Febustin Mechanism of Action

Pharmacology: Pharmacodynamics: Febuxostat is a non-purine-selective inhibitor of xanthine oxidase. It works by non-competitively blocking the molybdenum pterin center which is the active site on xanthine oxidase. Xanthine oxidase is needed to successively oxidize both hypoxanthine and xanthine to uric acid. Hence, febuxostat inhibits xanthine oxidase, therefore reducing production of uric acid. Febuxostat inhibits both oxidized as well as reduced form of xanthine oxidase because of which febuxostat cannot be easily displaced from the molybdenum pterin site.
Pharmacokinetics: Febuxostat has an apparent mean terminal elimination half-life (t½) of approximately 5 to 8 hours. Maximum plasma concentrations of febuxostat occurred between 1 and 1.5 hours post-dose. The mean apparent steady state volume of distribution (Vss/F) of febuxostat was approximately 50 L (CV ~40%). The plasma protein binding of febuxostat is approximately 99.2% (primarily to albumin), and is constant over the concentration range achieved with 40 mg and 80 mg doses. Febuxostat is eliminated by both hepatic and renal pathways.