GB2426702A

GB2426702A - Pharmaceutical composition comprising botulinum neurotoxin

Info

Publication number: GB2426702A
Application number: GB0423950A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Andy Pickett; Naveed Panjwani; Paul Webb
Original assignee: Ipsen Ltd
Current assignee: Ipsen Ltd
Priority date: 2004-10-28
Filing date: 2004-10-28
Publication date: 2006-12-06
Also published as: GB0423950D0

Abstract

The invention relates to a solid or liquid pharmaceutical composition comprising: <SL> <LI>(a) a botulinum toxin, and <LI>(b) a surfactant </SL> According to a particular variant of the invention, the pharmaceutical composition comprises botulinum toxin type A2 which not only has a biological activity similar to that of the other botulinum neurotoxins, but also can have the advantage of a selective action on inhibition of smooth muscle contraction compared to other known botulinum toxins. Since botulinum toxin type A2 can have less side-effects with respect to neighbouring skeletal muscles, it may be preferred over botulinum neurotoxins of other serotypes for any smooth muscle-related therapeutic use known for botulinum toxin type A1.

Description

I

Pharmaceutical composition containing botulinum n eurotoxin The invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition containing botulinum neurotoxjn.

The presently most used botulinum neurotoxjn is botulinum neurotoxin type A. This neurotoxin is produced during fermentation in the presence of Clostridium botulinum strains. Botulinum neurotoxin type A complexes (which include botulinum neurotoxin type A and at least another non-toxic protein) are active principles widely used in modern medicine. An example of a pharmaceutical composition based on such a complex is the product Dysport currently sold by the company of the Applicants.

Among the most common medical indications for which a botulinum neurotoxin type A complex could be used, one could mention the treatment of a number of muscle disorders (e.g. blepharospasm, hemifacjaj spasm, torticollis, spasticity, tension headache, back pain or wrinkles), as well as other disorders such as migraine.

Alternatively, high purity botulinum toxin (i.e. botulinum neurotoxin free from its complexing non-toxic proteins) may replace the corresponding botulinum toxin complex as disclosed in PCT applications WO 96/11699 or WO 97/35604. :,.,:.

Currently, the marketed botulinum neurotoxin compositions contain human serum * albumin. However, some concerns have been expressed about albumin (see e.g. in PCT S....

application WO 01/58472). For this reason, the pharmaceutical industry is now considering to find alternative stabilising agents to albumin by other stabilising agents:*.

in pharmaceutical compositions.

S S.

A possible solution is disclosed in PCT patent application WO 01/58472. In this.' : *. S document, albumin is replaced by a polysaccharide, i.e. a polymer of more than two saccharide molecule monomers, which plays the role of the stabiliser in the botulinum neurotoxin composition.

An alternative solution is the one described in PCT patent application WO 97/3 5604 or US patents Nos. 5,512,547 and 5,756,468. In these documents, it is disclosed that pure botulinum neurotoxin (i.e. botulinum neurotoxin free from its complexing non-toxic proteins) can be stabilised by trehalose.

The Applicant has unexpectedly discovered that a surfactant possesses sufficient stabilising effects to replace albumin, the polysaccharide of PCT patent application F:\Cljent DOcs\IPSEN\48120\SPECS\Specification 28 October 2004 as filed.doc WO 01/58472 or the trehalose of PCT patent application WO 97/35604 in botulinum neurotoxin compositions.

The invention therefore pertains to the use of a surfactant for stabilising a solid or liquid pharmaceutical composition that contains as active principle a botulinum toxin.

By botulinum toxin should be understood a naturally occurring botulinum toxin or any recombinantly produced botulinum toxin.

By naturally occurring botulinum toxin should be understood either a high purity botulinum neurotoxin derived from Clostridjum spp or a botulinum neurotoxin complex derived from Clostrjdjum spp.

By high purity botulinum neurotoxin (type A, B, C, D, E, F or G) is meant, in the present application, botulinum neurotoxin (type A, B, C, D, E, F or G) outside from complexes including at least another protein. In other words, a high purity botulinum neurotoxin (type A, B, C, D, E, F or G) does not contain significant quantities of any other Clostridjum spp derived protein than botulinum neurotoxin (type A, B, C, D, E, F orG).

Preferably, according to the present invention, botulinum neurotoxin complexes and i.:.

high purity botulinum neurotoxins will be selected from the group consisting of.

botulinum neurotoxin complex and high purity botulinum neurotoxin of type A, botulinum neurotoxin complex and high purity botulinum neurotoxin of type B and...:.

botulinum neurotoxin complex and high purity botulinum neurotoxin of type F. More preferably, botulinurn neurotoxin complexes and high purity botulinum neurotoxins will *SS.

be selected from the group consisting of botulinum neurotoxin complex and high purity. * botulinum neurotoxin of type A and botulinum neurotoxin complex and high purity, : : botulinum neurotoxin of type F. More particularly, botulinum neurotoxin complexes and high purity botulinum neurotoxins will be botulinum neurotoxin complexes and high purity botulinum neurotoxins of type A. By type A botulinum neurotoxin should be understood any botulinum toxin of type A, and notably botulinum neurotoxins of type Al, A2 or A3. The same applies mutatis mutandjs to the other serotypes of toxins.

The classical type A botulinum toxin (i.e. the active principle of the marketed products Dysport and Botox) is increasingly being referred to by those skilled in the art as type Al botulinum toxin. This is to distinguish it from type A2 botulinum toxin originally isolated from infant botulism cases in 1990, which is an immunologically and biochemically distinct botulinum toxin. In the instant patent application, we will therefore be using this nomenclature.

The high purity botulinum neurotoxin (type A, B, C, D, E, F or G) used according to the invention or contained in the above described pharmaceutical compositions can easily be obtained from the corresponding botulinum neurotoxin complex, for example as explained in Current topics in Microbiology and Immunology (1995), 195, p. 15 1-154.

High purity Clostridjum botulinum toxin (type A, B, C, D, E, F or G) is obtained, for example, by purification of an adequate fermentation medium (for example, an enriched meat media broth containing Clostridium Botulinum and left for fermentation - this broth may be, for example, the one described in Current topics in Microbiology and Immunology (1995), 195, p. 150 and DasGupta, "Microbial Jbod toxicants. Clostridium botulinum toxins. CRC handbook of foodborne diseases of biological origin ", CRC Boca Raton, p. 25-56). When including high purity botulinum neurotoxin in a composition according to the instant invention, the purity degree of the toxin should preferably be higher than 80%, more preferably higher than 90 or 95% and in a more particularly preferred maimer higher than 98% or 99%. It can be assessed, for example, by using the purity assay described in the present application.

The instant invention also relates to a solid or liquid pharmaceutical composition...:.

comprising: * : * *S (a) a botulinum toxin, and * S.....

(b) asurfactant.

According to a particular variant of the invention, the pharmaceutical composition will be a solid pharmaceutical composition and will essentially consist in: * *S* (a) a botulinum toxin, and *.* : (b) a surfactant.

According to another particular variant of the invention, the pharmaceutical composition will be a liquid pharmaceutical composition and will essentially consist in: (a) a botulinum toxin, (b) a surfactant, and (c) water.

In the abovementioned pharmaceutical compositions, the surfactant will be such that it stabilises the botulinum toxin.

A solid pharmaceutical composition according to the invention can be obtained for example by lyophilising a sterile water solution containing the components (a) and (b) as mentioned previously. A liquid pharmaceutical composition according to the invention will be obtained by mixing the solid (e.g. lyophilised) mixture of components (a) and (b) with sterile water.

According to the invention, the concentrations of said components (a) and (b) in the solution to be lyophilised / the liquid pharmaceutical composition will preferably be as follows: - the solution will contain from 50 to 3,000 LD50 units of botulinum neurotoxin complex (type A, B, C, D, E, F or G) or high purity botulinum neurotoxin (type A, B, C, D, E, F or G) per ml of solution, more preferably from 100 to 2,500 LD50 units of botulinum neurotoxin complex (type A, B, C, D, E, F or G) or high purity botulinum neurotoxin (type A, B, C, D, E, F or G) per ml of solution and most preferably from 100 to 2, 000 LD50 units of botulinum neurotoxin complex (type A, B, C, D, E, F or G) or high purity botulinum neurotoxin (type A, B, C, D, E, F or G) per ml of solution; - the concentration of surfactant will be from above critical micellar concentration to S S S ** a concentration of 1% v/v, and notably from about 0.005% to 0.02% v/v in the case * : of polysorbate 80.

Preferably, the surfactant will be a non-ionic surfactant. Non-ionic surfactants include notably polysorbates and block copolymers like poloxamers (i.e. copolymers of: ,,* polyethylene and propylene glycol). According to a preferred variant of the invention, * *. *

S

the surfactant will be a polysorbate. More preferably, a polysorbate included in a **.. * *55

composition according to the instant invention will have a mean polymerisation degree'.,,' : of from 20 to 100 monomer units (preferably about 80), and may for example be polysorbate 80. Preferably also, the polysorbate should be vegetable-derived.

According to a preferred execution mode of the invention, the solid or liquid pharmaceutical composition will also contain a crystalline agent.

By crystalline agent is meant an agent which, inter alia, would maintain a mechanically strong cake structure to lyophilised botulinum neurotoxin complex (type A, B, C, D, E, F or G) or high purity botulinum neurotoxin (type A, B, C, D, E, F or G). When included in solid formulations, crystalline agents also have a bulking effect. Crystalline agents notably include sodium chloride. Contrarily to what was taught in the prior art (see e.g. Goodnough, M.C. and Johnson, E.A., Applied and Environmental Microbiology (1992), 58(10), 3426-3428), the use of sodium chloride for this type of compositions further improves the stability of the botulinum toxin composition.

According to yet another preferred execution mode of the invention, the solid or liquid pharmaceutical composition will also contain a buffer to maintain pH from 5.5 to 7.5.

The buffer can be any buffer able to maintain the adequate pH. Preferably, the buffer for compositions according to the invention will be chosen from the group consisting of succinate and an amino acid like histidine. In particular, the buffer will be histidine.

Preferably, the pH will be at least equal to 5.5 or 5.8, and most preferably at least equal to 6.0 or 6.5. Preferably also, the pH will be equal to or less than 7.5 or 7.0, more Jo preferably equal to or less than 6.8.

Preferably, the solid or liquid pharmaceutical composition of the invention may also contain a disaccharide.

The disaccharide used in compositions according to the invention will preferably be chosen from the group consisting of sucrose, trehalose, mannitol and lactose. The disaccharide used in compositions according to the invention will more preferably be chosen from the group consisting of sucrose and trehalose. In particular, the disaccharide used in compositions according to the invention will be sucrose.

Preferably, the disaccharide will be present in the pharmaceutical compositions of the instant invention, particularly when the compositions are in a solid form. S...

S

The instant invention therefore notably relates to a solid or liquid pharmaceutical, composition comprising: S..

(a) botulinum neurotoxin complex (type A, B, C, D, E, F or G) or high purity...* * *.S botulinum neurotoxin (type A, B, C, D, E, F or G), . : (b) a surfactant, (c) a crystalline agent, (d) a buffer to maintain pH between 5.5 to 7.5.

Preferably, a disaccharide will also be included in the pharmaceutical compositions according to the present invention, especially when they are in a solid form.

According to this variant of the invention, a solid pharmaceutical composition can be obtained by lyophilising a sterile water solution containing the components (a) to (d) as mentioned previously. A liquid pharmaceutical composition according to the invention will be obtained by mixing a solid (e.g. lyophilized) mixture of said components (a) to (d) with sterile water.

According to the invention, the concentrations of said components (a) to (d) in the solution to be lyophilised / the liquid pharmaceutical composition will preferably be as follows: - the solution will contain from 50 to 3,000 LD50 units of botulinum neurotoxin complex (type A, B, C, D, E, F or G) or high purity botulinum neurotoxin (type A, B, C, D, E, F or G) per ml of solution, more preferably from 100 to 2,500 LD50 units of botulinum neurotoxjn complex (type A, B, C, D, E, F or G) or high purity botulinum neurotoxin (type A, B, C, D, E, F or G) per ml of solution and most preferably from 100 to 2, 000 LD50 units of botulinum neurotoxin complex (type A, B, C, D, E, F or G) or high purity botulinum neurotoxjn (type A, B, C, D, E, F or 0) per ml of solution; - the concentration of surfactant will be from above critical micellar concentration to a concentration of 1% v/v, and notably from about 0.005% to 0.02% v/v in the case of polysorbate 80;

S S...

- the concentration of crystalline agent will be from 0.1 to 0.5 M, more preferably from 0.1 to 0.4 M, notably about 0.15 to 0.3 M; and - the concentration of buffer will be from I to 50 mM, more preferably from 5 to 20 mM, notably about 10 mM.

As mentioned earlier, the solid or liquid pharmaceutical formulation according to the* *... *S..

invention may contain a disaccharide. In that case, the concentration of disaccharide in

S

the solution to be lyophilised / the liquid pharmaceutical composition will be for example from 5 to 50 mM, preferably from 5 to 25 mM, more preferably from 10 to 20 mM, and notably about 11.7 mM.

According to a preferred execution mode of the invention, the mixture of the different components of the pharmaceutical composition (i.e. botulinum neurotoxin complex (type A, B, C, D, E, F or G) or high purity botulinum neurotoxin (type A, B, C, D, E, F or G), the surfactant and the optional excipients such as the crystalline agent, the buffer or the disaccharide) is lyophilised. The solid compositions thus obtained, which are also part of this invention, should preferably be stable for at least 12 months, more preferably for at least 18 months and in a more particularly preferred manner for at least 24 or even 36 months.

A composition according to the invention is considered stable during a certain period of time if at least 70% of the initial toxicity, as evaluated by assessing the LD50 in mice or by any method validated with respect to the LD50 mouse assay (i.e. a method allowing a conversion of its results into LD50 units), is maintained over said period of time (cf. the part entitled "mouse toxicity assay" concerning the LD50 mouse assay).

Pharmaceutical compositions according to the invention can be used for preparing medicaments intended to treat a disease / a condition / a syndrome chosen from the following: *. ophtalmological disorders selected from the group consisting of blepharospasm, strabismus (including restrictive or myogenic strabismus), amblyopia, oscillopsia, protective ptosis, therapeutic ptosis for corneal protection, nystagmus, estropia, diplopia, entropion, eyelid retraction, orbital myopathy, heterophoria, concomitant misalignment, nonconcomitant misalignment, primary or secondary esotropia or exotropia, internuclear ophthalmoplegia, skew deviation, Duane's syndrome and upper eyelid retraction; + movement disorders including hemifacial spasm, torticollis, spasticity of the child or of the adult (e.g. in cerebral palsy, post-stroke, multiple sclerosis, traumatic brain injury or spinal cord injury patients) , idiopathic focal dystonias, muscle stiffness, "s.

Writer's cramp, hand dystonia, VI nerve palsy, oromandibular dystonia, head * .: tremor, tardive dyskinesia, tardive dystonia, occupational cramps (including musicians' cramp), facial nerve palsy, jaw closing spasm, facial spasm, synkinesia, i..:.

tremor, primary writing tremor, myoclonus, stiff-person-syndrome, foot dystonia,

S

facial paralysis, tic disorders, dystonic 5ss tics, Tourette's syndrome, neuromyotonja, trembling chin, lateral rectus palsy, , ,, dystonic foot inversion, jaw dystonia, Rabbit syndrome, cerebellar tremor, III nerve. * :: 5S palsy, palatal myoclonus, akasthesia, muscle cramps, TV nerve palsy, freezing-of- gait, extensor truneal dystonia, post-facial nerve palsy synkinesis, secondary dystonia, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's chorea, epilepsy, off period dystonia, cephalic tetanus, myokymia and benign cramp-fasci culation syndrome; + otorhinolaryngological disorders including spasmodic dysphonia, hypersalivation, sialorrhoea, otic disorders, hearing impairment, ear click, tinnitus, vertigo, Meniere' s disease, cochlear nerve dysfunction, stuttering, en copharyngeal dysphagia, bruxism, closure of larynx in chronic aspiration, vocal fold granuloma, ventricular dystonia, ventricular dysphonia, mutational dysphonia, trismus, snoring, voice tremor, aspiration, tongue protrusion dystonia, palatal tremor, deep bite of lip and laryngeal dystonia; + gastrointestinal disorders including achalasia, anal fissure, constipation, temperomandjbular joint dysfunction, sphincter of Oddi dysfunction, sustained sphincter of Oddi hypertension, intestinal muscle disorders, puborectalis syndrome, anismus, pyloric spasm, gall bladder dysfunction, gastrointestinal or oesophageal motility dysfunction, diffuse oesophageal spasm, oesophageal diverticulosis and gastroparesi s; ** urogenital disorders including detrusor sphincter dyssynergia, detrusor hyperreflexia, neurogenic bladder dysfunction (e.g. in Parkinson's disease, spinal cord injury, stroke or multiple sclerosis patients), bladder spasms, urinary incontinence, urinary retention, hypertrophied bladder neck, voiding dysfunction, interstitial cystitis, vaginismus, endometriosjs, pelvic pain, prostate gland enlargement (Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia), prostatodynia, prostate cancer and priapism; . dermatological disorders including hyperhidrosis (including axillary hyperhidrosis, palmar hyperhidrosis and Frey's syndrome), bromhidrosjs, cutaneous cell proliferative disorders (including psoriasis), skin wounds and acne; + pain disorders including back pain (upper back pain, lower back pain), myofascial pain, tension headache, fibromyalgia, painful syndromes, myalgia, migraine, :...:.

whiplash, joint pain, post-operative pain, pain not associated with a muscle spasm * I * and pain associated with smooth muscle disorders;

S

+ inflammatory disorders including pancreatitis, neurogenic inflammatory disorders: (including gout, tendonitjs, bursitis, dermatomyosjtjs and ankylosing spondylitis); :.* + secretory disorders such as excessive gland secretions, mucus hypersecretion and hyperlacrimation, holocrine gland dysfunction; * * * * *. respiratory disorders including rhinitis (including allergic rhinitis), COPD, asthma and tuberculosis; + hypertrophic disorders including muscle enlargement, masseteric hypertrophy, acromegaly and neurogenic tibialis anterior hypertrophy with myalgia; + articular disorders including tennis elbow (or epicondilytis of the elbow), inflammation of joints, coxarthrosis, hip osteoarthi-itis, rotator muscle cap pathology of the shoulder, rheumatoid arthritis and carpal tunnel syndrome; + endocrine disorders like type 2 diabetes, hyperglucagonjsm, hyperinsulinjsm, hypoinsulinism, hypercalcemia, hypocalcemja, thyroid disorders (including Grave's disease, thyroiditis, Hashimoto s thyroiditis, hyperthyroidjsm and hypothyroidism), parathyroid disorders (including hyperparathyroidism and hypoparathyroidism), Cushing's syndrome and obesity; ** autoimmune diseases like systemic lupus erythemotosus; + proliferative diseases including paraganglioma tumors, prostate cancer and bone tumors; + traumatic injuries including sports injuries, muscle injuries, tendon wounds and bone fractures; and + veterinary disorders (e.g. immobilisatjon of mammals, equine colic, animal achalasia or animal muscle spasms).

Pharmaceutical compositions according to the invention can also be used for cosmetic treatments including cosmetic treatments of the following cosmetic disorders: + skin defects; + facial asymmetry; *:* wrinkles including glabellar frown lines and facial wrinkles; + downtumed mouth; * hair loss; and + body odours. * *.**

Preferably, pharmaceutical compositions according to the invention will be used for 1 * preparing medicaments intended to treat a disease / a condition / a syndrome chosen: ...

from the following: **S* + ophtalmological disorders selected from the group consisting of blepharospasm, * strabismus (including restrictive or myogenic strabismus) , amblyopia, protective ptosis, therapeutic ptosis for corneal protection and upper eyelid retraction; + movement disorders selected from the group consisting of hemifacial spasm, torticollis, cerebral palsy spasticity of the child, spasticity of the adult in post-stroke, multiple sclerosis, traumatic brain injury or spinal cord injury patients, idiopathic focal dystonias, muscle stiffliess, Writer's cramp, hand dystonia, VI nerve palsy, oromandibular dystonia, head tremor, tardive dyskinesia, tardive dystonia, occupational cramps (including musicians' cramp), facial nerve palsy, jaw closing spasm, facial spasm, synkinesia, tremor, primary writing tremor, myoclonus, stiffperson-syndrome, foot dystonia, facial paralysis, painful-arm-andmovjngfingers syndrome, tic disorders, dystonic tics, Tourette's syndrome, neuromyotonia, trembling chin, lateral rectus palsy, dystonic foot inversion, jaw dystonia, Rabbit syndrome, cerebellar tremor, Ill nerve palsy, palatal myoclonus, akasthesia, muscle cramps, IV nerve palsy, freezing-of-gait, extensor truncal dystonia, post-facial nerve palsy synkinesis, secondary dystonia, off period dystonia, cephalic tetanus, myokymia and benign cramp-fasciculation syndrome; + otorhinolaryngological disorders selected from the group consisting of spasmodic dysphonia, hypersalivatjon, sialorrhoea, ear click, tinnitus, vertigo, Meniere's disease, cochlear nerve dysfunction, stuttering, cricopharyngeal dysphagia, bruxism, closure of larynx in chronic aspiration, vocal fold granuloma, ventricular dystonia, ventricular dysphonia, mutational dysphonia, trismus, snoring, voice tremor, aspiration, tongue protrusion dystonia, palatal tremor and laryngeal dystonia; + gastrointestinal disorders selected from the group consisting of achalasia, anal fissure, constipation, temperomandibular joint dysfunction, sphincter of Oddi dysfunction, sustained sphincter of Oddi hypertension, intestinal muscle disorders, puborectaljs syndrome, anismus, pyloric spasm, gall bladder dysfunction, gastrointestinal or oesophageal motility dysfunction, diffuse oesophageal spasm, oesophageal diverticulosi s and gastroparesi s; + urogenital disorders selected from the group consisting of detrusor sphincter dyssynergia, detrusor hyperreflexja, neurogenic bladder dysfunction in Parkinson's disease, spinal cord injury, stroke or multiple sclerosis patients, bladder spasms, urinary incontinence, urinary retention, hypertrophjed bladder neck, voiding dysfunction, interstitial cystitis, vaginismus, endometriosjs, pelvic pain, prostate gland enlargement (Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia), prostatodynia, prostate cancer *. * * *

and priapism; + dermatological disorders selected from the group consisting of axillary.

hyperhidrosis, palmar hypcrhidrosjs, Frey's syndrome, bromhidrosis, psoriasis, skin. * : : *.

** pain disorders selected from the group consisting of upper back pain, lower back pain, myofascial pain, tension headache, fibromyalgia, myalgia, migraine, whiplash, joint pain, post-operative pain and pain associated with smooth muscle disorders; + inflammatory disorders selected from the group consisting of pancreatitis, gout, tendonitis, bursitis, dermatomyositis and ankylosing spondylitis; + secretory disorders selected from the group consisting of excessive gland secretions, mucus hypersecretion and hyperlacrimation and holocrine gland dysfunction; + respiratory disorders selected from the group consisting of non- allergic rhinitis, allergic rhinitis, COPD and asthma; ** hypcrtrophjc disorders selected from the group consisting of muscle enlargement, masseteric hypertrophy, acromegaly and neurogenic tibialis anterior hypertrophy with myalgia; + articular disorders selected from the group consisting of tennis elbow (or epicondilytis of the elbow), inflammation of joints, coxarthrosjs, hip osteoarthritis, rotator muscle cap pathology of the shoulder, rheumatoid arthritis and carpal tunnel syndrome; + endocrine disorders selected from the group consisting of type 2 diabetes, hypercalcemia, hypocalcemia, thyroid disorders, Cushing's syndrome and obesity; + prostate cancer; and + traumatic injuries selected from the group consisting of sports injuries, muscle injuries, tendon wounds and bone fractures; or for performing cosmetic treatments wherein the cosmetic disorder to be treated is selected from the group consisting of: + skin defects; + facial asymmetry; + wrinkles selected from glabellar frown lines and facial wrinkles; ** downturned mouth; and + hairloss. *. .

More preferably, pharmaceutical compositions according to the invention will be used: for preparing medicaments intended to treat a disease / a condition / a syndrome chosen **S.

from the following: *

S

** ophtalmological disorders selected from the group consisting of blepharospasm and strabismus; + movement disorders selected from the group consisting of hemifacial spasm, torticollis, cerebral palsy spasticity of the child and arm or leg spasticity of the adult in post-stroke, multiple sclerosis, traumatic brain injury or spinal cord injury patients; + otorhinolaryngological disorders selected from the group consisting of spasmodic dysphonia, hypersalivation, sialorrhoea, cricopharyngeal dysphagia, bruxism, closure of larynx in chronic aspiration, ventricular dystonia, ventricular dysphonia, mutational dysphonia, trismus, snoring, voice tremor, tongue protrusion dystonia, palatal tremor and laryngeal dystonia; - 12 - *:* gastrointestinal disorders selected from the group consisting of achalasia, anal fissure, constipation, temperomandjbular joint dysfunction, sphincter of Oddi dysfunction, sustained sphincter of Oddi hypertension, intestinal muscle disorders, anismus, pyloric spasm, gall bladder dysfunction, gastrointestinal or oesophageal motility dysfunction and gastroparesis; + urogenital disorders selected from the group consisting of detrusor sphincter dyssynergia, detrusor hyperreflexja, neurogenic bladder dysfunction in Parkinson's disease, spinal cord injury, stroke or multiple sclerosis patients, bladder spasms, urinary incontinence, urinary retention, hypertrophied bladder neck, voiding dysfunction, interstitial cystitis, vaginismus, endometriosis, pelvic pain, prostate gland enlargement (Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia), prostatodynia, prostate cancer and priapism; ** dermatological disorders selected from the group consisting of axillary hyperhidrosis, palmar hyperhidrosis, Frey's syndrome, bromhidrosis, psoriasis, skin wounds and acne; + pain disorders selected from the group consisting of upper back pain, lower back pain, myofascial pain, tension headache, fibromyalgia, myalgia, migraine, whiplash, joint pain, post-operative pain and pain associated with smooth muscle disorders; :., - ** inflammatory disorders selected from the group consisting of pancreatitis and gout; * . : * ** + hyperlacrimation; ****.

+ respiratory disorders selected from the group consisting of nonallergic rhinitis, allergic rhinitis, COPD and asthma; + masseteric hypertrophy; * + articular disorders selected from the group consisting of tennis elbow (or.. * epicondilytis of the elbow), inflammation of joints, coxarthrosis, hip osteoarthritis, rotator muscle cap pathology of the shoulder, rheumatoid arthritis and carpal tunnel syndrome; + obesity; + traumatic injuries selected from the group consisting of muscle injuries, tendon wounds and bone fractures; or for performing cosmetic treatments wherein the cosmetic disorder to be treated is selected from the group consisting of: ** skin defects; + facial asymmetry; - 13 - + wrinklesselected from glabellar frown lines and facial wrinkles; + downtumed mouth; and *:* hair loss.

In a particularly preferred manner, pharmaceutical compositions according to the invention will be used for preparing medicaments intended to treat a disease / a condition I a syndrome chosen from the following: blepharospasm, hemifacial spasm, torticollis, cerebral palsy spasticity of the child and arm or leg spasticity of the adult in post-stroke, multiple sclerosis, traumatic brain injury or spinal cord injury patients, axillary hyperhidrosis, palmar hyperhidrosjs, Frey's syndrome, skin wounds, acne, upper back pain, lower back pain, myofascial pain, migraine, tension headache, joint pain, tennis elbow (or epicondilytis of the elbow), inflammation of joints, coxarthrosis, hip osteoarthritjs, rotator muscle cap pathology of the shoulder, muscle injuries, tendon or for performing cosmetic treatments wherein the cosmetic disorder to be treated is selected from the group consisting of: + skin defects; + facial asymmetry; and ** wrinkles selected from glabellar frown lines and facial wrinkles.

The dose of botulinum neurotoxin complex (type A, B, C, D, E, F or G) or high purity *- botulinum neurotoxjn (type A, B, C, D, E, F or G) which shall be needed for the, , treatment of the diseases / disorders mentioned above varies depending on the disease / disorder to be treated, administration mode, age and body weight of the patient.

to be treated and health state of the latter, and it is the treating physician or veterinary. : : that will eventually make the decision. Such a quantity determined by the treating physician or veterinary is called here "therapeutically efficient quantity".

For botulinum neurotoxin complex (type A, B, C, D, E, F or G) or high purity botulinum neurotoxin (type A, B, C, D, E, F or G), this therapeutically efficient dose is often expressed as a function of the corresponding LD0. By LD50 should be understood in the present application the median intraperitoneal dose in mice injected with botulinum neurotoxin complex (type A, B, C, D, E, F or G) or high purity botulinum neurotoxin (type A, B, C, D, E, F or G) that causes death of half of said mice within 96 hours.

Another aspect of this invention relates to botulinum toxin type A2.

- 14 - Clostridium botulinum type A2 toxin-producing organisms were first identified in 1990 in Japan, from multiple cases of infant botulism (Sakaguchi et a!., mt. J. Food Microbiol. (1990), 11, 231-242). Infant botulism, or intestinal colonisation botulism is unlike food-borne botulism in that the toxin is produced after infection of the patient, rather than pre-formed in food. The clinical isolate strains most closely associated with type A2 toxin are Kyoto-F, Chiba-H, Y-8036, 7103-H, 7105H and KZ1828, although several others have been characterized as type A2 by molecular methods (Cordoba et al., System. Appi. Microbiol. (1995), 18, 13-22; Franciosa et a!., abstract presented at 40th Interagency Botulism Research Coordinating Committee (IBRCC) Meeting, November2003).

Botulinum type A2 toxin is a unique neurotoxin which has been shown to be a distinct toxin type when compared with other botulinum toxin types A G. Botulinum type A2 toxin differs from type Al toxin in its molecular genetic characteristics, its biochemical characteristics and in its immunological characteristics.

At the molecular genetic level, the organisation of the type A2 neurotoxin gene cluster is distinct from all other botulinum toxin types. Many botulinum toxin types, including type A botulinum toxins, are found as neurotoxin complexes with haemagglutinin (HA) proteins as components of the complex. The genes encoding these HA proteins (HA 17, HA34 and HA7O) are contained in the neurotoxin gene cluster of type A, B, C, D and G * * S i* organisms, but are entirely absent in the type A2 neurotoxin gene cluster. The type A2 neurotoxin gene cluster also contains regulatory genes such as p47, which are absent in:*..:.

type Al neurotoxin gene clusters. Additionally, the sequence of the NTNH protein of, * * *l type A2 toxin complex has been shown to be a mosaic of type C and type Al NTNH gene sequences (Kubota et al., Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. (1996), 224(3), : 843-848). * :: *5 Type A2 toxin and type Al toxin also differ markedly in the biochemical characteristics of the purified toxin complex. While type Al toxin complex contains the NTNH protein, and at least three HA proteins (HAI7, HA34 and HA7O), type A2 toxin complex contains only an NTNH protein and lacks the HA proteins (Sakaguchi et al., mt. J. Food Microbiol. (1990), 11, 23 1-242). The neurotoxin molecule itself differs in molecular weight, the heavy chain being 101 kDa in type A2 toxin and 93 kDa in type Al toxin, and shows differing sensitivity to proteases (Kozaki et al., Microbiol.

Immunol. (1995), 39(10), 767-74). The amino acid sequence of the type A2 and type Al toxins are markedly different, particularly in the heavy chain region, where 109 of the 847 amino acids are different between the two toxin types (1 3% difference) (Cordoba et al., System. Appi. Microbiol. (1995), 18, 13-22). The heavy chain sequences of isolates - 15- of type Al toxins, by contrast, typically differ by less than 2%. Heavy chain of botulinum neurotoxins are responsible for key biological functions of the molecule, including receptor binding on target cells and intracellular trafficking (Zhang et aL, Gene (2003), 315, 2 1-32). Indeed, studies of binding of neurotoxins A2 and Al have shown different binding characteristics of the two toxins to purified synaptosomes (Kozaki et al., Microbiol. Jmmunol. (1995), 39(10), 767-74).

Botulinum type A2 toxin is also immunologically distinct. Antibodies raised against type A toxin have been shown not to recognise type A2 botulinum toxin (and vice versa) in immunodiffijsion experiments, ELISA and Western blots (Sakaguchi et al., mt. J. Food Microbjol. (1990), 11, 23 1-242; Kozaki Ct al., Microbiol. Immunol. (1995), 39(10), 767-74). Most significantly, however, antibodies raised to type Al toxins, while able to neutralize toxicity of type Al toxin in mice, could not neutralize type A2 toxins in parallel mouse toxicity experiments (Kozaki et al., Microbiol. hnmunol. (1995), 39(10), 767-74).

In summary, it can be seen from the state of the art that type A2 botulinum toxin is biochemically and immunologically different from other botulinum toxin types, and particularly from type Al botulinum toxin.

The Applicant has now surprisingly found that botulinum toxin type A2 not only had a, biological activity similar to that of the other botulinum neurotoxins, but also had the major advantage of a selective action on inhibition of smooth muscle contractior,: compared to other known botulinum toxins (as shown for example by the "Criteria foi.

determination of selectivity for smooth muscles" described in the part entitlecf "Pharmacological study"). Since botulinum toxin type A2 will have less side-effects **., S...

with respect to neighbouring skeletal muscles, it will therefore be preferred over, : : botulinum neurotoxins of other serotypes for any smooth muscle-related therapeutic use'* known for botulinum toxin type Al.

Accordingly, the invention firstly relates to botulinum toxin type A2 as a medicament.

The invention also relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising, as active principle, botulinum toxin type A2. It also relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising, as active ingredient, botulinum toxin type A2.

Moreover, the invention relates to the use of botulinum toxin type A2 for the preparation of a medicament intended to treat the diseases / conditions / syndromes mentioned previously (i.e. for the pharmaceutical compositions mentioned in the other aspect of the invention).

It also relates to a method of treating cosmetic disorders selected from the group consisting of: + skin defects; + facial asymmetry; + wrinkles selected from glabellar frown lines and facial wrinkles; + downturned mouth; and *:* hair loss; said method comprising the administration of botulinum toxin type A2 to the area affected by the cosmetic disorder.

According to a preferred embodiment, the invention relates to the use of botulinum toxin type A2 for the preparation of a medicament intended to treat the following smooth muscle-related diseases / conditions / syndromes: + gastrointestinal disorders including achalasi a, anal fissure, constipation, temperomandjbular joint dysfunction, sphincter of Oddi dysfunction, sustained sphincter of Oddi hypertension, intestinal muscle disorders, puborectalis syndrome, anismus, pyloric spasm, gall bladder dysfunction, gastrointestinal or oesophagea,*** motility dysfunction, diffuse oesophageal spasm, oesophageal diverticulosis and.

gastroparesis; + urogenital disorders including detrusor sphincter dyssynergia, detruso*. .:.

hyperreflexja, neurogenic bladder dysfunction (e.g. in Parkinson's disease, spina" .*.

cord injury, stroke or multiple sclerosis patients), bladder spasms, urinary incontinence, urinary retention, hypertrophied bladder neck, voiding dysfiinction:: :* interstitial cystitis, vaginismus, endometrjosjs, pelvic pain, prostate gland: enlargement (Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia), prostatodynia, prostate cancer and priapism; + pain associated with smooth muscle disorders; *:* respiratory disorders including rhinitis (including allergic rhinitis) , COPD, asthma and tuberculosis; + endocrine disorders like type 2 diabetes, hyperglucagonjsm, hyperinsulinism, hypoinsuljnism, hypercalcemia, hypocalcemja, thyroid disorders (including Grave's disease, thyroiditis, Hashimoto S thyroiditis, hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism), parathyroid disorders (including hyperparathyroidism and hypoparathyroj dism), Cushing's syndrome arid obesity; and ** certain veterinary disorders like equine colic, animal achalasia or animal smooth muscle spasms.

The preferences indicated for the therapeutic and cosmetic indications for the botulinum toxin pharmaceutical compositions mentioned in the other aspect of the invention apply mutatis mutandjs to the uses of botulinum toxin type A2.

The term "about" refers to an interval around the considered value. As used in this patent application, "about X" means an interval from X minus 10% of X to X plus 10% of X, and preferably an interval from X minus 5% of X to X plus 5% of X. Unless they are defined differently, all the technical and scientific terms used here have the same meaning as that usually understood by an ordinary specialist in the field to which this invention belongs. Similarly, all publications, patent applications, all patents and all other references mentioned here are incorporated by way of reference.

The following examples are presented to illustrate the above and must in no case be considered as a limit to the scope of the invention. * ***.*

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EXAMPLES * S

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Example 1:

A liquid pharmaceutical composition containing the following components is prepared: , 55*5 _________________________ * S..

Clostridium botulinum type Al neurotoxin complex 2,000 LD50 units/mi.5 Sucrose - 11.7mM Histidine 10 mM Sodium chloride 0.3 M Polysorbate 80 0. 01% v/v pH 6.5 The mixture containing nominally 2,000 LD50 units of botulinum toxin per ml is iyophilised in a sterilised vial which is then sealed. The solid composition obtained is stable for at least 12 months when stored at a temperature between 2 and 8 C and at least 6 months at 23 to 27 C. - 18-

Example 2:

A liquid pharmaceutical composition containing the following components is prepared: Clostridium botulinum type Al neurotoxin complex 500 LD50 units/mi Sucrose 11.7mM Histidine 10 mM Sodium chloride 0.3 M Polysorbate 80 0.01% v/v pH 6.5 The liquid composition thus prepared is sealed in a syringe type device with no liquid/gaseous interface. Stored in these conditions, it is stable for at least one month at 23 to 27 C and at least six months at 2-8 C.

Example 3:

A liquid pharmaceutical composition containing the following components is prepared: Clostridjum botulinum type Al neurotoxin complex 500 LD50 units/ml:...:.

Sucrose 11.7mM Histidine 10 mM * Sodium chloride 0.15 M Polysorbate 80 0. 01% v/v pH 6.5 *. * S...

The liquid composition composition thus prepared is sealed in a syringe type device. :: with no liquid/gaseous interface. Stored in these conditions, it is stable for at least one* month at 23 to 27 C and at least six months at 2-8 C.

- 19 -

Example 4:

A liquid pharmaceutical composition containing the following components is prepared: Clostridium botulinum type A2 neurotoxin complex 500 LD50 units/mi Sucrose 11.7mM Histidine 10 mM Sodium chloride 0.15 M Polysorbate 80 0.01 % v/v pH 6.5 The liquid composition thus prepared is sealed in a syringe type device with no liquid/gaseous interface.

Example 5:

A patient in her sixties suffers from incontinence due to overactive bladder. The liquid pharmaceutical composition of Example 4 (2 ml; 1,000 LD50 units) is injected under cystoscopic control into the detrusor muscle of said patient at multiple sites (25-30,...:.

avoiding the trigone region. Relief of her incontinence symptoms is observed for more. * than 3 months. S * S

S *. * . S * S.

ANALYTICAL METHODS::;:; Mouse toxicity assay A mouse toxicity assay can he used to measure the toxicity of botulinum neurotoxin complex (type A, B, C, D, E, F or G) or high purity botulinum neurotoxin (type A, B, C, D, E, F or G). In the assay, a standard diluent will be used to prepare a range of dilutions at or about the estimated LD50 value. The range and scale of dilutions is arranged so as to establish an accurate LD50 value.

Mice are injected intraperitoneally with a known and standardised volume of diluted toxin. After 96 hours, the number of deaths and survivors in each dilution group will be recorded. The LD50 value is the median dose which kills half of the injected animals within 96 hours.

- 20 - A composition according to the invention is considered stable over a certain period of time if at least 70% of the initial toxicity is maintained over said period of time relative to a reference preparation.

II1ARMACOLOGICAL STUDY A) Guinea pig ileum assay: For determination of inhibition of smooth muscle contraction, the guinea pig ileum assay is used (a modification of the method described by Mackenzie IJ et al, Neuroscience 7, 1982, 997-1006). Male Hartley guinea pigs (Charles River, France) weighing between 300-450 g, are killed by cervical dislocation. The distal part of the ileum is removed and segments 1.5-2 cm long are mounted on tissue fitted holders, between two parallel platinum wire electrodes. This assembly is placed in a 20 ml organ bath containing modified Krebs solution under a tension of Ig at 37 C and gassed with 95% 02 / 5% CO2. Contractile responses are measured using force displacement transducers ( Statham UC2) coupled to a Gould RS3400 polygraph.

After I h equilibration period, the tissues are stimulated electrically between 0.05 H.'.: and 0.2 Hz with square wave pulses of 0.5 ms to I ms duration and supramaximal voltage is then determined. After a stabilization period, replicate organ baths are they exposed to a known molar amount of the botulinum toxin to be tested, and magnitude o' twitch recorded. Control preparations are treated with diluent only. Additional replicate organ baths arc treated with 0.25 jtM tetrodotoxin or 0.56 jiM atropine to confirm tht**.*' contractions observed are due to release of acetyicholine from enteric neurons.

B) Intercostal muscle assay: For determination of inhibition of skeletal muscle neuromuscular junctions (NMJs), the intercostal muscle assay is used (as described in UK Patent application No. GB 2 398 636). Wistar rats weighing approximately 275 g are killed by cervical dislocation. The rib cage is dissected from each animal, and separated into multiple sections by careful dissection along the spinal column. For each preparation (consisting of two ribs and attached muscle) one intercostal nerve is carefully dissected to reveal approximately I - 2 mm of nerve bundle. The preparation is revived for approximately 15-20 minutes before being returned to a Petri dish containing 10 ml of oxygenated Lillies Ringers buffer. The dissected intercostal nerve is connected via a suction electrode to a stimulator (Grass Instruments Model S48), with a return electrode placed in the media. The tissue preparation is connected to an amplifier and force transducer (Grass Instruments Model P122 and FTO3, respectively), so as to allow measurement of muscle force generated.

The preparation is stimulated at a supramaximal voltage, and contractile responses recorded. After a stabilization period, replicate organ baths are then exposed to a known molar amount of the botulinum toxin to be tested, and magnitude of twitch recorded.

Control preparations are treated with diluent only.

C) Criteria for determination of selectivity for smooth muscles: The selectivity ratio for a certain botulinum toxin is defined as the value obtained at the test described in A) above divided by the value obtained at the test described in B) above, while the same molar quantity of active botulinum toxin to be tested is used in both tests.

The selectivity ratio thus found for botulinum type A2 toxin is found significantly superior to that of botulinum type Al toxin. * I

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Claims

- 22 - Claims 1. A solid or liquid pharmaceutical composition comprising:

(a) botulinum neurotoxin complex (type A, B, C, D, E, F or G) or high purity botulinum neurotoxin (type A, B, C, D, E, F or G), and (b) a surfactant,
2. A solid or liquid pharmaceutical composition according to claim 1 further comprising a crystalline agent.
3. A solid or liquid pharmaceutical composition according to claim 2 wherein the crystalline agent is sodium chloride.
4. A solid or liquid pharmaceutical composition according to one of claims I to 3 further comprising a buffer to maintain pH between 5.5 to 7. 5.
5. A solid or liquid pharmaceutical composition according claim 4 wherein the buffer i maintaining apH from 5.8 to 7.0. :*.;
6. A solid or liquid pharmaceutical composition according to any of claims 1 to 5 further comprising a disaccharide.

S
7. A solid or liquid pharmaceutical composition according to claim 6 wherein th disaccharide is chosen from the group consisting of sucrose, trehalose, lactose ançl... . S...

mannitol.
8. A solid or liquid pharmaceutical composition according to any of claims I to 7 which contains botulinum neurotoxin complex type A.
9. A pharmaceutical composition according to any of claims I to 7 which contains high purity botulinum neurotoxin type A.
10. A pharmaceutical composition according to any of claims I to 9 in which the surfactant is polysorbate 80.
11. As a medicament, botulinum toxin type A2.
12. Pharmaceutical composition comprising, as active principle, botulinum toxin type A2.

- 23 -
13. Use of botulinum toxin type A2 for the manufacture of a medicament intended to treat a disease / a condition / a syndrome chosen from the following: ophtalmological disorders, movement disorders, otorhinol aryngological disorders, gastrointestinal disorders, urogenital disorders, dermatological disorders, pain disorders, inflammatory disorders, secretory disorders, respiratory disorders, hypertrophic disorders, articular disorders, endocrine disorders, autoimmune diseases, proliferative diseases, traumatic injuries and veterinary disorders.
14. Use of botulinum toxin type A2 for treating cosmetic disorders selected from the group consisting of: 4 skin defects; + facial asymmetry; + wrinkles selected from glabellar frown lines and facial wrinkles; + downturned mouth; and 4 hair loss; said method comprising the administration of botulinum toxin type A2 to the area affected by the cosmetic disorder.

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