Characterization of rimegepant drug–drug interactions using the cytochrome P450 probe drugs, itraconazole, rifampin, fluconazole, and midazolam

Abstract Objective Reported here are the results of four rimegepant phase I studies, in healthy participants, aimed at determining the in vivo potential of rimegepant (75 mg) for cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A4‐related drug–drug interactions (DDIs). Background Rimegepant orally disintegrating tablet (Pfizer Inc., New York, NY, USA) is a calcitonin gene‐related peptide receptor antagonist approved for acute treatment of migraine and preventive treatment of episodic migraine. People with migraine commonly use multiple drug treatments, with the potential for DDIs. Methods Each study was an open‐label, single‐arm, single‐sequence, crossover study. Rimegepant was tested as a victim drug by separate co‐administration of itraconazole (a strong CYP3A4 inhibitor and P‐glycoprotein inhibitor) in Study 1, rifampin (a strong CYP3A4 inducer and moderate CYP2C9 inducer) in Study 2, and fluconazole (a strong CYP2C9 inhibitor and moderate CYP3A4 inhibitor) in Study 3, and as a perpetrator drug by co‐administration with midazolam (a CYP3A4 substrate) in Study 4. Results Mean values of single‐dose rimegepant maximum concentration (C max ) and area under the curve from time 0 to infinity (AUC 0–inf ) increased with itraconazole co‐administration ( n = 22) by 1.42‐fold (90% confidence interval [CI] 1.25–1.61) and by 4.14‐fold (90% CI 3.87–4.44), respectively, and decreased with rifampin co‐administration ( n = 21) to 36% (90% CI 31.2–41.4%) and to 19% (90% CI 16.3–21.4%), respectively. Co‐administration with fluconazole ( n = 23) increased rimegepant mean AUC 0–inf by 1.80‐fold (90% CI 1.68–1.93), with no impact on C max (1.04‐fold; 90% CI 0.94–1.15). Co‐administration of rimegepant single dose (300 mg; n = 14) or multiple doses (150 mg/day; n = 14) increased the mean C max of midazolam by 1.38‐fold (90% CI 1.13–1.67) and 1.53‐fold (90% CI 1.32–1.78), respectively, and the AUC 0–inf of midazolam by 1.86‐fold (90% CI 1.58–2.19) and 1.91‐fold (90% CI 1.63–2.25), respectively. Conclusions Based on the magnitude of DDIs, these studies indicate the following: co‐administration of rimegepant with a strong CYP3A4 inhibitor should be avoided; during co‐administration with a moderate CYP3A4 inhibitor, another dose of rimegepant within 48 h should be avoided; co‐administration of rimegepant with a strong or moderate CYP3A4 inducer should be avoided; CYP2C9 does not play a meaningful role in rimegepant metabolism; and there is no clinically meaningful CYP3A4 inhibition by rimegepant.