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Pharmacokinetics, Efficacy, and Safety of a Permeation-Enhanced Testosterone Transdermal System in Comparison with Bi-Weekly Injections of Testosterone Enanthate for the Treatment of Hypogonadal Men¹

Johns Hopkins Medical Center (A.S.D.), Baltimore, Maryland 21287; Departments of Medicine (A.W.M.) and Pharmaceutics (N.A.M.), University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84132; Karolinska Hospital (S.A.), Stockholm, Sweden; and TheraTech Inc. (S.W.S., K.E.C., N.A.M.), Salt Lake City, Utah 84108

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Adrian S. Dobs, M.D., M.H.S., Associate Professor and Vice Chair, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, 1830 East Monument Street, Room 328, Baltimore, Maryland 21205. E-mail: adobs{at}jhu.edu

The pharmacokinetics, efficacy, and safety of the Androderm testosterone (T) transdermal system (TTD) and intramuscular T enanthate injections (IM) for the treatment of male hypogonadism were compared in a 24-week multicenter, randomized, parallel-group study. Sixty-six adult hypogonadal men (22–65 years of age) were withdrawn from prior IM treatment for 4–6 weeks and then randomly assigned to treatment with TTD (two 2.5-mg systems applied nightly) or IM (200 mg injected every 2 weeks); there were 33 patients per group. Twenty-six patients in the TTD group and 32 in the IM group completed the study.

TTD treatment produced circadian variations in the levels of total T, bioavailable T, dihydrotestosterone, and estradiol within the normal physiological ranges. IM treatment produced supraphysiological levels of T, bioavailable T, and estradiol (but not dihydrotestosterone) for several days after each injection. Mean morning sex hormone levels were within the normal range in greater proportions of TTD patients (range, 77–100%) than IM patients (range, 19–84%). Both treatments normalized LH levels in approximately 50% of patients with primary hypogonadism; however, LH levels were suppressed to the subnormal range in 31% of IM patients vs. 0% of TTD patients. Both treatments maintained sexual function (assessed by questionnaire and Rigiscan) and mood (Beck Depression Inventory) at the prior treatment levels.

Prostate-specific antigen levels, prostate volumes, and lipid and serum chemistry parameters were comparable in both treatment groups. Transient skin irritation from the patches was reported by 60% of the TTD patients, but caused only three patients (9%) to discontinue treatment. IM treatment produced local reactions in 33% of patients and was associated with significantly more abnormal hematocrit elevations (43.8% of patients) compared with TTD treatment (15.4% of patients). Gynecomastia resolved more frequently during TTD treatment (4 of 10 patients) than with IM treatment (1 of 9 patients).

Although both treatments seem to be efficacious for replacing T in hypogonadal men, the more physiological sex hormone levels and profiles associated with TTD may offer possible advantages over IM in minimizing excessive stimulation of erythropoiesis, preventing/ameliorating gynecomastia, and not over-suppressing gonadotropins.

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