Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
  • A61K31/00—Medicinal preparations containing organic active ingredients
  • A61K31/21—Esters, e.g. nitroglycerine, selenocyanates
  • A61K31/215—Esters, e.g. nitroglycerine, selenocyanates of carboxylic acids
  • A61K31/22—Esters, e.g. nitroglycerine, selenocyanates of carboxylic acids of acyclic acids, e.g. pravastatin
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
  • A61K31/00—Medicinal preparations containing organic active ingredients
  • A61K31/56—Compounds containing cyclopenta[a]hydrophenanthrene ring systems; Derivatives thereof, e.g. steroids
  • A61K31/58—Compounds containing cyclopenta[a]hydrophenanthrene ring systems; Derivatives thereof, e.g. steroids containing heterocyclic rings, e.g. danazol, stanozolol, pancuronium or digitogenin
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
  • A61K9/00—Medicinal preparations characterised by special physical form
  • A61K9/48—Preparations in capsules, e.g. of gelatin, of chocolate
  • A61K9/4841—Filling excipients; Inactive ingredients
  • A61K9/4858—Organic compounds
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
  • A61P13/00—Drugs for disorders of the urinary system
  • A61P13/08—Drugs for disorders of the urinary system of the prostate
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
  • A61P35/00—Antineoplastic agents
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
  • A61P43/00—Drugs for specific purposes, not provided for in groups A61P1/00-A61P41/00
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
  • A61K47/00—Medicinal preparations characterised by the non-active ingredients used, e.g. carriers or inert additives; Targeting or modifying agents chemically bound to the active ingredient
  • A61K47/06—Organic compounds, e.g. natural or synthetic hydrocarbons, polyolefins, mineral oil, petrolatum or ozokerite
  • A61K47/08—Organic compounds, e.g. natural or synthetic hydrocarbons, polyolefins, mineral oil, petrolatum or ozokerite containing oxygen, e.g. ethers, acetals, ketones, quinones, aldehydes, peroxides
  • A61K47/14—Esters of carboxylic acids, e.g. fatty acid monoglycerides, medium-chain triglycerides, parabens or PEG fatty acid esters

Definitions

• the present invention relates to certain pharmaceutical compositions comprising 4-aza steroids and/or 6-aza steroids.
• the present invention relates to solutions comprising a steroid 5-alpha reductase inhibitor.
• Pharmaceutically active compounds can be delivered in a variety of forms, for example in a soft gelatin capsule.
• Methods for preparation of soft gelatin capsules are well known. See, for example, J.P. Stanley, Soft Gelatin Capsules, Ch. 13 - Part Two in: The Theory and Practice of Industrial Pharmacy, eds. L. Lachman et. al., 3 rd Ed., pp. 398-412, 1986, and W.R. Ebert, Soft Elastic Gelatin Capsules: A Unique Dosage Form, Pharmaceutical Technology, Vol. 1 , No. 5.
• excipients are important in order to ensure good solubility and good bioavailability of the pharmaceutically active compound. See For example, A. Matso, Excipients Commonly Used in Soft Gelatin Capsules: Their Analysis and Usefulness, Novel Drug Formulation Systems and Delivery Devices International Seminar, pp. 76-81 ,(1991). K. Hutchison, Encapsulation in Softgels for Pharmaceutical Advantage, Spec. Pub. - R. Soc Chem., Vol. 138, pp 86-97, (1993), M.S. Patel et. al., Advances in Softgel Formulation Technology, Manufacturing Chemist, August 1989, and I.R.
• Aza steroids are an important class of pharmaceutically active compounds.
• 4-aza steroids and 6-aza steroids known to be inhibitors of the enzyme testosterone 5-alpha-reductase (hereinafter “5AR inhibitors”).
• 5AR inhibitors Such compounds are thought to be useful in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia, prostate cancer and other diseases. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos.
• finasteride is commercially available from Merck & Co., Inc. as PROSCARTM. These pharmaceutically active compounds are not easy to dissolve. These solubility challenges can affect bioavailability possibly resulting in reduced or unpredictable bioavailability.
• CapmulTM MCM A mixture of glyceride esters, commercially available from Abitec (P.O. Box 569, Columbus, Ohio) as CapmulTM MCM, has been used for dissolving bile duct stones. See, for example, “Cholesterol Stones Dissolved Harmlessly,” Medical World News, page 28 (1978), U. Leuschner and D. Landgraf, "Dissolution of Biliary Duct Stones with Mono-Octanoin,” The Lancet, 2 p 8133 (1979), and J.L.
• the present invention discloses a novel solution comprising a therapeutically effective amount of a pharmaceutically active aza steroid, and a fatty acid ester of glycerol or propylene glycol.
• the fatty acids are preferably carboxylic acids containing from 6 to 12 carbon atoms.
• the ester is a monoester.
• the present invention discloses a pharmaceutical composition comprising the solution of this invention.
• the composition of this invention is particularly suitable for use as a fill formulation for gelatin capsules.
• the present invention discloses a gelatin capsule filled with the composition of the present invention.
• composition of this invention has improved bioavailability over standard tablets or suspensions .
• Some of the steroids useful in this invention are potent teratogens. Converting the steroid from a free powder to a solution early in the manufacturing process provides a safer process. There is less risk in working with the solution than with the free solid.
• Gelatin capsule formulations can be much more resistant to oxidation due to the low oxygen permeation of typical gelatin shells. See, for example, F.S. Horn et al., Soft Gelatin capsules II: Oxygen Permeability Study of Capsule Shells, J. Pharm. Sci., Vol. 64
• the esters useful in this invention preferably are derived from carboxylic acids containing from 6 to 12 carbon atoms. Particularly preferred are those esters derived from caprylic acid (8 carbon atoms). While mono, di, and tri-esters are all useful in this invention, monoesters are preferred.
• the ester may be part of a mixture comprising differing carbon atom content in the esters and/or comprising a mixture of monoglycerides, diglycerides, and triglycerides. Commercially available esters are often such mixtures. For example Capmul TM MCM and PG-8 (both available from Abitec Corporation, Janesville, Wisconsin) are such mixtures.
• CapmulTM MCM is a mixture of fatty acid esters of glycerol and is approximately 95% monoester, 1 % glycerin, 2% free fatty acid, and less than 0.5% water and is derived from approximately 85% caprylic acid and 15% capric acid (all percentages are weight percents).
• PG-8 is a mixture of fatty acid esters of propylene glycol and is approximately 96% monoester, .05% diester, 1.3% free propylene glycol, and is derived from caprylic acid.
• the aza steroids useful in this invention can be any pharmaceutically active aza steroid or pharmaceutically acceptable solvate thereof.
• Preferred classes of aza steroids are the 4-azasteroid class and the 6-azasteroid class of 5AR inhibitors.
• any of the 5AR inhibitors disclosed in the above cited patents are the 4-aza steroids.
• Particularly preferred 4-aza steroids include finasteride, 17-beta-N-(2,5,-bis(trifluoromethyl))-phenylcarbamoyl-4-aza-5- alpha-androst-1-en-3-one which is the steroid that is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.
• Suitable anti-oxidants include butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), and ascorbic acid.
• BHT butylated hydroxytoluene
• BHA butylated hydroxyanisole
• ascorbic acid A particularly preferred anti-oxidant is butylated hydroxytoluene.
• Antioxidants may be used alone or in combination.
• the antioxidant or mixture of antioxidants is preferably from 0.001 to 0.5% by weight of the composition of this invention.
• the pharmaceutical composition of the present invention is particularly useful as a fill formulations for gelatin capsules, most preferably for soft gelatin capsules.
• the solubility of the steroid was determined by suspending an excess amount of the steroid in about 1 mL of various aqueous and organic media. The resulting suspension was tumbled in a Vankel® rotating water bath maintained at 25°C and protected from light. At the end of an equilibration time, usually between 1 and 12 days, excess solid was removed by filtercentrifugation through 0.22 ⁇ filters. The resulting supernatant was then assayed for steroid concentration against an external standard. The concentration of steroid in the supernatant was determined by HPLC analyses using a Hewlett Packard 1090 Series ll/M with a DOS Chem Station. The HPLC conditions are summarized below in Table 1.
• Table 2 The results of the solubility in various aqueous media is summarized in Table 2, and in various organic media is summarized in Table 3.
• Table 4 summarizes the solubility in various compositions containing a complexing agent (2-hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin).
• Table 5 summarizes the solubility in various oils and in CapmulTM MCM.
• Table 6 summarizes the results of the solubility in mixtures of CapmulTM MCM and polyethylene glycol having an average molecular weight of 400 (PEG 400).
• Mili QTM plus water is a reverse osmosis water
• CMC carboxy methyl cellulose
• THF is tetrahydrofuran
• DMSO dimthylsulfoxide
• PG is propylene glycol
• LabrafilTM is a mixture of unsaturated polyglycolyzed gylcerides obtained by partial alcoholysis of corn oil or apricot kernel oil, consisting of glycerides and polyethylene glycol esters
• SDS is sodium dodecyl sulfate
• "model duodenum bile salts" is a mixture of sodium glycocholate, sodium glycochenodesoxycholate, sodium glycodesoxycholate, sodium taurocholate, sodium taurochenodesoxycholate, sodium taurodesoxycholate, sodium chloride, lecithin, and phosphate buffer
• Tween 80 is polyoxyethylene(20)sorbitan monooleate
• the polyethylene glycol 400 was purchased form Union Carbide, Mol
• CapmulTM MCM was then used to prepare fill formulations suitable for use in gelatin capsules.
• the gelatin was prepared by blending gelatin NF, glycerin USP, sorbitol special and purified water USP. The resulting mixture was heated in a pressurized reactor to melt the gelatin. The gelatin was then maintained in the molten state until used for encapsulation.
• Encapsulation was performed using a rotary die process.
• the heated gelatin was fed to an encapsulation machine where it entered two spreader boxes which cast the gelatin on a cooling drum, thus forming two gelatin ribbons.
• Each gelatin ribbon was lubricated with Fractionated Coconut Oil on the internal side and Fractionated Coconut Oil with 0.1% Lecithin NF on the external side.
• the Fractionated Coconut Oil prevents the gelatin from sticking to equipment and the Lecithin NF prevents the capsules from sticking together after manufacture, prior to drying.
• the ribbons were then conveyed to the encapsulation roller. Die cavities to form the capsules are located on the circumference of the two adjacent rollers, which rotate and pull the gelatin ribbons between them.
• the fill solution was injected, by a metered positive-displacement pump, between the gelatin ribbons forcing them to expand and fill the die cavities.
• the capsules were filled, they were simultaneously shaped, sealed and cut from the gelatin ribbon by the encapsulation rollers. The capsules were then conveyed to the rotating basket dryer.
• the capsules were dried by tumbling in a rotating basket dryer to remove sufficient moisture to allow handling. They were then transferred onto trays and allowed to dry until the moisture level of the fill solution was not more than 2% (w/w). Drying time is the time required to reach the 2% moisture level.
• compositions were evaluated for relative bioavailability using standard methods. Volunteers were randomized to receive drug in either a soft gelatin capsule of the present invention or in a conventional tablet. Plasma samples were collected and pharmaco kinetic parameters (AUC, C max , T max ) were compared between the treatment groups. The relative bioavailability from the soft gelatin capsule of this invention was 80% to 90% compared to 10% to 20% for the same amount of steroid in a tablet.

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• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
• Public Health (AREA)
• Medicinal Chemistry (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Pharmacology & Pharmacy (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Nuclear Medicine, Radiotherapy & Molecular Imaging (AREA)
• Organic Chemistry (AREA)
• General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
• Epidemiology (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Bioinformatics & Cheminformatics (AREA)
• Urology & Nephrology (AREA)
• Emergency Medicine (AREA)
• Medicinal Preparation (AREA)
• Pharmaceuticals Containing Other Organic And Inorganic Compounds (AREA)
• Acyclic And Carbocyclic Compounds In Medicinal Compositions (AREA)
• Medicines Containing Plant Substances (AREA)

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• 1997
  • 1997-08-19 GB GBGB9717428.8A patent/GB9717428D0/en active Pending
• 1998
  • 1998-08-12 MA MA25211A patent/MA26531A1/fr unknown
  • 1998-08-14 AR ARP980104050A patent/AR016629A1/es unknown
  • 1998-08-14 PE PE1998000735A patent/PE105699A1/es not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1998-08-17 TR TR1999/03209T patent/TR199903209T2/xx unknown
  • 1998-08-17 KR KR19997012116A patent/KR20010014080A/ko not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1998-08-17 CN CN98806380A patent/CN1263461A/zh active Pending
  • 1998-08-17 BR BR9810458-6A patent/BR9810458A/pt not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1998-08-17 AU AU93430/98A patent/AU9343098A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1998-08-17 JP JP51280899A patent/JP2002511101A/ja active Pending
  • 1998-08-17 EP EP98946351A patent/EP1007010A2/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 1998-08-17 CA CA002295016A patent/CA2295016A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1998-08-17 ZA ZA9807392A patent/ZA987392B/xx unknown
  • 1998-08-17 WO PCT/EP1998/005194 patent/WO1999008666A2/en not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1998-08-18 CO CO98047010A patent/CO4960657A1/es unknown

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