NZ243056A - Aerosol formulation containing a medicament, tetrafluoroethane and isopropyl myristate - Google Patents

Description

New Zealand Paient Spedficaiion for Paient Number £43056 "-3 Le(s): . .ts." r> ,<=c)7 Vl-^VvV,. . ,Asc,V^Vr~l 1 W*. , ■ , . ^4.3 OS 6 Patents Form 5 kft\ I "i %J y k 24 "i \2f y e 5 \i v3 $ Under the provisions of Reau- fation 23 (1) the CuiK'.flgJg- Specification has been ante-dated to &I.3 Cwdo&r... 19 vff..

Divided out of N.Z. No. 231579 NEW ZEALAND Patents Act 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION MEDICINAL AEROSOL FORMULATIONS N.Z. P;"r • - -8 JIM We, RIKER LABORATORIES, INC., a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Delaware, United States of America, of 3M Center, Saint Paul, Minnesota 55144-1000, United States of America do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: - - 1 - (Followed by 1A) - 1A - 45653r-6®3-6E C* V'1 MEDICINAL AEROSOL FORMULATIONS This invention relates to medicinal aerosol formulations and in particular to formulations suitable for pulmonary, nasal, buccal or topical administration which are at least substantially free of chlorofluorocarbons.

Since the metered dose pressurised inhaler was introduced in the mid 1950's, inhalation has become the most widely used route for delivering bronchodilator drugs and steroids to the airways of asthmatic pati'ents.

Compared with oral administration of bronchodilators, 15 inhalation offers a rapid onset of action and a low instance of systemic side effects. More recently, inhalation from a pressurised inhaler has been a route selected for the administration of other drugs, e.g., ergotamine, which are not primarily concerned with 20 treatment of a bronchial malady.

The metered dose inhaler is dependent upon the propulsive force of a propellant system used in its manufacture. The propellant generally comprises a mixture of liquified chlorofluorocarbons (CFC's) which are 25 selected to provide the desired vapour pressure and stability of the formulation. Propellants 11, 12 and 114 are the most widely used propellants in aerosol formulations for inhalation administration.

In recent years it has been established that CFC's 30 react with the ozone layer around the earth and contribute towards its depletion. There has been considerable pressure around the world to reduce substantially the use of CFC's, and various Governments have banned the "nonessential" use of CFC's. Such "non-essential" uses 35 include the use of CFC's as refrigerants and blowing agents, but heretofore the use of CFC's in medicines, which contributes to less than 1% of the total use of CFC's, has not been restricted. Nevertheless, in view of 2 the adverse effect of CFC's on the ozone layer it is desirable to seek alternative propellant systems which are suitable for use in inhalation aerosols.

U.S. Patent Specification No. 4,174,295 discloses aerosol propellant compositions which consist of a mixture of a hydrogen-containing chlorofluorocarbon or fluorocarbon (A), selected from the group consisting of CHC1F2 (Freon 22), CH2F2 (Freon 32) and CF3-CH3 (Freon 10 143a), with a hydrogen-containing fluorocarbon or chlorofluorocarbon (B) selected from the group consisting of: CH2C1F (Freon 31), CC1F2-CHC1F (Freon 123a), CF3-CHCIF (Freon 124), CHF2-CC1F2 (Freon 124a), CHC1F-CHF2 (Freon 133), CF3-CH2C1 (Freon 133a), CHF2-CHF2 (Freon 134), 15 CF3-CH2F (Freon 134a), CC1F2-CH3 (Freon 142b) and CHF2-CH3 (Freon 152a). The compositions may contain a third component (C) consisting of a saturated hydrocarbon • propellant, e.g., n-butane, isobutane, pentane and isopentanes. The propellant compositions comprise 5 to 20 60% of (A), 5 to 95% of (B) and 0 to 50% of (C) and are said to be suitable for application in the fields of: hair lacquers, anti-perspiration products, perfumes, deodorants for rooms, paints, insecticides, for home cleaning products, for waxes, etc. The compositions may 25 contain dispersing agents and solvents, e.g., methylene chloride, ethanol etc.

It has now been found that 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane has particularly suitable properties for use as a propellant for medicinal aerosol formulations when used in 3 0 combination with a surface active agent and an adjuvant having a higher polarity than 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane.

According to the -yrosent^ invention there is provided an aerosol formulation comprising a medicament, 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane, a surface active agent and at least one compound more polar than 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane selected from the group consisting of alcohols, hydrocarbons, propellants, and CFC anaesthetics. This invention is described and claimed in our *«V| ,tn, 9 /. 7, ft h n 2a New Zealand Patent Specification Number 231579.

According to the present invention, there is provided an aerosol formulation comprising a medicament, 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane, a surface active agent and isopropyl myristate. 9 / : It has been found that 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane, hereinafter referred to as Propellant 13 4a, may be employed as a propellant for aerosol formulations suitable 5 for inhalation therapy when used in combination with a compound (hereinafter an "adjuvant") having a higher polarity than Propellant 134a. The adjuvant should be miscible with Propellant 134a in the amounts employed. Suitable adjuvants include alcohols such as ethyl alcohol, 10 isopropyl alcohol, propylene glycol, hydrocarbons such as propane, butane, isobutane, pentane, isopentane,' neopentane, and other propellants such as those commonly referred to as Propellants 11, 12, 114, 113, 142b, 152a 124, and dimethyl ether. The combination of one or more 15 of such adjuvants with Propellant 134a provides a propellant system which has comparable properties to those of propellant systems based on CFC's, allowing use of known surfactants and additives in the pharmaceutical formulations and conventional valve components. This is 20 particularly advantageous since the toxicity and use of such compounds in metered dose inhalers for drug delivery to the human lung is well established. Preferred adjuvants are liquids or gases at room temperature (22°C) at atmospheric pressure.

Recently it has been established that certain CFC's which have been used as anaesthetics are not significantly ozone depleting agents as they are broken down in the lower atmosphere. Such compounds have a higher polarity composition of the invention. Examples of such compounds 30 include 2-bromo-2-chloro-l,1,1,-trifluoroethane, 2-chloro-1-(difluoromethoxy)-l,1,2-trifluoroethane and 2-chloro-2-(difluromethoxy)-1,1,1-trifluoroethane.

In contrast to the prior art the compositions of the invention do not require the presence of Freon 22, Freon 35 3 2 or Freon 143a to provide useful properties; these propellants are preferably absent or present in minor amounts of less than 5% by weight of the propellant composition. The compositions are preferably free from CFC's. 4 The particular adjuvant(s) used and the concentration of the adjuvant(s) is selected according to the particular medicament used and the desired physical properties of the formulation.

It has been found that the use of Propellant 134a and drug as a binary mixture or in combination with a conventional surfactant such as sorbitan trioleate does not provide formulations having suitable properties for use with pressurised inhalers. It has been established 10 that the physical parameters of polarity, vapour pressure, density, viscosity and interfacial tension are all important in obtaining a stable aerosol formulation, and by a suitable selection of a compound having a polarity higher than that of Propellant 134a stable aerosol 15 formulations using Propellant 134a may be prepared.

The addition of a compound of higher polarity than Propellant 134a to Propellant 134a provides a mixture in which increased amounts of surfactant may be dissolved compared to their solubility in Propellant 134a alone. 20 The presence of increased amounts of solubilised surfactant allows the preparation of stable, homogenous suspensions of drug particles. The presence of large amounts of solubilised surfactant may also assist in obtaining stable solution formulations of certain drugs. 25 The polarity of Propellant 134a and of an adjuvant may be quantified, and thus compared, in terms of a dielectric constant, or by using Maxwell's equation to relate dielectric constant to the square of the refractive index - the refractive index of materials being readily 30 measurable or obtainable from the literature.

Alternatively, the polarity of adjuvants may be measured using the Kauri-butanol value for estimation of solvent power. The protocol is described in ASTM Standard: Designation 1133-86. However, the scope of the 35 aforementioned test method is limited to hydrocarbon solvents having a boiling point over 40°C. The method has been modified as described below for application to more volatile substances such as is required for propellant.

Standardisation In conventional testing the Kauri resin solution is standardised against toluene, which has an assigned value 5 of 105, and a mixture of 75% n-heptane and 25% toluene by volume which has an assigned value of 40. When the sample has a Kauri-butanol value lower than 40, it is more appropriate to use a single reference standard of 75% n-heptane : 25% toluene. The concentration of Kauri-10 butanol solution is adjusted until a titre between 3 5ml and 45ml of the reference standard is obtained using the method of the ASTM standard.

Method for Volatile Compounds The density of the volatile substance under test is 15 calculated to allow a volumetric titration from the added weight of the sample after testing.

Kauri-butanol solution (20g) is weighed into an aerosol bottle. A non-metering value is crimped onto the bottle and the weight of bottle and sample measured. 20 Following the procedure detailed in ASTM standards as closely as possible, successive amounts of the volatile sample are transferred from an aerosol bottle via a transfer button until the end point is reached (as defined in ASTM). The aerosol bottle with titrated 25 Kauri-butanol solution is re-weighed.

The Kauri-butanol value is calculated using the following formula: V = (W2 - Wx) 40 30 X d B in which: W2 = weight of aerosol bottle after titration (g) 35 W]_ = weight of aerosol bottle before titration (g) d = density of sample (g/ml) B is as defined in the ASTM standard and = ml of heptane-toluene blend required to titrate 2 0g of Kauri-butanol solution.

If a titre (V) is obtained by precipitation of the Kauri resin out of solution, then a higher Kauri-butanol valve represents a sample of higher polarity.

If the sample and Kauri-butanol solution are immiscible, this is most likely to be due to the immiscibility of the sample with butanol resulting from an excessively low polarity. However, it is feasible that excessively high polarity could result in immiscibility. - t This is tested by checking the miscibility of/the sample with water. If the sample is immiscible with water and immiscible with Kauri-butanol solution, then the Kauri-butanol value is deemed too low to be measured, and the polarity is to be regarded as lower than that of any 15 material which would give a proper titre into Kauri-butanol solution.

The particular selection of adjuvant and concentration preferably provides the resulting mixture with a solubility parameter of from 6.0 to 8.5 (cal/cm3)1/2. A 20 propellant system having a solubility parameter below 6.0 (cal/cm3)1/2 is a poor solvent for surfactants, resulting in unstable suspension formulations of drug. The preferred solubility parameter for the propellant system comprising Propellant 134a and adjuvant is in the 25 range 6.5 to 7.8 (cal/cm3)1/2.

The vapour pressure of a propellant system is an important factor as it provides the propulsive force for the medicament. The adjuvant is selected to moderate the vapour pressure of Propellant 134a so that it is within 3 0 the desired range. This allows for advantages in the manufacture of the dosage form and gives greater flexibility to obtain and vary the target vapour pressure at room temperature. Another factor in the choice of the adjuvant is that, whilst it should allow moderation of 3 5 the vapour pressure of Propellant 134a, it should not easily demix when the mixture is cooled to lower temperatures for the purposes of manufacture of the aerosol formulation and filling the containers. 7 The vapour pressure may also be increased if desired depending on the choice of the adjuvant. It has been found that some of the propellant mixtures deviate from Raoult's 5 Law. The addition of certain alcohols makes very little change to the vapour pressure of the mixture with Propellant 134a at room temperature. However addition of certain hydrocarbons having a lower vapour pressure than Propellant 134a can result in a mixture having--'a higher 10 vapour pressure. /'' The vapour pressure of the formulations at 25°C is generally in the range 2 0 to 150 psig (1.4 to 10.3 x 105 N/m2) preferably in the range 40 to 9 0 psig (2.8 to 6.2 x 105 N/m2).

The selection of adjuvant may also be used to modify the density of the formulation. Suitable control of the density may reduce the propensity for either sedimentation or "creaming" of the dispersed drug powders. The density of the formulations is generally in the range 20 0.5 to 2.0 g/cm3, preferably in the range 0.8 to 1.8 g/cm3, more preferably in the range 1.0 to 1.5 g/cm3.

The selection of adjuvant may also be used to adjust the viscosity of the formulation which is desirably less than lOcP.

The selection of adjuvant may also be used to adjust the interfacial tension of the propellant system. In order to optimise dispersion of drug particles and stability the interfacial tension of the formulation is desirably below 70 dynes/cm. 3 0 Propellant 134a is generally present in the aerosol formulations in an amount of at least 50% by weight of the formulation, normally 60 to 95% by weight of the formulation.

Propellant 134a and the component of higher polarity 35 are generally employed in the weight ratio 50:50 to 99:1 Propellant 134a : high polarity component, preferably in the weight ratio 70:30 to 98:2 and more preferably in the 8 weight ratio 85:15 to 95:5 Propellant 134a : high polarity component. Preferred compounds of higher polarity than Propellant 13 4a include ethanol, pentane, 5 isopentane and neopentane.

The aerosol formulations comprise a surface active agent to stabilise the formulation and lubricate the valve components. Suitable surface active agents include both non-fluorinated surfactants and fluorinated surfactants 10 known in the art and disclosed, for example, ift British ft Patent Nos. 837465 and 994734 and U.S. Patent No. 4,352,789. Examples of suitable surfactants include: oils derived from natural sources, such as, corn oil, olive oil, cotton seed oil and sunflower seed oil. 15 Sorbitan trioleate available under the trade name Span 85, Sorbitan mono-oleate available under the trade name Span 80, Sorbitan monolaurate available under the trade name 20 Span 20, Polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monolaurate available under the trade name Tween 20, Polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan mono-oleate available under the trade name Tween 80, lecithins derived from natural sources such as those available under the trade name Epikuron particularly Epikuron 200.

Oleyl polyoxyethylene (2) ether available under the trade name Brij 92, Stearyl polyoxyethylene (2) available under the trade name Brij 72, Lauryl polyoxyethylene (4) ether available under the trade name Brij 30, Oleyl polyoxyethylene (2) ether available under the 35 trade name Genapol 0-020, Block copolymers of oxyethylene and oxypropylene available under the trade name Synperonic, Oleic acid, Synthetic lecithin, Diethylene glycol dioleate, Tetrahydrofurfuryl oleate, Ethyl oleate, Isopropyl myristate, Glyceryl trioleate, Glyceryl 5 monolaurate, Glyceryl mono-oleate, Glyceryl monostearate, Glyceryl monoricinoleate, Cetyl alcohol, Stearyl alcohol, Polyethylene glycol 400, Cetyl pyridinium chloride.

The surface active agents are generally present in amounts not exceeding 5 percent by weight of the total 10 formulation. They will usually be present in-the weight ratio 1:100 to 10:1 surface active agent : drug(s), but the surface active agent may exceed this weight ratio in cases where the drug concentration in the formulation is very low.

Suitable solid medicaments include antiallergics, analgesics, bronchodilators, antihistamines,therapeutic proteins and peptides, antitussives, anginal preparations, antibiotics, anti-inflammatory preparations, hormones, or sulfonamides, such as, for example, a vasoconstrictive 20 amine, an enzyme, an alkaloid, or a steroid, and synergistic combinations of these. Examples of medicaments which may be employed are: Isoproterenol [alpha-(isopropylaminomethyl) protocatechuyl alcohol], phenylephrine, phenylpropanolamine, glucagon, 25 adrenochrome, trypsin, epinephrine, ephedrine, narcotine, codeine, atropine, heparin, morphine, dihydromorphinone, ergotamine, scopolamine, methapyrilene, cyanocobalamin, terbutaline, rimiterol, salbutamol, flunisolide, colchicine, pirbuterol, beclomethasone, orciprenaline, 30 fentanyl, and diamorphine. Others are antibiotics, such as neomycin, streptomycin, penicillin, procaine penicillin, tetracycline, chlorotetracycline and hydroxytetracycline; adrenocorticotropic hormone and adrenocortical hormones, such as cortisone, 35 hydrocortisone, hydrocortisone acetate and prednisolone; insulin, antiallergy compounds such as cromolyn sodium, etc.

The drugs exemplified above may be used as either the free base or as one or more salts known to the art. The choice of free base or salt will be influenced by the 5 physical stability of the drug in the formulation. For example, it has been shown that the free base of salbutamol exhibits a greater dispersion stability than salbutamol sulphate in the formulations of the invention.

The following salts of the drugs.mentioned above may 10 be used; * acetate, benzenesulphonate, benzoate, bicarbonate, bitartrate, bromide, calcium edetate, camsylate, carbonate, chloride, citrate, dihydrochloride, edetate, edisylate, estolate, esylate, fumarate, fluceptate, 15 gluconate, glutamate, glycollylarsanilate, hexylresorcinate, hydrobromide, hydrochloride, hydroxynaphthoate, iodide, isethionate, lactate, lactobionate, malate, maleate, mandelate, mesylate, methylbromide, methylnitrate, methylsulphate, mucate, 20 napsylate, nitrate, pamoate (embonate), pantothenate, phosphate\diphosphate, polygalacturonate, salicylate, stearate, subacetate, succinate, sulphate, tannate, tartrate, and triethiodide.

Cationic salts may also be used. Suitable cationic 25 salts include the alkali metals, e.g. sodium and potassium, and ammonium salts and salts of amines known in the art to be pharmaceutically acceptable, e.g. glycine, ethylene diamine, choline, diethanolamine, triethanolamine, octadecylamine, diethylamine, 30 triethylamine, l-amino-2-propanol-amino-2-(hydroxymethyl) propane-1, 3-diol and l-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-2 isopropylaminoethanol.

For pharmaceutical purposes the particle size of the powder should desirably be no greater than 100 microns 35 diameter, since larger particles may clog the valve or orifice of the container. Preferably the particle size 11 should be less than 25 microns in diameter. Desirably the particle size of the finely-divided solid powder should for physiological reasons be less than 25 microns and preferably less than about 10 microns in diameter.

The particle size of the powder for inhalation therapy should preferably be in the range 2 to 10 microns.

There is no lower limit on particle size except that imposed by the use to which the aerosol produced is to be put. Where the powder is a solid medicament, the lower 10 limit of particle size is that which will be readily absorbed and retained on or in body tissues. -%hen particles of less than about one-half micron in diameter are administered by inhalation they tend to be exhaled by the patient.

The concentration of medicament depends upon the desired dosage but is generally in the range 0.01 to 5% by weight.

The formulation of the invention may be filled into conventional aerosol containers equipped with metering 20 valves and dispensed in an identical manner to formulations employing CFC's.

In accordance with Section 14 of the Patents Act 1953, we draw attention to the existence of our New Zealand Patent Specification No. 232020. 12 The invention will now be illustrated by the following Examples.

The following components were used in the Examples: Salbutamol Sulphate B.P., micronised - Salbutamol Beclomethasone Dipropionate Isopropylacohol solvate, micronised - BDP Sodium Cromoglycate B.P., micronised - fiSCG Sorbitan trioleate - Span 85 Lecithin commercially available under the trade name Lipoid S100 - Lipoid S100 Oleic Acid B.P, - oleic acid 1,1,1,2-Tetrafluoroethane - P134a Ethyl alcohol B.P. - ethanol n-Pentane, standard laboratory 25 reagent - n-pentane The formulations in the Examples were prepared by the following techniques.

Each drug and surfactant combination was weighed into 30 a small beaker. The required quantity of the higher boiling point component of the propellant system e.g. ethanol was added and the mixture homogenised using a Silverson mixer. The required quanity of the mixture was dispensed into a P.E.T. bottle and an aerosol valve 35 crimped in place. Propellant 134a was added to the required weight by pressure filling. 13 EXAMPLES 1 to 6 Formulations containing Salbutamol The formulations reported in the following Tables were 5 prepared.

Ingredient (g) Example No. 1 2 3 Salbutamol 0 .010 0.010 0 .010 . * Span 85 Oleic Acid Lipoid S100 0 .012 0.012 0 X' .012 n-Pentane 1 .240 1.240 1 .240 P134a 3 .720 3 .720 3 .720 Ingredient (g) Example No. 4 6 Salbutamol 0 .010 0.010 0. 010 Span 85 0 .012 - - Oleic Acid - 0.012 - Lipoid S100 - - 0. 012 Ethanol 1 .350 1.350 1. 350 P134a 4 .040 4.040 4. 040 All formulations comprised a suspension of salbutamol. Examples 4 to 6 containing ethanol appeared to be more stable than Examples 1 to 3 containing n-pentane, exhibiting a decreased tendency to settling. 45 14 EXAMPLES 7 to 12 Formulations containing Beclomethasone Dipropionate The formulations reported in the following Tables were 5 prepared.

Ingredient (g) • Example No. 7 8 9 BDP 0. 005 0. 005 0. 005 Span 85 Oleic Acid 0.012 0. 012 — f- Lipoid S100 - - 0. 006 n-Pentane 1.240 1.240 1.240 P134a 3.720 3.720 3 .720 Ingredient (g) Example No. 11 12 BDP 0.005 0.005 0.005 Span 85 0.006 - - Oleic Acid Lipoid S100 0.006 0.006 Ethanol 1.350 1.350 1.350 40 P134a 4. 040 4.040 4.040 For those formulations containing n-pentane, Examples 7 and 8 appeared less turbid than Example 9, and Example 8 appeared to form a solution after 4-5 days. 45 Examples 10 to 12 produced solution formulations.

Q S*% EXAMPLES 13 to 18 Formulations containing- Sodium Cromoalvcate The formulations reported in the following Tables were 5 prepared.

Ingredient (g) Example No. 13 14 DS CG 0.100 0.100 0.100 Span 85 0.024 - ■ Oleic Acid - 0.024 - Lipoid S100 - - 0.024 n-Pentane 1.240 1.240 1.240 P134a 3.720 3.720 3 .720 40 Examples 13 to 18 produced suspension formulations, Examples 16 to 18 containing ethanol exhibiting better stability properties than Examples 13 to 15 containing n-pentane.

Ingredient (g) Example No. 16 17 18 DSCG 0.100 0.100 0.100 Span 85 0. 006 - - Oleic Acid - 0.006 - Lipoid S100 - - 0.006 Ethanol 1.350 1.350 1.350 P134a 4.040 4.040 4.040 16 EXAMPLES 19 to 23 The following Examples illustrate the use of different adjuvants with Propellant 134a.

Ingredient (g) Example No. 19 21 22 23 Salbutamol 0.012 0.012 0.012 0.012 .*■ t ^ * ? ; BDP - - - - 0.010 Span 85 0.001 0.001 0.001 0.001 - Oleic Acid - - - - 0.001 P134a 4.98 .22 .28 .61 .04 neopentane 0.55 - - - - Isapropyl-alcahol - 0.58 - - — Isopropyl-myristate - — 0.59 - - Propellant 11 - - - 0.62 - Iscperrtane - - - - 0.56 Each Example was 5ml in volume and was in the form of a stable suspension. 40 45 50 55 17 EXAMPLE 24 This Example illustrates the use of different surfactants in the following basic formulations: Salbutamol Ethanol P134a Surfactant 0.012g 0 .^58g 5.220g A or B Volume = 5 ml St" y.

A = 0.005g B = 0.012g The following surfactants were employed to form stable suspensions in the concentrations specified. 1.

Span 85 A, B. 16.

Isopropyl myristate B. 2.

Span 80 A. 17.

Glyceryl trioleate A, B. 3.

Span 20 A. 18.

Glyceryl monolaurate A. 4.

Tween 20 A. 19.

Glyceryl mono-oleate A.

. Tween 80 A.

. Glyceryl monostearate A. 6.

Oleic acid A, B. 21.

Glyceryl monoricinoleate A. 7.

Epikuron 200 B. 22.

Cetyl alcohol A. 8.

Synthetic lecithin B. 23.

Stearyl alcohol B. 9.

Brij 92 A. 24.

Polyethylene glycol 400 B.

. Brij 72 A.

. Synperonic PE L61 A. 11.

Brij 30 B. 26.

Synperonic PE L64 A. 12.

Genapol 0-020 A. 27.

Synperonic PE 132 A. 13.

Diethylene glycol A. 28.

Synperonic PE P94 A. dioleate 14.

Tetrahydrofurfuryl A. 29.

Cetyl pyridinium chloride A. oleate .

FC 807 free acids A, B. (consisting mainly of bis (perfluoro-n-octyl-N- ethyl sulphonamidoethyl) phosphate) .

Ethyl oleate A. 31.

Corn Oil B. 24 3 05 18

Claims (5)

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. An aerosol formulation comprising a medicament, 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane, a surface active agent and isopropyl myristate.

2. An aerosol formulation as claimed in claim 1 suitable for administration to a patient by oral or nasal inhalation, the formulation being the form of a solution or a suspension of medicament particles having a median particle size of less than 10 microns.

3. An aerosol formulation as claimed in claim 1 or £ in which less than 5% by weight of the propellant composition comprises CHC1F2, CH2F2, CF3CH3 and mixtures thereof.

4. An aerosol formulation as claimed in claim 3 which is substantially free of CHC1F2, CH2F2 and CF3CH3.

5. An aerosol formulation according to claim 1 substantially as herein described. RIKER LABORATORIES, INC. By their attorneys HENRY HUGHES LTD \ "tootm n \