Absorption
Ganaxolone is rapidly absorbed, with a time to maximum observed plasma concentration (Tmax) of 2.0 to 3.0 hours at steady state (Css). Css is achieved within 2 to 3 days. Ganaxolone undergoes first-pass metabolism, the absolute bioavailability of ganaxolone suspension is approximately 13%.
Paediatric patients aged 2 to < 6 years (median body weight 14.8 kg), aged 6 to < 12 years (median body weight 22.6 kg), and aged 12 to < 18 years (median body weight 36.1 kg) had a Cmax of 247, 269, and 293 ng/mL and AUC0-24 of 3903, 3998, and 4106 ng*h/mL, respectively, when given a dose of 21 mg/kg with a maximum of 600 mg three times a day. Cmax and AUC0-24 in adult patients was 292 ng/mL and 4100 ng*h/mL, respectively.
Co-administration of ganaxolone with a high-fat meal increased Cmax by 2-fold and AUC by 3-fold when compared to fasted levels. The effect of different types of food is not known.
Distribution
Ganaxolone is extensively distributed throughout the body and its volume of distribution is approximately 580 L. Ganaxolone is approximately 99% protein bound in serum.
Biotransformation
Ganaxolone is extensively metabolized in humans, and over 50 Phase 1 and Phase 2 metabolites have been detected. The ganaxolone metabolite pattern at steady state has not yet been characterised. The steady state metabolite pattern may be different from single dose given the long t1/2 of ganaxolone. Ganaxolone is metabolised by CYP3A4 and CYP3A5; CYP2B6, CYP2C19, CYP2D6, UGT1A3, UGT1A6, UGT1A9, UGT2B7, and UGTB15.
Major metabolite (M2) was identified and demonstrated no activity at the GABAA receptor.
Elimination
The half-life (t½) for ganaxolone at steady state was 7.8 to 10.1 hours. Following a single oral dose of 300 mg [14C]-ganaxolone to healthy male subjects, 55% of the total radioactivity was recovered in feces (2% as unchanged ganaxolone) and 18% of the total radioactivity dose was recovered in urine. Metabolites of ganaxolone may have a longer t½ than ganaxolone, up to 230 hours.
Ganaxolone is excreted in breast milk, concentrations were approximately 4-fold higher than in plasma (see section 4.6).
Dose proportionality and accumulation
The pharmacokinetics of ganaxolone are generally linear between 200 mg and 600 mg (or their paediatric equivalent). When dosing three times a day, Cmax and AUCtau accumulation ratios are 1.5-fold and 1.7-fold, respectively.
Special populations
Effect of age, sex, race
Population pharmacokinetic analyses demonstrated that there were no clinically relevant effects of age, sex, or race on exposure to ganaxolone. CL, V, and maximum absorbed dose all follow an allometric relationship with weight. No clinically relevant effects were observed in children with body weight below 28 kg due to weight-based dosing. Population pharmacokinetic simulations indicate that the ganaxolone exposure in adults was reversely correlated with body weight. The clinical relevance is currently unknown as the efficacy and safety have only been demonstrated for CDD paediatric patients with a low body weight.
Paediatric population
The observed pharmacokinetic exposures in patients in study 1042-CDD-3001 were comparable across the age groups 2 to less than 6 years of age (mean weight 14.8 kg, n=45), 6 to less than 12 years of age (mean weight 22.6 kg, n=28), and 12 to less than 18 years of age (mean weight 36.1 kg, n=16), and greater than 18 years of age (mean weight 35.1 kg, n=2). There are no pharmacokinetic data in children less than 2 years of age.
Renal impairment
The pharmacokinetics of ganaxolone were not significantly altered in patients with severe renal impairment. Following oral administration of a single 300 mg dose in subjects with severe renal impairment (creatinine clearance between 15 and 30 mL/min), the AUC0-inf of ganaxolone decreased 8% and Cmax decreased 11% as compared to that in subjects with normal renal function (creatinine clearance ≥90 mL/min as estimated by Cockcroft-Gault). Patients with end-stage renal disease were not studied.
Hepatic impairment
The influence of hepatic impairment on the pharmacokinetics of ganaxolone was studied following a single oral dose of 300 mg. No clinically significant effects on the exposures of ganaxolone were observed following administration in patients with mild (Child-Pugh A) and moderate (Child-Pugh B) hepatic impairment. Patients with severe (Child-Pugh C) hepatic impairment had an approximately 5.8-fold increase in AUC0-inf as compared to those with normal hepatic function (see section 4.2).
Drug interaction studies
In vitro assessment of drug interactions
In vitro studies with ganaxolone demonstrated that no other pharmacokinetic interactions are expected. Ganaxolone is not an inhibitor or an inducer of CYP1A2, CYP2B6, CYP2C8, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, CYP2D6, or CYP3A4. In vitro, ganaxolone did not inhibit UGT1A1, UGT1A3, UGT1A4, UGT1A6, UGT1A9, and UGT2B7. Ganaxolone does not inhibit BCRP, P-gp, MATE1, MATE2-K, OAT1, OAT3, OCT1, OCT2, OATP1B1, OATP1B3 or BSEP. Ganaxolone is not a substrate for BCRP, P-gp, OCT1, OCT2, OATP1B1 or OATP1B3.