Pharmacokinetics and safety of the selective progesterone receptor modulator vilaprisan in healthy postmenopausal women
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OBJECTIVES: Vilaprisan is a novel, potent, and highly selective progesterone receptor modulator, which might offer a promising option for the treatment of uterine fibroids. METHODS AND MATERIALS: In this randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel-group phase 1 study, the pharmacokinetics and safety of vilaprisan were investigated in healthy postmenopausal women. Subjects received a single oral dose of vilaprisan (1, 5, 15, or 30 mg) or placebo and - after a wash-out period - daily doses of the same strength over 28 days. Safety assessments included vital signs, ECGs, clinical laboratory tests, and adverse events. Blood samples for pharmacokinetic (PK) profiles were collected over 14 days after single dose (sd) and multiple dose (md; day 28). RESULTS: Vilaprisan was well tolerated. Mild to moderate adverse events occurred with similar frequency at all dose levels. Following single dose, maximum vilaprisan concentrations were observed 1 - 2 hours post-dose. Terminal half-lives ranged from 31 to 38 hours. Maximum concentrations of vilaprisan (Cmax) and exposure to vilaprisan (AUC) increased roughly dose-proportionally from 3.74 µg/L (1 mg) to 68.6 µg/L (30 mg) and 58.5 µg×h/L to 1,590 µg×h/L, respectively. With daily dosing, accumulation consistent with the long terminal half-life was observed (AUC(0-24)md/AUC(0-24)sd ratios: 1.9 to 3.2). The ratio AUC(0-24)md/AUCsd increased with dose from ~ 1 (1 mg) to 1.5 (30 mg). CONCLUSIONS: Exposure to vilaprisan increased roughly dose-proportionally in the dose range studied and accumulated after multiple dosing as expected based on t1/2, indicating linear pharmacokinetics of vilaprisan in the expected therapeutic dose range.
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Pharmacokinetics and adhesion of a transdermal patch containing ethinyl estradiol and gestodene under conditions of heat, humidity, and exercise: A single-center, open-label, randomized, crossover study.

In this open-label, randomized study, 36 women (18-45 years) applied an ethinyl estradiol/gestodene contraceptive patch once-weekly for 3 weeks followed by a 1-week, patch-free interval, in 3 treatment periods. The primary objective was to evaluate the pharmacokinetics of ethinyl estradiol and gestodene under conditions of heat, humidity, and exercise. The secondary objective was to evaluate patch adhesion under the same conditions. Weeks 1 and 2 of each period comprised "standardized normal activity" (SNA); in week 3, SNA continued or women used a sauna, whirlpool, swimming pool, or performed an exercise combination. Thirty-one women completed the study; 23 yielded evaluable pharmacokinetic data. Analyses were exploratory and conducted using an analysis of variance. Area under the concentration-time curve from 0 to 168 hours (AUC0-168 ) for gestodene and ethinyl estradiol during sauna, swimming, and whirlpool was equivalent to previous SNA recordings. For exercise combination, the gestodene AUC0-168 was 12% lower compared with SNA, albeit not considered clinically relevant. Two women lost a total of 3 patches during sporting activities; other detachments during this week were not correlated with sporting activity. Overall, hormone delivery using the ethinyl estradiol/gestodene patch under conditions of heat, humidity, and exercise corresponded to delivery under normal conditions.

Pharmacokinetic overview of ethinyl estradiol dose and bioavailability using two transdermal contraceptive systems and a standard combined oral contraceptive.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the relative bioavailability of ethinyl estradiol (EE) and gestodene (GSD) after application of a novel transdermal contraceptive patch vs. a standard combined oral contraceptive (COC) pill (study 1), and to evaluate the pharmacokinetics (PK) of EE after application of the EE/GSD patch compared with an EE/norelgestromin (NGMN) patch (study 2). MATERIALS: Participants were healthy, nonobese women aged 18 - 45 years (study 1) or 18 - 35 years (study 2). Compositions of study treatments were as follows: 0.55 mg EE/2.1 mg GSD (EE/GSD patch); 0.02 mg EE/0.075 mg GSD (standard COC); 0.6 mg EE/6 mg NGMN (EE/NGMN patch). METHODS: In study 1, which consisted of 3 treatment periods (each followed by 7 patch- or pill-free days), treatments were administered in one of two randomized orders: either P-M-E (EE/GSD patch (P) every 7 days for 28 days → COC (M) once-daily for 21 days → two 7-day patch-wearing periods followed by one 10-day patch-wearing phase (E)), or the same treatments administered in sequence M-P-E. For study 2, participants received either the EE/GSD patch or EE/NGMN patch for seven treatment cycles (one patch per week for 3 weeks followed by a 7-day patch-free interval). RESULTS: In study 1, average daily exposure to EE was similar for treatments P and M; the mean daily area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) ratio of treatment P vs. treatment M for EE was 1.06 (90% confidence interval (CI): 0.964 - 1.16), indicating average daily delivery similar to oral administration of 0.019 - 0.023 mg EE. For unbound GSD, average daily exposure was lower for treatment P vs. treatment M. The mean AUC ratio of treatment P vs. treatment M for unbound GSD was 0.820 (90% CI: 0.760 - 0.885), indicating average daily delivery from the patch of 0.057 - 0.066 mg GSD. Prolonged patch wearing did not result in a distinct decline in GSD and EE serum concentrations. In study 2, AUC at steady state (AUC0-168,ss), average steady-state serum concentration, and maximum steady-state serum concentration for EE was 2.0 - 2.7-fold higher for the EE/NGMN patch vs. the EE/GSD patch. The EE/GSD patch was well tolerated in both studies. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the 90% CI of the AUC ratio of oral treatment vs. patch application for unbound GSD and EE, the daily doses of GSD and EE released from the EE/GSD patch over the 7-day application period provided the same systemic exposure as those recorded after daily oral administration of a COC containing 0.02 mg EE and 0.06 mg GSD. The EE/GSD patch showed reduced EE exposure compared with the EE/NGMN patch. Together with its good tolerability, these properties support the EE/GSD patch as an effective and well-tolerated alternative to available transdermal and oral contraceptives.

Implications of different application sites on the bioavailability of a transdermal contraceptive patch containing ethinyl estradiol and gestodene: an open-label, randomized, crossover study.

OBJECTIVES: A novel once-a-week contraceptive patch delivers the same systemic exposure seen with a combined oral contraceptive pill containing 0.02 mg ethinyl estradiol (EE) and 0.06 mg gestodene (GSD). This study evaluated the relative bioavailability of EE and GSD after application of this patch to three different sites. METHODS: In this phase I, open-label, randomized, intra-individual comparison, crossover study, 43 women (aged 18 - 45 years) were randomized to one of six treatment sequences. Patches were applied to two test sites (buttocks and outer, upper arm) and one comparator site (lower abdomen). In each treatment period, four patches were worn for 7 days each, followed by a 7-day, patch-free interval. The primary objective was to investigate the relative bioavailability of transdermally administered EE and GSD between test and comparator sites using the primary variable area under the concentration- time curve (AUC(0-168)) during week 4 of each period. RESULTS: Of the 43 women who were randomized, 43 were included in the set for safety evaluation and 40 were included in the set for pharmacokinetic (PK) analysis. Three subjects were excluded from the PK analysis as they failed to complete the study. AUC(0-168) for EE and GSD were equal when the patch was applied to buttocks or abdomen (AUC(0-168) ratios: EE, 1.07 (94% confidence interval, CI: 0.994 - 1.16); GSD, 1.02 (94% CI: 0.946 - 1.10)). Relative bioavailabilities for EE and GSD were 31% and 24% higher, respectively, for arm vs. abdomen. AUC(0-168) 94% CI for the arm/abdomen ratio exceeded the pre-defined bioequivalence range of 80 - 125% (EE: 1.21 - 1.42; GSD: 1.15 - 1.34). Other PK parameters were correspondingly higher for arm vs. buttocks or abdomen. Patch adhesion and tolerability were good, with no relevant differences between sites. CONCLUSION: Differences in systemic EE/GSD exposure following patch application to the outer, upper arm vs. lower abdomen and buttocks are unlikely to be clinically relevant, and there were no relevant safety concerns.

Ovulation-inhibiting effects of dienogest in a randomized, dose-controlled pharmacodynamic trial of healthy women.

Dienogest offers pharmacological advantages for the effective treatment of endometriosis and for use in contraception and hormone replacement therapy. This pharmacodynamic study investigated the ovulation-inhibiting effects of dienogest monotherapy in healthy women. Dienogest was administered at 0.5, 1, 2, or 3 mg daily for up to 72 days to women aged 18 to 35 years (n = 102). Ovarian activity was assessed pretreatment and during 2 treatment periods (days 0-36 and days 37-72) by the Hoogland score, based on follicle size and serum estradiol and progesterone levels. Additional hormonal parameters and endometrial thickness were assessed. Hoogland scoring indicated ovulation in all women pretreatment, decreasing to 3 of 21, 1 of 23, 0 of 20, and 0 of 23 women in the 0.5-, 1-, 2-, and 3-mg groups, respectively (per-protocol set). Maximum serum estradiol concentrations were similar to pretreatment levels in the 0.5- or 1-mg group and decreased moderately (within physiologic levels) in the 2- or 3-mg group. Endometrial thickness was reduced by all dienogest doses. Hormonal changes during follow-up indicated resumption of ovulation in most women, shortly after treatment cessation. Dienogest ≥2 mg daily provides moderate suppression of estradiol production and reliable ovulation inhibition, which reverses rapidly after treatment cessation.