EP3863611A1 - Method for manufacturing a solid formulation for oral administration, associated facility and solid formulation - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention concerns a method for manufacturing a solid formulation (10, 40, 60) for oral administration, comprising an edible substrate portion (12) on which a composition (14) is deposited comprising an active pharmaceutical ingredient. The method comprises the following steps: providing a liquid formulation comprising the active ingredient and a solvent; then spraying the liquid formulation onto the substrate (12) and evaporating the solvent, so as to form the solid composition (14); dividing the substrate into a plurality of portions, such that each portion supports a quantity of active ingredient corresponding to a predetermined value; and, after the spraying step, measuring the quantity of active ingredient supported by each portion and comparing with the predetermined value; the measurement being non-destructive to the solid formulation.

Description

 Method for manufacturing a solid formulation for oral administration, installation and associated solid formulation

The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a solid formulation for oral administration, said solid formulation comprising a portion of edible substrate on which is deposited a first composition comprising a first active pharmaceutical ingredient, said method comprising the following steps: supplying the substrate edible in film form; supply of a first liquid formulation comprising the first pharmaceutical active ingredient and a solvent; then spraying the first liquid formulation onto the film and evaporating the solvent, so as to form the first solid composition deposited on the substrate.

 The invention is particularly applicable to solid formulations comprising an orodispersible film.

 Oral pharmaceutical forms of orodispersible films are known in particular from documents EP3281625 and US2017216220. Such pharmaceutical forms are produced in particular by spreading on a support a solution comprising a pharmaceutical active ingredient and polymers, drying the solution leading to the production of a film.

 Such production methods are suitable for producing drugs in large quantities, with a uniform dosage. However, it would be interesting to produce this type of medication in a personalized way, for example by adapting the dosage to each patient.

 To this end, experiments on making oral pharmaceutical forms have been carried out, by depositing the active principle by ink jet type printing on a substrate. Such experiments are notably described in the following documents: Sandler et. al., InkJet Printing of Drug Substances and Use of Porous Substrates-Towards Individualized Dosing Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences 2011, Vol. 100, 3386-3395; Genina and. al., Behavior of printable formulations of loperamide and caffeine on different substrates - effect of print density in inkjet printing, Int. J. Pharm. 2013.453 (2), 488-97; Alomari and. al., Personalized dosing: Printing a dose of one’s own medicine, International Journal of Pharmaceutics 2015, 494, 568-577.

 A technical problem linked to the industrial production of oral pharmaceutical forms by printing is in particular the control of the dose of active principle in each pharmaceutical form produced.

Document EP3241539 A1 illustrates a prior art of the aforementioned type. This document does not disclose non-destructive measurement of an amount of active ingredient, and again less comparison of this quantity (which is not measured) with a reference value.

 The document EP3403643 A1 relates in particular to the design of compositions comprising an active principle. It discloses measurements made on prototypes of such compositions in order to validate the content. However, it does not disclose any measurement which would be carried out on an active ingredient contained in the result of a spraying carried out using such a composition.

 The present invention aims to allow the industrial production of custom drugs for oral administration. The tests carried out show that the drugs thus obtained have a stability (and therefore a conservation) of at least six months.

 The present invention involves spraying liquids onto surfaces in order to obtain the desired compositions by drying. It involves controlling the amounts sprayed. For convenience, we speak indifferently of predetermined quantity or reference quantity to designate a target quantity (quantity that we seek to obtain), and we also denote such quantity by the term of "value" ("predetermined value" and "Reference value" being synonymous with "predetermined quantity" and "reference quantity").

 The subject of the invention is a manufacturing process of the aforementioned type, and more particularly a manufacturing process of a solid formulation for oral administration, said solid formulation comprising a portion of edible substrate on which is deposited a first composition comprising a first principle pharmaceutical active, said method comprising the following steps:

 - supply of the edible substrate in the form of a film;

 - supply of a first liquid formulation comprising the first active pharmaceutical ingredient and a solvent; then

 spraying of the first liquid formulation onto the film and evaporation of the solvent, so as to form the first solid composition deposited on the substrate.

 Said manufacturing process also includes the following steps:

- division (for example: mechanical cutting, laser cutting or any other cutting) of the film into a plurality of portions, so that each portion supports a quantity (which may be denoted Q for a portion considered) of first active principle corresponding to a value predetermined (can be noted Q _ref ); in other words, the spraying according to the method is adjusted so that the quantity Q resulting therefrom comes as close as possible to a value predetermined Q _re f desired (ie "corresponds" to this predetermined value Qref); and

 - after the spraying step (and, according to an advantageous implementation, after drying of the sprayed formulation), measurement of the quantity of first active principle supported by each portion and comparison (of this measured quantity) with the predetermined value; said measurement being non-destructive of the solid formulation (those skilled in the art are free to choose any conventional non-destructive measurement method from among those which exist, in particular those mentioned in the description which follows).

Said comparison makes it possible to trigger an action (or several actions). It makes it possible to take corrective measures such as the destruction of the portions of which the quantity of active principle is too far from the predetermined value, or, if this quantity is insufficient, the spraying of an additional quantity on this same portion in order to avoid its destruction. Said comparison also makes it possible (alternately and cumulatively) to check the spraying setting, and if necessary, either to report a setting problem (for example by triggering an alert via an audible or visual alarm, or sending a e-mail alert), either to carry out an automatic adjustment of the adjustment, or both, that is to say both to report an adjustment problem and to adjust it automatically. This comparison is made by an electronic device, such as a processor, a microcontroller, an on-board computer, or dedicated electronics.

 According to other advantageous aspects of the invention, the method comprises one or more of the following characteristics, taken in isolation or in any technically possible combination:

 - a step of reporting a spraying adjustment problem when the comparison of the quantity measured with the reference value reveals an abnormal difference (this reporting is carried out by an electronic device, such as a processor, a microcontroller, a on-board computer, or dedicated electronics);

 - a step of adjusting the spray setting as a function of said comparison (this adjustment is made by an electronic device, such as a processor, a microcontroller, an on-board computer, or dedicated electronics);

the step of comparison with the predetermined value leads to the film portions being classified into two groups, the method then comprising a sorting step in which the two groups are separated from one another; - The first liquid formulation has a viscosity between 2 mPa.s and 20 mPa.s; and / or a surface tension between 20 mN / m and 50 mN / m, or even, according to a particular implementation, between 25 mN / m and 50 mN / m;

 - ie the first active ingredient in the first liquid formulation is chosen from analgesics, antihistamines, anti-inflammatories, anti-epileptics and natural, synthetic or biotechnological hormones;

 - According to a possible implementation, the first liquid formulation further comprises a dye;

 the edible substrate comprises one or more water-soluble polymers, preferably one or more cellulose derivatives,

 a step of spraying the first liquid formulation onto a first zone of each portion of film, the method further comprising the following steps: supplying a second liquid formulation comprising a second solvent; said second liquid formulation preferably comprising a second active pharmaceutical ingredient and / or a flavor; then spraying the second liquid formulation onto a second zone of the film and evaporation of the second solvent, so as to form a second solid composition deposited on the substrate, the first and second zones of the film being distinct from one of the other.

 The invention also relates to a solid formulation for oral administration, resulting from a process as described above, said formulation comprising a portion of edible substrate on which is deposited at least one composition comprising an active pharmaceutical ingredient.

The invention further relates to an installation for continuously manufacturing a solid formulation for oral administration, suitable for implementing a method as described above, said installation comprising: a device for supplying the substrate edible in the form of a film strip, said strip being configured to be divided into a plurality of portions (whether by a complete or discontinuous cutting of each portion, a discontinuous cutting, in the form for example of dotted precut, allowing later to easily separate such a portion); a device for printing the first liquid formulation; a control device connected to the printing device, said control device being capable of implementing the printing of a predetermined quantity of first liquid formulation on each portion of substrate; and a device for non-destructive measurement of a quantity of first active principle supported by each portion; the control device being provided with means for comparing the quantity measured with a predetermined value (corresponding to the quantity predetermined, the mathematical "value" representing the physical "quantity" and designating the same reality) of first liquid formulation.

 According to an advantageous aspect of the invention, the manufacturing installation further comprises an individual packaging device for each solid formulation.

 The invention will be better understood on reading the description which follows, given solely by way of nonlimiting example and made with reference to the drawings in which:

 Figure 1 is a schematic representation of solid formulations according to a first, a second and a third embodiment of the invention;

- Figure 2 is a schematic representation of a manufacturing facility according to an embodiment of the invention, for making the solid formulations of Figure 1;

 Figure 3 is a detail view of an edible substrate that can be used in the installation of Figure 2; and

 - Figure 4 is a flow diagram representing the steps of a manufacturing process, according to one embodiment of the invention, of the solid formulations of Figure 1.

 FIG. 1 represents a first 10, a second 40 and a third 60 solid formulations for oral administration, respectively according to a first, a second and a third embodiment of the invention.

 The first 10, second 40 and third 60 solid formulations will be described simultaneously below, the common elements being designated by the same reference numbers.

 These solid formulations are obtained by spraying. According to a possible implementation, the spraying is controlled by a spraying command, this command receiving as input a setting (or "setting value", or "amount of setting").

 According to a possible implementation, the initial setting value is fixed at a predetermined value. By this is meant that this setting value is, at the start of the process, equal to a predetermined quantity (value) that one wishes to spray.

According to an advantageous alternative implementation, the initial setting value is only indexed to this predetermined value in order to be representative. Indeed, it does not matter to use an identical numerical value for the initial adjustment and for the predetermined value, it only matters to allow the interpretation of the numerical value used as adjustment value in order to be able to determine that its value whatever it is, corresponds to the predetermined value and to interpret its subsequent value.

 For example, when spraying is carried out using a printing technique, the quantity sprayed is, according to a possible implementation, determined by a spraying setting equal to the resolution (which may be denoted RES) of printing. For a given surface to be printed, each resolution corresponds to a quantity sprayed and vice versa. The higher the resolution, the more dots are printed, and therefore the greater the quantity sprayed. The resolution of the print can be adjusted in number of dots printed per unit of distance (for example in dots per inch, unit designated by the acronym DPI), the same resolution can be used in both directions of printing (in case of 2D printing). In this example, the spray setting is then a RES parameter (such as a resolution of 350 DPI), this parameter corresponding to a predetermined quantity to be sprayed.

According to an improved version of this example, the setting optionally includes (in addition to a RES resolution) a number of NBP passes. Thus, the process prints NBP-1 times the same surface with a maximum resolution and prints a NBP ^th time this surface with the resolution RES indicated in the setting, in order to increase the maximum sprayable quantity. In this case, the spraying adjustment is a pair of parameters {RES.NPB} with NBP> 2 (the case NBP = 1 being equivalent to the example in the previous paragraph, not defining the number of passes and not using only one), this pair corresponding to a predetermined quantity to be sprayed.

According to another example, the spray setting is a number of N bits (ie a number which can take 2 ^N values between 0 and 2 ^N -1, for example 1024 values between 0 and 1023 for N = 10) representing initially the predetermined value. For example, if the predetermined value is likely to fluctuate within a range of values between VP _min (for example VP ™, = 10 mg) and VP max (for example VP _max = 2000 mg), the setting, for a predetermined value VP, can be initially set to the integer closest to the value (2 ^N -1) ^* (VP-VP _min ) / (VPmax-VP _min ). For example, with the above illustrative numerical values, a predetermined value of 400 mg would lead to an initial spraying setting equal to:

 1023 * (400-10) / (2000-10) = 200, i.e. 0xC8h in hexadecimal and 0x11001000b in binary.

A value N greater than 10 allows the spray setting to be represented with fairly fine precision. The lower the value of N, the finer the setting, the higher it is, the finer the setting. The solid formulation 10, 40, 60 comprises a substrate 12 and a first composition 14 deposited on said substrate. In the second and third embodiments, the solid formulation 40, 60 further comprises a second composition 16 deposited on the substrate 12.

 The substrate 12 is an edible substrate, in the form of a film 18. Preferably, the substrate 12 is an orodispersible substrate. Preferably, the substrate 12 does not comprise any active principle. Preferably, the substrate 12 has a pH adapted to the active principle, so as to improve the conservation of the active principle over time. According to a possible implementation, the substrate 12 is obtained in particular from one or more excipient (s) making it possible to modify the pH, such as citric acid or dilute phosphoric acid (as illustrated below) after in the formulation examples), to obtain an acid pH. Other excipients can be used to obtain a basic pH.

 More preferably, the substrate 12 comprises one or more water-soluble polymers. Even more preferably, said water-soluble polymers are chosen from: cellulose derivatives, such as hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC), hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC), sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC-Na) or hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) ); polyvinyl derivatives such as polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), poly (vinyl acetate) (PVA) or PVP-PVA copolymers; natural gums such as Xanthan or gum arabics; alginates, especially sodium alginates; carrageenan gums, such as iota or lambda carrageenans; starches, such as corn starch, pea starch, or pregelatinized starches; pectins with high degrees of esterification; type B gelatins; dextrins; the pullulans.

 Even more preferably, the substrate 12 comprises one or more cellulose derivatives such as hydroxypropyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose or hydroxyethyl cellulose.

 Optionally, the substrate 12 also comprises a flavor and / or a sweetener, natural like fructose or synthetic like potassium acesulfame.

Optionally, the substrate 12 further comprises a salivary stimulant, such as citric or malic acid; or talc (Mg ₃ Si ₄ Oio (OH) ₂ ) and / or a dye such as titanium oxide (not privileged given its possible carcinogenic nature).

The film 18 forming the substrate 12 preferably has a thickness of between 80 μm and 500 μm, and preferably between 80 μm and 120 μm, but, according to a possible implementation, between 200 μm and 500 μm. According to one embodiment, the film 18 is designed to dissolve in a patient's mouth in less than three minutes or, in an advantageous case, in less than 30 seconds.

 The substrate 12 comprises a first 20 and a second opposite faces, delimited by a contour 22. Only the first face 20 is visible in FIG. 1.

The contour 22 defines a surface 24 of the substrate 12. Preferably the surface 24 is chosen so as to allow the oral absorption of the solid formulation 10, 40, 60 in a single take. The surface 24 is for example between 0, 5 cm ² and 10 cm ² . In the embodiments shown in Figure 1, the outline 22 has a square shape whose sides have a length of about 2 cm. As a variant, the contour 22 can adopt other shapes, for example rectangular, polygonal, round or oval.

 The surface 24 has a first zone 26, 46, 66 on which the first composition 14 is deposited.

 The first composition 14 comprises in particular a first pharmaceutical active ingredient. The invention relates mainly to active compounds at relatively low concentrations, so that they can be reached by spraying a small amount of liquid composition onto a substrate. Likewise, the invention relates mainly to compounds soluble in water or in low toxic solvents. According to one possible implementation, the first composition is limited to the first active principle, to the exclusion of any other product (excipient, etc.).

 The first active ingredient is for example an analgesic, an antihistamine, an anti-inflammatory, an antiepileptic or a natural, synthetic or biotechnological hormone.

 The first active ingredient can be chosen from a wide range of compounds including small and large molecules. Preferably, the first active ingredient is a peptide such as desmopressin (1-desamino-8-d-arginine vasopressine).

 Optionally, the first composition 14 also comprises a first dye, which makes it possible to visualize with the naked eye its deposit on the substrate 12, and which also allows, upstream, a dosage by colorimetry. The first color is for example chosen from food colors such as Erythrosine or Sunset Yellow.

The first zone 26, 46, 66 is arranged on the first face 20 of the substrate 12. In the first and second embodiments, the first zone 26, 46 has a square or rectangular shape. In the third embodiment, the first area 66 has a substantially annular shape, delimiting a central space 67. Other shapes can be envisaged for the first area, said shapes corresponding for example to a visual representation or to a decorative pattern. Each of the second and third solid formulations 40, 60 further comprises a second zone 48, 68 on which the second composition 16 is deposited.

 The second composition 16 comprises for example a second pharmaceutical active principle and / or a flavor, said flavor being for example chosen from the flavors used in the food industry. Optionally, the second composition 16 also includes a second dye, which makes it possible to visualize with the naked eye its deposit on the substrate 12.

 The first 46, 66 and second 48, 68 zones are preferably distinct from each other, that is to say not superimposed. More preferably, a space 30 is provided between said first 46, 66 and second 48, 68 zones. This is advantageous in that it makes it possible to avoid migration of the products between the different zones (their possible mixing could otherwise lead to a reduction in the storage period).

 According to an alternative embodiment, like the second solid formulation 40, the first 46 and second 48 zones are arranged side by side.

 According to another alternative embodiment, the first and second zones are arranged around one another. In particular, in the third solid formulation 60, the second zone 68 is arranged in the central space 67 delimited by the first zone 66.

 In the second and third solid formulations 40, 60 shown in FIG. 1, the second zone 48, 68 is located on the first face 20 of the substrate 12, as is the first zone 46, 66. In a variant not shown, the first and second zones are arranged on two opposite faces of the substrate 12.

 The deposition of the first 14 and second 16 compositions on two zones away from one another eliminates the risk of chemical interaction between said compositions, which improves the stability of the solid formulation 40, 60. In a variant not shown, the solid formulation comprises at least three compositions, preferably deposited on three distinct zones of the substrate.

 As will be described below, each of the first 14 and second 16 compositions is formed by spraying, onto the substrate 12, micro-droplets of a liquid formulation comprising a solvent, then by evaporation of said solvent. The first 14 and second 16 compositions therefore comprise all of the components of the corresponding liquid formulations, with the exception of the volatile components.

According to an advantageous implementation, it is a piezoelectric device which performs this spraying. Alternatively, it is for example a thermal device. But in the latter case, only active ingredients which cannot be degraded by the Heating of the thermal device can be used, and the spraying is often less precise.

By "micro-droplets" is meant drops of a size which can vary between 10 ¹² L and 10 ^{~ 6} L approximately.

 FIG. 2 represents an installation 100 allowing the manufacture of a solid formulation 10, 40, 60 as described above.

 The installation 100 includes a set of juxtaposed devices, each of said devices allowing the implementation of a step of a process for manufacturing the solid formulation 10, 40, 60. Such a process will be described later.

 The installation 100 includes in particular: a device 102 for supplying film 18; a printing device 104; a drying device 106; an analysis device 108; a sorting device 110 and a packaging device 111. According to a possible implementation, the film 18 is obtained by hot extrusion or 3D printing of a polymer resin. The installation 100 further comprises an electronic control unit 112, such as a computer, connected to said devices. The control unit 112 contains a program 114 allowing the implementation of the manufacturing process described later.

 The supply device 102 comprises a strip 120 of film 18, partially shown in FIG. 3. According to an alternative implementation, a device for manufacturing the film 18 is directly connected to the supply device 102. According to a possible embodiment of this alternative implementation, the manufacturing device implements the step of dividing the film 18 into a plurality of portions by manufacturing a divided film (for example a precut film).

 The film 18 is for example obtained by hot extrusion of a polymer resin, or by spreading such a resin on a support, followed by drying.

 In the installation 100 of FIG. 2, the strip 120 is wound on itself around an axis in the form of a roll 122. Preferably, the roll 122 further comprises a support tape 124 co-wound with the strip 120 The supply device 102 further comprises means for unwinding the roll 122.

 According to a variant not shown, the roller is replaced by a set of sheets distributed by a feeder.

It is considered that the unwound strip 120 extends mainly in a longitudinal direction X, as well as in a transverse direction Y. In the following description, the terms “entry”, “exit”, “upstream”, “downstream” are relating to the installation 100 are understood in the longitudinal direction X. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the strip 120 is precut into portions 12, each portion being intended to form the substrate 12 of the solid formulation 10, 40, 60. At the start of the process, the portions 12 are joined together by the presence of the support tape 124.

 As visible in FIG. 3, the portions 12 of the strip 120 are aligned in the longitudinal X and transverse directions Y. In the transverse direction, the strip 120 comprises, for example, between three and a hundred aligned portions 12.

 The printing device 104 comprises a first 130 and a second 132 printing modules, respectively intended to deposit the first 14 and the second 16 compositions on the substrate 12.

 Each printing module 130, 132 comprises: a printing head 134; a tank 136; a conduit 138 connecting said head to said reservoir; and a pump 140 disposed on said conduit.

 The reservoir 136 of each of the first 130 and second 132 printing modules respectively contains a first 144 and a second 146 liquid formulations, making it possible respectively to obtain the first 14 and the second 16 compositions. Preferably, the reservoir 136 is provided with a device for agitating the liquid formulation. Preferably, the manufacture of the liquid formulation 144, 146 is carried out directly in the reservoir 136, shortly before the start-up of the printing device 104.

According to an advantageous implementation, the first liquid formulation comprises a pH regulator, so as to improve the conservation of the active principle. According to a possible implementation (which can be described as static), the pH regulator is incorporated into the first liquid formulation, for example during its preparation, and at the latest when filling the reservoir with the first liquid formulation ). According to another implementation (which can be described as dynamic), the pH regulator is added to the liquid formulation present in the reservoir 136 following a measurement of the pH (for example using a pH probe placed in this tank). Depending on the result of the pH measurement, a pump (or other injection device) is activated to add an appropriate volume of acidic or basic solution capable of correcting the pH. According to a possible implementation, the method applies a pH adjustment technique similar to any of those described below for adjusting the spray setting (using one or more pH thresholds, which can represent positive or negative deviations from the desired pH, each threshold being able to trigger an adjustment action). The print head 134 of each of the first 130 and second 132 print modules is capable of projecting microdroplets of liquid formulation 144, 146 onto the film 18. The print head 134 is preferably a print head. thermal or piezoelectric inkjet type printing, more preferably piezoelectric. Such printheads are sold in particular by the companies Konica Minolta and Fujifilm Dimatix.

 According to a variant not shown, each printing module further comprises a buffer tank, interposed between the conduit 138 and the printing head 134. Said printing head is directly connected to the buffer tank.

 In addition to the previously cited compounds of the first 14 or second 16 composition, the liquid formulation 144, 146 comprises at least one solvent and optionally excipients.

 The solid formulation 10, 40, 60 being intended to be ingested, the at least one solvent of the liquid formulation 144, 146 is preferably little or not toxic, for example of class 3 ICH. Likewise, the at least one solvent of the liquid formulation 144, 146 preferably has a low boiling point, in order to evaporate easily after printing. The at least one solvent comprises for example water and / or ethanol. Optionally, the at least one solvent further comprises dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) for better solubilization of the compounds.

 Furthermore, in order to optimize the precision of the printing, it is preferable to control the viscosity and / or the surface tension of the first 144, and possibly of the second 146, liquid formulations.

 Preferably, the viscosity of the first 144 and / or of the second 146 liquid formulation is between 2 mPa.s and 20 mPa.s, more preferably between 2 mPa.s and 10 mPa.s. Preferably, the surface tension of the first 144 and / or of the second 146 liquid formulation is between 20 mN / m and 50 mN / m, and, according to a possible implementation, between 25 mN / m and 50 mN / m.

 Sufficient viscosity and surface tension allow the creation of stable micro-droplets, that is to say which do not split during projection by the print head 134.

 Consequently, the first 144 and / or the second 146 liquid formulation preferably comprises an additive to modify its viscosity and / or its surface tension, such as propylene glycol.

In addition, the first 144 and / or the second 146 liquid formulation preferably comprises a pH regulating additive, chosen according to the characteristics of stability of the active ingredient. It can be an acid additive such as acetic acid, or a basic additive.

 At the outlet of the printing device 104, the installation 100 comprises a conveyor 150 capable of receiving the strip 120 of film; and optionally a rotary roller 152 allowing the support tape 124 to be wound up to dissociate it from said strip 120. In an alternative embodiment where the strip 120 is not precut, the installation further comprises a device for cutting the strip between the drying device and the analysis device.

 The conveyor 150 comprises for example an endless belt 154 extending between two drive rollers.

 The drying device 106 is arranged on the path of the conveyor 150. Said drying device 106 is of the oven type and comprises a heating element such as an electrical resistance, or an infrared radiating element.

 The analysis device 108 is also arranged on the path of the conveyor 150, downstream of the drying device 106 and above the endless belt 154. The analysis device 108 is able to measure a quantity of first active ingredient supported by the substrate 12 of a solid formulation 10, 40, 60, said measurement being non-destructive of said formulation. The analysis device 108 preferably comprises an electromagnetic spectroscopy device, of the near infrared spectroscopy type (NIR spectroscopÿ), or Raman spectroscopy, or a hyperspectral imaging device. All these devices implement in a known manner measures which are non-destructive insofar as they only subject the active principle to spectroscopy (which in principle does not last more than a minute), which does not alter it not. Other types of measurement are also possible, such as weighing by a precision balance and more generally technologies called PAT ("Process Analytical Technologies").

The measurements carried out, which determine a (precise) quantity of active principle, make it possible to compare this quantity with a reference value and thus to assess the difference between the desired quantity (reference value) and the real quantity. According to an advantageous implementation, the measurement is carried out once the drying of the sprayed liquid formulation is substantial, so that the quantity of solvent still present is small and falsifies the measurement as little as possible. Even more advantageously, the measurement is carried out after a complete drying step. Indeed, the tests carried out have shown that the more advanced the drying, the more the measurement accuracy is improved. Drying stabilizes the formulation and increases its concentration. According to a possible implementation, the method calculates the difference between the quantity measured and the reference value in relative form E _r (for example in the form of a percentage). According to an alternative implementation, the method calculates this difference in an absolute form E _a , for example by volume or by mass, expressed for example in microliters (pL) or in milligrams (mg), or in any other appropriate unit.

According to a possible implementation, the method defines a threshold from which the amount of active ingredient is considered to be inaccurate. This threshold can be expressed in relative form S _r , for example using a percentage (such as: SF1, 5%). This threshold is, alternatively, expressed in absolute form S _a , for example by volume or by mass (for example: S _a = 3 mΐ, or S _a = 4 mg).

According to a possible implementation, when the method demonstrates that the difference between the quantity of active principle measured in a given portion deviates from the reference value by more than the threshold (for example, more than 1.5% deviation E _r , or more than 3 µl deviation E _a , or more than 4 mg deviation E _a ), it triggers an action. For example, if the reference value is 400 mg and the threshold is 1.5%, the process triggers an action as soon as the quantity exceeds 406 mg or drops below 394 mg (i.e. 1.5% above or below 400 mg). Similarly, for a threshold of 4 mg, the process triggers an action as soon as the quantity exceeds 404 mg or drops below 396 mg.

 According to a possible implementation, this action consists in triggering an action for adjusting the spraying. According to a possible implementation, the adjustment consists in modifying the resolution (expressed for example in DPI, ie in number of dots per inch) of the spraying device (which can be close to inkjet printer technologies) . The adjustment can be made more generally by modifying a spray control. If the threshold has been exceeded upwards, the spraying is reduced for the subsequent stages of continuous manufacturing (ie for the following portions - and not for the portion which has been the subject of the measurement which triggered the adjustment action ). Likewise, if the threshold has been exceeded downwards, the spraying is increased for the subsequent stages of continuous production.

According to another possible implementation (for which the thresholds can be higher than the aforementioned illustrative numerical values, for example: S _r = 10%), this action consists in sorting the portion having given rise to an inaccurate measurement. This sorting consists for example of routing the portions whose measurement is inaccurate towards a receptacle which can be eliminated when it is full (destruction). Alternatively, in the event that the portion includes an insufficient amount of active ingredient, the process may, instead of discard this portion, pass it again through a spraying step in order to complete the amount of active ingredient and bring it closer to the reference value.

 According to another possible implementation, this action consists in signaling the existence of a deviation via an electronic alert device (leading for example to light a red LED, to display a message in the form of text or pictogram, to sound an alarm, send an automatic email, etc.). According to a possible implementation, the alarm is triggered continuously, as long as the measurements do not return within the limit defined by the threshold. This alarm can be cumulated with the sorting action (and if necessary a renewed spraying) and can also be cumulated with the spraying adjustment action.

 According to a possible implementation, the method defines several thresholds, different actions being able to be triggered according to the crossed thresholds. According to a possible implementation, the method comprises a low threshold which triggers a first action, and a high threshold which triggers a second action. These thresholds can be relative or absolute. For example, the relative low threshold is 1.5% and the only relative high is 10%, or the absolute low threshold is 4 mg and the only absolute high is 20 mg. The choice of the threshold value depends on the active ingredient and may depend on personalized parameters (age, sex, height, weight, medical history, etc.). This choice can be made by a person qualified in pharmacy and thus lead to a definition of different thresholds for each of the many possible configurations. According to a possible implementation, the method is then arranged to automatically select the relevant threshold or thresholds thus defined according to input data (active ingredient, age, sex, height, weight, medical history, etc.). According to one possible implementation, the method comprises means for manual entry of the threshold (s), the latter replacing the automatic selection (if the latter is implemented), which is thus deactivated by manual entry.

 According to a possible implementation, the first action is a signaling (alarm) action when the low threshold is exceeded. According to a possible implementation, the first action is a spray adjustment action (already described). According to a possible implementation, exceeding the low threshold triggers the two aforementioned actions (signaling and adjusting the spraying).

According to a possible implementation, the second action is a signaling action (alarm) for exceeding the high threshold, which may be different from the signaling action (alarm) for exceeding the low threshold (in order to mark the increased importance of this alarm). According to a possible implementation, the second action is a sorting action and, where appropriate, additional spraying (already described). According to one possible implementation, exceeding the high threshold triggers the two aforementioned actions (reporting and sorting, plus possibly additional spraying).

 According to a variant, the method defines a different threshold upward and downward (in fact, the overdose and underdosing of a drug do not necessarily have the same consequences). Thus, the method defines, according to a possible implementation, a low upper threshold and a high upper threshold, as well as a low lower threshold and a high lower threshold. Each of these thresholds can be relative or absolute.

 According to a possible implementation, it is the same action which is triggered in case of exceeding the low lower threshold and in case of exceeding the low upper threshold. But according to a variant, these are different actions, for example the alarm can be different so that an operator is informed of the direction of overshoot, or else the adjustment can be different (for example faster in the event of overshoot by overdose only by overrun by underdosing, or vice versa).

 According to a possible implementation, it is the same action which is triggered in case of exceeding the high lower threshold and in case of exceeding the high upper threshold. But according to a variant, these are different actions, for example the alarm can be different so that an operator is informed of the direction of overshoot, or even, as already mentioned, the sorting can be different (it can lead to throwing a overdosed portion, but trying to "fix" an underdosed portion rather than throwing it away).

According to one possible implementation, the method continuously implements an action for adjusting the spray setting, without verifying that the threshold has been exceeded. For example, the method implements a feedback loop, consisting of subtracting from the spray setting value, to be submitted as an input parameter to the subsequent spray command, a percentage of the difference between the quantity measured and the reference value (and thus subject the modified setting resulting from this subtraction to the spraying command). This percentage can take various values. The higher the percentage, the faster the correction, but the greater the risk of overcorrection (and generating a deviation in the other direction). The lower the percentage, the slower the adjustment, but the less it risks generating parasitic oscillations. For example, if the spray setting is (at least initially) equal to the reference value, if the percentage is set to 30%, if the reference value is set to 200 mg, and if the quantity measured is 210 mg, the difference E _a is 10 mg. The process then sends the sprayer an instruction to spray 3 mg less (-30% of 10 mg). If at the next iteration, the quantity measured (for example 207 mg) remains greater than the reference value (in the example given, E _a = 7 mg), the process sends the sprayer a setpoint of spray 2.1 mg less (-30% of 7 mg). Thus, the method changes, during iterations, the spray adjustment value, in order to bring the measured value (at the end of the spray) closer to the reference value. In case the spray setting value is not equal to the reference value (at the start of the process) but is only representative (for example if this setting value is a print resolution in DPI ), the process adjusts (according to a possible implementation) the setting value in proportion to the deviation observed. For example, if the measured value is 10% lower than the reference value, and if the percentage applied for the adjustment is (as above) by 30%, the setting value is increased by 30% by 11, 11% ie 3.33% (NB for a value which is 10% below normal to return to normal, it must be increased by 11, 11%). For a non-linear adjustment value relative to the measured quantity, it is possible to apply an appropriate non-linear adjustment (ie different from the aforementioned proportional adjustment).

 According to another possible implementation, an action for adjusting the spray setting is only triggered in response to a threshold being exceeded. The measured quantity must then be sufficiently different from the predetermined value for an adjustment to start. This adjustment can be a feedback loop as described in the previous paragraph. But it can also be another type of correction. For example, each time a threshold is exceeded, the method can adjust the spraying control by a constant value less than or equal to the threshold (and not by a percentage of the difference). Indeed, it is assumed that the difference is greater than or equal to this constant value.

 According to a simplified implementation, no adjustment of the spraying adjustment takes place. The adjustment is carried out once and for all at the start of each production, and the comparison of the measured quantity and the reference value is then not used to trigger an adjustment (but to trigger other actions, for example, a sorting of portions).

The sorting device 110 is also placed on the path of the conveyor 150, downstream of the analysis device 108. The sorting device 110 is able to remove from the conveyor 150 the solid formulations 10, 40, 60 including the analysis results are not satisfactory. The sorting device 110 comprises for example a nozzle 156, which blows compressed air or sucks the defective solid formulations 10, 40, 60 in order to remove them from the conveyor 150. Such sorting is advantageous because it allows exhaustive control of the manufactured products. Any product resulting from the process is then of adequate quality (since verified). This allows the final product to be released directly at the end of the manufacturing process and deliver it, without waiting (ie without having to implement an additional quality procedure), to patients.

 The packaging device 111 is disposed at the outlet of the conveyor 150. Upstream of the packaging device are arranged two rollers 160, each roller being capable of unwinding a sheet of packaging material 162 of the aluminum foil type covered with plastic film. The packaging device 111 includes drive means capable of placing a sheet of packaging material 162 in contact with each of the faces of the solid formulations 10, 40, 60.

 Preferably, the packaging device 111 comprises an inscription device 164, of the laser engraving or printer type, capable of recording information on the packaging material 162 as it is scrolled.

 Downstream of the rollers 160, the packaging device 111 comprises a sealing device 166, capable of fixing the two sheets of packaging material 162 to one another, so as to form a closed compartment 170 around each. solid formulations 10, 40, 60. The sealing device 166 comprises for example a heating element. Preferably, the sealing device 166 also comprises means for implementing the sealing under a controlled atmosphere, of the nitrogen type.

 Downstream of the sealing device 166, the packaging device 111 comprises a cutting device 168 capable of dissociating from one another the closed compartments 170 containing the solid formulations 10, 40, 60.

 A method 200 of manufacturing a solid formulation 10, 40, 60 will now be described. This process, shown diagrammatically by the flow diagram in FIG. 4, is implemented by the program 114 stored in the electronic control unit 112.

 First of all (step 202), the strip 120 precut with film 18, disposed on the support tape 124, is presented at the input of the printing device 104 and moves in the longitudinal direction X. The printing head 134 of the first printing module 130 deposits, on the first face 20 of each portion 12 of the strip 120, micro-droplets of first liquid formulation 144 (step 204). The deposition is carried out on the first zone 26, 46, 66 of each portion 12. The quantity of first liquid formulation 144 per portion 12 is managed by the program 114, according to the quantity of first active principle desired (reference quantity) for the solid formulation 10, 40, 60 manufactured. The installation 100 is, for example, calibrated before the implementation of the manufacturing process, by carrying out a dosage of the first liquid formulation 144 as the first active principle.

In the case of the second and third embodiments, the print head 134 of the second print module 132 then deposits, on the second zone 48, 68 from each portion 12 of the strip 120, micro-droplets of second liquid formulation 146 (step 206). The amount of second liquid formulation 146 per serving 12 is managed by the program 114.

 At the outlet of the printing device 104, the support ribbon 124 is wound on the rotary roller 152 and dissociated from the strip 120 of film 18. The portions 12 of said strip 120 are received on the conveyor 150 and driven to the drying 106. The solvents of the first 144 and second 146 liquid formulations finish evaporating (step 208), leading to the first 14 and second 16 compositions deposited on the substrate 12. The solid formulation 10, 40, 60 described above is thus obtained .

 The solid formulations 10, 40, 60 are then driven by the conveyor to the analysis device 108. For each solid formulation 10, 40, 60, said analysis device measures the quantity Q of first active principle deposited on the substrate 12 (step 210). Said measurement is for example carried out by near infrared spectroscopy or Raman spectroscopy.

The program 114 compares each measured Q value with a reference value CW, stored in said program (step 212). For example, the program 114 checks whether the value Q is included in a range [CW ± AQ], AQ being a value also stored in said program (corresponding to a single threshold). According to a possible implementation, the program 114 adjusts the spraying setting as a function of the value Q (this is symbolized, in FIG. 4, the inclined arrow pointing from step 212 towards the spraying step 204). In a possible implementation, the program only adjusts the spraying setting if Q moves away from Q _ref by more than AQ (whether down or up). According to a variant, one (or more) specific threshold (s) is (are) used. According to another variant, the adjustment is systematic (whatever the value of Q, and therefore independently of any threshold).

 The program 114 identifies each solid formulation 10, 40, 60 as belonging to a first or to a second group, the value Q of which is respectively included and not included in the targeted range. The sorting device 110 then removes from the conveyor 150 (step 214) the formulations belonging to said second group.

Downstream of the sorting device 110, the solid formulations 10, 40, 60 remaining on the conveyor 150 therefore all comprise a quantity Q of first active principle included in the range [CW ± AQ], In the case where the second composition 16 comprises a second active ingredient, the analysis and sorting steps are also carried out on said second active ingredient (step 216).

 Each solid formulation 10, 40, 60 is then individually wrapped by the wrapping device 111 (step 218). On each package, the registration device 164 records information such as a batch number, an identifier of the first and / or second active ingredient, or a date of manufacture or expiration.

 Solid formulations 10, 40, 60, individually wrapped, are thus recovered at the outlet of the installation 100.

 Optionally, the method further comprises a secondary packaging step, in which solid formulations 10, 40, 60 individually wrapped are grouped in a container of the cardboard box type.

 The installation 100 and the method 200 described above allow significant flexibility in the production of solid formulations 10, 40, 60. The program 114 makes it possible to adjust, vary and control in real time the quantity of first 144 and / or second 146 liquid formulation sprayed on each portion 12 of the strip 120. It is thus easy to successively produce solid formulations 10, 40, 60 corresponding to different dosages, without interrupting production.

 Likewise, it is possible to rapidly modify the liquid formulation 144, 146 of the printing device 104, so as to continuously produce, from the same substrate, solid formulations comprising different active ingredients.

 The installation 100 and the method 200 thus make it possible to produce custom-made medicines easily and at low cost, by adapting the dosage to each patient.

 In the embodiment described above, the strip 120 is supplied precut before the printing step 204. According to a variant not shown, the strip 120 supplied is continuous and the method comprises, after the printing step, a step of cutting said strip into a plurality of portions 12. Preferably, said cutting step is carried out before the analysis step 210, 212 and sorting 214.

 According to an alternative embodiment, the solid formulations 10, 40, 60 are not orodispersible formulations but are intended to be used in the form of buccal patches, muco-adhesive or not. Only the nature of the substrate 12 needs to be modified to achieve this variant.

The embodiments described for implementing the method can be transposed to the embodiments relating to the corresponding manufacturing installation, and vice versa. Examples of realization

1.- Production of the film 18 of the substrate 12

The objective is to obtain a flexible and non-brittle substrate 12; slightly acidic pH (4.7-5.0); with low humidity, especially less than 10%; and which dissolves in less than 10 s. The following four formulations have been developed:

- Formulation 1:

 - Hypromeilosis

 - Vegetal glycerine

 - Purified water

 - R Diluted phosphoric acid

- Formulation 2:

 - Pullalane

 - Microcrystalline cellulose

 - Corn starch

 - Polysorbate 80

 - Vegetal glycerine

 - purified water

 - R Diluted Phosphoric Acid

 - Titanium (IV) Oxide

-> Formulation 3:

 - HPMC (Hydroxy Propyl Methyl Cellulose)

 - Citric acid

 - Kollicoat® (Sigma-Aldrich)

-> Formulation 4:

 - HPMC

 - Citric acid

 - Kollicoat®

- moisture protection agent such as IΈRO (Poly (butyl methacrylate-co- (2-demethylaminoethyl) methacrylate-co-methyl methacrylate) 1: 2: 1) Preferably, the cellulose derivatives represent at least 40% by mass of the dry composition; the acid is preferably used in a proportion of less than 1%.

 The formulation is spread on a flat surface and dried. The film 18 is obtained with a thickness of approximately 250 μm. According to an alternative, it is obtained with a lower thickness, for example 100 μm or 120 μm.

2.- Manufacture of the first liquid formulation 144

- Active Principle (Desmopressin) - 40mg / ml

 - DMSO: Ethanol (50:50)

 - Propylene Glycol 30%

 - 1% acetic acid

 - Colorant (e.g. Sunset Yellow) - 5mg / ml

Claims

1.- Method (200) for manufacturing a solid formulation (10, 40, 60) for oral administration, said solid formulation comprising a portion (12) of edible substrate on which is deposited a first composition (14) comprising a first active pharmaceutical ingredient,

 said method comprising the following steps:

 - Supply (202) of the edible substrate in the form of a film (18);

 - supply of a first liquid formulation (144) comprising the first pharmaceutical active ingredient and a solvent; then

 spraying (204) the first liquid formulation onto the film and evaporating the solvent, so as to form the first solid composition (14) deposited on the substrate; the process being characterized in that it comprises the following stages:

- dividing the film (18) into a plurality of portions (12), so that each portion supports a quantity (Q) of first active principle corresponding to a predetermined value (Q _ref ); and

 - after the spraying step, measurement (210) of the quantity of first active principle supported by each portion and comparison (212) with the predetermined value; said measurement being non-destructive of the solid formulation.

2.- The manufacturing method according to claim 1, further comprising a step of reporting a spray adjustment problem, when the comparison of the quantity measured with the predetermined value reveals an abnormal difference.

3.- The manufacturing method according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a step of adjusting the spray setting according to said comparison.

4.- Manufacturing method according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a step of classifying the portions (12) of film into two groups as a function of step (212) of comparing the quantity of first principle measured with the value predetermined, the method then comprising a sorting step (214) in which the two groups are separated from each other.

5.- Manufacturing process according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first liquid formulation (144) has a viscosity between 2 mPa.s and 20 mPa.s; and / or a surface tension of between 25 mN / m and 50 mN / m.

6. Manufacturing process according to one of the preceding claims, in which the first active principle of the first liquid formulation (144) is chosen from analgesics, antihistamines, anti-inflammatories, anti-epileptics and natural, synthetic hormones. or biotechnology.

7.- The manufacturing method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first liquid formulation (144) further comprises a dye.

8.- Manufacturing process according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first liquid formulation (144) further comprises a pH regulator.

9. A manufacturing method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the edible substrate (12) comprises one or more water-soluble polymers, preferably one or more cellulose derivatives.

10.- Manufacturing process according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the edible substrate (12) comprises a moisture protection agent.

11.- The manufacturing method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the pH of the edible substrate (12) is adapted to the active principle.

12.- A method of manufacturing a solid formulation (40, 60) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a step of spraying the first liquid formulation (144) on a first zone (46, 66) of each portion ( 12) of film, the method further comprising the following steps:

 - supply of a second liquid formulation (146) comprising a second solvent; said second liquid formulation preferably comprising a second active pharmaceutical ingredient and / or a flavor; then

 spraying the second liquid formulation onto a second zone (48, 68) of the film and evaporation of the second solvent, so as to form a second solid composition (16) deposited on the substrate,

the first and second areas of the film being distinct from each other.

13. Solid formulation (10, 40, 60) for oral administration, resulting from a process according to one of the preceding claims, said solid formulation comprising the portion (12) of edible substrate on which is deposited at least one composition ( 14) comprising a pharmaceutical active ingredient.

14.- Installation (100) for continuously manufacturing a solid formulation (10, 40, 60) for oral administration, suitable for implementing a method according to one of claims 1 to 12, said installation comprising :

 - a device (102) for supplying the edible substrate in the form of a strip

(120) of film (18), said strip being configured to be divided into a plurality of portions (12);

 - a device (104) for printing the first liquid formulation (144);

 - a control device (112, 114) connected to the printing device, said control device being capable of implementing the printing of a predetermined quantity of first liquid formulation (144) on each portion (12) of substrate ; and

 - a device (108) for non-destructive measurement of a quantity (Q) of first active principle supported by each portion;

the control device being provided with means (114) for comparing the quantity (Q) measured with a predetermined value (Q _ref ) corresponding to the predetermined quantity of first liquid formulation.

15.- Manufacturing facility according to claim 14, further comprising a device (111) for individual packaging of each solid formulation (10, 40, 60).