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
  • A61K9/20—Pills, tablets, discs, rods
  • A61K9/2004—Excipients; Inactive ingredients
  • A61K9/2022—Organic macromolecular compounds
  • A61K9/2027—Organic macromolecular compounds obtained by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds, e.g. polyvinyl pyrrolidone, poly(meth)acrylates
• • 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
  • A61K9/20—Pills, tablets, discs, rods
  • A61K9/2004—Excipients; Inactive ingredients
  • A61K9/2022—Organic macromolecular compounds
  • A61K9/205—Polysaccharides, e.g. alginate, gums; Cyclodextrin
  • A61K9/2054—Cellulose; Cellulose derivatives, e.g. hydroxypropyl methylcellulose
• • 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
  • A61K9/20—Pills, tablets, discs, rods
  • A61K9/28—Dragees; Coated pills or tablets, e.g. with film or compression coating
  • A61K9/2806—Coating materials
  • A61K9/2833—Organic macromolecular compounds
  • A61K9/286—Polysaccharides, e.g. gums; Cyclodextrin
• • 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
  • A61K9/20—Pills, tablets, discs, rods
  • A61K9/28—Dragees; Coated pills or tablets, e.g. with film or compression coating
  • A61K9/2806—Coating materials
  • A61K9/2833—Organic macromolecular compounds
  • A61K9/286—Polysaccharides, e.g. gums; Cyclodextrin
  • A61K9/2866—Cellulose; Cellulose derivatives, e.g. hydroxypropyl methylcellulose

Definitions

• the present invention relates to coatings for tablets for pharmaceutical, nutraceutical and/or veterinary use. More specifically, the present invention relates to flavoured coatings that have a pleasant mouthfeel. The present invention also relates to processes for preparing coated pharmaceutical and/or nutraceutical tablets and/or veterinary tablets.
• Pharmaceutically active agents such as drugs or medicaments can be used to treat diseases or for prophylactic purposes.
• Nutraceutically active agents can be used for a variety of medical and non-medical purposes including supplementing dietary intake, enhancing performance, and the like.
• Oral administration of active agents is the most common mode of administration. In many cases it is desirable to administer active agents as compressed (solid) tablets for oral administration due to reasons of stability, economy, simplicity, and convenience of dosing. Tablets typically deliver a pharmacologically effective amount of an active agent to the gastrointestinal tract of the human or animal to which they are administered.
• Tablets can have one or more coatings that provide a variety of benefits, including the masking of objectionable flavours or odors, protecting unstable tablet compositions, improving the ease with which the tablets are swallowed, providing protection of the tablets through the stomach with enteric coatings, improving the appearance of the tablets, improving the mouthfeel of the tablets, colouring the tablets, and the like.
• Numerous methods for coating tablets with one or more coatings are known. They include sugar coating, solvent film coating, aqueous film coating, delayed release coating and granule coating techniques.
• polymeric film coating agents Some of the most commonly used coatings today are polymeric film coating agents. Advantages of polymeric coatings include the ability to produce a tablet in which the coating comprises less than 5% of the weight, better resistance to chipping, and increased tablet strength. Polymers have been applied to tablets using both aqueous and non-aqueous solvents. Many tablet coatings are formed from low viscosity hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC) and an appropriate plasticiser. The coating is typically applied by a spraying system or device to a tablet in a coating process.
• HPMC low viscosity hydroxypropylmethylcellulose
• the present invention arises from the finding that the use of a powdered flavour composition, which can be obtained, for example, by spray drying a flavourant with a carrier, such as maltodextrin, provides certain manufacturing efficiencies and product benefits for pharmaceutical, nutraceutical and/or veterinary tablets having a flavoured coating.
• the flavour composition may be used in a tablet coating composition suitable for coating tablets having one or more beneficial properties.
• the present invention provides a tablet coating composition including a cellulose polymer, a plasticiser, a sweetener, and a powdered flavour composition, the powdered flavour composition including a flavourant associated with a solid carrier.
• the flavourant is "associated with" the solid carrier in that it at least partially coats, is solidified with, absorbed into, or adsorbed onto some of the particles of the carrier in the flavour composition. This can be achieved by spray drying the flavourant with the powdered carrier.
• the powdered flavour composition can be said to consist essentially of the flavourant and the carrier.
• the carrier may include a dextrin.
• the dextrin is maltodextrin.
• the powdered flavour composition may also contain other components.
• the carrier may contain a saccharide, such as glucose.
• the carrier may contain a sweetener, such as a natural or artificial sweetener.
• the carrier may contain a gum, such as sodium carboxymethylcellulose, acacia gum or xanthan gum.
• the cellulose polymer used in the tablet coating composition may be selected from the group consisting of: methylcellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose (HPC), hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC or hypromellose), hydroxyethylcellulose (HEC), hydroxyethylmethylcellulose (HEMC), and a combination of any two or more of the aforementioned.
• the cellulose polymer is hydroxypropylmethylcellulose. Hydroxypropylmethylcellulose is available in a range of viscosities. The viscosity of the hydroxypropylmethylcellulose that is used may depend on the specific application.
• Hydroxypropylmethylcellulose having a viscosity of 4.5 centipoise (cps), 5 cps, 6 cps, 15 cps, or even 50 cps may be suitable.
• the viscosity of the hydroxypropylmethylcellulose is about 4 cps to about 6 cps.
• the hydroxypropylmethylcellulose has a viscosity of 4.5 cps.
• the hydroxypropylmethylcellulose has a viscosity of 5 cps.
• the hydroxypropylmethylcellulose has a viscosity of 6 cps.
• the plasticiser used in the tablet coating composition may be a polyethylene glycol.
• the polyethylene glycol may have a molecular weight of about 4000 to about 20000. In some embodiments, the polyethylene glycol has a molecular weight of about 6000.
• the sweetener used in the tablet coating composition may be a sweetener that has a sweetness greater than the sweetness of sucrose. This may be any suitable natural - A -
• the sweetener is sucralose.
• the tablet coating composition may include, by dry weight of the tablet coating composition, 40-80% cellulose polymer, 5-30% plasticiser, 0.1 -5% sweetener, and 5-
• the tablet coating composition also includes, by dry weight of the tablet coating composition, 5-25% of pigments. In some embodiments, the tablet coating composition includes, by dry weight of the tablet coating composition, 40-60% cellulose polymer, 10-30% plasticiser, 0.1 -2% sweetener, and 10-30% powdered flavour composition.
• the tablet coating composition may also contain other components including, but not limited to, adherents, lubricants, emulsifiers, anti-foaming agents, colourants, coating polymers, fragrances, and active agents.
• the tablet coating composition is dissolved or suspended in a liquid so that it can be applied to a tablet.
• the present invention further provides a tablet coating fluid including the aforementioned tablet coating composition and a liquid.
• the liquid of the tablet coating fluid is a solvent.
• the solvent may be an organic solvent, an aqueous solvent or water.
• the solvent is an aqueous solvent containing ethanol and water.
• the solvent is about 20% to about 80% ethanol/water.
• the solvent is 60% ethanol/water.
• the coating fluid includes, by weight, 6-7% cellulose polymer, 1 -2% plasticiser, 0.1 -0.3% sweetener, 1 -3% powdered flavour composition, 52-53% ethanol, and 35-36% water. In some embodiments, the coating fluid also includes 1 - 2% of pigments.
• the coating fluid includes 6-7% hypromellose 5 or 6 cps, 1 -2% polyethylene glycol 6000 (plasticiser), 1 -2% talc-purified/titanium dioxide/colour, 1 -3% flavour/maltodextrin powder (the weaker the flavour the more is needed), 0.1 -0.2% sucralose (depending on how sweet consumers like it), about 53% ethanol 96% BP, and about 35% water (purified).
• the present invention also provides a pharmaceutical tablet including:
• the coating formed from a tablet coating composition including a cellulose polymer, a plasticiser, a sweetener, and a powdered flavour composition, the powdered flavour composition including a flavourant associated with a solid carrier.
• the cellulose polymer, plasticiser, sweetener and powdered flavour composition may be as described earlier.
• the active agent may be a pharmaceutically active agent, a nutraceutically active agent or a veterinarally active agent.
• the coating is applied to the core as a fluid by spray coating.
• the coating may be about 1 % to about 6% by weight of the total weight of the tablet.
• the present invention also provides a process for preparing a coated tablet, the process including: combining a cellulose polymer, a plasticiser, a sweetener, a powdered flavour composition and a liquid to form a tablet coating fluid, the powdered flavour composition including a flavourant associated with a solid carrier; applying the tablet coating fluid to a core containing an active agent; and removing a majority of the liquid to provide a coated tablet.
• the present invention also provides a process for preparing a coated tablet, the process including: providing a tablet coating composition including a cellulose polymer, a plasticiser, a sweetener, and a powdered flavour composition, the powdered flavour composition including a flavourant associated with a solid carrier; - combining the tablet coating composition and a liquid to form a tablet coating fluid; applying the tablet coating fluid to a core containing an active agent; and removing a majority of the fluid to provide a coated tablet.
• the present invention also provides a process for preparing a coated tablet, the process including: providing a tablet coating fluid, the tablet coating fluid formed from a tablet coating composition including a cellulose polymer, a plasticiser, a sweetener, and a powdered flavour composition, the powdered flavour composition including a flavourant associated with a solid carrier, and a liquid; - applying the tablet coating fluid to a core containing an active agent; and removing a majority of the liquid to provide a coated tablet.
• the present invention also provides for use of a powdered flavour composition in the preparation of tablet coating composition, the tablet coating composition including a cellulose polymer, a plasticiser, a sweetener, and a powdered flavour composition, wherein the powdered flavour composition includes a flavourant associated with a solid carrier.
• the present invention also provides for use of a tablet coating composition as described herein in the preparation of a coated tablet for the treatment of a disease, condition or disorder in a human or animal.
• the present invention also provides for a method of treating a disease, condition or disorder in a human or animal, the method including administering to the human or animal a coated tablet as described herein, wherein the active agent is suitable for the treatment of the disease, condition or disorder.
• active agent means a substance or group of substances that illicit a physiological response when administered to a human or animal.
• the term includes a substance or group of substances that is intended for use in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment or prevention of an undesirable state in a human or animal.
• the active agent may be a pharmaceutically active agent, a nutraceutically active agent or a veterinarally active agent.
• the active agent may be a drug that is used therapeutically to treat or prevent a disease state in humans or animals.
• active agents include pharmaceutical actives, therapeutic actives, vitamins, minerals, nutritional supplements, dietary supplements, cosmetic actives, veterinary actives, nutraceuticals, growth regulators, sterilants, pheromones, nutrients, proteinaceous materials, genes, chromosomes, DNA and other biological materials.
• active pharmaceutical agent means any active pharmaceutical ingredient (“API”), including its pharmaceutically acceptable salts, as well as in the anhydrous, hydrated, and solvated forms, in the form of prodrugs, and in the individually optically active enantiomers of the API as well as polymorphs of the API.
• API active pharmaceutical ingredient
• active nutraceutical agent and “nutraceutically active agent” as used herein mean any food or nutrient-based substance that may provide medicinal or health benefits, including the prevention and treatment of disease.
• pharmaceutically acceptable means a substance or composition that is compatible chemically and/or toxicologically with the other ingredients including a formulation, and/or the mammal being treated.
• tablette means a single dosage form, i.e. the single entity containing the active agent that is administered to the subject.
• tablette also includes a tablet that may be a combination of one or more “minitablets” or “cores”.
• minitablets minitablets
• cores cores
• the mintablets or cores may be used in capsules or even sachets (if smaller than about 3mm).
• pharmaceutical tablet means a tablet that contains one or more active agents, and includes a tablet for pharmaceutical, nutraceutical or veterinary use.
• core means any structure that is surrounded (partially or wholly) by a wall, membrane, or coating.
• the wall, membrane, or coating can be a functional or non-functional coating.
• pellet and “powdered” as used herein mean a particulate material consisting of a loose aggregation of fine solid particles.
• treating refer generally to amelioration or elimination of a disease, condition or disorder once it has been established.
• prophylaxis refers generally to treatment to prevent the onset of a disease, condition or disorder or of a process that can lead to the disease, condition or disorder ("primary” prophylaxis), or the recurrence of symptoms of a disease, condition or disorder.
• effective amount and “therapeutically effective amount” refer generally to an amount of a compound or composition that (i) treats or prevents the particular disease, condition, or disorder, (ii) attenuates, ameliorates, or eliminates one or more symptoms of the particular disease, condition, or disorder, or (iii) prevents or delays the onset of one or more symptoms of the particular disease, condition, or disorder.
• subject and patient as used herein mean all members of the animal kingdom, including humans.
• the present invention provides a tablet coating composition including a cellulose polymer, a plasticiser, a sweetener, and a powdered flavour composition.
• the powdered flavour composition includes a flavourant associated with a solid carrier.
• the powdered flavour composition may be prepared by spray drying the flavourant with the carrier, thereby providing a flavour composition in which the flavourant at least partially coats, or is associated with, some of the granules or particles of the carrier.
• the flavourant may be any natural, artificial or synthetic compound or mixture of compounds that is pharmaceutically, nutraceutically or veterinarally acceptable.
• An illustrative list of flavourants for pharmaceutical and nutraceutical applications includes volatile oils, synthetic flavour oils, flavouring aromatics, oils, liquids, oleoresins and extracts derived from plants, leaves, flowers, fruits, stems, roots, and combinations thereof.
• flavour oils include spearmint oil, cinnamon oil, oil of wintergreen (methyl salicylate), peppermint oil, clove oil, bay oil, anise oil, eucalyptus oil, thyme oil, cedar leaf oil, oil of nutmeg, allspice, oil of sage, mace, oil of bitter almonds, cassia oil, and combinations thereof.
• Suitable flavourants also include, for example, artificial, natural and synthetic fruit flavours such as citrus oils (e.g., lemon, orange, lime, and grapefruit), fruit essences (e.g., apple, pear, peach, grape, strawberry, raspberry, cherry, plum, pineapple, apricot or other fruit flavours).
• Other useful artificial, natural and synthetic flavourants include chocolate, coffee, vanilla, honey powders, and combinations thereof.
• Other useful flavourants include aldehydes and esters, such as benzaldehyde (cherry, almond), citral (lemon, lime), neral (lemon, lime), decanal (orange, lemon), aldehyde C-8 (citrus fruits), aldehyde C- 9 (citrus fruits), aldehyde C-12 (citrus fruits), tolyl aldehyde (cherry, almond), 2,6- dimethyloctanal (green fruit), 2-dodenal (citrus mandarin), and combinations thereof.
• flavourants for veterinary applications includes volatile oils, synthetic flavour oils, flavouring aromatics, oils, liquids, oleoresins and extracts derived from animals, plants, leaves, flowers, fruits, stems, roots, and combinations thereof.
• Non-limiting examples of flavourants include meat extract, fish extract, and vegetable extract.
• the carrier may include a dextrin.
• the dextrin is maltodextrin.
• Maltodextrin is a polysaccharide that is widely used as a food additive and pharmaceutical excipient and is widely available commercially.
• the maltodextrin ideally has a Dextrose Equivalent (DE) of about 15 to about 20. As the DE of the maltodextrin increases, so does sweetness and solubility.
• DE Dextrose Equivalent
• materials having a DE of greater than about 20 are corn syrup solids and dextrose which are more hygroscopic. Dextrose is also less favoured by diabetics and consumers may also prefer "sugarless" products having fewer calories.
• the powdered flavour composition may contain flavourant in an amount from about 1% to about 20%, by weight, with the remainder being carrier and, optionally, other components.
• the powdered flavour composition contains about 10%, by weight, of the flavourant and about 90%, by weight, maltodextrin.
• the powdered flavour composition may contain other components in addition to the carrier.
• the powdered flavour composition may contain another saccharide or polysaccharide, such as glucose or dextrose.
• the powdered flavour composition may contain a sweetener, such as a natural or artificial sweetener.
• the powdered flavour composition may contain a gum, such as sodium carboxymethylcellulose, acacia gum or xanthan gum (e.g. Keltrol F). Gums can be added to improve mouthfeel as they rapidly swell when put in the mouth and quickly release the flavour from the coating by breaking it up.
• Benefits of using the powdered flavour composition and subsequently combining it with other components to form the tablet coating composition is that it becomes both a flavour and a functional ingredient, there are less ingredients to weigh out, and the powdered flavour composition is normally less volatile than if a liquid flavourant is used, which is useful for stability and manufacturability. Indeed, the volatility of liquid flavourants makes accurate dosing of the flavourant difficult under normal manufacturing conditions. Also, the solvent (or other volatile component(s)) of liquid flavourants can have detrimental effects on the tablet core when the tablets are coated because the flavour can tend to leach through to the tablet.
• a coating fluid containing the powdered flavour composition the viscosity of the coating fluid is greater than if a liquid flavourant is used and the film forming behaviour of the coating fluid is improved.
• Including a powdered flavour composition provides a film with good strength and adhesion.
• a powdered flavour composition in formulating the tablet coating composition gives rise to a coated tablet that may have improved gloss and/or mouthfeel compared to a coated tablet formed from a coating composition in which a liquid flavourant is used.
• the carrier that is used in the tablet coating composition may provide for improved gloss and mouthfeel in the final product.
• the powdered flavour composition is combined with the cellulose polymer, the plasticiser, and the sweetener to form the tablet coating composition.
• the tablet coating composition is suitable for coating a tablet to produce a coated tablet that has a pleasant taste and mouthfeel and is easy to swallow.
• the tablet to be coated may contain one or more of any active agent.
• active agents which may be effectively coated are not limited and include pharmaceutically active agents, nutraceutically active agents and veterinarally active agents, such as those typically delivered in a tablet dosage form.
• the flavoured coating composition is particularly suitable for coating tablets containing unpleasant tasting pharmaceutically active agents, nutraceutically active agents or veterinarally active agents.
• Examples include, but are not limited to: analgesics and antiphlogistics such as aspirin, acetaminophen, phenacetin; steroids including antinflammatory steroids; enzymes, proteins, antibiotics or antimycrophotics including penicillin and its derivatives; anesthetics, vasodiolators such as nitroglycerin, anticarcinogens, sulfonamide drugs, sedatives, tranquilizing and hypnotic agents, bronchial-dilating agents, potassium chloride, mixtures thereof, and the like.
• Pharmaceutically or veterinarally active agents can include, for example, medicaments or drugs, e.g., analgesics, anti-inflammatory agents, anthelmintics, antiarrhythmic agents, antibiotics, anticoagulants, antidepressants, antidiabetic agents, antidiarrheal agents, antiemetic agents, antiepileptics, antihistamines, antihypertensive agents, antimuscarinic agents, antimycobacterial agents, antineoplastic agents, immunosuppressants, antithyroid agents, anti-tussive agents, antiviral agents, anxiolytic sedatives, astringents, beta-adrenoceptor blocking agents, cardiac ionotropic agents, corticosteroids, cough suppressants, diagnostic agents, diagnostic imaging agents, diuretics, dopaminergics, haemostatics, immunological agents, lipid regulating agents, muscle relaxants, parasympathomimetics, parathyroid calcitonin and biphosphonates, prostaglan
• Nutraceutically active agents can include, for example, dietary supplements, minerals, vitamins, and the like, and combinations thereof.
• nutraceutically active agents include, vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin E (e.g., d-alpha-tocopherol, d-alpha- tocopheryl acetate, dl-alpha-tocopherol and dl-alpha-tocopheryl acetate), vitamin B1 and derivatives thereof, vitamin B2 and derivatives thereof, vitamin B6 and derivatives thereof (e.g., pyridoxine hydrochloride), vitamin C and derivatives thereof (e.g., ascorbic acid, sodium L-ascorbate, etc.), vitamin B12 and derivatives thereof, fluoride (e.g., sodium fluoride), calcium, magnesium, iron, proteins, amino acids, amino saccharides (amino sugars), oligosaccharides, and combinations thereof.
• fluoride e.g., sodium fluoride
• the tablet may contain the active agent(s) on its own or, more commonly, the active agent admixed with one or more tabletting excipients, carriers, binders and the like.
• the active agent may be mixed or blended with the desired excipient(s), if any, using conventional procedures and the resulting mixture compressed according to conventional tabletting procedure using a suitably sized tabletting tool.
• the tablet coating composition contains the powdered flavour composition, the cellulose polymer, the plasticiser, the sweetener, and, optionally, other pharmaceutically acceptable excipients.
• the tablet coating composition typically includes, by dry weight of the tablet coating composition, 40-80% cellulose polymer, 5-30% plasticiser, 0.1 -5% sweetener, and 5-33% powdered flavour composition.
• the tablet coating composition also includes, by dry weight of the tablet coating composition, 5-25% pigments.
• the tablet coating composition includes, by dry weight of the tablet coating composition, 40-60% cellulose polymer, 10-30% plasticiser, 0.1 -2% sweetener, and 10-30% powdered flavour composition.
• the tablet coating composition includes, by dry weight of the tablet coating composition, about 52% cellulose polymer, about 13% plasticiser, about 0.5% sweetener, and about 21 % flavour composition, the remainder being pigments.
• the cellulose polymer may be any film-forming cellulose polymer.
• the cellulose polymer may be selected from the group consisting of: methylcellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose (HPC), hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC or hypromellose), hydroxyethylcellulose (HEC), hydroxyethylmethylcellulose (HEMC), and a combination of any two or more of the aforementioned.
• the cellulose polymer is hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC).
• HPMC hydroxypropylmethylcellulose
• Suitable HPMC include those having a viscosity from about 1 to about 100 centipoise (cps), in particular from about 3 to about 15 cps. HPMC having a low viscosity, i.e.
• the plasticiser may be any substance that improves the plastic properties of the coating when formed.
• the plasticiser may be selected from the group consisting of: glycerin, triethyl citrate, 1 ,2-propylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, and propylene glycol.
• the plasticiser is polyethylene glycol (also known as macrogol in the European pharmacopoeia).
• Polyethylene glycol (PEG) is a flexible, water soluble polymer of ethylene oxide.
• PEG polymers have different molecular weights and different physical properties (e.g. viscosity) due to chain length effects.
• High molecular weight PEG polymers are less hygroscopic and less likely to leach into the tablet than some other lower molecular weight plasticisers.
• the PEG used in the tablet coating composition may have a molecular weight of about 4000 to about 20000 (i.e. PEG 4000 to PEG 20000).
• Specific PEGS include, but are not limited to, PEG 6000 and PEG 8000.
• the polyethylene glycol has a molecular weight of about 6000 (i.e. PEG 6000).
• PEG 6000 that is commercially available as Carbowax TM, Lutrol TM or PolyGlicol TM 6000 PF is suitable for use in the tablet coating composition.
• the sweetener used in the tablet coating composition is typically a sweetener that has a sweetness greater than the sweetness of sucrose.
• the sweetness of the sweetener may be greater than 1.0 relative to the sweetness of sucrose.
• sweeteners examples include, but are not limited to: saccharin and its various salts, such as sodium salt; dipeptide sweeteners such as aspartame and alitame; dihydrochalcone compounds, glycyrrhizin; extracts of Stevia Rebaudiana (Stevia); chloro derivatives of sucrose such as sucralose; synthetic sweeteners such as 3,6-dihydro-6-methyl-1 -1 -1 ,2,3- oxathiazin-4-1 -2,2-dioxide, particularly the potassium salt (acesulfame-K), and sodium and calcium salts thereof; neohesperidin, thaumatin and cyclamate.
• the sweetener may be a single sweetener or a combination of sweeteners.
• Sucralose is particularly suitable for use in the tablet coating composition.
• the tablet coating composition includes one or more pharmaceutically acceptable excipients, such as adherents, lubricants, emulsifiers, anti-foaming agents, colourants, coating polymers, fragrances, active agents, and the like.
• the tablet coating composition contains one or more colourants. Suitable colourants include colours, dyes, lakes, and pigments. Examples include, but are not limited to, talc, titanium dioxide, iron oxides, FD&C and D&C lakes, magnesium carbonate, pyrogenic silica, channel black, insoluble dyes, and mixtures of any two or more thereof.
• the colourant could also be a natural colour, such as riboflavin, carmine 40, cochineal, curcumin, annatto, and mixtures thereof.
• the colour or combination of colours may be selected by those of skill in the art based upon a need at the time of the coating operation.
• the tablet coating composition may produce a frosted coating on a coated tablet, though a frosted coating tends to be less noticeable with a white / paler background.
• a coated tablet is formed by forming a tablet coating fluid from the powdered tablet coating composition in a suitable liquid and applying the tablet coating fluid to tablets. A majority of the liquid is then removed to provide the coated tablet.
• the liquid may be a solvent in which the components of the tablet coating composition are soluble so as to form a tablet coating fluid.
• the liquid may be a liquid in which some or all of the components of the tablet coating composition are either insoluble or partially soluble so as to form a tablet coating suspension.
• the solvent may be an organic solvent, an aqueous solvent or water.
• the solvent is an aqueous solvent containing ethanol and water.
• the solvent is about 20% to about 80% ethanol/water.
• the solvent is 60% ethanol/water. This solvent is particularly useful for coating moisture sensitive tablets at low temperatures.
• the tablet coating fluid includes, by weight, 6-7% cellulose polymer, 1 -2% plasticiser, 0.1 -0.3% sweetener, 1 -3% powdered flavour composition, and about 88% liquid.
• the liquid includes, by weight, about 53% ethanol, and about 35% water.
• the coating fluid also includes 1 -2% of pigments.
• the coating fluid includes, by weight, 6-7% hypromellose 5 or 6 cps, 1 -2% polyethylene glycol 6000 (plasticiser), 1 -2% talc-purified/titanium dioxide/colour, 1 -3% flavour/maltodextrin powder (the weaker the flavour the more is needed), 0.1 -0.3% sucralose (depending on how sweet consumers like it), 53% ethanol 96% BP, and 35% water (purified).
• the tablet coating composition can be applied to the tablets in a batch, semi- continuous or continuous process or some combination thereof in a manner which produces a satisfactory uniformly coated tablet.
• coating tablets with solutions or suspensions of coating compositions are known, including rotating pan, fluid bed, spouted bed, coascervation tank, and pressing methods.
• coating solutions are sprayed onto tablets as the tablets are being agitated in a pan, fluid bed, etc.
• a thin film is formed that adheres directly to each tablet.
• the coating may be formed by a single application or may be built up in layers through the use of multiple spraying cycles. A majority of the solvent is then removed, for example, by evaporating the solvent by passing air over the surface of the tumbling tablets.
• the coating composition will initially be an hydroalcoholic composition
• the tablet coating will typically be dried or substantially dried prior to, upon its exit or removal from the coating application system or at sometime in preparing coated tablets.
• the coated tablets may be placed in suitable packaging then if desired.
• the amount of coating provided to the surface of the tablet is an effective amount and is typically that amount which provides a minimum effective coverage of the exterior surface area of the tablet although that may not necessarily always be the case and partial coverage of the exterior surface may also be suitable.
• the amount of tablet coating composition which is coated onto tablets is that amount which provides a coated tablet having from about 1% to about 6% weight percent of the total tablet weight. In some embodiments in which the tablets are very small the coating may be up to about 30% weight percent of the total tablet weight.
• the tablet coating composition may be coated onto tablets which are uncoated or tablets which have been coated with one or more prior coatings (overcoating).
• An initial coating may include one or more polymers such as cellulosics, dextrins, acrylics, any colours or other pharmaceutical coating material.
• the coating could be formed on tablets which are placebos or blanks.
• the tablet may be any shape or size which allows the tablet to be effectively consumed by humans or animals.
• the tablet may be any tablet, particle, micronized particle, particulate, pellet, pill, core, powder, granule, granulate, small mass, seed, speck, sphere, crystal, bead, agglomerate, and mixtures thereof.
• the tablet will be in a form sufficiently stable physically and chemically to be effectively coated in a system which involves some movement of the tablet, as for example in a fluidised bed, such as in a fluidised bed dryer or perforated pan or accela - type coater.
• the tablet coating composition can be used in the preparation of a coated tablet for the treatment of a disease, condition or disorder in a human or animal. Furthermore, the present invention provides for a method of treating a disease, condition or disorder in a human or animal, the method including administering to the human or animal coated tablet as described herein, wherein the active agent is suitable for the treatment of the disease, condition or disorder.
• the coated tablets may be internally consumed by humans and animals in a customary manner.
• the amount of active agent administered will typically treat and reduce or alleviate a condition.
• a therapeutically effective amount can be readily determined by an attending diagnostician by the use of conventional techniques and by observing results obtained under analogous circumstances. In determining the therapeutically effective amount a number of factors are to be considered including but not limited to, the species of animal, its size, age and general health, the specific condition involved, the severity of the condition, the response of the patient to treatment, the particular compound administered, the mode of administration, the bioavailability of the preparation administered, the dose regime selected, the use of other medications and other relevant circumstances.
• a preferred dosage will be a range from about 0.01 to 300 mg per kilogram of body weight per day.
• a suitable dose can be administered in multiple sub-doses per day.
• Coated tablets of the present invention typically have one or more enhanced properties such as higher gloss, better mouthfeel, good coating adhesion, non- tackiness (slipperiness when wet), being swallowable with little or no accompanying liquid, better taste, and the like. Any of these properties may help people remember that they have taken the tablet, i.e. there is improved compliance. Examples of materials and methods for use with the compositions and methods of the present invention will now be provided. In providing these examples, it is to be understood that the specific nature of the following description is not to limit the generality of the above description.
• Example 1 Formation of a coated tablet having a vanilla flavoured coating
• a tablet coating fluid was formed by combining the following ingredients.
• the tablet coating fluid was then sprayed via a nozzle onto a bed of moving tablets. Typically exhaust temperatures of approximately 40 degrees Celsius are used. Typically a 3-4% coat weight is applied.
• the example tablet composition was as follows:
• Example 2 Formation of a coated tablet having a very sweet berry flavoured coating
• a coated tablet having a berry flavour was formed according to the methods described in Example 1 with a tablet coating fluid formed with the following ingredients.
• Example 3 Formation of a coated tablet having a berry flavoured coating
• a coated tablet having a berry flavour was formed according to the methods described in Example 1 with a tablet coating fluid formed with the following ingredients. This coating has less flavour and is not as sweet as the coating of Example 2.
• Example 4 Formation of a coated tablet having a citrus flavoured coating
• a coated tablet having a citrus flavour was formed according to the methods described in Example 1 with a tablet coating fluid formed with the following ingredients.

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