Development and validation of an LC–MS/MS method for the determination of tolvaptan in human plasma and its application to a pharmacokinetic study

Tolvaptan is a selective vasopressin V2-receptor antagonist mainly used for the treatment of hyponatremia. This study described the development and validation of an LC–MS/MS method for the determination of tolvaptan in human plasma. Sample preparation involved protein precipitation with acetonitrile containing 2-demethyl tolvaptan (internal standard, IS). Chromatographic separation was performed on a Zorbax XDB C18 column with an isocratic mobile phase consisting of water (containing 0.1% formic acid) and methanol (25:75, v/v). Determination of the analytes was achieved by tandem-mass spectrometry with positive electrospray ionization. The multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) transitions were performed at m/z 449.2 → 252.1 for tolvaptan and m/z 435.2 → 238.1 for IS. The assay was linear over the concentration range of 0.457–1000 ng/mL, with a lower limit of quantification of 0.457 ng/mL. The intra- and inter-day precisions at three concentration levels (0.914, 111 and 800 ng/mL) were less than 15% and their accuracies were within the range of 97.7–107.8%. The mean recovery ranged from 99.2 to 104.6% and the matrix effect from 89.3 to 99.5%. Tolvaptan was stable under all tested conditions. This validated method was successfully applied to a pharmacokinetic study in healthy volunteers after oral administration of single-dose tolvaptan tablets.

► A novel LC–MS/MS method for determination of tolvaptan in human plasma was developed. ► Simple protein precipitation was used for the sample preparation. ► The LLOQ of the method was 0.457 ng/mL, which was the lowest reported so far. ► The chromatographic run time was only 3.5 min. ► The method has been applied to a pharmacokinetic study of tovaptan in volunteers.