The sumatriptan iontophoretic transdermal system (TDS) is the first transdermal treatment for migraine to be approved by the FDA. In this study, the iontophoretic TDS produced mean systemic exposures to sumatriptan in younger and older adolescents.

To evaluate the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of sumatriptan delivered by the iontophoretic transdermal system (TDS) in adolescent patients. Since nausea can be a prominent and early symptom of migraine, non-oral treatment options are often required. Sumatriptan iontophoretic TDS is approved for the acute treatment of migraine in adults. The present study evaluates the pharmacokinetics of sumatriptan administered via the iontophoretic TDS in adolescents, contrasting the findings with historical data from adults.

Patients aged 12–17 years (inclusive) with acute migraine were treated with sumatriptan iontophoretic TDS for 4 hours. Blood samples for pharmacokinetic profiling of sumatriptan were obtained prior to dosing and at predetermined time points covering the 12 hours post onset of treatment. Key pharmacokinetic endpoints included Cmax (peak plasma drug concentration), tmax (time to Cmax), AUC0–∞ (area under the plasma concentration–time curve from time 0 to infinity), and t½ (terminal elimination half-life). Safety was evaluated by monitoring of adverse events in addition to laboratory and clinical assessments.

The sample consisted of 37 patients, and 36 were included in the PK evaluable population. Cmax, tmax, AUC0–∞, and t½ values were all similar between male and female patients and between younger (12–14 years) and older (15–17 years) adolescents. When compared with historical adult data, adolescent patients demonstrated similar systemic exposures to those observed in adults (mean Cmax 20.20 (±6.43) ng/mL in adolescent vs 21.89 (±6.15) ng/mL in adults; mean AUC0–∞ 98.1 (±28.1) ng·h/mL in adolescent vs 109.7 (±26.1) ng·h/mL in adults). All adverse events were mild or moderate, with application-site paresthesia being the most common (32%). No clinically relevant changes in laboratory values, vital signs, or electrocardiogram findings were observed.

The iontophoretic TDS produced mean systemic exposures to sumatriptan in younger and older adolescents, in line with what was seen in adult subjects. It was generally well tolerated.