0 (0) | 3 | 3 (6.3) |
| Elevated serum triglycerides | 1 | 1 (2.1) | 0 | 0 (0) | 1 | 1 (2.1) |
| Decreased white blood cell count | 1 | 1 (2.1) | 0 | 0 (0) | 1 | 1 (2.1) |
| Urinary sediment detected | 1 | 1 (2.1) | 0 | 0 (0) | 1 | 1 (2.1) |
| Increased human chorionic gonadotropin | 1 | 1 (2.1) | 0 | 0 (0) | 1 | 1 (2.1) |
| Gastrointestinal system diseases | 1 | 1 (2.1) | 0 | 0 (0) | 1 | 1 (2.1) |
| Nausea | 1 | 1 (2.1) | 0 | 0 (0) | 1 | 1 (2.1) |
Summary of AEs.
Discussion
This study successfully completed the first bioequivalence trial of testosterone undecanoate soft capsules in China, filling the gap in pharmacokinetic evaluation and bioequivalence verification of this oral formulation in the Chinese population. As a highly variable endogenous hormonal drug, testosterone undecanoate has long faced challenges in bioequivalence studies due to significant intra-participant variability and complex baseline correction requirements. Through the implementation of a four-period fully replicated crossover design and reference-scaled average bioequivalence (RSABE) methodology, this research not only validated the bioequivalence between the test and reference formulations but also established a methodological paradigm for bioequivalence studies of highly variable drugs in China. The findings hold critical implications for promoting the market availability of domestic generic drugs and improving medication accessibility for male hypogonadism patients.
The results demonstrated consistency with an international clinical study of the original formulation. This provided justification for selecting healthy postmenopausal women as study participants: pharmacokinetic studies of the original formulation (Andriol Testocaps®) in postmenopausal women showed plasma testosterone Cmax of 3.86 ± 1.99 ng/mL (N = 15) following high-fat meal administration of 40 mg.13 In this trial, unadjusted plasma testosterone Cmax values for the test and reference formulations (Andriol Testocaps®) under postprandial conditions were 4.03 ± 2.11 ng/mL (N = 96) and 3.89 ± 1.80 ng/mL (N = 96), respectively, closely aligning with literature data and confirming the validity of participant screening criteria and dosing conditions while preliminarily verifying consistency in key exposure metrics between formulations.
Furthermore, multiple international studies confirmed the safety and tolerability of the original formulation in postmenopausal women, with no severe adverse events reported (; ; ). This trial exhibited a low adverse event rate (14.6%), all classified as Grade 1 reversible events (e.g., urinary leukocyte positivity), with no serious adverse reactions, consistent with long-term safety data for oral testosterone undecanoate (; ). Notably, the oral soft capsule formulation bypasses hepatic first-pass metabolism via lymphatic absorption, offering advantages in convenience and safety compared to injectable or transdermal formulations (). Patient satisfaction studies further demonstrated that oral formulations significantly improved treatment adherence (30% increase in TSQM-9 scores), supporting clinical translatability (; ).
European clinical applications over 3 decades have confirmed the safety and tolerability of oral testosterone undecanoate formulations. However, optimal therapeutic efficacy requires dietary management to enhance bioavailability. Testosterone undecanoate capsules must be administered with lipid-containing meals to facilitate lymphatic absorption; otherwise, serum testosterone levels significantly decline, compromising therapeutic outcomes. This trial strictly adhered to this pharmacological characteristic by implementing a high-fat meal protocol prior to dosing, ensuring accurate assessment of true bioequivalence under optimal absorption conditions (; ).
The study design rigorously followed the NMPA‘s Technical Guidelines for Pharmacokinetic Evaluation of Bioequivalence in Chemical Drug Generic Products () and the FDA’s bioequivalence guidelines () for testosterone undecanoate soft capsules. For testosterone undecanoate, a four-period two-sequence crossover design was employed. To address its endogenous nature, multiple baseline sampling points and corrections were implemented to mitigate interference from endogenous testosterone fluctuations. Blood sampling windows covered absorption, peak concentration, and elimination phases, balancing FDA requirements with literature recommendations ().
In accordance with the NMPA’s Technical Guidelines for Bioequivalence Studies of Highly Variable Drugs (8), this study innovatively applied the RSABE method with dynamic adjustment of equivalence criteria based on reference formulation CVw%. With a testosterone undecanoate Cmax CVw% of 50.91%, the adjusted GMR (102.20%) remained within equivalence bounds after RSABE analysis. This approach aligned with FDA recommendations for highly variable drugs and Pastuszak’s population modeling (), demonstrating methodological advancement.
Limitations should be acknowledged: First, the study population comprised healthy postmenopausal women rather than the target patient population (male hypogonadism patients), necessitating future validation in clinical populations. Second, despite the four-period design, the high variability (Cmax CVw% >50%) warrants larger sample sizes or model-informed bioequivalence evaluation (MIBBE) in subsequent studies to enhance statistical power and extrapolation reliability. Third, the open-label design may have introduced potential bias in the reporting and assessment of subjective adverse events, such as nausea.
Conclusion
This study evaluated the pharmacokinetic profiles of testosterone undecanoate soft capsules (40 mg) and demonstrated that the test formulation and reference formulation exhibited comparable bioequivalence under postprandial conditions in healthy Chinese postmenopausal female participants. Additionally, both formulations were well-tolerated, with no safety concerns identified during the trial.
Statements
Data availability statement
The raw data supporting the conclusions of this article will be made available by the authors, without undue reservation.
Ethics statement
The studies involving humans were approved by the Ethics Committee of Xinxiang Central Hospital. The studies were conducted in accordance with the local legislation and institutional requirements. The participants provided their written informed consent to participate in this study.
Author contributions
NL: Data curation, Methodology, Writing – original draft. FZ: Writing – review and editing, Conceptualization. ZZ: Writing – review and editing, Investigation. SZ: Supervision, Conceptualization, Writing – review and editing. JW: Investigation, Methodology, Writing – review and editing. XuZ: Conceptualization, Writing – review and editing, Data curation. JS: Writing – review and editing. XQ: Writing – review and editing, Conceptualization. XiZ: Writing – review and editing. YH: Methodology, Data curation, Conceptualization, Writing – original draft. YL: Writing – review and editing. JC: Conceptualization, Project administration, Formal Analysis, Writing – original draft. TZ: Writing – review and editing, Conceptualization.
Funding
The author(s) declared that financial support was received for this work and/or its publication. Zhejiang Medicine Co., Ltd. Provided funding for conducting the clinical trial.
Acknowledgments
The authors would like to thank all the enrolled participants in this study.
Conflict of interest
Authors NL, FZ, ZZ, JW, XQ, XiZ, YL, and JC were employed by Zhejiang Medicine Co., Ltd. Author YH was employed by Shanghai Xihua Scientific Co., Ltd.
The remaining author(s) declared that this work was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
The authors declare that this work received funding from Zhejiang Medicine Co., Ltd. The funder had the following involvement in the study: participation in the study design, development of the experimental protocol, data collection and organization, analysis of results and discussion, drafting of the manuscript, and finalization of the manuscript for submission.
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The author(s) declared that generative AI was not used in the creation of this manuscript.
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Supplementary material
The Supplementary Material for this article can be found online at: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2026.1763835/full#supplementary-material
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Summary
Keywords
bioequivalence, Chinese healthy participants, pharmacokinetics, safety, testosterone undecanoate
Citation
Li N, Zhu F, Zhao Z, Zhu S, Wu J, Zuo X, Shi J, Qian X, Zhang X, Hu Y, Lv Y, Chen J and Zhang T (2026) Bioequivalence study of testosterone undecanoate soft capsules in healthy postmenopausal women under fed conditions: a single-center, four-period, repeated crossover trial. Front. Pharmacol. 17:1763835. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2026.1763835
Received
09 December 2025
Revised
12 February 2026
Accepted
18 February 2026
Published
03 March 2026
Volume
17 - 2026
Edited by
Zhihao Liu, Resolian, United States
Reviewed by
Francisco Abad-Santos, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Spain
Peter Bond, Android Health Clinic, Netherlands
Updates
Copyright
© 2026 Li, Zhu, Zhao, Zhu, Wu, Zuo, Shi, Qian, Zhang, Hu, Lv, Chen and Zhang.
This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
*Correspondence: Jing Chen, chenjing@zmc.top; Tiandong Zhang, zhangtiandongxx@sina.com
† These authors have contributed equally to this work
Disclaimer
All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.