A quantitative enterohepatic circulation model: development and evaluation with tesofensine and meloxicam.

Background and Objective Drugs undergoing enterohepatic circulation (EHC) are associated with typical pharmacokinetic characteristics such as multiple-peak phenomenon in the plasma concentration-time profile and prolongation of the apparent elimination half-life (t1/2). Currently, versatile pharmacokinetic models are lacking that could test the hypothesis of an EHC for observed multiple-peak phenomenon in pharmacokinetic profiles and its quantitative contribution. The aim of this analysis was to accomplish a model that is able to describe typical plasma concentration-time profiles of compounds undergoing EHC using data from intravenous studies of tesofensine and meloxicam. In addition, the developed model should be able to quantify the contribution of an EHC to the pharmacokinetics by determining the influence of interrupting the EHC of tesofensine and meloxicam to various extents.