Entecavir Pharmacokinetics, Safety, and Tolerability After Multiple Ascending Doses in Healthy Subjects

A double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, multiple oral dose escalation study was conducted to investigate the pharmacokinetics, safety, and tolerability of entecavir in healthy subjects. Eight subjects were assigned to each of the 3 dose panels (0.1 mg, 0.5 mg, and 1 mg or matched placebo once daily for 14 days). Blood and urine samples were collected for pharmacokinetic analyses. Entecavir was rapidly absorbed, with peak plasma concentration occurring within 1 hour of dosing. Steady‐state plasma concentrations of entecavir were achieved by 10 days following the initial dose. At steady state, the mean area under the plasma concentration‐time curve over 1 dosing interval, increased approximately proportional to dose. Entecavir had a mean terminal half‐life ranging from 128 to 149 hours and an effective half‐life of approximately 24 hours. Elimination was predominantly through renal excretion, with mean urinary recovery ranging from 62% to 73%. Entecavir was safe and well tolerated when administered at doses ranging from 0.1 mg to 1 mg/d for 14 days.