Quay Pharma were approached by a client who was experiencing difficulty in dosing a poorly water soluble compound, to achieve a suitable bio-availability. Several formulation approaches had been attempted, and the project was in danger of being discontinued as a result.

Following a different approach and the optimisation of active solubility in a range of potential solvents, co-solvents and suitable carrier excipients; Two lipid based systems were progressed to PK studies in dogs, for comparison against a previously developed aqueous system.

The results below show that the lipid systems not only increased the maximum plasma concentration of the active by a factor of 6 but also the bioavailability by a factor of 8.

As a result the clinical program was continued and much lower dosage levels could be used as a result.