Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
  • A61K9/00—Medicinal preparations characterised by special physical form
  • A61K9/10—Dispersions; Emulsions
  • A61K9/107—Emulsions ; Emulsion preconcentrates; Micelles
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
  • A61K9/00—Medicinal preparations characterised by special physical form
  • A61K9/10—Dispersions; Emulsions
  • A61K9/107—Emulsions ; Emulsion preconcentrates; Micelles
  • A61K9/1075—Microemulsions or submicron emulsions; Preconcentrates or solids thereof; Micelles, e.g. made of phospholipids or block copolymers
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
  • A61K31/00—Medicinal preparations containing organic active ingredients
  • A61K31/33—Heterocyclic compounds
  • A61K31/335—Heterocyclic compounds having oxygen as the only ring hetero atom, e.g. fungichromin
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
  • A61K31/00—Medicinal preparations containing organic active ingredients
  • A61K31/33—Heterocyclic compounds
  • A61K31/335—Heterocyclic compounds having oxygen as the only ring hetero atom, e.g. fungichromin
  • A61K31/337—Heterocyclic compounds having oxygen as the only ring hetero atom, e.g. fungichromin having four-membered rings, e.g. taxol
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
  • A61K47/00—Medicinal preparations characterised by the non-active ingredients used, e.g. carriers or inert additives; Targeting or modifying agents chemically bound to the active ingredient
  • A61K47/06—Organic compounds, e.g. natural or synthetic hydrocarbons, polyolefins, mineral oil, petrolatum or ozokerite
  • A61K47/26—Carbohydrates, e.g. sugar alcohols, amino sugars, nucleic acids, mono-, di- or oligo-saccharides; Derivatives thereof, e.g. polysorbates, sorbitan fatty acid esters or glycyrrhizin
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
  • A61K9/00—Medicinal preparations characterised by special physical form
  • A61K9/48—Preparations in capsules, e.g. of gelatin, of chocolate
  • A61K9/4841—Filling excipients; Inactive ingredients
  • A61K9/4858—Organic compounds
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
  • A61P35/00—Antineoplastic agents

Definitions

• the present invention relates generally to cancer therapeutics. More particularly it is directed to novel pharmaceutical compositions of water insoluble anticancer drugs for therapeutic administration as exemplified by the taxanes which include paclitaxel, docetaxel and their derivatives and analogues.
• Paclitaxel is a taxane and a member of the terpenoid family of compounds present in very small quantities in the Taxus brevifolia species such as the pacific Yew tree. These compounds, collectively known as taxoids, taxins or taxanes, have potent anticancer properties in, among others, ovarian cancer, lymphoma, and breast cancer. Because of its poor solubility in water, the current commercial formulation of paclitaxel is prepared by dissolving 6 mg of the drug in one milliliter of a mixture of polyoxyethylated castor oil (Cremophor®(EL) and dehydrated alcohol. The commercially available paclitaxel formulation is for intravenous administration only.
• Cremophor®(EL) polyoxyethylated castor oil
• paclitaxel which can be administered orally.
• the commercial injectable formulation is physically unstable especially for treatments requiring long infusion time.
• the infusate may contain up to 10% each of alcohol and Cremophor®EL.
• the physical stability of the paclitaxel formulation may be increased by increasing the amounts of Cremophor®EL in the formulation, but may also lead to an increased incidence of adverse reactions.
• Yet another approach as described in U.S. patent 5,681 ,846 is to decrease the drug and Cremophor® concentration and increase the alcohol content in the formulation.
• Cremophor®EL is also known to extract plasticizers such as di- ethylhexyl-phthalate from the polymers commonly used intravenous infusion tubings and infusion bags. These plasticizers are known to promote toxic reactions, such as Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), in patients which have been exposed to high levels.
• plasticizers such as di- ethylhexyl-phthalate from the polymers commonly used intravenous infusion tubings and infusion bags. These plasticizers are known to promote toxic reactions, such as Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), in patients which have been exposed to high levels.
• ARDS Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome
• the present invention is based on a strong need for a safer and stable injectable and oral formulation of anticancer drugs, particularly the taxanes such as paclitaxel, docetaxel and their derivatives and analogues and other anticancer drugs.
• U.S. patent 5,407,683 discloses a composition containing paclitaxel in squalene as solution in absence of a surfactant and then forming a self-emulsifying glass by addition of an aqueous sucrose solution followed by evaporation of water. The resulting glass upon mixing with water forms an emulsion with a particle size in a range of 2 to 10 ⁇ m. The preparation of such glass requires the use of undesirable organic solvents, which must be completely removed before medical use. Quay et al describe a conventional oil-in-water emulsion system (WO 98/30205) consisting of vitamin E as a carrier oil in which a drug may be dissolved, together with polyethyleneglycol and related surfactants.
• WO 98/30205 oil-in-water emulsion system
• microemulsions have limited shelf life and are often difficult to terminally heat sterilize or even filter sterilize.
• the particle size of conventional emulsions is usually far greater than microemulsions.
• Microemulsions are thermodynamically stable and optically transparent or opaque depending on the particle size of the emulsion.
• Microemulsions have a mean droplet size of less than 200 nm, in general between 20-100 nm.
• the microemulsions are formed in the presence of an aqueous phase by self emulsification without any energy input. In the absence of water, this self emulsifying system exists as a transparent- looking mixture of oil and surfactants in which a lipophilic drug is dissolved.
• Wheeler et al describe an emulsion preparation (U.S. patent 5,478,860) containing a mixture of paclitaxel, an oil and a polyethylene glycol-linked lipid which is covered by a 3 monolayer of a polar lipid such as phosphatidylglycerol or phosphatidylethanolamine.
• This mixture after homogenization in presence of an aqueous phase at appropriate pressure, yields an emulsion with a particle size in the range of 100 nm. It is not known if this is the mean or minimum particle size and if it is number weighted or volume weighted. The necessity of using undesirable organic solvents for initial dissolution of ingredients is not advisable even if the organic solvent is removed prior to use.
• Lacy et al disclose a capsule delivery system (U.S. patent 5,645,856) for oral delivery of hydrophobic drugs containing a digestible oil, and a combination of surfactants. The selection of surfactant is made such that it inhibits the in vivo lipolysis of the oil.
• Eugster discloses an ultra microemulsion system (Swiss Patent CH 688 504 A5) for paclitaxel and its analogs composed of an oil and one or more surfactants providing a formulation of the drug with a mean particle size of 2.2-3 nm thus approaching a solution rather than an emulsion. It is not known if this formulation is useful for oral, injectable or topical use.
• this invention provides a pharmaceutical composition in the form of a self-emulsifying preconcentrate comprising an anticancer drug as the active ingredient solubilized in a carrier medium comprising at least one hydrophobic component, at least one hydrophilic component and at least one surfactant.
• the self-emulsifying systems and their corresponding preconcentrates described in this invention consist of a hydrophobic component, an ingredient selected from triglycerides, diglycerides, monoglycerides, free fatty acids, and fatty acid esters (such as fatty acid esters of hydroxyalkanes or of dihydroxyalkanes) and derivatives thereof, individually or in combination.
• the surfactant is a non-ionic surfactant or a mixture of non-ionic surfactants.
• the invention is also characterized as optionally including a hydrophilic component, for instance a hydroxyalkane such as ethanol and/or a dihydroxyalkane such as 1 ,2-propylene glycol and/or a polyethylene glycol having an average molecular weight of less than or equal to 1000.
• a hydrophilic component for instance a hydroxyalkane such as ethanol and/or a dihydroxyalkane such as 1 ,2-propylene glycol and/or a polyethylene glycol having an average molecular weight of less than or equal to 1000.
• compositions of the current invention will include, in addition to the water insoluble drug, the hydrophobic components and the optional hydrophilic components, and at least one surfactant.
• suitable surfactants are:
• Polyoxyethylene-sorbitan-fatty acid esters e.g. mono- and tri-lauryl, palmityl, stearyl and oleyl esters; e.g. products of the type known as polysorbates and commercially available under the trade name "Tween".
• Polyoxyethylene fatty acid esters e.g., polyoxyethylene stearic acid esters of the type known and commercially available under the trade name Myrj.
• Polyoxyethylene castor oil derivatives e.g., products of the type known and commercially available as Cremophors®. Particularly suitable are polyoxyl 35 castor oil
• PEG glyceryl fatty acid esters such as PEG-8 glyceryl caprylate/caprate (commercially known as Labrasol), PEG-4 glyceryl caprylate/caprate (Labrafac Hydro WL 1219), PEG-32 glyceryl laurate (Gelucire 44/14), PEG-6 glyceryl mono oleate (Labrafil M 1944 CS), PEG-6 glyceryl linoleate (Labrafil M 2125 CS). 5
• PEG glyceryl fatty acid esters such as PEG-8 glyceryl caprylate/caprate (commercially known as Labrasol), PEG-4 glyceryl caprylate/caprate (Labrafac Hydro WL 1219), PEG-32 glyceryl laurate (Gelucire 44/14), PEG-6 glyceryl mono oleate (Labrafil M 1944 CS), PEG-6 glyceryl linoleate (
• Propylene glycol mono- and di-fatty acid esters such as propylene glycol laurate, propylene glycol caprylate/caprate; also diethyleneglycol-monoethylether (DGME), commercially known as Transcutol (Gattefosse, Westwood, NJ).
• DGME diethyleneglycol-monoethylether
• Sorbitan fatty acid esters such as the type known and commercially available under the name Span (e.g., Span 20).
• Polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene co-polymers e.g., products of the type known and commercially available as Pluronic or Poloxamer.
• Monoglycerides and acetylated monoglycerides e.g., glycerol monodicocoate (Imwitor 928), glycerol monocaprylate (Imwitor 308), and mono-and di-acetylated monoglycerides.
• Suitable surfactants are not limited to those mentioned above, but may include any compound or compounds that would enhance the galenic properties of the preconcentrate.
• compositions in accordance with the present invention may include other ingredients in addition to the drug, one or more hydrophobic components, one or more hydrophilic components, one or more surfactants, inhibitors of cytochrome P450 enzymes or inhibitors of the p-glycoprotein transport system such as grapefruit extract or compounds isolated from it.
• the composition may include, in addition to the forgoing, one or more ingredients, additives or diluents such as pharmaceutically acceptable polymeric or inorganic materials, anti-oxidants, preserving agents, flavoring or sweetening agents and so forth.
• compositions in accordance with the present invention may be liquid or solids at ambient temperature. They may be filled in soft or hard gelatin capsules in the form of liquid composition, molten composition, or granules or powder (if composition is solid at ambient temperature and was cooled and processed before filling). Coating may be also applied to capsules or tablets. The preconcentrate may be also be diluted with water to obtain stable emulsions that may be employed as drinking formulations, or packaged as such for injection after appropriate dilution with an aqueous medium, for example.
• a self-emulsifying preconcentrate of the present invention comprising an anticancer drug must contain a hydrophobic component, a surfactant and optionally a hydrophilic component.
• the surfactant and hydrophilic component are needed for the composition to form in aqueous medium a self-emulsifying system having an average particle size of between about 6
• hydrophobic component is needed because if it is not incorporated in appropriate amounts in the formulation, precipitation of the drug will be observed upon mixing of the composition with an aqueous medium and/or on storage. Similar observations may be made for the hydrophilic and surfactant components.
• hydrophobic components are triglycerides, diglycerides, monoglycerides, free fatty acids, and fatty acid esters and derivatives thereof, individually or in combination.
• hydrophobic components include but are not limited to propylene glycol dicaprylate/caprate, caprilic/capric triglyceride, caprylic/capric/linoleic triglyceride, e.g.
• Additional examples include vegetable oils and C 12-18 fatty acid mono-, di- and triglycerides prepared by individual admixing or as transesterification products of vegetable oils (such as soybean oil, almond oil, sunflower oil, olive oil or corn oil) with glycerol.
• vegetable oils such as soybean oil, almond oil, sunflower oil, olive oil or corn oil
• hydrophilic components are 1,2-propylene glycol, ethanol and polyethylene glycol having an average molecular weight of less than or equal to 1000, individually or in combination. More preferred as hydrophilic components are 1 ,2-propylene glycol and ethanol, individually or in combination. Especially preferred as hydrophilic components is a combination or mixture of 1 ,2-propylene glycol and ethanol.
• the relative proportion of the drug and the other ingredients in the composition of the current invention will vary depending whether it is delivered as a self-emulsifying preconcentrate or after dilution with water, depending on the particular ingredients and the desired physical properties of the formulation.
• Especially desired concentration limits in the self-emulsifying preconcentrate are as follows: 7
• Oil phase from 10 to 80% w/w of the preconcentrate.
• the oil phase may consist of triglycerides, diglycerides, monoglycerides, free fatty acids, propylene glycol mono or diesters and free fatty acids, esters and derivatives thereof, individually or in combination.
• Cumulative amounts of surfactants from 20 to 80% w/w of the preconcentrate.
• Cumulative amounts of hydrophilic components such as 1 ,2-propylene glycol and/or ethanol and/or a polyethylene glycol having an average molecular weight of less than or equal to 1000 : from 0% to 40% w/w of the preconcentrate. The total of all ingredients will be 100%.
• the formulations represented in the following examples were prepared by mixing the oil components with surfactants and cosurfactants followed by the addition of drug powder as indicated.
• the composition may be prepared at room temperature or heated to 40-50°C to accelerate the solubilization process.
• mixing techniques can be used ranging from mechanical stirring and agitation to sonication. All compositions shown below give liquid or semi-solid preconcentrates at room temperature.
• Bioavailability of paclitaxel micro-emulsion preconcentrate was assessed using the formulation described in Example 1.
• Paclitaxel was given in doses of 2.5 mg/Kg or 5 mg/Kg to 8 male dogs of approximately 10 Kg body weight.
• the formulation was administered in the morning after overnight fasting in the form of a capsule followed by water. Free access to food and water was allowed two hours after dosing.
• Blood samples were drawn at different point (pre-dose, 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, and 24 hr) and stabilized with EDTA, placed in Vacutainers, and stored at 2-8°C. The blood samples were then extracted using a liquid-liquid method and assayed by HPLC/UV.
• Bioavailability calculations were done by comparing the pharmacokinetic (PK) profiles obtained for orally given paclitaxel micro-emulsion preconcentrate with an intravenous commercial formulation. Bioavailability values ranging from 25 % to 60 % were obtained. Figure 1 corresponds to a typical pharmacokinetic profile obtained for paclitaxel preconcentrate. 10

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• 1999
  • 1999-03-30 KR KR1020007010507A patent/KR100661879B1/ko not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1999-03-30 WO PCT/US1999/007162 patent/WO1999049848A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 1999-03-30 CN CNB998065986A patent/CN100341485C/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1999-03-30 AT AT99915190T patent/ATE327735T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1999-03-30 EP EP99915190A patent/EP1067908B9/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1999-03-30 JP JP2000540814A patent/JP4695260B2/ja not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1999-03-30 AU AU33770/99A patent/AU756752B2/en not_active Ceased
  • 1999-03-30 CA CA002326485A patent/CA2326485C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1999-03-30 IL IL13876799A patent/IL138767A0/xx active IP Right Grant
  • 1999-03-30 DE DE69931617T patent/DE69931617T2/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
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• 2000
  • 2000-09-27 SE SE0003449A patent/SE0003449L/xx not_active Application Discontinuation
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