Pharmaceutical formulations -> Monitor Keywords
Fresh Patents
Monitor Patents Patent Organizer File a Provisional Patent Browse Inventors Browse Industry Browse Agents Browse Locations
site info Site News  |  monitor Monitor Keywords  |  monitor archive Monitor Archive  |  organizer Organizer  |  account info Account Info  |  
08/02/07 - USPTO Class 424 |  66 views | #20070178156 | Prev - Next | About this Page  424 rss/xml feed  monitor keywords

Pharmaceutical formulations

USPTO Application #: 20070178156
Title: Pharmaceutical formulations
Abstract: The present invention is directed to novel pharmaceutically acceptable polymeric compositions suitable for melt extrusion and injection molding of single or multi-component pharmaceutical dosage forms comprising a plurality of drug substance containing sub-units, being capsule compartments and/or solid sub-units comprising a solid matrix of a polymer which contains a drug substance, the sub-units being connected together in the assembled dosage form. (end of abstract)



Agent: Smithkline Beecham Corporation Corporate Intellectual Property-us, Uw2220 - King Of Prussia, PA, US
USPTO Applicaton #: 20070178156 - Class: 424472000 (USPTO)

Related Patent Categories: Drug, Bio-affecting And Body Treating Compositions, Preparations Characterized By Special Physical Form, Tablets, Lozenges, Or Pills, Sustained Or Differential Release Type, Layered Unitary Dosage Forms

Pharmaceutical formulations description/claims


The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070178156, Pharmaceutical formulations.

Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
  monitor keywords

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to the preparation of injection molded single or multi-component dosage forms using novel pharmaceutically acceptable polymeric blends.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Various types of pharmaceutical dosage forms are known for oral dosing. Pharmaceutical capsules are well known, generally being intended for oral dosing. Such capsules generally comprise an envelope wall of a pharmaceutically acceptable, e.g. orally ingestible, polymer material such as gelatin, although other materials for capsule walls, e.g. starch and cellulose based polymers are also known. Such capsules generally have soft walls made by making a film on a capsule former, which is then allowed to dry. Rigid walled capsules made by injection molding are also known, see for example U.S. Pat. No. 4,576,284; U.S. Pat. No. 4,591,475; U.S. Pat. No. 4,655,840; U.S. Pat. No. 4,738,724; U.S. Pat. No. 4,738,817 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,790,881 (all to Warner Lambert). These disclose specific constructions of capsules made of gelatin, starch and other polymers, and methods of making them by injection molding of hydrophilic polymer--water mixtures. U.S. Pat. No. 4,576,284 specifically discloses such capsules provided with a cap which closes the capsule, and which is formed in situ on the filled capsule by molding. U.S. Pat. No. 4,738,724 discloses a wide range of rigid capsule shapes and parts.

[0003] Multi-compartment capsules, including those of the type where each compartment has different drug release characteristics, or for example, contains a different drug substance or formulation are also known, for example in U.S. Pat. No. 4,738,724 (Warner-Lambert); U.S. Pat. No. 5,672,359 (University of Kentucky); U.S. Pat. No. 5,443,461 (Alza Corp.); WO 95/16438 (Cortecs Ltd.); WO 90/12567 (Helminthology Inst.); DE-A-3727894, and BE 900950 (Warner Lambert); FR 2524311, and NL 7610038 (Tapanhony Nev.); FR 1,454,013 (Pluripharm); U.S. Pat. No. 3,228,789 (Glassman); and U.S. Pat. No. 3,186,910 (Glassman) among others. U.S. Pat. No. 4,738,817 discloses a multicompartment capsule with a similar construction to those of U.S. Pat. No. 3,228,789 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,186,910, made of a water-plasticized gelatin. U.S. Pat. No. 4,738,817 ('817) Witter et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,790,881 ('881), Wittwer et al., and EP 0 092 908, Wittwer, F., all discloses injection molded capsules prepared with gelatin and other excipients. Wittwer et al. '817 and '881 also prepare capsules with other hydrophilic polymers, such as hydroxypropylmethyl-cellulose phthalate (HPMCP), methylcellulose, microcrystalline cellulose, polyethylene glycol, cellulose acetate phthalate (CAP) and with polyvinylpyrrolidone. Both U.S. Pat. No. 4,790,881 and EP 0 091 908 propose other polymers having enteric properties suitable for use, including generally acrylates and methacrylates (Eudragits) although none are demonstrated and no specific details are provided.

[0004] Pharmaceutical dosage forms are also known which comprise a matrix of a solid polymer, in which a drug substance is dispersed, embedded or dissolved as a solid solution. Such matrixes may be formed by an injection molding process. This technology is discussed in Cuff G, and Raouf F, Pharmaceutical Technology, June (1998) pages 96-106. Some specific formulations for such dosage forms are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,678,516; U.S. Pat. No. 4,806,337; U.S. Pat. No. 4,764,378; U.S. Pat. No. 5,004,601; U.S. Pat. No. 5,135,752; U.S. Pat. 5,244,668; U.S. Pat. No. 5,139,790; U.S. Pat. No. 5,082,655; U.S. Pat. No. 5,552,159; U.S. Pat. No. 5,939,099; U.S. Pat 5,741,519; U.S. Pat. No. 4,801,460; U.S. Pat. No. 6,063,821; WO 99/27909; CA 2,227,272; CA 2,188,185; CA 2,211,671; CA 2,311,308; CA 2,298,659; CA 2,264,287; CA 2,253,695; CA 2,253,700; and CA 2,257,547 among others.

[0005] US Pat. No. 5,705,189, is directed to a group of co-polymers of methacrylic acid, methyl methacrylate and methyl acrylate, for use as thermoplastic agents in the production of drugs coatings, and capsules. No information is presented on the quality of the capsule formation with respect to warping or other distortions produced by the injection molding process. Nor is shear rate data presented for the viscosity/temperature figures of the emulsions presented therein.

[0006] It would also be desirable to prepare a pharmaceutical dosage form in which a pharmaceutically acceptable polymeric blend is extruded by hot melt into a suitable dosage form, or is injection molded into suitable dosage forms, which may be multicompartmental, such as in a capsule. This pharmaceutical polymeric composition as the dosage form may provide differing physio-chemical characteristics for each segment containing an active agent, such that a convenient dosage form can be optioned which may include a rapid dissolve, immediate, delayed, pulsatile, or modified release which can be produced by simply selecting the appropriate polymer(s) to be molded for each section.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The present invention provides for novel pharmaceutical compositions, and their use in melt extrusion technologies, and in the making of injection molded capsule shells, linkers, spacers, multicomponent injection molded capsule shells, linkers or spacers, multicomponent pharmaceutical dosage forms, and other aspects as defined in the claims and description of this application.

[0008] Another embodiment of the invention is to provide an alternative and improved pharmaceutical dosage form which provides, inter alia, greater flexibility in the dosage form adapted to a patient's specific administration requirement, using the novel formulations, or compositions, of pharmaceutically acceptable polymers and suitable excipients in said dosage forms.

[0009] Another embodiment of the invention is to provide a process of producing the multicomponent dosage forms comprising the novel pharmaceutically acceptable polymeric blends by injection molding. These multi-component dosage forms are suitable for containing a pharmaceutically acceptable active agent, or agents, for release thereby.

[0010] In accordance with the invention, a melt extrusion composition, and an injection molded capsule shell, and/or linker is provided for, with a composition, preferably including Eudragit RL 100 or Eudragit RS 100 or a combination thereof.

[0011] The capsule or linker, comprises a solid matrix, and preferably comprises is Eudragit RL 100 present in an amount of about 10 to 80% w/w, and a hydroxypropyl cellulose derivative, or blend of hydroxypropyl celluloses, from about 30 to about 70% w/w.

[0012] The composition may optionally further comprises dissolution-modifying excipients present in an amount of about 0% w/w to about 30% w/w; a lubricant present in an amount up to about 30% w/w; a plasticizer present in an amount up to about 10% w/w, and a processing agent present in an amount up to about 10% w/w.

[0013] In an alternative embodiment, the pharmaceutical dosage form comprises a plurality of sub-units, each being a drug substance-containing capsule compartment. In this case, each compartment is physically separated from at least one adjacent compartment, preferably by a wall made of a pharmaceutically acceptable polymer material. In the case in which at least one of the sub-units is a drug substance-containing capsule compartment its wall thickness is in the range of about 0.1-0.8 mm. In another embodiment the wall thickness is in the range of about 0.3-0.8 mm.

[0014] The multi-component dosage form of the invention affords a high degree of versatility in that it can be composed of various combinations of different dosage forms having different release characteristics. For example, the sub-units can be a substantially immediate release sub-unit, a sustained release sub-unit, or a pulsed release sub-unit.

[0015] Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] The present invention is directed to novel compositions of a pharmaceutically acceptable polymer and excipients, which polymeric composition may be injection molded into one or more components which can optionally be utilized together, such as in a stacked or multi-component dosage form. It is recognized that the polymeric blends may be injection molded into a single component that may also contain the active agent for oral administration.

[0017] The present invention also relates to the application of a pharmaceutically acceptable film coating over a component comprising the novel pharmaceutically acceptable polymeric blends as described herein. The film coating may be a delayed release formulation, or a pH control formulation as are well known in the art. One suitable coating is Opradry, and/or Eudragit L30D-55. The enteric coatings, represented by application of L30D-55 for instance, may be applied using standard equipment such as a GMP Aerocoater column coater. The component weight gain is nominally from about 3% to about 5% w/w.

[0018] The pharmaceutically acceptable polymeric blends herein are designed to provide consistent dissolution profiles.

[0019] A suitable multicomponent dosage form is disclosed in PCT/EP00/07295, filed Jul. 27, 2000, published as WO 01/08666 on Feb. 8, 2001, the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

[0020] The parts of the dosage form of this invention, e.g. a capsule compartment wall, a solid sub-unit, or a closure or linker, comprise a pharmaceutically acceptable polymeric blend (and adhesive material if adhesive welds are formed) which is generally regarded as safe, e.g. for oral ingestion and is capable of being formed into the required shape of a capsule compartment wall, a solid sub-unit, or a closure or linker as described above. A preferred method of forming the polymer material into the desired shape is injection molding, which may be a hot or cold runner injection molding process. Suitable injection molding machines for such a process are known.

Continue reading about Pharmaceutical formulations...
Full patent description for Pharmaceutical formulations

Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims

Click on the above for other options relating to this Pharmaceutical formulations patent application.
###
monitor keywords

How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents
1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored.
3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords.  
Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Pharmaceutical formulations or other areas of interest.
###


Previous Patent Application:
Preparation for gastric buoyant sustained drug release dosage form
Next Patent Application:
Process for cleaning hard gelatine capsules
Industry Class:
Drug, bio-affecting and body treating compositions

###

FreshPatents.com Support
Thank you for viewing the Pharmaceutical formulations patent info.
IP-related news and info


Results in 0.34631 seconds


Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories:
Software:  Finance AI Databases Development Document Navigation Error 174
filepatents (1K)

* Protect your Inventions
* US Patent Office filing
patentexpress PATENT INFO