Assessing the antifungal activity, pharmacokinetics, and tissue distribution of amphotericin B following the administration of Abelcet® and AmBisome® in combination with caspofungin to rats infected with Aspergillus fumigatus

The purpose of this study was to assess the antifungal activity, pharmacokinetics, and tissue distribution of amphotericin B (AmpB) following the administration of Abelcet® and AmBisome® alone and in combination with Caspofungin® to rats infected with Aspergillus fumigatus. Aspergillus fumigatus inoculum (2.1−2.5 × 107 colony forming units [CFU]) was injected via the jugular vein; 48 h later male albino Sprague-Dawley rats (350-400 g) were administered either a single intravenous (i.v.) dose of Abelcet® (5 mg AmpB/kg; n = 6), AmBisome® (5 mg AmpB/kg; n = 6), Caspofungin® (3 mg/kg; n = 5), Abelcet® (5 mg AmpB/kg) plus Caspofungin® (3 mg/kg) (n = 6), AmBisome® (5 mg AmpB/kg) plus Caspofungin® (3 mg/kg) (n = 7), or physiologic saline (non‐treated controls; n = 6) once daily for 4 days. Antifungal activity was assessed by organ CFU concentrations and plasma galactomannan levels. Plasma and tissue samples were taken from each animal for AmpB pharmacokinetic analysis and tissue distribution determinations. Abelcet® treatment significantly decreased total fungal CFU concentrations recovered in all the organs added together by 73% compared to non‐treated controls. Ambisome® treatment significantly decreased total fungal CFU concentrations recovered in all the organs added together by 69% compared to non‐treated controls. Caspofungin® treatment significantly decreased total fungal CFU concentrations recovered in all the organs added together by 80% compared to non‐treated controls. Abelcet® plus Caspofungin® treatment significantly decreased total fungal CFU concentrations recovered in all the organs added together by 81% compared to non‐treated controls. Ambisome® plus Caspofungin® treatment significantly decreased total fungal CFU concentrations recovered in all the organs added together by 98% compared to non‐treated controls. Abelcet® treatment significantly decreased plasma galactomannan levels by 50 and 75% 96 h following the initiation of treatment in the absence and presence of Caspofungin co‐therapy, respectively. AmBisome® treatment significantly decreased plasma galactomannan levels by 73 and 78% 96 h following the initiation of treatment in the absence and presence of Caspofungin co‐therapy, respectively. Co‐administration of Caspofungin with Abelcet and AmBisome did not significantly alter the plasma concentration‐time profile, pharmacokinetic parameters, and tissue distribution of AmpB. Taken together, our findings suggest that an alternative mechanism, possibly at the cellular level rather than altered AmpB disposition, may be an explanation for the differences in organ CFU concentrations following Abelcet® plus Caspofungin versus AmBisome® plus Caspofungin administration. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association J Pharm Sci 96: 1737-1747, 2007