AU2003208862A1

AU2003208862A1 - Powder inhalation containing cgrp-antagonist bibn4096 and method for the production thereof

Info

Publication number: AU2003208862A1
Application number: AU2003208862A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Michael Trunk; Claudius Weiler
Original assignee: Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH and Co KG
Current assignee: Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH and Co KG
Priority date: 2002-02-20
Filing date: 2003-02-17
Publication date: 2003-09-09
Also published as: ECSP045241A; ATE299016T1; AR038572A1; PL371315A1; EP1478338A1; UY27674A1; DE50300736D1; BR0307821A; JP4085063B2; JP2005529849A; WO2003070215A1; TW200304376A; PE20030832A1; ES2244922T3; MXPA04008183A; DE10207026A1; NO20043865L; HRP20040747A2; CN1638728A; CA2476621A1

Description

COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA PATENTS ACT 1990 IN THE MATTER of a Patent Application by Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG VERIFICATION OF TRANSLATION Patent Application No.: PCT/EPO3/01563 I, JANE ROBERTA MANN, B.A., of Frank B. Dehn & Co., 59 St Aldates, Oxford OX1 1ST, am the translator of the documents attached and I state that the following is a true translation to the best of my knowledge and belief of the specification as published of International Patent Application No. PCT/EPO3/01563 of Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG. Signature of translator Dated: 6th August 2004 D-55216 Ingelheim PCT-Text 80104pct.210 Inhalation powder containing the CGRP antagonist BIBN4096 and process for the preparation thereof 5 The invention relates to an inhalation powder containing the CGRP antagonist 1-[N 2 [3,5-dibromo-N-[[4-(3,4-dihydro-2(1 H)-oxoquinazolin-3-yl)-1-piperidinyl]carbonyl]-D tyrosyl]-L-lysyl]-4-(4-pyridinyl)-piperazine [BIBN4096] of formula I in the form of spherically nanostructured microparticles which are stable in their amorphous state under normal conditions (T <50 0 C, relative humidity < 75%) and a process for the o10 manufacture thereof by which the thermodynamically stable or stabilised active substance can be processed in its amorphous state in a single step to form microparticles. The spherically nanostructured microparticles according to the invention are suitable 15 for the preparation of inhalation powders in which no other excipients or additives (carrier materials) are required in order to obtain a powder which can be handled on an industrial scale, which can be further processed directly and has excellent properties in terms of dispersibility and is sufficiently easy to process with regard to its cohesive properties. In another aspect the invention relates to the inhalation 20 powders which may be obtained using the process according to the invention. Formula I: Br OH Br 0 0 N N N H N a N"O H0- -N

NI

2 Prior art BIBN4096 is a highly effective CGRP antagonist for the treatment of migraine, which cannot be administered orally using conventional preparations as the substance has 5 only limited bioavailability by oral route. In the case of inhalation powders, inhalable powders which are packed into suitable capsules (inhalettes) are delivered into the lungs by means of powder inhalers. Alternatively, they may be inhaled by the use of suitable powdered inhalable aerosols 10 which may contain, for example, an HFC134a, HFC227 or mixture thereof as propellant gas. The microparticles of the pure active substance are administered through the airways to the surface of the lung, e.g. in the alveoli, by the inhalation process. These 15 particles settle on the surface and can only be absorbed in the body after the dissolution process by active and passive transporting processes. Inhalation systems are known in the literature wherein the active substance is present either as a micronised suspension in a suitable solvent system as the carrier, 20 or in the form of a dry powder. Usually, inhalation powders are prepared e.g. in the form of capsules for inhalation based on the general teaching as described in DE-A-179 22 07, using the chemically most stable form of the active substance. Pharmaceutical preparations prepared by 25 mixing a finely divided medicament with a coarser carrier medium are dispersed in an air current by a so-called "powder flow method" using the suction mode of the inhaler as the main energy source. A critical factor in multi-substance systems of this kind is the uniform distribution of 30 the pharmaceutical composition in the powder mixture. Moreover, the carrier results in additional stress on the lungs as well as the occurrence of undesirable interactions, which may lead to problems of compatibility.

One significant aspect of the administration of the active substance by inhalation is that only particles of a specific aerodynamic size enter the target organ, namely the lungs. The particle size of these particles destined for the lungs (inhalable fraction) is in the submicron range. Such particles are conventionally produced by micronisation 5 (grinding in an air stream). As a result, such particles may often be of complex composition in terms of their crystal properties as a result of this mechanical step. Similarly, the geometric form of the particles of starting material also determines the morphological properties of the micronised material. o10 Apart from the jet grinding process, the airstream grinding process being of particular significance, it is also possible to produce a suitable micronised product by alternative methods. Suitable micronising processes for preparing microparticles in the submicron range include, for example, the precipitation method including the processes in which the active substance can be precipitated as a non-crystalline 15 (amorphous) solid by evaporating the solvent beyond its maximum solubility, precipitation by means of supercritical gases, such as the RESS or PGSS process (J. Jung, M. Perrut: Particle Design Using Supercritical Fluids, J. Supercrit. Fluids 20 (2001), 179-219), the GASR process (M.P. Gallager et al.: Gas Antisolvent Recrystallization, Am. Chem. Soc. (1989)), the PCA process (D.J. Dixon, K.P. 20 Johnston: Polymeric Materials Formed by Precipitation with compressed Fluid Antisolvent, AIChE Journal (1993, Vol. 39(1), 127), freeze-drying, spray drying or a combination of several of the abovementioned processes. It is known from the literature that lung-bound particles measuring between 0.5 pm 25 and 10 pm, preferably between 0.5 pm and 6 pm, can be produced by spray-drying. Industrially usable formulations can normally be prepared from spray-dried particles of this kind using the method mentioned above (DE-A-179 22 07) which have sufficient dispersibility for medical use (inhalation) [Y.-F. Maa, P.-A. Ngyuyen, J.D. Andya, N. Dasovich, T.D. Sweeny, S.J. Shire, C.C. Hsu, Pharmaceutical Research, 30 15, No. 5 (1998), 768-775; M.T. Vidgr6n, P.A. Vidgr~n, T.P. Paronen, Int. J. Pharmaceutics, 35 (1987), 139-144; R.W. Niven, F.D. Lott, A.Y. Ip, J.M. Cribbs, Pharmaceutical Research, 11, No. 8 (1994), 1101-1109].

In addition to these examples there are other methods of production, proposed by pharmaceutical companies in particular, based on spray-drying processes, which describe special formulations for inhalation powders. 5 Apart from the requirements set out hereinbefore, it should generally be bome in mind that any change to the solid state of a pharmaceutical composition which can improve its physical and chemical stability as well as its technical qualities provides a considerable advantage over less stable forms of the same medicament. 10 Statement of the problem The complex objective of the present invention was primarily to provide a bioavailable formulation for the highly effective CGRP antagonist BIBN4096. The formulation according to the invention should have a rapid onset of activity for the 15 treatment of acute pain or, in the case of migraine, pain with a very sudden onset. This means that rapid absorption of the active substance and a fast rise in the plasma level must be ensured. Description of the invention 20 A rapid onset of activity for the treatment of acute pain and for achieving a high plasma level of the salts of the active substance BIBN4096 within the shortest possible time can best be achieved, apart from by intravenous administration, via the lungs as the receiving organ. 25 Within the scope of the present invention it has now, surprisingly, been found that BIBN4096 in the form of the active substance base may be made sufficiently bioavailable by administering it by inhalation. It has been found that when the active substance is administered by inhalation in the form of spherically nanostructured 30 microparticles a bioavailability of about 60% based on the fine fraction of the formulation (corresponding to FPD determined according to USP 24 Suppl. 2000) can be achieved.

The formulation according to the invention does not require the addition of any carrier materials. A first object of the present invention is thus an inhalation powder containing the 5 active substance base 1-[N 2 -[3,5-dibromo-N-[[4-(3,4-dihydro-2(1 H)-oxoquinazolin-3 yl)-1l-piperidinyl]carbonyl]-D-tyrosyl]-L-lysyl]-4-(4-pyridinyl)-piperazine [BIBN4096] of formula I in the form of spherically nanostructured microparticles, characterised in that 10 (a) the particles have a specific surface area of between 1 m 2 /g and 25 m 2 /g, preferably between 1 m 2 /g and 20 m 2 /g, most preferably between 3 m 2 /g and 10 m 2 /g, (b) the characteristic value Q(5.a) is between 50% and 100% and 15 (c) the parameter X 5 0 is between 1 pim and 6 pm. These microparticles are characterised by special physical and physico-chemical properties which lead to improved pharmacological/pharmacokinetic properties when 20 the substance is administered. The availability of the substance - both quantitative, based on the quantity of active substance administered, and also based on a high plasma level to be achieved as quickly as possible - is determined not only by the biochemical properties of the substance but also by physicochemical properties. If a solid is administered, as in the case of an inhalation powder, the parameters of 25 absolute solubility in the ambient medium and also the speed of dissolution in the ambient medium as a function of the local concentration of the active substance and time should be taken into consideration in particular. Optimum administration by inhalation must therefore take into account the fact that 30 the particles of active substance form a finely divided coating over the surface of the lungs. The crucial factor here is that the active substance is changed in such a way that the microparticles to be inhaled have advantages in terms of their particle-to particle interaction and their dispersion or aerodynamic properties which mean that on the one hand the particles are deposited quantitatively in the deeper parts of the lungs and on the other hand the maximum possible surface area of the lungs is covered. Therefore, the physical-chemical properties of the microparticles to be inhaled are of major importance in inhalation powders. 5 The particles produced according to the invention have high physical stability. In particular, the properties of the particles when used as an inhalation powder enable a high proportion of fine particles to be realised, technically determined, for example, by cascade impactor measurement (Andersen Cascade Impactor, according to USP 24 or Pharm. Eur. Suppl. 2000). Typically, the proportion of the particles according to 10 this method which are less than 5 pm in size (aerodynamically) is greater than 15%, while in some cases fine fractions of more than 50% are achieved. Apart from this key parameter for inhalable substances, the powder is characterised in that it can be further processed by current technical processes. Powders produced in this way are characterised by the physicochemical parameters of particle size, e.g. measured by 15 laser diffraction, as well as specific surface, e.g. measured by multipoint B.E.T. measurement. For the characteristic value Q( 5

.

8 ) the particle size of powders thus produced is typically between 50% and 100%, and for the parameter Xso it is between 1 pm and 6 pm. Particles which are produced by the above methods typically have values for the specific surface of between 1 m 2 /g and 25 m 2 /g, ideally 20 between 1 m 2 /g and 20 m 2 /g, most preferably between 3 m 2 /g and 10 m 2 /g. Geometrically, particles produced by the above methods have particle shapes which may be described, depending on the test conditions, between the extremes of "spherical shape", "spherical shape with cavity, optionally with hole", "spherical shape with inwardly shaped convexities ", as well as "collapsed hollow body ". Under 25 the scanning electron microscope the surface of such particles is substantially nanostructured. It has been found according to the invention that BIBN4096 in the form of the free base can surprisingly be changed morphologically by a spray drying process in such 30 a way that a powder prepared in this way can be transferred directly into a primary packaging means without any further steps, specifically without the need to mix it with a coarser carrier material, and can be delivered from said packaging means for inhalation by means of a powder inhaler.

The manufacturing process may be controlled so that the particles are present in a suitable particle size, normally between 0.1 and 10 pm, and these particles have surface characteristics such that they are easy to fluidise/disperse. 5 It has also been found that the particle morphology including the particle size can be critically controlled by the choice of process parameters and manufacturing parameters. One surprising factor is that powders of this substance which have been micronised by "conventional" stream grinding processes and are present in a comparable particle size spectrum nevertheless differ fundamentally in their 10 morphology from particles produced according to this invention, in terms of their surface characteristics/particle-to-particle interactions. This is apparent from the fact that the quality parameter known as the "Fine Particle Fraction of Delivered Dose" (e.g. according to the method of determining the "Aerodynamic Particle Size Distribution" - USP 24 or Pharm. Eur. Suppl. 2000) is improved by a factor 10 or 15 more. As there is no need for a carrier material in the formulation either, the absolute dose of active substance actually available to the patient in a given total amount of powder administered is improved by a significantly higher factor. The method of preparation according to the invention is characterised in that the 20 active substance is suitably dissolved, sprayed and dried in a spray tower. The principle of spray-drying consists of breaking up a solution or suspension of the product which is to be dried into fine droplets and drying them with a hot gas current. The solid fraction remaining after the solvent has evaporated is separated off from the gas current by means of an inertia force separator (e.g. cyclone) and/or by a filter 25 unit and collected. The microparticles thus produced are characterised by special values in terms of particle size, specific surface area and morphology. Organic solvents or organic aqueous solvent mixtures have proved suitable as solvents. Preferably, an alcoholic aqueous solvent system is used, more preferably a 30 solvent mixture consisting of ethanol/methanol/water and ethanol/propanol/water and most preferably the solvent mixture of ethanol and water. The molar proportion of water in the solvent mixtures should range from 0.1 to 10 times the amount of the molar proportion of the alcohol components, preferably from 0.5 to 4 times the amount.

The adjustment of the active substance concentration is intended primarily to make the process economical. However, limits are imposed on the active substance concentration which may be selected, these limits being set by the fact that the surface qualities of the particles can be optimised by a specific ratio between the 5 droplet size and solids concentration. Normally, a concentration of between 0.5 and 20% by weight, preferably between 2 and 10 percent by weight, most preferably between 3 and 8 percent by weight should be selected. The droplet size is a critical parameter for the production of inhalable particles. Depending on the nozzle used the throughput of spray gas should be selected in conjunction with the throughput of o10 solution so as to achieve the desired droplet size. As there are a number of combinations of the parameters "nozzle - throughput of spray gas - throughput of solution" which result in a suitable droplet size, the process can sensibly be defined by the droplet size which is to be selected for the process. This may be characterised by the characteristic value Xs 5 0 (median value = particle size/droplet size, below which 15 50% of the quantity of particles are found, with regard to the volume distribution of the individual particles/droplets), which should be in the range between 1.5 pm and 20 pm, preferably between 1.5 pm and 8 pm, as well as the characteristic value

Q(

5

.

8 ) (corresponding to the quantity of particles below 5.8 pm, based on the distribution by volume of the particles), which should be between 10% and 100%, 20 preferably between 30% and 100%. On an industrial scale this is achieved by using a suitable commercial nozzle, e.g. single- or multi-substance nozzles which exhibit these characteristics as a function of the nozzle parameters (e.g. speed of rotation in the case of rotary atomisers or 25 applied pressure and the resulting mass flow of the atomising gas in the case of two substance nozzles) as well as the spray rate (volumetric flow of "spray solution"). Apart from the special conditions which have to be adhered to during the actual spraying process, in order to generate suitable droplets for the drying process, it is apparent that the surface characteristics of the particles may also be positively or 30 deliberately influenced by the choice of the drying parameters. The critical characteristics which impinge on the drying step are the inlet and outlet temperature of the drying gas and the volumetric flow of the drying gas passed through. Care should be taken to ensure that the droplets of suitable size are passed through the drying chamber in such a way that the droplets and the dried particles do not come into contact, or only come into slight contact, with the wall of the spray tower. This is achieved by the use of nozzles with a corresponding spray cone, by a spray tower of suitable diameter and by the flow conditions in the apparatus. The starting temperature must be adapted to the process so that the powder has a sufficiently low 5 residual solvent content and thus a sufficient chemical and physical stability is achieved. This is ideally obtained if the starting temperature is maintained in the region of the boiling temperature or slightly above. By contrast, the inlet temperature of the drying gas must be selected so that in conjunction with the parameter "volumetric flow of drying gas" and the spray rate, the drying is gentle enough to 10 produce particles with suitable surface qualities. A second object of the invention is thus a process for preparing the active substance base BIBN4096 in the form of spherically nanostructured microparticles, comprising the steps of 15 a) dissolving the active substance BIBN4096 in an organic solvent or an organic aqueous solvent mixture to prepare a solution of the active substance with an active substance concentration of between 0.5 and 20 percent by weight, preferably between 2 and 10 percent by weight, most preferably between 3 20 and 8 percent by weight, b) spraying the resulting solution of active substance in the usual way so as to obtain a spray mist with a droplet size having the characteristic value X 5 0 in the range from 1.5 to 20 ltm, preferably from 1.5 to 8 pm, and Q(s.a) between 25 10% and 100%, preferably between 30% and 100%, c) drying the spray mist thus obtained by means of a drying gas, while applying the following parameters: 30 * an inlet temperature of the drying gas of 1000C to 3500C, preferably between 120 oC and 250 0C and more preferably between 130 0C and 2000C, - -IU * an outlet temperature of the drying gas of 40 0C to 120 0C, * a volumetric flow of the spray gas of 1 Nm 3 /h to 15 Nm 3 /h, 5 * a volumetric flow of the drying gas of 15 Nm 3 /h to 1500 Nm 3 /h, preferably 15 Nm 3 /h to 150 Nm 3 /h, and d) separating the dried solid fraction from the drying gas current in conventional manner. 10 A third object of the invention is the use of the active substance base BIBN4096 in the form of spherically nanostructured microparticles which may be obtained by the process described above, for preparing an inhalation powder. 15 A fourth object of the present invention is an inhalation powder, characterised in that the spherically nanostructured particles may be obtained by the process according to the invention described above.

-11 Experimental section 1) Methods of measurement 5 a) Determining the particle size by laser diffraction (Fraunhofer diffraction): Method of measurement: In order to determine the particle size, the powder is placed in a laser diffraction spectrometer by means of a dispersing 10 unit. By the median value X 50 is meant the particle size below which 50% of the particles are found. The Q(5.8) value describes the percentage proportion of the particles which are less than 5.8 pm in size. Measuring 15 equipment: Laser diffraction spectrometer (HELOS), Messrs. Sympatec Software: WINDOX 4 Version 3.3/REL 1 for Examples 1 to 3 and Version 4 for Examples 4 to 6 Dispersing unit: RODOS / dispersing pressure: 3 bar Focal length: 100 mm [measuring range: 0.9.....175pm] 20 Evaluation mode: HRLD (V 3.3 Rel. 1) b) Determining the specific surface: Method of 25 measurement: The specific surface is determined by exposing the powder sample to a nitrogen atmosphere at different pressures. Cooling the sample causes the nitrogen molecules to be condensed on the surface of the particles. The quantity of condensed nitrogen is determined by means of the 30 pressure drop in the system and the specific surface of the sample is calculated by means of the surface nitrogen requirement and the weight of the sample.

Measuring equipment Tri Star Multi Point BET, Messrs. Micromeritics Heating station: VacPrep 061, Messrs. Micromeritics Heating: about 12 h / 40 °C 5 Analytical parameters Sample container: Y2 inch; with "filler rod" Methods of analysis: 16 point BET surface measurement 0.05 to 0.20 p/p0 10 absolute pressure tolerance: 5.0 mm Hg relative pressure tolerance: 5.0% speed of evacuation: 50.0 mm Hg/second evacuation threshold: 10.0 mm Hg duration: 0.1 h 15 void volume: lowering of Dewar vessel, t: 0.5 h retention time: 20 seconds Minimum equilibration time: 600 seconds Adsorbent: nitrogen 20 c) Determining the droplet size by laser diffraction (according to Mie): Measuring equipment: Laser diffraction spectrometer (HELOS), Messrs. Sympatec Software: WINDOX Version 4 25 Focal length: 100 mm [Measuring range: 0.9.....175 pm] Method of measurement: The droplet size is determined by removing the nozzle from the spray drier and placing the spray in the upper third of the spray cone centrally in the laser beam. The 30 measurement is taken at ambient temperature with water as the reference medium under otherwise identical conditions.

2) Examples of spray parameters Example 1: Spray parameter, suitable for an alcoholic BIBN4096 solution (modified BOCHI spray drier): 5 Concentration of solution/ 7 g BIBN 4096 in 100 ml composition solvent ethanol/methanol/H 2 0 molar ratio: 1: 1 : 2.3 Droplet size Q(s.

8 ) 46% (evaluated according to Mie); (reference solution: H 2 0 at ambient 51% (evaluated according to temperature) Fraunhofer)

X

5 o 6.3 ipm (evaluated according to Mie); 5.7 pm (evaluated according to Fraunhofer) volumetric flow "spray rate" 18 ml / min spray pressure (nozzle type) 2.9 bar overpressure (N 2 ) (BOCHI spray nozzle 0.7 mm, Art. no. 04364) volumetric flow "atomising pressure" 1775 standard litres / h (nozzle type) (BOCHI spray nozzle 0.7 mm, Art. no. 04364) entry temperature 150 °C exit temperature 100 OC volumetric flow "drying gas" 30 standard m 3 / h cross section of drying tower 105 mm Characterisation of the solid particles obtained: particle size X 50 so 1.9 pm

Q(

5

.

8 ) 98.3% Example 2: Spray parameter, suitable for an alcoholic BIBN4096 solution (modified BOCHI spray drier): Concentration of solution/ 7 g BIBN 4096 in 100 ml composition of solvent ethanol/methanol/H 2 0 molar ratio: 1 :1 : 2.3 Droplet size Q( 5 .a) 27% (evaluated according to Mie) (reference solution: H 2 0 at ambient 39% (evaluated according to temperature) Fraunhofer)

X

5 0 o 8.9 pim (evaluated according to Mie) 7.3 pm (evaluated according to Fraunhofer) volumetric flow "spray rate" 18 ml / min spray pressure (nozzle type) 2.9 bar overpressure (N 2 ) (BOCHI spray nozzle 0.7 mm, Art. no. 04364) volumetric flow "atomising pressure" 1482 standard litres / h (nozzle type) (BOCHI spray nozzle 0.7 mm, Art. no. 04364) entry temperature 150 OC exit temperature 100 OC volumetric flow of "drying gas" 30 standard m 3 / h cross section of drying tower 105 mm 5 Characterisation of the solid particles obtained: particle size X 5 0 2.4 pm

Q(

5

.

8 ) 87% - I %J Example 3: Spray parameter, suitable for an alcoholic BIBN4096 solution (modified BOCHI spray drier): Concentration of solution/ 7.4 g BIBN 4096 in 100 g composition of solvent ethanol/methanol/H 2 0 molar ratio: 1 :1 : 2.3 Droplet size Q( 5

.

8 ) < 10% (reference solution: H 2 0 at ambient temperature) Xso 17 pmrn volumetric flow "spray rate" 1.04 I / h spray pressure (nozzle type) 0.8 bar overpressure (N 2 ) (BOCHI spray nozzle 0.7 mm, Art. no. 04364) volumetric flow "atomising pressure" 0.6 kg / h (BOCHI spray nozzle 0.7 (nozzle type) mm, Art. no. 04364) entry temperature 150 OC exit temperature 100 0 C volumetric flow "drying gas" 35-36 standard m 3 / h cross section of drying tower 105 mm 5 Characterisation of the solid particles obtained: particle size X 50 so 5.7 pm

Q(

5

.

8 ) 50.7% Specific surface Sm 19.6 m 2 /g I lb Example 4: Spray parameter, suitable for an alcoholic BIBN4096 solution (modified BUCHI spray drier): Concentration of solution/ 7.0 g BIBN 4096 in 100 g composition of solvent ethanol/methanol/H 2 0 molar ratio: 1 :1 : 2.3 Droplet size Q(s.

8 ) 59% (reference solution: H 2 0 at ambient temperature) X5o X50 6.5 pm volumetric flow "spray rate" 1.08 1 / h spray pressure (nozzle type) 5.5 bar overpressure (N 2 ) (BOCHI spray nozzle 0.7 mm, Art. no. 04364) volumetric flow "atomising pressure" 3.4 kg / h (BOCHI spray nozzle 0.7 (nozzle type) mm, Art. no. 04364) entry temperature 150 °C exit temperature 95 °C volumetric flow "drying gas" 36 standard m 3 / h cross section of drying tower 105 mm 5 Characterisation of the solid particles obtained: particle size X 50 1.4 pm Q(s.

8 ) 99.7% Specific surface Sm 7.3 m 2 /g Example 5: Spray parameter, suitable for an alcoholic BIBN4096 solution (modified BOCHI spray drier): Concentration of solution/ 9.9 g BIBN 4096 in 100 g ethanol/H 2 0 composition of solvent molar ratio: 2 : 3 Droplet size Q(5.8) 59% (reference solution: H 2 0 at ambient temperature) Xso

X

5 0 6.5 Lm volumetric flow "spray rate" 1.2 I / h spray pressure (nozzle type) 5.4 bar overpressure (N 2 ) (BOCHI spray nozzle 0.7 mm, Art. no. 04364) volumetric flow "atomising pressure" 3.4 kg / h (nozzle type) (BOCHI spray nozzle 0.7 mm, Art. no. 04364) entry temperature 150 °C exit temperature 101 °C volumetric flow "drying gas" 36 standard m 3 / h cross section of drying tower 105 mm 5 Characterisation of the solid particles obtained: particle size X 50 2.7 pm Q(5.8) 90.0% Specific surface Sm 5.7 m 2 /g - 10 Example 6: Spray parameter, suitable for an alcoholic BIBN4096 solution (modified BOCHI spray drier): Concentration of solution/ 4.0 g BIBN 4096 in 100 g ethanol/H 2 0 composition of solvent molar ratio: 2 : 3 Droplet size Q( 5

.

8 ) 59% (reference solution: H 2 0 at ambient temperature) Xso

X

5 0 6.5 pirm volumetric flow "spray rate" 1.2 I / h spray pressure (nozzle type) 5.5 bar overpressure (N 2 ) (BOCHI spray nozzle 0.7 mm, Art. no. 04364) volumetric flow "atomising pressure" 3.4 kg / h (nozzle type) (BOCHI spray nozzle 0.7 mm, Art. no. 04364) entry temperature 150 OC exit temperature 100 °C volumetric flow "drying gas" 36 standard m 3 / h cross section of drying tower 105 mm 5 Characterisation of the solid particles obtained: particle size X5o 1.5 pm

Q(

5

.

8 ) 99.7% Specific surface Sm 7.5 m 2 /g Brief description of the Figures 5 Figures 1 to 6 show photographs of microparticles of the active substance base BIBN4096 prepared from an alcoholic spray solution by the method according to the invention.

Claims

1. Inhalation powder containing the active substance base 1-[N 2 -[3,5-dibromo-N-[[4 5 (3,4-dihydro-2(1 H)-oxoquinazolin-3-yl)-1-piperidinyl]carbonyl]-D-tyrosyl]-L-lysyl]-4-(4 pyridinyl)-piperazine [BIBN4096] of formula Br OH Br 0 = 0 NNN -N NH 2 (I) 10 in the form of spherically nanostructured particles, characterised in that (a) the particles have a specific surface area of between 1 m 2 /g and 25 m 2 /g, 15 (b) the characteristic value Q( 5 .8) is between 50% and 100% and (c) the parameter X 50 is between 1 ltm and 6 ptm.

2. Inhalation powder according to claim 1, characterised in that the particles have a 20 specific surface of between 1 m 2 /g and 20 m 2 /g.

3. Inhalation powder according to claim 1, characterised in that the particles have a specific surface of between 3 m 2 /g and 10 m 2 /g.

4. Process for preparing the active substance base BIBN4096 in the form of spherically nanostructured microparticles, comprising the steps of a) dissolving the active substance BIBN4096 in an organic solvent or an organic 5 aqueous solvent mixture to prepare a solution of the active substance with an active substance concentration of between 0.5 and 20 percent by weight, b) spraying the resulting solution of active substance in conventional manner so as to obtain a spray mist with a droplet size having the characteristic value X 50 10 in the range from 1.5 to 20 pm, preferably in the range from 1.5 to 8 pIm, and Q(s. 8 ) between 10% and 100%, preferably between 30% and 100%, c) drying the spray mist thus obtained by means of a drying gas, while applying the following parameters: 15 * an inlet temperature of the drying gas of 100C to 3500C, preferably between 120 OC and 250 0C and more preferably between 130 oC and 2000C, 20 * an outlet temperature of the drying gas of 40 OC to 120 "C, * a volumetric flow of the spray gas of 1 Nm 3 /h to 15 Nm 3 /h, * a volumetric flow of the drying gas of 15 Nm 3 /h to 1500 Nm 3 /h, 25 preferably 15 Nm 3 /h to 150 Nm 3 /h, and d) separating the dried solid fraction from the drying gas current in conventional manner. 30

5. Process according to claim 4, characterised in that the solvent used to dissolve the active substance is an organic aqueous solvent system wherein the molar proportion of water to be used is from 0.1 to 10 times the molar proportion of the alcohol components, preferably from 0.5 to 4 times as much.

6. Process according to claim 4, characterised in that the organic-aqueous solvent system consists of ethanol/methanol/water, wherein the molar proportion of water to be used is from 0.1 to 10 times the molar proportion of the alcohol components, 5 preferably from 0.5 to 4 times as much.

7. Process according to claim 4, characterised in that the organic-aqueous solvent system consists of ethanol/propanol/water, wherein the molar proportion of water to be used is from 0.1 to 10 times the molar proportion of the alcohol components, 10 preferably from 0.5 to 4 times as much.

8. Process according to claim 4, characterised in that the organic-aqueous solvent system consists of ethanol/water, wherein the molar proportion of water to be used is from 0.1 to 10 times the molar proportion of the alcohol component, preferably from 15 0.5 to 4 times as much.

9. Process according to one of claims 4 to 8, characterised in that the solution of the active substance used for spray-drying has a concentration of 2 to 10 percent by weight. 20

10. Process according to one of claims 4 to 8, characterised in that the solution of the active substance used for spray-drying has a concentration of 3 to 8 percent by weight. 25

11. Use of the active substance base BIBN4096 in the form of the spherically nanostructured microparticles obtainable according to one of claims 4 to 10, for the manufacture of an inhalable powder.

12. Inhalation powder according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the 30 spherically nanostructured particles may be obtained by a process according to one of claims 4 to 10.