BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Nintedanib is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor approved for the treatment of systemic sclerosis-associated interstitial lung disease (SSc-ILD), idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, and other chronic fibrosing ILDs with a progressive phenotype. As nintedanib may cause foetal harm, patients taking nintedanib should avoid pregnancy. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of nintedanib co-administration on the pharmacokinetics of Microgynon (ethinylestradiol and levonorgestrel) in female patients with SSc-ILD. METHODS: This was an open-label, two-period, fixed-sequence, drug-drug interaction study. Female patients with SSc and ≥ 10% extent of fibrotic ILD on a high-resolution computed tomography scan were eligible to participate. In Period 1, patients received one Microgynon tablet (ethinylestradiol 30 μg and levonorgestrel 150 μg) ≥ 3 days before the first administration of nintedanib in Period 2. In Period 2, patients received one Microgynon tablet following intake of nintedanib 150 mg twice daily for ≥ 10 consecutive days. The primary pharmacokinetic endpoints were the areas under the plasma concentration-time curve of ethinylestradiol and levonorgestrel over the time interval from 0 to the last quantifiable data point (AUC(0-tz)) and the maximum measured concentrations of ethinylestradiol and levonorgestrel in plasma (C(max)). The secondary pharmacokinetic endpoint was the area under the plasma concentration-time curve of ethinylestradiol and levonorgestrel over the time interval from 0 extrapolated to infinity (AUC(0-∞)). The relative exposures of ethinylestradiol and levonorgestrel when administered alone and in combination with nintedanib were assessed using an ANOVA model. RESULTS: Seventeen patients were treated. Pharmacokinetic data from 15 patients were analysed. Plasma concentration-time profiles of ethinylestradiol and levonorgestrel were similar following administration of Microgynon before and after administration of nintedanib for ≥ 10 consecutive days. Adjusted geometric mean (gMean) ratios [90% confidence intervals (CIs)] for AUC(0‒tz) (101.4% [92.8, 110.7]) and AUC(0‒∞) (101.2% [94.0, 109.1]) indicated that there was no difference in total ethinylestradiol exposure when Microgynon was administered before or after administration of nintedanib. The adjusted gMean ratio for C(max) of ethinylestradiol (116.7% [90% CI 107.6, 126.5]) indicated an increase in peak exposure in the presence of nintedanib. Adjusted gMean ratios [90% CIs] for AUC(0-tz) (96.4% [91.5, 101.6]) and C(max) (100.9% [89.9, 113.2]) indicated that there was no difference in total or peak levonorgestrel exposure when Microgynon was administered before or after administration of nintedanib. The adjusted gMean ratio for AUC(0‒∞) of levonorgestrel indicated a decrease in total exposure in the presence of nintedanib (88.1% [90% CI 80.0, 97.0]). CONCLUSION: Pharmacokinetic data indicate that there is no relevant effect of nintedanib on plasma exposure to ethinylestradiol and levonorgestrel in female patients with SSc-ILD. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrials.gov NCT03675581.
- Vonk, M. C.
- Guillén-Del-Castillo, A.
- Kreuter, M.
- Avis, M.
- Marzin, K.
- Mack, S. R.
- Wind, S.
- Gahlemann, M.
