NEW COMBINATION FOR THE TREATMENT OF ASTHMA
Field of the invention
The present invention relates to compositions useful in the treatment of asthma and other respiratory disorders. More particularly, it relates to inhalation compositions comprising a new combination of two pharmaceutically active substances.
Background of the invention
Asthma is currently treated with drugs that can be classified into two classes, namely anti-inflammatory agents and bronchodilators. Anti-inflammatory drugs such as corticosteroids and sodium cromoglycate do not relieve asthma symptoms once they occur, rather they control the underlying inflammation. One of the drawbacks of anti-inflammatory drugs is that their onset of action is relatively slow. Therefore, patients often do not recognize any immediate therapeutic effects and tend to stop the medication. The acute asthma symptoms can be relieved by bronchodilators such as β2-adrenoreceptor agonists and theophylline. The short-acting inhaled β2-agonists, e.g. salbutamol and terbutaline, are important for an immediate symptomatic asthma relief, while long-acting β2-agonists, e.g. salmeterol, formoterol and procaterol, are important for treatment of moderate and severe asthma. However, there are currently still various debates on the safety of a regular use of β2-agonists as well as efficiency of long-acting β2-agonists.
Inhalation has become the primary route of administration in the treatment of asthma. This is because, besides providing direct access to the lungs, medication delivered through the respiratory tract provides rapid and predictable onset of action and requires lower dosages compared to the oral route. Typical delivery systems for inhalable drugs are the pressurized metered-dose inhaler (pMDI) comprising a suspension of fine drug particles in a propellant gas and the dry powder inhaler (DPI) comprising fine drug particles as dry powder typically admixed with coarser carrier or diluent such as lactose. Inhalable combinations of an anti-inflammatory agent and a bronchodilator have been described in patent publications EP 416950, EP 416951, WO 93/11773 and WO 98/15280.
Despite recent advances in the understanding and treatment of asthma, there are still problems related to dosing regimens, systemic effects of the anti-asthma drags and delivering fine drug particles deep into the lungs. Therefore improvements in the treatment of asthma and other respiratory disorders are desired.
Summary of the Invention
It has been found that an inhalation medicament comprising formoterol or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and beclomethasone dipropionate, as a combined preparation, provides unexpectedly enhanced lung penetration of the active ingredients and enhanced therapeutic effect. Moreover, the combination shows improved stability of formoterol compared to formoterol in the absence of beclomethasone dipropionate. The combined preparation is therefore particularly useful in the treatment of asthma and other respiratory disorders.
Accordingly, the present invention provides an inhalation medicament comprising formoterol or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and beclomethasone dipropionate as a combined preparation.
The present invention also provides an inhaler device comprising an inhalation medicament comprising formoterol or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and beclomethasone dipropionate as a combined preparation.
Optionally, the medicament comprises also one or more pharmaceutically acceptable additives, diluents or carriers.
The active ingredients are preferably provided as micronized particles, e.g. having mass median diameter of less than 10 μm. Preferably, the medicament is provided in the form of dry inhalation powder comprising the active ingredients, optionally in admixture with carrier particles.
Detailed Description of the Invention
The preferred salt of formoterol is formoterol fumarate, particularly in the form of dihydrate. Other suitable salts include acid addition salts of inorganic and organic acids, e.g. chloride, sulphate, tartrate, citrate, lactate and succinate salts or solvates thereof.
The active ingredients are preferably in the form of micronized particles, preferably having mass median particle diameter of less than about 10 μm, suitably from about 1 to about 5 μm.
The molar ratio of formoterol or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof to beclomethasone dipropionate in a fixed combination is preferably from about 1 : 1 to about 1:1000, preferably from about 1:5 to about 1:100, more preferably from about 1:10 to about 1:60.
Preferably the medicament of the invention is in the form of a dry inhalation powder composition. Such compositions may be prepared e.g. by agglomeration of the micronized particles of the active ingredients and possibly the micronized carrier particles using methods known in the art.
It is particularly preferred that the dry inhalation powder composition is a mixture of the micronized particles of the active ingredients and carrier particles, the carrier particles being typically of coarser particle size. A method of preparing such mixtures typically comprises adding the micronized active ingredients and part of the carrier particles into a blender and mixing until the powder mixture is homogenous. The mixture is then sieved to reduce the number of particle clusters present.
Thereafter the rest of carrier particles is added and mixed until the powder is again homogenous.
Particularly preferred carrier materials in dry inhalation powder compositions are carbohydrates. Carbohydrates suitable for use as a dry powder carrier material include, for example, monosaccharides such as fructose, maltose or glucose; disaccharides such as lactose sucrose or trehalose; polys accharides such as raffinose or melezitose; and alditols such as mannitol, xylitol, lactitol and the like. Preferred carrier is lactose or glucose, lactose being most preferred.
If the medicament contains a carrier, e.g. lactose, the total amount of the active ingredients is about 0.05 - 50 % (w/w), preferably about 1 - 10 % (w/w), based on total weight of the composition.
The mass median particle diameter of the carrier is preferably between 5 and
150 μm, more preferably between 10 and 100 μm, most preferably between 15 and 80 μm.
The medicament may alternatively be in the form of a pressurized aerosol where fine drug particles are suspended in a propellant gas. Examples of aerosol carriers include non-chlorofluorocarbon-based carriers such as HFA (hydrofluoro- alkane). Pressurized aerosols can be prepared according to the methods well known in the art.
The medicament of the invention may also comprise additives such as solubilizers, stabilizers, flavouring agents, colorizing agents and preserving agents.
For administration by inhalation, the medicament according to the invention is conveniently delivered by conventional means. For example, the medicament can be delivered from inhaler devices well known in the art such as pressurized metered dose inhalers or dry powder inhalers. When the medicament is in the form of dry inhalation powder, it can be filled in e.g. capsules, cartridges, blister packs or a reservoir, from which the powder may be administered by means of a dry powder inhaler.
The combination of the invention has a particular advantage in that the inhaler device may comprise one or several parts made from polyacetal (POM) material, which normally is incompatible with formoterol due to the volatile components of polyacetal (POM) material. Polyacetal (POM) is frequently used in dry powder inhalers, e.g. in metering components, due to its advantageous mechanical properties.
The medicament is preferably administered to provide a daily dose of from about 1 to about 100 μg, more preferably from about 6 to about 50 μg, of formoterol fumarate dihydrate and from about 50 to about 2000 μg, more preferably from about 100 to about 1000 μg, of beclomethasone dipropionate, depending on the age and weight of the patient and the severity and type of the disease.
The medicament according to the invention may be administered to a patient daily or periodically, e.g. one month on treatment and one month off treatment. The medicament may be administered as divided doses from 1 to 4 doses a day.
Although the plasma half-life of beclomethasone dipropionate is very short, its lung tissue binding half-life is 7.5 hours and consequently twice-daily administration is usually sufficient. For formoterol, the elimination half -life in plasma is around
10 hours and the duration of effect locally is over 12 hours, and the usual administration frequency is twice daily, too. Comparable durations of action locally and equal dosing schedules make beclomethasone dipropionate and formoterol ideal constituents for a fixed combination product.
The medicament suitably contains, per dose, from 3 to 36 μg, preferably from 6 to 24 μg, particularly from 12 to 24 μg, of formoterol fumarate dihydrate, and from 50 to 600 μg, preferably from 100 to 400 μg, particularly from 200 to 400 μg, of beclomethasone dipropionate.
For example, the medicament may contain, per dose, 12 μg of formoterol fumarate dihydrate and 200 μg of beclomethasone dipropionate. Administration of one to two such doses by inhalation twice daily would be effective in most cases of moderate persistent asthma and is likely to suffice in many severe asthmatics, too.
Lower dose strength containing, per dose, for example 6 μg of formoterol fumarate dihydrate and 100 μg of beclomethasone dipropionate would allow downward dose titration, once control is achieved and sustained for several weeks or months.
An example of a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention is an inhalation medicament in the form of dry inhalation powder comprising a) formoterol or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof having mass median particle diameter of less than about 10 μm, preferably from about 1 to about 5 μm; b) beclomethasone dipropionate having mass median particle diameter of less than about 10 μm, preferably from about 1 to about 5 μm; and c) carrier having mass median particle diameter between 5 and 150 μm, preferably between 10 and 100 μm, more preferably between 15 and 80 μm, wherein the molar ratio of formoterol or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof to beclomethasone dipropionate is from about 1:1 to about 1:1000, preferably from about 1:5 to about 1:100, more preferably from about 1:10 to about 1:60.
hi the above embodiment, the amount of formoterol or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof is preferably 0.01 - 5 %, more preferably 0.05 - 1 %, by weight of the composition; the amount of beclomethasone dipropionate is preferably 0.1 - 50 %, more preferably 0.5 - 10 %, by weight of the composition; and the
amount of the carrier is preferably 50 - 99.9 %, more preferably 90 - 99.5 %, by weight of the composition.
The combination of the invention is useful in the treatment of asthma and other respiratory diseases, such as mild, moderate and severe asthma, allergic and non-allergic asthma, acute condition of asthma, intermittent asthma, episodes in chronic asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and adult respiratory distress syndrome. The treatment may be symptomatic or prophylactic treatment.
The invention is further illustrated by the following examples and experiments, which are not meant to limit the scope of the invention.
Example 1. Dry inhalation powder (per dose)
Formoterol fumarate dihydrate (micronized) 12 μg
Beclomethasone dipropionate (micronized) 200 μg
Lactose monohydrate Ph. Eur. 8 mg
Micronized active ingredients and part of the lactose were added into a blender. The powder mixture was mixed until it was homogenous. The mixture was then sieved to reduce the number of particle clusters present. Thereafter the rest of lactose was added and the powder was again mixed until it was homogenous. Powder was poured into the supply chamber of the multi-dose powder inhaler Easyhaler (Orion Corporation trademark) for a supply of 200 doses.
Experiments
Experiment 1.
Three dry powder formulations were prepared by blending micronized formoterol fumarate, micronized beclomethasone dipropionate and lactose monohydrate in the proportions given in Table 1.
Table 1. Dry powder formulations used in the Experiments. The values mean weight of the ingredient (g) per 1 g of total formulation.
The homogenous formulations were filled into Easyhaler (Orion Corporation trademark) multi-dose dry powder inhalers. The dose metered by the inhaler (size of the metering cup) was four times smaller for formulation A than for other formulations.
The fine particle fraction of the active ingredients obtained from the inhalers filled with the formulations of Table 1 were determined using Twin Impinger as described in European Pharmacopoiea Supplement 2000. The results are shown in Table 2.
Table 2. Fine particle fraction of the active ingredients calculated from theoretical doses (200 μg for beclomethasone dipropionate and 12 μg for formoterol fumarate)
The results show that the fraction of beclomethasone dipropionate particles having ability to reach deep into the lung (fine particle fraction) was superior in the combination medicament while there was no marked difference in the fine particle dose of formoterol fumarate between the formulations.
Experiment 2.
The stability of formulations "A" and "Combination" as described above were studied.
Packaging materials for both inhalation powders were multi-dose powder inhaler device, Easyhaler (Orion Corporation trademark), in laminate pouch (PTE/AL/PE, heat sealed). The material of the metering cylinder was VΛ A and 1 A polyacetal (POM). POM is particularly suitable for use as metering cylinder material but is also known to be incompatible with formoterol fumarate dihydrate causing degradation product at retention times of 6.7min, 7.1 min and 8.2 min. The main impurity at 6.7 min was identified as N-methyl-formoterol. The following peak at 7.1 min contained two components with molecular ions at m/z 328 and 386. Impurity at 8.1 min showed molecular ion at m z 493.
Storage time and conditions as well as stability results are presented in Tables
3 and 4.
Table 3. Stability results for Formoterol EH12μg/dose and Beclomethasone/- formoterol EH 12 μg/200 μg/dose inhalation powders. Storage condition 25°C/60% RH.
Blq = Below limit of quantitation (0.05%)
Table 4. Stability results for Formoterol Easyhaler 12μg/dose and Beclomethasone/formoterol 12 μg/200 μg/dose inhalation powders. Storage condition 30°C/60% RH.
Blq = Below limit of quantitation (0.05%)
At 25°C/60% RH Formoterol EH 12 μg/dose inhalation powder has stability problem and the specification limits for the degradation products were exceeded. In contrast, Beclomethasone/Formoterol 200/12μg/dose inhalation powder shows good stability profile and the specification limits for the degradation products were not exceeded (Table 3).
At 30°C/60% RH Formoterol 12μg/dose inhalation powder contains degradation products exceeding the specification limits as early as after 3 months storage. On the other hand, Beclomethasone/Formoterol 200/12 μg/dose inhalation powder has good stability profile without any significant exceeding of specification limits (Table 4).
In conclusion, formoterol fumarate dihydrate was significantly more stabile with beclomethasone in lactose blend than alone in lactose blend in the inhaler device.