Chemical formula: C₁₄H₂₃NO Molecular mass: 221.339 g/mol PubChem compound: 9838022
Tapentadol is a strong analgesic with µ-agonistic opioid and additional noradrenaline reuptake inhibition properties. Tapentadol exerts its analgesic effects directly without a pharmacologically active metabolite.
Tapentadol demonstrated efficacy in preclinical models of nociceptive, neuropathic, visceral and inflammatory pain; Efficacy has been verified in clinical trials with tapentadol film-coated tablets covering nociceptive pain conditions including postoperative orthopaedic and abdominal pain as well as chronic pain due to osteoarthritis of the hip or knee. In general the analgesic effect of tapentadol in nociceptive pain trials was similar to that observed with a strong opioid used as comparator.
In a thorough human QT trial, no effect of multiple therapeutic and supratherapeutic doses of tapentadol on the QT interval was shown. Similarly, tapentadol had no relevant effect on other ECG parameters (heart rate, PR interval, QRS duration, T-wave or U-wave morphology).
The bioavailability as assessed by Cmax and AUC and all other pharmacokinetic parameters determined for tapentadol after administration of 100 mg tapentadol as oral solution were similar compared to a 100 mg film-coated tablet (another oral immediate-release formulation). Therefore the information given below based on trials with film-coated tablets is also applicable to the oral solution.
Tapentadol is rapidly and completely absorbed after oral administration. Mean absolute bioavailability after single-dose administration (fasting) is approximately 32% due to extensive first-pass metabolism.
Maximum serum concentrations of tapentadol are typically observed at around 1.25 hours after administration of film-coated tablets. Dose-proportional increases in the Cmax and AUC values of tapentadol have been observed after administration of film-coated tablets over the oral therapeutic dose range.
A multiple (every 6 hour) dose trial with doses ranging from 75 to 175 mg tapentadol administered as film-coated tablets showed an accumulation ratio between 1.4 and 1.7 for the parent active substance and between 1.7 and 2.0 for the major metabolite tapentadol-O-glucuronide, which are primarily determined by the dosing interval and apparent half-life of tapentadol and its metabolite. Steady state serum concentrations of tapentadol are reached on the second day of the treatment regimen.
Maximum serum concentrations of tapentadol are observed at between 3 and 6 hours after administration of prolonged-release tablets. Dose proportional increases for AUC have been observed after administration of the prolonged-release tablets over the therapeutic dose range.
A multiple dose trial with twice daily dosing using 86 mg and 172 mg tapentadol administered as prolonged-release tablets showed an accumulation ratio of about 1.5 for the parent active substance which is primarily determined by the dosing interval and apparent half-life of tapentadol. Steady state serum concentrations of tapentadol are reached on the second day of the treatment regimen.
The AUC and Cmax increased by 25% and 16%, respectively, when film-coated tablets were administered after a high-fat, high-calorie breakfast. The time to maximum plasma concentration was delayed by 1.5 hours under these conditions. Based on efficacy data obtained at early assessment time points during phase II/III trials, the food effect does not appear to be of clinical relevance tapentadol may be given with or without food.
The AUC and Cmax increased by 8% and 18%, respectively, when prolonged-release tablets were administered after a high-fat, high-calorie breakfast. This was judged to be without clinical relevance as it falls into the normal inter-subject variability of tapentadol PK parameters. PALEXIA SR may be given with or without food.
Tapentadol is widely distributed throughout the body. Following intravenous administration, the volume of distribution (Vz) for tapentadol is 540 +/- 98 l. The serum protein binding is low and amounts to approximately 20%.
In humans, the metabolism of tapentadol is extensive. About 97% of the parent compound is metabolised. The major pathway of tapentadol metabolism is conjugation with glucuronic acid to produce glucuronides. After oral administration approximately 70% of the dose is excreted in urine as conjugated forms (55% glucuronide and 15% sulfate of tapentadol). Uridine diphosphate glucuronyl transferase (UGT) is the primary enzyme involved in the glucuronidation (mainly UGT1A6, UGT1A9 and UGT2B7 isoforms). A total of 3% of active substance is excreted in urine as unchanged active substance. Tapentadol is additionally metabolised to N-desmethyl tapentadol (13%) by CYP2C9 and CYP2C19 and to hydroxy tapentadol (2%) by CYP2D6, which are further metabolised by conjugation. Therefore, active substance metabolism mediated by cytochrome P450 system is of less importance than phase 2 conjugation.
None of the metabolites contributes to the analgesic activity.
Tapentadol and its metabolites are excreted almost exclusively (99%) via the kidneys. The total clearance after intravenous administration is 1530 +/- 177 ml/min. Terminal half-life is on average 4 hours after oral administration.
The mean exposure (AUC) to tapentadol was similar in a trial with older subjects (65-78 years of age) compared to young adults (19-43 years of age), with a 16% lower mean Cmax observed in the older subject group compared to young adult subjects.
AUC and Cmax of tapentadol were comparable in subjects with varying degrees of renal function (from normal to severely impaired). In contrast, increasing exposure (AUC) to tapentadol-O-glucuronide was observed with increasing degree of renal impairment. In subjects with mild, moderate, and severe renal impairment, the AUC of tapentadol-O-glucuronide are 1.5-, 2.5-, and 5.5-fold higher compared with normal renal function, respectively.
Administration of tapentadol resulted in higher exposures and serum levels to tapentadol in subjects with impaired hepatic function compared to subjects with normal hepatic function. The ratio of tapentadol pharmacokinetic parameters for the mild and moderate hepatic impairment groups in comparison to the normal hepatic function group were 1.7 and 4.2, respectively, for AUC; 1.4 and 2.5, respectively, for Cmax; and 1.2 and 1.4, respectively, for t1/2. The rate of formation of tapentadol-O-glucuronide was lower in subjects with increased liver impairment.
Tapentadol is mainly metabolised by Phase 2 glucuronidation, and only a small amount is metabolised by Phase 1 oxidative pathways.
As glucuronidation is a high capacity/low affinity system, which is not easily saturated even in disease, and as therapeutic concentrations of active substances are generally well below the concentrations needed for potential inhibition of glucuronidation, any clinically relevant interactions caused by Phase 2 metabolism are unlikely to occur. In a set of drug-drug interaction trials using paracetamol, naproxen, acetylsalicylic acid and probenecid, a possible influence of these active substances on the glucuronidation of tapentadol was investigated. The trials with probe active substances naproxen (500 mg twice daily for 2 days) and probenecid (500 mg twice daily for 2 days) showed increases in AUC of tapentadol by 17% and 57%, respectively. Overall, no clinically relevant effects on the serum concentrations of tapentadol were observed in these trials.
Furthermore, interaction trials of tapentadol with metoclopramide and omeprazole were conducted to investigate a possible influence of these active substances on the absorption of tapentadol. These trials also showed no clinically relevant effects on tapentadol serum concentrations.
In vitro studies did not reveal any potential of tapentadol to either inhibit or induce cytochrome P450 enzymes. Thus, clinically relevant interactions mediated by the cytochrome P450 system are unlikely to occur.
Plasma protein binding of tapentadol is low (approximately 20%). Therefore, the likelihood of pharmacokinetic drug-drug interactions by displacement from the protein binding site is low.
Tapentadol was not genotoxic in bacteria in the Ames test. Equivocal findings were observed in an in vitro chromosomal aberration test, but when the test was repeated the results were clearly negative. Tapentadol was not genotoxic in vivo, using the two endpoints of chromosomal aberration and unscheduled DNA synthesis, when tested up to the maximum tolerated dose. Long-term animal studies did not identify a potential carcinogenic risk relevant to humans.
Tapentadol had no influence on male or female fertility in rats but there was reduced in utero survival at the high dose. It is not known whether this was mediated via the male or the female. Tapentadol showed no teratogenic effects in rats and rabbits following intravenous and subcutaneous exposure. However, delayed development and embryotoxicity were observed after administration of doses resulting in exaggerated pharmacology (mu-opioid related CNS effects related to dosing above the therapeutic range). After intravenous dosing in rats reduced in utero survival was seen. In rats tapentadol caused increased mortality of the F1 pups that were directly exposed via milk between days 1 and 4 postpartum already at dosages that did not provoke maternal toxicities. There were no effects on neurobehavioral parameters.
Excretion into breast milk was investigated in rat pups suckled by dams dosed with tapentadol. Pups were dose-dependently exposed to tapentadol and tapentadol O-glucuronide. It was concluded that tapentadol is excreted in milk.
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