Pharmacokinetics of a novel amoxicillin/colistin suspension after intramuscular administration in pigs

An amoxicillin (AMO) or colistin (COS) oil suspension was developed and corresponding pharmacokinetics studies were conducted in pigs after i.m. injection. The combination product is a white- to cream-colored oil suspension which is easy to be re-dispersed. Settling volume ratio, syringeability and flowability of the product is well consistent with the technical standards set by the Ministry of Agriculture of People's Republic of China. Two studies were conducted to investigate the pharmacokinetics of the combination product in swine. First, the pharmacokinetics of the combination product was compared with those of the same products merely removing either AMO or COS. No significant change in the major pharmacokinetic parameters (C-max, T-max, MRT, t(1/2 lambda), AUC and AUMC) was observed when either component was removed from the combination product, indicating that AMO and COS do not interfere with each other in their absorption and distribution in the tissue when used as a combination. Second, the pharmacokinetics of the combination product was compared with that of their respective single products. It was found that the apparent elimination half-lives (t(1/2 lambda)) of AMO and COS in combination product were 6.38 and 8.09 h, which were 2.40 and 2.38 times longer than the single products, respectively. Thus, the novel AMO/COS suspension extended significantly the half-life of both drugs to maintain a longer drug residence time in pigs when compared to their single products.