Scopolamine Patch Pharmacokinetics in Healthy Adults

Transdermal drug delivery systems (TDDS) available in the form of patches are convenient, attractive, and easy to use systems. Scopolamine patches are very popular TDDS available on the United States market today. Accurate determination of the rate and extent of drug release and absorption is crucial to ensure the safety of individuals using these and other types of patches. Delivery rate can be determined early in the development process by using in vitro skin flux permeation studies, and later in humans by accurately quantifying residual drug from patches post-wear and in pharmacokinetic studies. In this proposal, the investigators will employ two types of evaluation to determine the rate and extent of drug release and absorption from RLD (reference listed drug) Transderm Scop® TDDS (transdermal drug delivery system), namely residual drug analysis post-wear and pharmacokinetic analysis in healthy adult volunteers. In addition, the investigators will compare the plasma drug concentrations following patch and intravenous administration of Scopolamine, in order to determine the absolute bioavailability of these patches. The investigators will conduct residual drug analysis of TDDS following in vivo wear using highly sensitive validated quantification methods. Positive outcomes of this project will identify appropriate methods to determine the rate and extent of drug release and absorption from TDDS, and will help regulatory agencies in the development of Guidances for Industry regarding the characterization of drug release and absorption kinetics to ensure the safety of individuals utilizing these types of products

Inclusion criteria

• Men or non-pregnant women of any ethnic background between the age of 18 and 65 years old.
• Subjects must be non-smokers (must have refrained from the use of nicotine-containing substances, including tobacco products (e.g., cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, gum, patch or electronic cigarettes) over the previous 12 months and are not currently using tobacco products.
• Provide written informed consent before initiation of any study procedures.
• Available for follow-up for the planned duration of the study.
• Able to communicate well with the investigators.
• Able to adhere to the study protocol schedule, study restrictions and examination schedule.
• Subjects who are within their ideal body weight (BMI between 18-29.9 kg/m2).
• Demonstrate comprehension of the protocol procedures and knowledge of study, as demonstrated a study member filling out a consent checklist form to verify that the subject understands all aspects of the study including the purpose, procedures, risks and benefits.
• Subjects deemed to be healthy as judged by the Medically Accountable Investigator (MAI) and determined by medical history, physical examination, and medication history.
• Negative urine drug screening test.
• Have a normal blood pressure (systolic: 90-140 mmHg; diastolic: 50-90 mmHg) and heart rate (55-100 bpm).
• Have normal screening laboratories for WBC, Hgb, Hct, platelets, sodium, potassium, chloride, bicarbonate, BUN, creatinine, ALT, AST, and total bilirubin.
• Have normal screening laboratories for urine protein and urine glucose.
• Female subjects must be of non-childbearing potential (defined as surgically sterile [i.e. history of hysterectomy or tubal ligation] or postmenopausal for more than 1 year [no bleeding for 12 consecutive months]), or if of childbearing potential must be non-pregnant at the time of enrollment and on the morning of the first day of each study treatment session, and must agree to use hormonal or barrier birth control such as implants, injectables, combined oral contraceptives, some intrauterine devices (IUDs), sexual abstinence, or a vasectomized partner.
• Agrees not to participate in another clinical study during the study period unless the study is in the follow up phase and it has been 1 month since the subject received any experimental agents or treatments. The subject also agrees not to participate in an investigational drug study for at least 1 month after last procedure day.
• Agrees not to donate blood to a blood bank throughout participation in the study and for at least 2 months after last procedure day.
• Have a normal ECG; must not have the following to be acceptable: pathologic Q wave abnormalities, significant ST-T wave changes, left ventricular hypertrophy, right bundle branch block, left bundle branch block (sinus rhythm is between 55-100 beats per minute).

Exclusion criteria

• Women who are pregnant or lactating or have a positive serum pregnancy test at enrollment or positive urine pregnancy test on the morning of the first day of any procedure session.
• Smokers (current use or use over the previous 12 months of nicotine-containing substances, including tobacco products (e.g., cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, gum, patch or electronic cigarettes)).
• Participation in any ongoing investigational drug trial or clinical drug trial period unless the study is in the follow up phase and it has been ≥ 1 month since the subject received any experimental agents or treatments..
• Abnormal vital signs, defined as:

• Hypertension (systolic blood pressure >140 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure >90 mmHg) at rest on 2 separate days.
• Heart rate <55 at rest on 2 separate days
• Respiratory rate ≤ 11 to ≥ 18 breaths per minute
• Temperature >38.0ºC (100.4ºF) or symptoms of an acute self-limited illness such as an upper respiratory infection or gastroenteritis within 7 days of application of the scopolamine TDDS.
• History of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
• Positive urine drug screening test.
• Use of any prescription medication during the period 0 to 30 days or over-the counter medication during the period 0 to 3 days before entry to the study (vitamins, herbal supplements and birth control medications not included).
• Use of medications or treatments that would significantly influence or exaggerate responses to the test product or that would alter inflammatory or immune response to the product (e.g. antihistamines [within 72 hours prior to dosing], systemic or topical corticosteroids [within 3 weeks prior to dosing], cyclosporine, tacrolimus, cytotoxic drugs, immune globulin, Bacillus Calmette-Guerin [BCG], monoclonal antibodies, radiation therapy).
• Donation or loss of greater than one pint of blood within 60 days of entry to the study.
• Any prior serious adverse reaction or hypersensitivity to scopolamine, or any of the inactive ingredients in the TDDS (light mineral oil, polyisobutylene, polypropylene and aluminized polyester film).
• Have a diagnosis of schizophrenia or other major psychiatric diagnosis.
• Received an experimental agent (vaccine, drug, biologic, device, blood product or medication) within 1 month before enrollment in this study or expects to receive an experimental agent during the study.
• Medical history of a serious chronic condition, including (but not limited to): allergic conditions such as anaphylaxis, asthma or generalized drug reactions; any seizure disorder; glaucoma (open or closed angle); history of pyloric or urinary bladder neck obstruction; intestinal obstruction; difficulty swallowing; stomach or bowel problems (e.g, blockage, muscle weakness, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease); bleeding disorders; acid reflux disease; myasthenia gravis; allergy to belladonna alkaloids; impaired hepatic or renal function.
• Any condition that would, in the opinion of the MAI, place the subject at an unacceptable risk of injury or render the subject unable to meet the requirements of the protocol.
• Inability to communicate or co-operate with the investigators.
• Medical history of significant dermatologic diseases or conditions, such as atopy, psoriasis, vitiligo or conditions known to alter skin appearance or physiologic response (e.g. diabetes, porphyria).
• History of significant dermatologic cancers (e.g. melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma), except basal cell carcinomas that were superficial and did not involve the investigative site.
• History of consumption of alcohol within 24 hours prior to dose administration.
• Subject has an obvious difference in skin color between arms or the presence of a skin condition, excessive hair at the application site, sunburn, raised moles and scars, open sores at application site, scar tissue, tattoo, or coloration that would interfere with placement of test articles, skin assessment, or reactions to drug.
• Use of monoamine oxidase inhibitors 21 days prior to study.
• Within 4 weeks prior to dosing, use of medications or treatments that would significantly influence or exaggerate responses to the test product or that would alter inflammatory or immune response to the product or agents deemed to be immunosuppressive as determined by physician investigator.
• Planned MRI scan of the head during TDDS wear.