Determining the Exposure Threshold for Levonorgestrel Efficacy Using an Integrated Model Based Meta-Analysis Approach

Combined oral contraceptive pills are the most commonly used hormonal contraceptives for the prevention of unintended pregnancies in United States. They consist of a progestin (e.g., levonorgestrel (LNG)) and an estrogen component, typically ethinyl estradiol (EE). In addition to adherence issues, drug-drug interactions (DDIs) and obesity (women with body mass index (BMI) ≥ 30 kg/m² ) are prime suspects for decreased LNG efficacy. Therefore, we developed an integrated physiologically-based pharmacokinetic modeling and model-based meta-analysis approach to determine LNG's efficacy threshold concentrations and to evaluate the impact of DDIs and obesity on the efficacy of LNG-containing hormonal contraceptives (HCs). Based on this approach, co-administration of strong CYP3A4 inducers and LNG-containing HCs (LNG150: LNG 150 µg + EE 30 µg and LNG100: LNG 100 µg + EE 20 µg) resulted in a predicted clinically relevant decrease of LNG plasma exposure (women with BMI < 25 kg/m² : 50-65%; obese women: 70-75%). Following administration of LNG150 or LNG100 in the presence of a CYP3A4 inducer, there was an increase in mean Pearl Index of 1.2-1.30 and 1.80-2.10, respectively, in women with BMI < 25 kg/m² (incidence rate ratios (IRRs): 1.7-2.2), whereas it ranged from 1.6-1.80 and 2.40-2.85 in obese women (IRR: 2.2-3.0), respectively. Our results suggest that the use of backup or alternate methods of contraception is not necessarily required for oral LNG + EE formulations except within circumstances of both obesity and strong CYP3A4 inducer concomitance following administration of LNG100.