Applications of Exhaled Breath Condensate Analysis for Drug Monitoring and Bioequivalence Study of Inhaled Drugs

Abstract

The exhaled breath condensate (EBC) presents a simple and non-invasive alternative approach for bioequivalence assessments and therapeutic drug monitoring of inhaled drugs. EBC better represents the drug at the site of action and eliminates the possibility of the contribution of a swallowed portion of the dose when systemic bioavailability is used for assessment. This review summarizes the recently reported analytical methods for the quantification of drugs in EBC. It also discusses the difficulties in the bioequivalence evaluation criteria of generic orally inhaled drug products suggested by various regulatory agencies that may be eliminated using the EBC analysis approach.