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Guilherme Mazui

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What is the Difference Between Fenofibrate and Fenofibric Acid?

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Fenofibrate and fenofibric acid are both drugs belonging to the fibrate class, used for reducing cholesterol levels in people at risk of cardiovascular disease. The main difference between the two is their chemical structure and how they are metabolized in the body:

  • Fenofibrate: This drug has the chemical formula C₂₀H₂₁ClO₄ and a molar mass of 360.83 g/mol. It is a prodrug, meaning it is metabolized into its active form, fenofibric acid, after ingestion. Fenofibrate is typically administered as a micronized formulation to increase its solubility and improve its absorption.
  • Fenofibric Acid: This drug is the active metabolite of fenofibrate and has the chemical formula C₁₇H₁₅ClO₄, with a molar mass of 318.75 g/mol. It is primarily conjugated with glucuronic acid and then excreted in urine. Fenofibric acid is more hydrophilic than fenofibrate.

Studies have shown that orally administered fenofibric acid has a significantly higher bioavailability than fenofibrate in certain sections of the gastrointestinal tract. This suggests that the fenofibric acid formulation has improved absorption characteristics compared to fenofibrate. However, no studies have directly compared the bioequivalence of the currently available doses of fenofibric acid and fenofibrate.

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  • What is the Difference Between Fenofibrate and Fenofibric Acid?
  • Comparative Table: Fenofibrate vs Fenofibric Acid

    • Comparative Table: Fenofibrate vs Fenofibric Acid

    Fenofibrate and fenofibric acid are both antilipemic agents belonging to the fibrate class of drugs, used to reduce cholesterol levels in people. The key difference between the two is that fenofibrate is a prodrug, which gets converted into fenofibric acid in the body. Here is a table comparing the differences between fenofibrate and fenofibric acid:

    Parameter Fenofibrate Fenofibric Acid
    Chemical Formula C20H21ClO4 C17H15ClO4
    Molar Mass 360.83 g/mol 318.75 g/mol
    Bioavailability Lower bioavailability due to the need for conversion to the active form (fenofibric acid) in the body Significantly higher bioavailability compared to fenofibrate in 2 out of 4 sections of the gastrointestinal tract
    Administration Orally administered as nonmicronized drug in capsules (e.g., Lipofen), nonmicronized drug in tablets (e.g., Fenoglide), micronized drug in capsules (e.g., Antara), "nanocrystal" drug in tablets (i.e., TriCor), or "insoluble drug delivery-microparticle (IDD-P)" drug in tablets (i.e., Triglide) Orally administered as delayed-release capsules (e.g., Trilipix) or tablets (e.g., Fibricor)
    Metabolism Following oral administration, fenofibrate is rapidly hydrolyzed by esterases to fenofibric acid, which is then principally conjugated with glucuronic acid Fenofibric acid is not oxidatively metabolized by CYP450
    Elimination Route Fenofibric acid is excreted in urine (60%) as metabolites Fenofibric acid is excreted in urine (60%) as metabolites

    Fenofibric acid has demonstrated greater absorption compared to fenofibrate, which suggests that the fenofibric acid formulation has improved absorption characteristics. However, both drugs are used for the same purpose, and their choice depends on individual patient factors and the prescriber's preferences.

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    Guilherme Mazui

    Guilherme Mazui is graduated in journalism from the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) and a master's degree in Communication from the University of São Paulo (USP). In addition, he has experience in advertising writing and has worked as a content editor in several companies.