Transdermal therapeutic system containing asenapine

A transdermal therapeutic system for the transdermal administration of asenapine comprising a self-adhesive layer structure containing asenapine, said self-adhesive layer structure comprising an asenapine-containing matrix layer comprising asenapine and a polymer,

• wherein
• the transdermal therapeutic system has an area of release of from 10 to 80 cm2;
• the amount of asenapine in the asenapine-containing matrix layer ranges from 2% to 20% by weight;
• the asenapine-containing matrix layer has an area weight ranging from 90 to 230 g/m2;
• and
• further wherein, the transdermal therapeutic system provides:
• a mean transdermal asenapine release rate of 0.5 to 20 mg/day;
• an asenapine Cmax value of from 0.5 to 10 ng/ml following administration of the transdermal system to the skin of a subject in need thereof;
• and
• a skin permeation rate of asenapine as measured in a Franz diffusion cell with dermatomed human skin of
• 0 μg/(cm2 h) to 10 μg/(cm2 h) in the first 8 hours,
• 2 μg/(cm2 h) to 20 μg/(cm2 h) from hour 8 to hour 24,
• 3 μg/(cm2 h) to 20 μg/(cm2 h) from hour 24 to hour 32,
• 3 μg/(cm2 h) to 20 μg/(cm2 h) from hour 32 to hour 48, and
• 2 μg/(cm2 h) to 15 μg/(cm2 h) from hour 48 to hour 72.