PROCESS FOR THE PREPARATION OF PAROXETINE HYDROCHLOR IDE
The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of a pharmaceutically active compound, and to use of the so-prepared compound in therapy. In particular this invention is concerned with the preparation of various solid forms of paroxetine hydrochloride.
Pharmaceutical products with antidepressant and anti-Parkinson properties are described in US-A-3912743 and US-A-4007196. An especially important compound among those disclosed is paroxetine, the (-) trans isomer of 4-(4 -fluorophenyl)-3-(3',4 - methylene-dioxyphenoxymethyl)-piperidine. This compound is used in therapy as the hydrochloride salt to treat inter alia depression, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and panic.
Paroxetine hydrochloride has been described in the literature as a crystalline hemihydrate (see EP-A-0223403 of Beecham Group) and as various crystalline anhydrate forms (see WO96/24595 of SmithKline Beecham pic). These known forms have properties that are not ideal for all pharmaceutical applications, and are prepared by multi-step procedures involving precipitation under carefully controlled conditions, filtration, drying, and homogenisation.
There remains a need for a more easily controlled precipitation process than is obtained by previously known methods, and better control of surface morphology, porosity, particle size and distribution
As the basis of this invention, we have devised a procedure for the isolation of solid forms of paroxetine hydrochloride whereby the precipitation takes place in or from a supercritical or near-critical phase, i.e. a phase that has properties similar to a gas but has density and solvation power similar to a liquid.
Accordingly, in its broadest aspect, the present invention provides a process for isolating a solid form of paroxetine hydrochloride which comprises precipitating paroxetine hydrochloride from a solution thereof in a supercritical or near-critical fluid domain.
The solid forms of paroxetine hydrochloride that may be obtained using this procedure include crystalline forms as well as an amorphous precipitated form.
This procedure offers the advantage of a more easily controlled precipitation process than is obtained by previously known methods, and better control of surface morphology, porosity, particle size and distribution. These factors are important and affect, for example, the rate of dissolution and the performance of the material in secondary pharmaceutical manufacturing.
Paroxetine hydrochloride is prepared for supercritical fluid precipitation by forming a solution in a supercritical fluid such as supercritical carbon dioxide. Other supercritical fluids such as ethane, n-propane, n-butane, and nitrogen oxide, may also be used. Known solid forms of paroxetine hydrochloride form such solutions with some difficulty. Therefore the paroxetine hydrochloride is preferably first dissolved in an auxiliary solvent, for example ethanol, propan-2-ol, or isobutyl alcohol, compatible with the supercritical fluid, and the solution brought into contact with the supercritical fluid to form a suitable solution for precipitation. A suitable solution may be prepared from amoφhous paroxetine hydrochloride or a crystalline anhydrate, hydrate, or solvate of paroxetine hydrochloride, or by dissolving the free base and hydrochloric acid in an aqueous, organic or mixed aqueous and organic solvent. Indeed it may be possible to bring the free base and hydrochloric acid together in the supercritical domain where they may react prior to precipitation of paroxetine hydrochloride.
In order to achieve successful precipitation of paroxetine hydrochloride from a supercritical fluid by a method that uses an auxiliary solvent, this solvent preferably has an affinity for the supercritical fluid so that both may be effectively removed in a single process. The preferred auxiliary solvents listed above are not ideal in this respect, at least when the supercritical fluid is carbon dioxide, so it may be advantageous to employ an additional entraining solvent to confer suitable properties on the auxiliary solvent. An example of a suitable entraining solvent for use with propan-2-ol and supercritical carbon dioxide is acetone.
The entraining solvent may be combined with the auxiliary solvent in a ratio from 1:5 to 20: 1, preferably from 1: 1 to 10:1, and most preferably from 3: 1 to 7: 1. The concentration of paroxetine hydrochloride in the auxiliary solvent may be from 0.5% to 25%, but is preferably in the range 1% to 10%, for example from 2.5% to 5%. The supercritical solution for precipitation is formed by combining the paroxetine hydrochloride solution with supercritical fluid in its liquid phase in a ratio of from 1 :2 to 1 :200, preferably in the range from 1 : 10 to 1 :50, most preferably in the range 1 : 15 to 1:30.
In a typical procedure, a chamber containing a spray device is maintained at a temperature and pressure such that carbon dioxide (or other fluid) is supercritical. The temperature is controlled using an oven, and the pressure is controlled using a back pressure regulator at the chamber exit. A solution of paroxetine hydrochloride is prepared in a suitable solvent system and this solution and a supercritical fluid are separately metered to the spray device using high pressure pumps. Within, or close to the spray device, the supercritical fluid effectively removes the solvent from the paroxetine hydrochloride solution, giving a precipitate which is deposited in the collection chamber. When sufficient material has accumulated in the collection chamber the delivery of paroxetine hydrochloride solution is stopped. The paroxetine hydrochloride particles are rinsed with supercritical fluid to remove final traces of solvent and the apparatus is depressurised to harvest the product.
In an alternative method of operation the paroxetine hydrochloride is dissolved in the supercritical fluid or solvent-modified supercritical fluid using a saturator chamber. The resultant supercritical fluid solution is sprayed through a spray device into a second chamber at atmospheric or slightly above atmospheric pressure and particles of paroxetine hydrochloride are formed.
The temperature of the precipitation is generally from 15°C to 150°C, preferably from 45°C to 100°C, and the pressure is maintained in the range 25 to 300 bar, preferably from 100 to 200 bar.
When a crystalline product is desired, improved control of the precipitation process may be achieved by the addition of seeds. When the desired product is a hydrate such as paroxetine hydrochloride hemihydrate, an amount of water should be present in excess of the amount required according to theory.
The solid product of this invention may be formulated for therapy in the dosage forms described in EP-A-0223403 or WO96/24595. Free-flowing solids are advantageous for the preparation of solid formulations. Easily soluble solids are suitable for the preparation of solutions for parenteral use.
Therapeutic uses of the paroxetine product of this invention include treatment of: alcoholism, anxiety, depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, panic disorder, chronic pain, obesity, senile dementia, migraine, bulimia, anorexia, social phobia, pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS), adolescent depression, trichotillomania, dysthymia, and substance abuse, referred to below as "the disorders".
Accordingly, the present invention also provides:
a pharmaceutical composition for treatment or prophylaxis of the disorders comprising solid paroxetine hydrochloride obtained by the process of this invention and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or a solution of the obtained solid paroxetine hydrochloride;
the use of solid paroxetine hydrochloride obtained by the process of this invention to manufacture a medicament in solid or liquid form for the treatment or prophylaxis of the disorders; and
a method of treating the disorders which comprises administering an effective or prophylactic amount of solid paroxetine hydrochloride obtained by the process of this invention, or a solution thereof, to a person suffering from one or more of the disorders.
The invention is illustrated by the following Examples:
Example 1
A particle collection chamber incoφorating a spray device was maintained at a temperature of 45°C and a pressure of 95 bar. A 2% solution of paroxetine hydrochloride in a 50: 10 acetone/propan-2-ol mixture containing 1.6% water was metered to the spray device at 0.40 ml/min. Supercritical carbon dioxide was also metered to the spray device at 9.0 ml/min. Paroxetine hydrochloride was deposited as low bulk density white powder.
Example 2
A particle collection chamber with a spray device was maintained at 50°C and 125 bar. A 2% solution of paroxetine hydrochloride in 110: 10 acetone/propan-2-ol was metered to the spray device at 0.27 ml min. Supercritical carbon dioxide was also metered to the spray device at 6.0 ml/min. Paroxetine hydrochloride was deposited as a dense white powder.