WO2009141572A1

WO2009141572A1 - Novel polymorph

Info

Publication number: WO2009141572A1
Application number: PCT/GB2008/051127
Authority: WO
Inventors: Abhay Gaitonde; Bindu Manojkumar; Sunanda Phadtare; Sinderpal Tank
Original assignee: Generics [Uk] Limited; Mylan Development Centre Private Limited
Priority date: 2008-05-21
Filing date: 2008-11-27
Publication date: 2009-11-26

Abstract

The present invention relates to a novel crystalline form of tegaserod mesylate and to processes for preparing said form. The invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising said crystalline form and to the use of said compositions in the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders, in particular irritable bowel syndrome.

Description

Novel Polymorph

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a novel crystalline form of tegaserod mesylate and to processes for the preparation thereof. The invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising said novel form and uses thereof in the treatment of patients suffering from gastrointestinal disorders.

Background of the invention

Tegaserod, chemically named 2-[(5-methoxy-liϊ-indol-3-yl)methylene]-IV-pentylhydrazine- carboximidamide, is a selective serotonin 4 (5-HT₄) receptor agonist, which can be used to treat gastrointestinal disorders such as heartburn, bloating, postoperative ileus, abdominal pain and discomfort, epigastric pain, nausea, vomiting, regurgitation, intestinal pseudoobstruction, irritable bowel syndrome and gastro-oesophageal reflux. Tegaserod, as the maleate salt, is marketed for the short-term treatment of irritable bowel syndrome in women whose primary bowel symptom is constipation.

Tegaserod, represented by the formula (I), was first described in US 5 510 353 as well as processes for its preparation. Also described is the maleate salt of tegaserod, but interestingly a method of manufacturing tegaserod maleate is not disclosed. The only characterising data is the melting point which is disclosed as 190⁰C for the maleate salt and 124°C for the tegaserod base.

WO 2006/116953 describes crystalline forms of the hydrobromide, fαmarate and oxalate salts of tegaserod. Also claimed is a process for preparing the hydrochloride, hydrobromide, fumarate, tartrate, citrate, lactate, mesylate, oxalate, succinate, glutarate, adipate, salicylate, sulphate, mandelate, camphor sulphonate and hydrogen sulphate salts of tegaserod from a specific crystalline form of tegaserod base.

There are often major hurdles to overcome before an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) can be formulated into a composition that can be marketed. For example, the rate of dissolution of an API that has poor aqueous solubility is often problematic. The aqueous solubility is a major influence on the bioavailability of the API such that a poorly soluble API can mean it is not available to have a pharmaceutical effect on the body. The solubility and other physical properties of an API can also cause problems during manufacture of a pharmaceutical composition. For example, flowability, compactability and stickiness are all factors affected by the solid state properties of an API.

It has thus always been an aim of the pharmaceutical industry to provide many forms of an API in order to mitigate the problems described above. Different salts, crystalline forms also known as polymorphs, solvates and amorphous forms are all forms of an API that can have different physiochemical and biological characteristics. Indeed, it has been discovered that the tegaserod maleate product on the market, Zelnorm^®, has been linked to an increase in heart problems in a proportion of individuals. One possible reason is that the maleate moiety reacts with the tegaserod, resulting over time in the production of a toxic impurity. This impurity could be a contributor to the heart problems seen in some patients.

It would therefore be advantageous for the medicinal chemist to have a wide repertoire of alternative salts and crystalline forms of these and other known salts to aid in the preparation of products that are both efficacious and safe.

Summary of the invention

Accordingly, the present invention provides a novel crystalline form of tegaserod mesylate, designated form 1. As alluded to above, polymorphism influences every aspect of the solid state properties of an API and one of the important aspects of polymorphism in pharmaceuticals is the possibility of interconversion from one polymorphic form to another. It is important that stable crystalline forms are used in pharmaceutical dosage forms as, for example, conversion from a form showing greater aqueous dissolution and potentially better bioavailability to a less soluble form can potentially have disastrous consequences.

Thus it is an object of the present invention to provide novel crystalline forms of tegaserod mesylate which have an advantageous dissolution rate in vivo, leading to improved bioavailability, and further provide advantageous characteristics during dosage form manufacture, for example, good conversion stability and formulation characteristics.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide novel crystalline forms of tegaserod mesylate which may have advantageous properties, for example, better solubility, bioavailability, stability including chemical and polymorphic stability, flowability, tractability, compressibility, compactability, toxicity, efficacy, or safety.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided tegaserod mesylate form 1 characterised by an X-ray diffraction pattern comprising two or more peaks (preferably three or more peaks, or preferably four peaks) with 2Θ values at 14.76, 19.96, 22.22, 23.48 ± 0.2 °2Θ. Preferably the X-ray diffraction pattern comprises no peaks with an intensity greater than 5% with 2Θ values greater than 30 °2Θ. Preferably the tegaserod mesylate form 1 has an XRPD trace substantially as shown in figure 1.

A second aspect provides tegaserod mesylate form 1 characterised by a DSC with an endothermic peak at about 185.75°C ± 0.5⁰C. Preferably the tegaserod mesylate form 1 has a DSC trace substantially as shown in figure 2.

Preferably the tegaserod mesylate form 1 has a TGA trace substantially as shown in figure 3.

According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a process for the preparation of tegaserod mesylate form 1 according to the invention, comprising the steps of: - A -

(a) dissolving tegaserod mesylate, or tegaserod and methanesulphonic acid, in a solvent; and

(b) isolating the desired polymorph.

Preferably, tegaserod mesylate is dissolved in step (a). Preferably, the solvent is amyl alcohol. In a further preferred embodiment of the process the polymorph is isolated by filtration.

The crystalline form of tegaserod mesylate of the present invention may exist in one or more tautomeric, hydrate and/or solvate forms. The present invention embraces all tautomeric forms and their mixtures, all hydrate forms and their mixtures, and all solvate forms and their mixtures. Although tegaserod is defined for convenience by reference to one guanidino form only, the invention is not to be understood as being in any way limited by the particular nomenclature or graphic representation employed.

Preferably the crystalline form of tegaserod mesylate according to the above described aspects and embodiments has a chemical purity of greater than 95%, 96%, 97%, 98% or 99% (as measured by HPLC). Preferably the crystalline form of tegaserod mesylate according to the above described aspects and embodiments has a polymorphic purity of greater than 95%, 96%, 97%, 98% or 99% (as measured by XRPD or DSC).

In a further embodiment of the processes of the present invention, the tegaserod mesylate form 1 is obtained on an industrial scale, preferably in batches of 0.5kg, lkg, 5kg, 10kg, 50kg, 100kg, 500kg or more.

A fourth aspect according to the invention provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising a pharmaceutically effective amount of tegaserod mesylate form 1 according to the invention and one or more pharmaceutically acceptable excipients. Preferably the composition is a solid composition, most preferably a tablet or capsule composition.

In a fifth aspect according to the invention there is further provided a method for treating or preventing a gastrointestinal disorder, preferably selected from the list comprising heartburn, bloating, postoperative ileus, abdominal pain and discomfort, epigastric pain, nausea, vomiting, regurgitation, intestinal pseudo-obstruction, irritable bowel syndrome and gastro-oesophageal reflux, preferably irritable bowel syndrome, comprising administering to a patient in need thereof a therapeutically or prophylactically effective amount of a composition according to the invention. Preferably the patient is a mammal, preferably a human.

In a sixth aspect there is provided a compound or a composition according to any of the aspects or embodiments described above for use as a medicament, preferably for treating or preventing a gastrointestinal disorder. Preferably the gastrointestinal disorder is selected from the list comprising heartburn, bloating, postoperative ileus, abdominal pain and discomfort, epigastric pain, nausea, vomiting, regurgitation, intestinal pseudo-obstruction, irritable bowel syndrome and gastro-oesophageal reflux, preferably irritable bowel syndrome.

A seventh aspect provides the use of the crystalline form of the present invention or prepared by any of the processes of the present invention in the manufacture of a medicament for use in the treatment or prevention of a gastrointestinal disorder. In a preferred embodiment the gastrointestinal disorder is selected from the group comprising heartburn, bloating, postoperative ileus, abdominal pain and discomfort, epigastric pain, nausea, vomiting, regurgitation, intestinal pseudo-obstruction, irritable bowel syndrome and gastro-oesophageal reflux, preferably irritable bowel syndrome.

An eighth aspect according to the invention provides a substantially pure tegaserod mesylate, preferably form 1 tegaserod mesylate.

Brief description of the accompanying figures

Figure 1 describes the XRPD of tegaserod mesylate according to the invention. Figure 2 describes the DSC of tegaserod mesylate according to the invention. Figure 3 describes the TGA of tegaserod mesylate according to the invention. Detailed description of the invention

As used herein the terms "crystalline form", "polymorph" and "polymorphic form" are used interchangeably.

The terms "X-ray diffraction pattern", "XRPD trace" and "XRPD" are used interchangeably herein and preferably refer to an X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) trace, spectrum or pattern.

The present invention provides a novel crystalline form of tegaserod mesylate designated form 1 and processes for its preparation. The processes disclosed are simple and amenable to scale up and are capable of providing this novel form in consistent polymorphic purity. As used herein the term "substantially pure" refers to a crystalline tegaserod salt according to the invention comprising a polymorphic purity of greater than 95%, preferably greater than 96%, more preferably greater than 97%, particularly preferred is a purity of greater than 98% and most preferred is a purity of greater than 99% irrespective of the scale of preparation.

In general the method for preparing the novel crystalline form according to the invention comprises fully or partially dissolving tegaserod mesylate or tegaserod and methanesulphonic acid (preferably tegaserod mesylate) in a solvent, crystallising the desired polymorph from said solvent and isolating said desired polymorph. In particularly preferred embodiments the solvent is amyl alcohol. The skilled person will realise that to effect dissolution a number of simple techniques may be employed, for example, stirring or heating the solution or partial solution. It is within the skillset of the skilled person to determine the optimal temperature at which the solution can be heated, effecting the required dissolution and preventing any degradation of the salt. The inventors have found that heating the amyl alcohol solution to between about 120-150⁰C, preferably about

135°C, is particularly advantageous.

Causing the desired polymorph to crystallise and further isolation is considered to be within the skillset of the skilled person. Crystallisation may be effected by any of a number of means known to the skilled person, for example, by the addition of an anti-solvent. However, the inventors have found that cooling the solution or partial solution comprising the tegaserod mesylate is particularly advantageous.

The inventors have also found in certain embodiments that the solution can be stirred to increase the precipitation of the solid desired polymorph. It is preferred that the stirring occurs at about 25°C or approximately room temperature, but it is envisaged that the stirring conditions may be varied and the process still remains within the scope of the invention. In certain embodiments the precipitated polymorph may form a slurry which in further embodiments may be washed with a further quantity of the solvent.

The solid crystalline product obtained can then be isolated by any means common in the field or known to the skilled artisan. In one embodiment the solid is obtained by evaporation of the solvent. However, in a particularly preferred embodiment the solid product is filtered and dried. Preferably, the product is dried at a temperature that does not induce conversion of the polymorphic form or causes the resultant form to degrade. The inventors have found that drying the product at about 35-40⁰C is advantageous. Preferably, in certain embodiments the solid product is dried under vacuum until a constant weight is achieved.

A further embodiment of the invention comprises compositions of the novel polymorph with one or more pharmaceutically acceptable excipient(s). Another aspect of the present invention provides compositions to treat patients suffering from 5-HT₄ receptor mediated disorders. Preferably, such disorders comprise gastrointestinal disorders such as heartburn, bloating, postoperative ileus, abdominal pain and discomfort, epigastric pain, nausea, vomiting, regurgitation, intestinal pseudo-obstruction, irritable bowel syndrome and gastro- oesophageal reflux.

Illustrative of the invention is a pharmaceutical composition made by mixing crystalline tegaserod mesylate according to the invention and one or more pharmaceutically acceptable excipients. In one embodiment of the invention there is provided a method for the treatment of a 5-HT₄ receptor mediated disorder in a subject in need thereof comprising administering to the subject a composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of a crystalline tegaserod salt according to the invention. In a further embodiment according to the invention there is provided the use of crystalline tegaserod mesylate according to the invention substantially free of other polymorphic forms, for the preparation of a medicament for treating a 5-HT₄ receptor mediated disorder in a subject in need thereof.

5-HT₄ receptor mediated disorders comprise gastrointestinal disorders such as heartburn, bloating, postoperative ileus, abdominal pain and discomfort, epigastric pain, nausea, vomiting, regurgitation, intestinal pseudo-obstruction, irritable bowel syndrome and gastro- oesophageal reflux, preferably irritable bowel syndrome.

In addition to the active ingredient(s), the pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention may contain one or more excipients. Excipients are added to the composition for a variety of purposes. Diluents increase the bulk of a solid pharmaceutical composition, and may make a pharmaceutical dosage form containing the composition easier for the patient and care giver to handle. Diluents for solid compositions include, for example, microcrystalline cellulose (e.g. Avicel^®), microfine cellulose, lactose, starch, pregelatinized starch, calcium carbonate, calcium sulphate, sugar, dextrates, dextrin, dextrose, dibasic calcium phosphate dihydrate, tribasic calcium phosphate, kaolin, magnesium carbonate, magnesium oxide, maltodextrin, mannitol, polymethacrylates (e.g. Eudragit ), potassium chloride, powdered cellulose, sodium chloride, sorbitol and talc.

Solid pharmaceutical compositions that are compacted into a dosage form, such as a tablet, may include excipients whose functions include helping to bind the active ingredient and other excipients together after compression. Binders for solid pharmaceutical compositions include acacia, alginic acid, carbomer (e.g. Carbopol ), carboxymethyl cellulose sodium, dextrin, ethyl cellulose, gelatin, guar gum, hydrogenated vegetable oil, hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose (e.g. Klucel ), hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (e.g. Methocel^®), liquid glucose, magnesium aluminium silicate, maltodextrin, methyl cellulose, polymethacrylates, povidone (e.g. Kollidon^®, Plasdone^®), pregelatinized starch, sodium alginate and starch.

The dissolution rate of a compacted solid pharmaceutical composition in the patient's stomach may be increased by the addition of a disintegrant to the composition. Disintegrants include alginic acid, carboxymethyl cellulose calcium, carboxymethyl cellulose sodium (e.g. Ac-Di-SoI , Primellose ), colloidal silicon dioxide, croscarmellose sodium, crospovidone (e.g. Kollidon , Polyplasdone ), guar gum, magnesium aluminium silicate, methyl cellulose, microcrystalline cellulose, polaciilin potassium, powdered cellulose, pregelatinized starch, sodium alginate, sodium starch glycolate (e.g. Explotab ) and starch.

Glidants can be added to improve the flowability of a non-compacted solid composition and to improve the accuracy of dosing. Excipients that may function as glidants include colloidal silicon dioxide, magnesium trisilicate, powdered cellulose, starch, talc and tribasic calcium phosphate.

When a dosage form such as a tablet is made by the compaction of a powdered composition, the composition is subjected to pressure from a punch and dye. Some excipients and active ingredients have a tendency to adhere to the surfaces of the punch and dye, which can cause the product to have pitting and other surface irregularities. A lubricant can be added to the composition to reduce adhesion and ease the release of the product from the dye. Lubricants include magnesium stearate, calcium stearate, glyceryl monostearate, glyceryl palmitostearate, hydrogenated castor oil, hydrogenated vegetable oil, mineral oil, polyethylene glycol, sodium benzoate, sodium lauryl sulphate, sodium stearyl fumarate, stearic acid, talc and zinc stearate.

Flavouring agents and flavour enhancers make the dosage form more palatable to the patient. Common flavouring agents and flavour enhancers for pharmaceutical products that may be included in the composition of the present invention include maltol, vanillin, ethyl vanillin, menthol, citric acid, fumaric acid, ethyl maltol and tartaric acid.

Solid and liquid compositions may also be dyed using any pharmaceutically acceptable colorant to improve their appearance and/or facilitate patient identification of the product and unit dosage level.

In liquid pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention, the crystalline tegaserod mesylate and any other solid excipients are dissolved or suspended in a liquid carrier such as water, vegetable oil, alcohol, polyethylene glycol, propylene glycol or glycerine. Liquid pharmaceutical compositions may further contain emulsifying agents to disperse uniformly throughout the composition an active ingredient or other excipient that is not soluble in the liquid carrier. Emulsifying agents that may be useful in liquid compositions of the present invention include, for example, gelatin, egg yolk, casein, cholesterol, acacia, tragacanth, chondrus, pectin, methyl cellulose, carbomer, cetostearyl alcohol and cetyl alcohol.

Liquid pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention may also contain a viscosity enhancing agent to improve the mouth-feel or organoleptic qualities of the product and/or coat the lining of the gastrointestinal tract. Such agents include acacia, alginic acid, bentonite, carbomer, carboxymethyl cellulose calcium or sodium, cetostearyl alcohol, methyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose, gelatin, guar gum, hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose, maltodextrin, polyvinyl alcohol, povidone, propylene carbonate, propylene glycol alginate, sodium alginate, sodium starch glycolate, starch tragacanth and xanthan gum.

Sweetening agents such as sorbitol, saccharin, sodium saccharin, sucrose, aspartame, fructose, mannitol and invert sugar may be added to improve the taste.

Preservatives and chelating agents such as alcohol, sodium benzoate, butylated hydroxytoluene, butylated hydroxyanisole and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid may be added at levels safe for ingestion to improve storage stability.

According to the present invention, a liquid composition may also contain a buffer such as gluconic acid, lactic acid, citric acid or acetic acid, sodium gluconate, sodium lactate, sodium citrate or sodium acetate.

Selection of excipients and the amounts used may be readily determined by the formulation scientist based upon experience and consideration of standard procedures and reference works in the field.

The solid compositions of the present invention include powders, granulates, aggregates and compacted compositions. The dosages include dosages suitable for oral, buccal, rectal, parenteral (including subcutaneous, intramuscular, and intravenous), inhalant and ophthalmic administration. Although the most suitable administration in any given case will depend on the nature and severity of the condition being treated, the most preferred route of the present invention is oral. The dosages may be conveniently presented in unit dosage form and prepared by any of the methods well-known in the pharmaceutical arts. Dosage forms include solid dosage forms like tablets, powders, capsules, suppositories, sachets, troches and lozenges, as well as liquid syrups, suspensions and elixirs.

The dosage form of the present invention may be a capsule containing the composition, preferably a powdered or granulated solid composition of the invention, within either a hard or a soft shell. The shell may be made from gelatin and optionally contain a plasticizer such as glycerine and sorbitol, and an opacifying agent or colourant. The active ingredient and excipients may be formulated into compositions and dosage forms according to methods known in the art.

A composition for tableting or capsule filling may be prepared by wet granulation. In wet granulation, some or all of the active ingredient and excipients in powder form are blended and then further mixed in the presence of a liquid, typically water, that causes the powders to clump into granules. The granulate is screened and/or milled, dried and then screened and/or milled to the desired particle size. The granulate may then be tableted, or other excipients may be added prior to tableting, such as a glidant and/or a lubricant.

A tableting composition may be prepared conventionally by dry granulation. For example, the blended composition of the actives and excipients may be compacted into a slug or a sheet and then comminuted into compacted granules. The compacted granules may subsequently be compressed into a tablet.

As an alternative to dry granulation, a blended composition may be compressed directly into a compacted dosage form using direct compression techniques. Direct compression produces a uniform tablet without granules. Excipients that are particularly well suited for direct compression tableting include microcrystalline cellulose, spray dried lactose, dicalcium phosphate dihydrate and colloidal silica. The proper use of these and other excipients in direct compression tableting is known to those in the art with experience and skill in particular formulation challenges of direct compression tableting.

A capsule filling of the present invention may comprise any of the aforementioned blends and granulates that were described with reference to tableting, however, they are not subjected to a final tableting step.

In further embodiments the composition of the invention may further comprise one or more additional active ingredients. Further active ingredients may include other 5-HT₄ receptor agonists such as prucalopride, RS 67333 (l-(4-amino-5-chloro-2-methoxyphenyl)- 3-(l-n-butyl-4-piperidinyl)-l-propanone), RS 67506 (l-(4-amino-5-chloro-2- methoxyphenyl) -3- [1 - [2- [(methylsulphonyl) amino] ethyl] -4-piperidinyl] - 1 -propanone) , cisapride, renzapride, norcisapride, mosapride, zacopride, SB 205149, SC 53116, BIMU 1, and BIMU 8; proton pump inhibitors such as omeprazole, rabeprazole, pantoprazole, and lansoprazole; 5-HT₃ receptor agonists such as cilansetron which is described in EP 297 651, alosetron which is described in WO 99/17755, ramosetron, azasetron, ondansetron, dolasetron, granisetron, and tropisetron; selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors such as citalopram, escitalopram, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, sertraline, paroxetine, zimeldine, norzimeldine, clomipramine, alaproclate, venlafaxine, cericlamine, duloxetine, milnacipran, nefazodone, OPC 14503, and cyanodothiepin; and dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-IV) inhibitors. Of course it will be obvious that the above is not an exhaustive list.

The details of the invention, its objects and advantages are explained hereunder in greater detail in relation to non-limiting exemplary illustrations.

Example

Preparation of tegaserod mesylate form 1

Tegaserod mesylate was dissolved in 5 volumes of amyl alcohol and heated to about 135°C for approximately 15 minutes. The solution was then cooled to room temperature (20- 25°C) and the resultant slurry stirred for approximately 15 minutes. The slurry was then filtered, the solid obtained washed with a further 5 volumes of amyl alcohol and dried at

35°C under vacuum until a constant weight was achieved.

XRPD and DSC analysis data confirmed that the product obtained was the novel polymorph of tegaserod mesylate designated form 1 according to the invention.

Yield = 93%

Chemical purity > 99% (as measured by HPLC)

Polymorphic purity > 99% (as measured by DSC)

Claims

1. Tegaserod mesylate form 1 characterised by an X-ray diffraction pattern comprising two or more peaks with 2Θ values at 14.76, 19.96, 22.22, 23.48 ± 0.2 °2Θ.

2. Tegaserod mesylate form 1 having an XRPD trace substantially as shown in figure 1.

3. Tegaserod mesylate form 1 characterised by a DSC with an endothermic peak at about 185.75°C ± 0.5⁰C.

4. Tegaserod mesylate form 1 having a DSC trace substantially as shown in figure 2.

5. Tegaserod mesylate form 1 having a TGA trace substantially as shown in figure 3.

6. Tegaserod mesylate form 1 according to any one of claims 1-5, having a chemical purity of greater than 95% (as measured by HPLC).

7. Tegaserod mesylate form 1 according to any one of claims 1-6, having a polymorphic purity of greater than 95% (as measured by XRPD or DSC).

8. A process for the preparation of tegaserod mesylate form 1 according to any one of claims 1-7, comprising the steps of:

(b) isolating the desired polymorph.

9. A process according to claim 8, wherein the solvent is amyl alcohol.

10. A pharmaceutical composition comprising tegaserod mesylate form 1 according to any one of claims 1-7 or prepared by a process according to claim 8 or 9, and one or more pharmaceutically acceptable excipients.

11. A composition according to claim 10, wherein the composition is a solid composition.

12. A composition according to claim 11, selected from a tablet or capsule composition.

13. A composition according to any one of claims 10-12, for the treatment or prevention of a gastrointestinal disorder.

14. A composition according to claim 13, wherein the gastrointestinal disorder is selected from the list comprising heartburn, bloating, postoperative ileus, abdominal pain and discomfort, epigastric pain, nausea, vomiting, regurgitation, intestinal pseudoobstruction, irritable bowel syndrome and gastro-oesophageal reflux.

15. A composition according to claim 14, wherein the gastrointestinal disorder is irritable bowel syndrome.

16. Tegaserod mesylate form 1 according to any one of claims 1-7 or prepared by a process according to claim 8 or 9, for use in the treatment or prevention of a gastrointestinal disorder.

17. Tegaserod mesylate form 1 according to claim 16, wherein the gastrointestinal disorder is selected from the group comprising heartburn, bloating, postoperative ileus, abdominal pain and discomfort, epigastric pain, nausea, vomiting, regurgitation, intestinal pseudo-obstruction, irritable bowel syndrome and gastro-oesophageal reflux.

18. Tegaserod mesylate form 1 according to claim 17, wherein the gastrointestinal disorder is irritable bowel syndrome.

19. A method of treating or preventing a gastrointestinal disorder, comprising administering to a patient in need thereof a therapeutically of prophylactically effective amount of tegaserod mesylate form 1 according to any one of claims 1-7 or 16-18, or of tegaserod mesylate form 1 prepared by a process according to claim 8 or 9, or of a pharmaceutical composition according to any one of claims 10-15.

20. A method according to claim 19, wherein the gastrointestinal disorder is selected from the group comprising heartburn, bloating, postoperative ileus, abdominal pain and discomfort, epigastric pain, nausea, vomiting, regurgitation, intestinal pseudo-obstruction, irritable bowel syndrome and gastro-oesophageal reflux.

21. A method according to claim 20, wherein the gastrointestinal disorder is irritable bowel syndrome.

22. A method according to any one of claims 19-21, wherein the patient is a mammal.

23. A method according to claim 22, wherein the mammal is a human.