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Androgel (Testosterone Transdermal) - Description and Clinical Pharmacology

 
 



DESCRIPTION

AndroGel 1.62% for topical use is a clear, colorless gel containing testosterone. Testosterone is an androgen. AndroGel 1.62% is available in a metered-dose pump or unit dose packets.

The active pharmacologic ingredient in AndroGel 1.62% is testosterone. Testosterone USP is a white to almost white powder chemically described as 17-beta hydroxyandrost-4-en-3-one. The structural formula is:

The inactive ingredients in AndroGel 1.62% are: carbopol 980, ethyl alcohol, isopropyl myristate, purified water, and sodium hydroxide.

CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY

Mechanism of Action

Endogenous androgens, including testosterone and dihydrotestosterone (DHT), are responsible for the normal growth and development of the male sex organs and for maintenance of secondary sex characteristics. These effects include the growth and maturation of prostate, seminal vesicles, penis and scrotum; the development of male hair distribution, such as facial, pubic, chest and axillary hair; laryngeal enlargement; vocal chord thickening; and alterations in body musculature and fat distribution. Testosterone and DHT are necessary for the normal development of secondary sex characteristics. Male hypogonadism results from insufficient secretion of testosterone and is characterized by low serum testosterone concentrations. Signs/symptoms associated with male hypogonadism include erectile dysfunction and decreased sexual desire, fatigue and loss of energy, mood depression, regression of secondary sexual characteristics and osteoporosis.

Male hypogonadism can present as primary hypogonadism caused by defects of the gonads, such as Klinefelter's Syndrome or Leydig cell aplasia while secondary hypogonadism is the failure of the hypothalamus or pituitary to produce sufficient gonadotropins (FSH, LH).

Pharmacodynamics

No specific pharmacodynamic studies were conducted using AndroGel 1.62%.

Pharmacokinetics

Absorption

AndroGel 1.62% delivers physiologic amounts of testosterone, producing circulating testosterone concentrations that approximate normal levels (300 – 1000 ng/dL) seen in healthy men. AndroGel 1.62% provides continuous transdermal delivery of testosterone for 24 hours following once daily application to clean, dry, intact skin of the shoulders and upper arms. Average serum testosterone concentrations over 24 hours (Cavg) observed when AndroGel 1.62% was applied to the upper arms/shoulders were comparable to average serum testosterone concentrations (Cavg) when AndroGel 1.62% was applied using a rotation method utilizing the abdomen and upper arms/shoulders. The rotation of abdomen and upper arms/shoulders was a method used in the pivotal clinical trial [see Clinical Studies].

Figure 2: Mean (±SD) Serum Total Testosterone Concentrations on Day 7 in Patients Following AndroGel 1.62% Once-Daily Application of 81 mg of Testosterone (N=33) for 7 Days

Distribution

Circulating testosterone is primarily bound in the serum to sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) and albumin. Approximately 40% of testosterone in plasma is bound to SHBG, 2% remains unbound (free) and the rest is loosely bound to albumin and other proteins.

Metabolism

Testosterone is metabolized to various 17-keto steroids through two different pathways. The major active metabolites of testosterone are estradiol and DHT.

Excretion

There is considerable variation in the half-life of testosterone concentration as reported in the literature, ranging from 10 to 100 minutes. About 90% of a dose of testosterone given intramuscularly is excreted in the urine as glucuronic acid and sulfuric acid conjugates of testosterone and its metabolites. About 6% of a dose is excreted in the feces, mostly in the unconjugated form. Inactivation of testosterone occurs primarily in the liver.

When AndroGel 1.62% treatment is discontinued, serum testosterone concentrations return to approximately baseline concentrations within 48-72 hours after administration of the last dose.

Potential for testosterone transfer

The potential for testosterone transfer following administration of AndroGel 1.62% when it was applied only to upper arms/shoulders was evaluated in two clinical studies of males dosed with AndroGel 1.62% and their untreated female partners. In one study, 8 male subjects applied a single dose of AndroGel 1.62% 81 mg to their shoulders and upper arms. Two (2) hours after application, female subjects rubbed their hands, wrists, arms, and shoulders to the application site of the male subjects for 15 minutes. Serum concentrations of testosterone were monitored in female subjects for 24 hours after contact occurred. After direct skin-to-skin contact with the site of application, mean testosterone Cavg and Cmax in female subjects increased by 280% and 267%, respectively, compared to mean baseline testosterone concentrations. In a second study evaluating transfer of testosterone, 12 male subjects applied a single dose of AndroGel 1.62% 81 mg to their shoulders and upper arms. Two (2) hours after application, female subjects rubbed their hands, wrists, arms, and shoulders to the application site of the male subjects for 15 minutes while the site of application was covered by a t-shirt. When a t-shirt was used to cover the site of application, mean testosterone Cavg and Cmax in female subjects increased by 6% and 11%, respectively, compared to mean baseline testosterone concentrations.

A separate study was conducted to evaluate the potential for testosterone transfer from 16 males dosed with AndroGel 1.62% 81 mg when it was applied to abdomen only for 7 days, a site of application not approved for AndroGel 1.62%. Two (2) hours after application to the males on each day, the female subjects rubbed their abdomens for 15 minutes to the abdomen of the males. The males had covered the application area with a T-shirt. The mean testosterone Cavg and Cmax in female subjects on day 1 increased by 43% and 47%, respectively, compared to mean baseline testosterone concentrations. The mean testosterone Cavg and Cmax in female subjects on day 7 increased by 60% and 58%, respectively, compared to mean baseline testosterone concentrations.

Effect of showering

In a randomized, 3-way (3 treatment periods without washout period) crossover study in 24 hypogonadal men, the effect of showering on testosterone exposure was assessed after once daily application of AndroGel 1.62% 81 mg to upper arms/shoulders for 7 days in each treatment period. On the 7th day of each treatment period, hypogonadal men took a shower with soap and water at either 2, 6, or 10 hours after drug application. The effect of showering at 2 or 6 hours post-dose on Day 7 resulted in 13% and 12% decreases in mean Cavg, respectively, compared to Day 6 when no shower was taken after drug application. Showering at 10 hours after drug application had no effect on bioavailability. The amount of testosterone remaining in the outer layers of the skin at the application site on the 7th day was assessed using a tape stripping procedure and was reduced by at least 80% after showering 2-10 hours post-dose compared to on the 6th day when no shower was taken after drug application.

Effect of sunscreen or moisturizing lotion on absorption of testosterone

In a randomized, 3-way (3 treatment periods without washout period) crossover study in 18 hypogonadal males, the effect of applying a moisturizing lotion or a sunscreen on the absorption of testosterone was evaluated with the upper arms/shoulders as application sites. For 7 days, moisturizing lotion or sunscreen (SPF 50) was applied daily to the AndroGel 1.62% application site 1 hour after the application of AndroGel 1.62% 40.5 mg. Application of moisturizing lotion increased mean testosterone Cavg and Cmax by 14% and 17%, respectively, compared to AndroGel 1.62% administered alone. Application of sunscreen increased mean testosterone Cavg and Cmax by 8% and 13%, respectively, compared to AndroGel 1.62% applied alone.

NONCLINICAL TOXICOLOGY

Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment of Fertility

Testosterone has been tested by subcutaneous injection and implantation in mice and rats. In mice, the implant induced cervical-uterine tumors which metastasized in some cases. There is suggestive evidence that injection of testosterone into some strains of female mice increases their susceptibility to hepatoma. Testosterone is also known to increase the number of tumors and decrease the degree of differentiation of chemically induced carcinomas of the liver in rats. Testosterone was negative in the in vitro Ames and in the in vivo mouse micronucleus assays. The administration of exogenous testosterone has been reported to suppress spermatogenesis in the rat, dog and non-human primates, which was reversible on cessation of the treatment.

CLINICAL STUDIES

Clinical Trials in Hypogonadal Males

AndroGel 1.62% was evaluated in a multi-center, randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled study (182-day double-blind period) in 274 hypogonadal men with body mass index (BMI) 18-40 kg/m2 and 18-80 years of age (mean age 53.8 years). The patients had an average serum testosterone concentration of <300 ng/dL, as determined by two morning samples collected on the same visit. Patients were Caucasian 83%, Black 13%, Asian or Native American 4%. 7.5% of patients were Hispanic.

Patients were randomized to receive active treatment or placebo using a rotation method utilizing the abdomen and upper arms/shoulders for 182 days. All patients were started at a daily dose of 40.5 mg (two pump actuations) AndroGel 1.62% or matching placebo on Day 1 of the study. Patients returned to the clinic on Day 14, Day 28, and Day 42 for predose serum total testosterone assessments. The patient's daily dose was titrated up or down in 20.25 mg increments if the predose serum testosterone value was outside the range of 350-750 ng/dL. The study included four active AndroGel 1.62% doses: 20.25 mg, 40.5 mg, 60.75 mg, and 81 mg daily.

The primary endpoint was the percentage of patients with Cavg within the normal range of 300-1000 ng/dL on Day 112. In patients treated with AndroGel 1.62%, 81.6% (146/179) had Cavg within the normal range at Day 112. The secondary endpoint was the percentage of patients, with Cmax above three pre-determined limits. The percentages of patients with Cmax greater than 1500 ng/dL, and between 1800 and 2499 ng/dL on Day 112 were 11.2% and 5.5%, respectively. Two patients had a Cmax >2500 ng/dL on Day 112 (2510 ng/dL and 2550 ng/dL, respectively); neither of these 2 patients demonstrated an abnormal Cmax on prior or subsequent assessments at the same dose.

Patients could agree to continue in an open-label, active treatment maintenance period of the study for an additional 182 days.

Dose titrations on Days 14, 28, and 42 resulted in final doses of 20.25 mg – 81 mg on Day 112 as shown in Table 6.

Table 6: Mean (SD) Testosterone Concentrations (Cavg and Cmax) by final dose on Days 112 and 364
Parameter Final Dose on Day 112  
Placebo
(n=27)
20.25 mg
(n=12)
40.5 mg
(n=34)
60.75 mg
(n=54)
81 mg
(n=79)
All Active
(n=179)
C avg (ng/dL) 303 (135) 457 (275) 524 (228) 643 (285) 537 (240) 561 (259)
C max (ng/dL) 450 (349) 663 (473) 798 (439) 958 (497) 813 (479) 845 (480)
Final Dose on Day 364  
    20.25 mg
(n=7)
40.5 mg
(n=26)
60.75 mg
(n=29)
81 mg
(n=74)
Continuing Active
(n=136)
C avg (ng/dL)   386 (130) 474 (176) 513 (222) 432 (186) 455 (192)
C max (ng/dL)   562 (187) 715 (306) 839 (568) 649 (329) 697 (389)

Figure 3 summarizes the pharmacokinetic profile of total testosterone in patients completing 112 days of AndroGel 1.62% treatment administered as a starting dose of 40.5 mg of testosterone (2 pump actuations) for the initial 14 days followed by possible titration according to the follow-up testosterone measurements.

Figure 3: Mean (±SD) Steady-State Serum Total Testosterone Concentrations on Day 112

Efficacy was maintained in the group of men that received AndroGel 1.62% for one full year. In that group, 78% (106/136) had average serum testosterone concentrations in the normal range at Day 364. Figure 4 summarizes the mean total testosterone profile for these patients on Day 364.

Figure 4: Mean (±SD) Steady-State Serum Total Testosterone Concentrations on Day 364

The mean estradiol and DHT concentration profiles paralleled the changes observed in testosterone. The levels of LH and FSH decreased with testosterone treatment. The decreases in levels of LH and FSH are consistent with reports published in the literature of long-term treatment with testosterone.

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