Classifications

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Definitions

• the present invention relates to combinations of netupitant and palonosetron, and to methods of treating pain and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) using such combinations.
• IBS pain and irritable bowel syndrome
• Palonosetron is a selective 5-HT3 antagonist marketed commercially as Aloxi for the treatment of emesis.
• the chemical name of the compound is (3aS)-2-[(S)-l-Azabicyclo [2.2.2]oct-3-yl]- 2,3,3a,4,5,6-hexahydro-l-oxo-lHberiz[ e] isoquinoline, as depicted by the following chemical structure of the hydrochloride salt:
• Netupitant is a selective NKi receptor antagonist of the formula
• Palonosetron and other 5HT3 receptor antagonists were developed originally for the prevention of emesis, but more recently have received attention for their role in pain signaling and transmission in the peripheral and. central nervous systems.
• 5HT3 receptors are known to mediate a descending facilitatory influence on spinal cord activity, a constituent drive that is particularly prominent on mechanical and chemical evoked activity. There is enhancement of this activity following peripheral nerve injury, spinal cord injury and after intense chemical stimulation.
• opioid-induced-hyperalgesia and activation of ERK support the concept of descending 5HT3 facilitation as a target for pain control. See, e.g., GH McCleane, et al, ANETH ANALG 2003; 97: 1474-8 (reporting that "5HT3 receptors play a pronociceptive role and mediate descending excitatory controls that allow spinal neurons to fully code peripheral stimuli.")
• NK1 receptors are part of the post-synaptic targets for neurotransmitter released from afferent terminals, and also have been studied for their role in pain. See De Felipe C, et al. (March 1998) NATURE 392 (6674): 394-7 (reporting that "the peptide neurotransmitter substance P modulates sensitivity to pain by activating the neurokinin- 1 (NK-1) receptor, which is expressed by discrete populations of neurons throughout the central nervous system.") LM Thomson et al. (2008 January) J PAIN; 9(1): 1 1-19 (reporting that substance P systems "may also represent important therapeutic targets for the retention and restoration of pain relief with prolonged morphine treatment.”)
• IBS Irritable bowel syndrome
• IBS-D diarrhea type
• IBS-C constipation type
• IBS-A alternating diarrhea and constipation type
• the symptoms may be accompanied by a psychological condition such as anxiety, hypersensitivity, tension, fretfulness, depression, or the like.
• peripheral sensitization involves a reduction in the threshold and an increase in the gain of the transduction processes of primary afferent neurons, attributable to a variety of mediators including monoamines (e.g., catecholamines and indoleamines), substance P, and a variety of cytokines and prostanoids such as E-type prostaglandins (see, e.g., Mayer et al., Gastroenterol., 107:271-293 (1994)).
• monoamines e.g., catecholamines and indoleamines
• substance P e.g., substance P
• cytokines and prostanoids such as E-type prostaglandins
• IBS intraluminal contents and/or gas
• GI motor dysfunction also implicated in the etiopathology of IBS.
• Psychological factors may also contribute to IBS symptoms appearing in conjunction with, if not triggered by, disturbances including depression and anxiety (see, e.g., Drossman et al., Gastroenterol. Int., 8:47-90 (1995)).
• Colonic hypersensitivity can be induced
• the gastrointestinal function is highly regulated by the nerves, and a variety of receptors are present. Therefore, an anticholinergic agent, an antidiarrheal, or a laxative is administered according to the gastrointestinal symptoms such as an abdominal pain, diarrhea, and constipation, and an antidepressant or an antianxiety agent is used if needed.
• alosetron HC1 a serotonin 5-HT 3 receptor antagonist
• IBS-D a therapeutic agent for diarrhea-type IBS
• this agent is applied only to woman patients with severe symptoms because serious gastrointestinal disorders, particularly ischemic colitis and serious constipation, are observed.
• tegaserod maleate a serotonin 5-HT 4 receptor agonist
• this agent is applied only to women patients.
• lubiprostone a ClC-2 chloride channel activator
• IBS-C constipation-type IBS
• Cilansetron another selective 5-HT 3 antagonist, is currently in clinical trials in Europe for the treatment of IBS-D in both men and women; however, in 2005, the sponsor of cilansetron withdrew its application for approval from the US FDA on the basis of a "non-approvable" letter (additional clinical trials were requested). Therefore, the therapeutic options of IBS are limited as the current treatments are gender and IBS subtype specific, and have significant side effects. Therefore, a novel therapeutic agent and method for IBS with no gender or subtype difference and with reduced side effects is strongly desired.
• netupitant has a very marginal effect on the treatment of neuropathic pain.
• netupitant exhibits zero or minimal effect when tested in animal models of allodynia / neuropathic pain.
• the netupitant acts synergistically with the palonosetron, and produces a much greater reduction in pain than when the palonosetron is administered alone.
• the invention provides a synergistic drug combination comprising (a) palonosetron or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or prodrug thereof; and (b) netupitant or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or prodrug thereof, in synergistically effective amounts.
• Various measures can be used to determine whether the amounts in the drug combination are synergistic.
• the amounts are synergistically effective when administered to a 70 kg human based on one or more measures selected from (a) the treatment of mechanically evoked allodynia, (b) the modulation of electrically-evoked dorsal horn neural C-fiber responses, and (c) the modulation of electrically-evoked dorsal horn neural AD-fiber responses.
• orally-administered combination drug product that contains from 0.01 to 1.0 mg of palonosetron and from 10 to 300 mg of netupitant has been shown to demonstrate synergy under one or more of these criteria.
• the invention is based on the discovery that netupitant and palonosetron work together to treat chronic neuropathic pain, and that they produce a greater therapeutic effect when used together than when either is administered alone. Therefore, the invention also provides a method of treating chronic neuropathic pain comprising administering to a human patient in need thereof a drug combination comprising palonosetron and netupitant, or their pharmaceutically acceptable salts or prodrugs, in therapeutically effective amounts.
• the combination is preferably
• the method is used to treat diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain, fibromyalgia, or post-herpetic neuralgia.
• the invention provides a synergistic drug combination comprising (a) a sub-therapeutic dose of palonosetron or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or prodrug thereof; and (b) a sub-therapeutic dose of netupitant or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or prodrug thereof, in synergistically effective amounts.
• the invention provides a method of treating Irritable bowel syndrome comprising
• a synergistic effective combination comprising (a) a sub-therapeutic dose of palonosetron or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or prodrug thereof; and (b) a sub-therapeutic dose of netupitant or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or prodrug thereof, in synergistically effective amounts.
• the drug combinations and methods disclosed in the present invention have advantages over the prior art, e.g., they are not gender specific or IBS-subtype specific, and less side effects are associated with the drug combinations and methods.
• FIG. 1 is a series of graphs depicting the temporal development of mechanical and thermal hypersensitivity post nerve injury. Nerve injury induced a significant increase in the number of paw withdrawals to A) vf2g, B) vF 6g and C) acetone stimulation of the ipsilateral hind paw compared with the responses seen in sham controls.
• FIG. 2 is a series of graphs depicting the effects of palonosetron on the number of paw withdrawals to A) vf2g, B) vF 6g and C) acetone. A dose related reduction in paw withdrawal frequency is seen in the SNL rats only.
• FIG. 3 is a graph comparing the total time spent by SNL and Sham rats on a rotarod. Palonosetron (0.03, 0.3 and 3mg/kg) did not impair motor performance in either group. Data are presented as mean ⁇ SEM.
• FIG. 4 is a series of graphs comparing the effects of Palonosetron (0.03, 0.3 and 3mg/kg s.c.) on the electrical evoked responses of spinal dorsal horn neurones in sham and SNL rats. Data are expressed as the mean percentage of pre-drug control values ⁇ S.E.M.
• FIG. 5 is a series of graphs comparing of the effects of Palonosetron (0.03, 0.3 and 3mg/kg s.c.) on the dynamic brush and mechanical punctate evoked responses of spinal dorsal horn neurones in sham and SNL rats. Data are expressed as the mean percentage of pre-drug control values ⁇ S.E.M.
• FIG. 6 is a series of graphs comparing the effects of Palonosetron (0.03, 0.3 and 3mg/kg s.c.) on the thermal evoked responses of spinal dorsal horn neurones in sham and SNL. Data are expressed as the mean percentage of pre-drug control values ⁇ S.E.M.
• FIG. 7 is a series of graphs depicting the effects of netupitant on the number of withdrawal responses to A) vF2g, B) vF6g and C) acetone (cooling stimuli). In SNL rats, lmg/kg appears to inhibit behavioral hypersensitivities.
• FIG. 8 is a series of graphs comparing the effects of 3 doses of netupitant (0.1 , 1 and lOmg/kg s.c) on the electrical responses of spinal dorsal horn neurones in sham and SNL rats. Data are expressed as the mean percentage of pre-drug control values ⁇ S.E.M.
• FIG. 9 is a series of graphs comparing the effects of 3 doses of netupitant (0.1 , 1 and lOmg/kg s.c) on the dynamic brush and mechanical punctate evoked responses of spinal dorsal horn neurones in sham and SNL rats. Data are expressed as the mean percentage of pre-drug control values ⁇ S.E.M.
• FIG. 10 is a series of graphs comparing the effects of 3 doses of netupitant (0.1 , 1 and lOmg/kg s.c) on the thermal evoked responses of spinal dorsal horn neurones in sham and SNL rats. Data are expressed as the mean percentage of pre-drug control values ⁇ S.E.M.
• FIG. 11 is a series of graphs comparing the effects of a combination of palonosetron (0.03 mg/kg s.c) and netupitant (0.1 mg/kg s.c.) on the number of withdrawal responses in the ipsilateral and contralateral paws to A) vF2g, B) vF6g and C) acetone (cooling stimuli) in SNL rats.
• FIG. 12 is a series of graphs comparing the effects of a combination of palonosetron (0.03 mg/kg s.c) and netupitant (0.1 mg/kg s.c.) on the electrical responses of spinal dorsal horn neurones in sham and SNL rats. Data are expressed as the mean percentage of pre-drug control values ⁇ S.E.M.
• FIG. 13 is a series of graphs comparing the effects of a combination of palonosetron (0.03 mg/kg s.c) and netupitant (0.1 mg/kg s.c.) on the dynamic brush, mechanical punctate and heat evoked responses of spinal dorsal horn neurones in SNL rats. Data are expressed as the mean percentage of pre-drug control values ⁇ S.E.M.
• FIG. 14 shows that Palonosetron and Netupitant dosed in combination at 0.001 mg/kg showed a non-significant trend to inhibit AA-induced somatic hypersensitivity.
• FIG. 15 is a series of graphs where visceral sensitivity results presented as individual distension pressure histograms with accompanying scatter-plot comparisons. Palonosetron or Netupitant dosed at 0.001 mg/kg p.o alone or in combination.
• compositions of the present invention can be used in the methods and compositions of the present invention.
• pharmaceutically acceptable salt refers to a salt of a compound to be administered prepared from pharmaceutically acceptable non-toxic acids.
• suitable inorganic acids are hydrochloric, hydrobromic, hydroiodic, nitric, sulfuric, and phosphoric.
• Suitable organic acids may be selected from aliphatic, aromatic, carboxylic and sulfonic classes of organic acids, examples of which are formic, acetic, propionic, succinic, camphorsulfonic, citric, fumaric, gluconic, isethionic, lactic, malic, mucic, tartaric, para-toluenesulfonic, glycolic, glucuronic, maleic, furoic, glutamic, benzoic, anthranilic, salicylic, phenylacetic, mandelic, embonic (pamoic), methanesulfonic, ethanesulfonic, pantothenic, benzenesulfonic (besylate), stearic, sulfanilic, alginic, galacturonic, and the like.
• prodrug refers to a chemical derivative of an active ingredient that degrades to the active ingredient in vivo via spontaneous or enzymatic transformation.
• Prodrugs are designed to overcome pharmaceutically and/or pharmacokinetically based problems associated with the parent drug molecule that might otherwise limit the clinical usefulness of the drug, especially due to drug solubility issues in the case of netupitant.
• Prodrugs of netupitant are described in U.S. Patent No. 6,593,472, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
• treating and “treatment,” when used herein, refer to the medical management of a patient with the intent to cure, ameliorate, stabilize, or prevent a disease, pathological condition, or disorder.
• This term includes active treatment, that is, treatment directed specifically toward the improvement of a disease, pathological condition, or disorder, and also includes causal treatment, that is, treatment directed toward removal of the cause of the associated disease, pathological condition, or disorder.
• this term includes palliative treatment, that is, treatment designed for the relief of symptoms rather than the curing of the disease, pathological condition, or disorder; preventative treatment, that is, treatment directed to minimizing or partially or completely inhibiting the development of the associated disease, pathological condition, or disorder; and supportive treatment, that is, treatment employed to supplement another specific therapy directed toward the improvement of the associated disease, pathological condition, or disorder.
• the term "significantly" refers to a level of statistical significance.
• the level of statistical significant can be, for example, of at least p ⁇ 0.05, of at least p ⁇ 0.01 , of at least p ⁇ 0.005, or of at least p ⁇ 0.001.
• a measurable result or effect is expressed or identified herein, it will be understood that the result or effect can be evaluated based upon its statistical significance relative to a baseline, typically placebo based.
• ranges are given by specifying the lower end of a range separately from the upper end of the range, it will be understood that the range can be defined by selectively combining any one of the lower end variables with any one of the upper end variables that is mathematically possible.
• the invention provides a synergistic drug combination comprising (a) palonosetron or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or prodrug thereof; and (b) netupitant or a
• the invention is based on the discovery that netupitant and palonosetron work together to treat neuropathic pain, and that they produce a greater therapeutic effect when used together than when either is administered alone. Therefore, the invention also provides a method of treating neuropathic pain comprising
• a drug combination comprising palonosetron and netupitant, in therapeutically effective amounts.
• the methods can be used to treat various forms of pain, including nociceptive and neuropathic pain, chronic or acute, in a preferred embodiment the methods are used to treat chronic neuropathic pain (e.g. pain persisting for more than three, six or twelve months).
• chronic neuropathic pain e.g. pain persisting for more than three, six or twelve months.
• the pain is chronic neuropathic pain characterized by one, two or three or more symptoms selected from burning pain, paresthesia / dysesthesia, shooting / lancinating pain, numbness, hyperalgesia and allodynia.
• the pain can be inherited, or it may be acquired.
• Acquired peripheral neuropathies are grouped into three broad categories: those caused by systemic disease, those caused by trauma from external agents, and those caused by infections or autoimmune disorders affecting nerve tissue, and each of these categories can be treated using the methods of the current invention.
• causes of acquired peripheral neuropathy that can be treated using the methods of this invention include physical injury (trauma) to a nerve, tumors, toxins, autoimmune responses, nutritional deficiencies, alcoholism, and vascular and metabolic disorders.
• Drugs known to induce neuropathies treatable by the current methods include anti-virals such as ddl and ddC, phenytoin, isoniazid, vincristine, high dose vitamins, and folic acid antagonists.
• the neuropathic pain treated using the methods of this invention can also be characterized as peripheral or central.
• Peripheral neuropathies that can be treated by the methods of the current invention include those originating from diabetes, post herpetic neuralgia, fibromyalgia, and physical injuries to the nervous system such as spinal cord injury.
• Diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain is a preferred indication for the methods of the current invention.
• DPNP may result from type I or type II diabetes mellitus, and is preferably defined by a diagnosis of painful distal symmetrical sensorimotor polyneuropathy; and a pain score > 4 on an eleven point scale ranging from zero (no pain) to 10 (worst possible pain)).
• Fibromyalgia is another preferred indication for the methods of the current invention. This disease is preferably defined as a history of widespread pain for three months, and pain present at 11 or more of the 18 specific tender point sites on digital palpation with an approximate force of 4 kg., as defined by the American College of Rheumatology criteria for fibromyalgia. See Wolfe F et al. ARTHRITIS RHEUM
• the 18 sites include the occiput (bilateral, at the suboccipital muscle insertions), the low cervical (bilateral, at the anterior aspects of the intertransverse spaces at C5-C7), the trapezius (bilateral, at the midpoint of the upper border), the supraspinatus (bilateral, at origins, above the scapula spine near the medial border), the second rib (bilateral, at the second costochondral junctions, just lateral to the junctions on upper surfaces), the lateral epicondyle (bilateral, 2 cm distal to the epicondyles), the gluteal (bilateral, in upper outer quadrants of buttocks in anterior fold of muscle), the greater trochanter (bilateral, posterior to the trochanteric prominence), and the knee (bilateral, at the medial fat pad proximal to the joint line).
• the methods of the present invention are used to treat neuropathic pain characterized by pain at one or a combination of the foregoing specific tender point sites.
• Yet another preferred indication for the methods of the current invention is post-herpetic neuralgia, which may be defined as neuralgia persisting for at least three months following healing of herpes zoster rash.
• a preferred measure of the success of any treatment is a statistically significant improvement in the number of patients having at least a 50% improvement in pain score from baseline, relative to placebo.
• the pain score is preferably derived from an eleven point scale ranging from zero (no pain) to 10 (worst possible pain)).
• analgesic drugs selected from opioid analgesics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), tricyclic antidepressants (TCA) such as amitriptyline, and
• the pain is accompanied by a comorbid diagnosis of major depressive disorder (MDD), anxiety and/or depression.
• MDD major depressive disorder
• analgesics can be administered as part of the methods of the current invention, including acetaminophen (up to 4 g/day), an opioid analgesic, or an NSAID.
• the dosage can vary within wide limits and will, of course, be fitted to the individual requirements in each particular case. In general, in the case of oral
• a daily dosage of palonosetron of from about 0.01 or 0.05 to about 0.5 or 2.0 mg per person should be appropriate, alternatively from about 0.01 or 0.05 to about 1.0 mg., and alternatively from about 0.025 mg to about 0.5 mg.
• the dose can be administered in a single daily dosage, due to the excellent pharmacokinetics observed for the molecule, although multiple doses could also be administered (i.e. two or three times daily). With respect to palonosetron, these doses should be substantially the same whether administered orally or via injection.
• a daily dosage of netupitant of from about 10 to about 300 mg should be appropriate, preferably from about 20 to about 200 mg, or from about 30 to about 150 mg.
• this dose just once daily, although it is possible to divide the daily dose into two or three doses.
• the dose would constitute about 40% of the oral dose, and the foregoing ranges can be adjusted to 40%.
• the amounts in the drug combination are synergistic.
• the amounts are synergistically effective when administered once daily to a 70 kg human based on one or more measures selected from (a) the treatment of mechanically evoked allodynia, (b) the modulation of electrically-evoked dorsal horn neural C-fiber responses, and (c) the modulation of electrically-evoked dorsal horn neural AD-fiber responses.
• measures selected from (a) the treatment of mechanically evoked allodynia, (b) the modulation of electrically-evoked dorsal horn neural C-fiber responses, and (c) the modulation of electrically-evoked dorsal horn neural AD-fiber responses.
• Combination drug products that contain the amounts of palonosetron and netupitant described herein have been shown to demonstrate synergy under one or more of these criteria.
• irritable bowel syndrome IBS
• a combination of a sub-therapeutic dose of palonosetron and a sub-therapeutic dose of netupitant has a synergistic effect in treating Irritable bowel syndrome.
• Sub-therapeutic dose refers to a dose which is ineffective against IBS when administered alone.
• the invention provides a method of treating Irritable bowel syndrome comprising administering to a human patient in need thereof a synergistically-effective combination comprising (a) a sub-therapeutic dose of palonosetron or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or prodrug thereof; and (b) a sub-therapeutic dose of netupitant or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or prodrug thereof.
• the above disclosed methods are effective in treating one or more indications selected from the group consisting of alternating IBS (IBS-A), IBS with diarrhea (IBS-D) and IBS with constipation (IBS-C).
• IBS-A IBS with diarrhea
• IBS-C IBS with constipation
• the primary symptoms of said IBS-C are abdominal pain and constipation.
• Constipation can be evaluated by accessing stool frequency.
• the baseline of the abdominal pain can be defined as weekly average of worst abdominal pain in past 24 hours score of equal to or greater than 3.0 in a 0 to 10 point scale.
• the baseline of stool frequency can be defined as less than three complete spontaneous bowel movements (CSBM) per week.
• the invention provides a method of treating Irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C) where said method is effective in (1) decreasing intensity of said abdominal pain equal to or greater than 30 percent based on weekly average of worst abdominal pain in past 24 hours as compared with baseline; and (2) increasing at least one complete spontaneous bowel movements (CSBM) per week as compared with baseline.
• IBS-C Irritable bowel syndrome with constipation
• IBS-D The primary symptoms of IBS with diarrhea (IBS-D) are abdominal pain and diarrhea. Diarrhea can be evaluated by accessing stool consistency. Stool consistency is described according to the Bristol Stool Scale, which is a medical aid designed to classify the form of human faeces into seven categories.
• Type 1 Separate hard lumps, like nuts (hard to pass); Type 2: Sausage-shaped, but lumpy; Type 3: Like a sausage but with cracks on its surface; Type 4: Like a sausage or snake, smooth and soft; Type 5: Soft blobs with clear cut edges (passed easily); Type 6: Fluffy pieces with ragged edges, a mushy stool; and Type 7: Watery, no solid pieces. Entirely liquid.
• the baseline of the abdominal pain can be defined as weekly average of worst abdominal pain in past 24 hours score of equal to or greater than 3.0 in a 0 to 10 point scale.
• the baseline of stool consistency can be defined as weekly average equal to or greater than Type 6 Bristol Stool Scale (BSS).
• the invention provides a method of treating Irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea (IBS-D) where said method is effective in (1) decreasing the intensity of abdominal pain by 30 percent or more based on a weekly average of worst abdominal pain in the previous 24 hours as compared with baseline; and (2) achieving a weekly average of equal to or less than Type 5 Bristol Stool Scale ( ⁇ Type 2 BSS can be considered an adverse event).
• IBS-D Irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea
• the disclosed methods are non-specific to IBS subtypes. Further, it has been discovered that the above disclosed methods can be applied to both male and female patients. Therefore, in another embodiment, the invention provides a method of treating Irritable bowel syndrome wherein said method is not gender specific. Moreover, since the disclosed methods administer a combination of palonosetron and netupitant to patients where each agent is in sub-therapeutic dose, said methods significantly reduce the potential side effects. Therefore, in another embodiment, the invention provides a method of treating Irritable bowel syndrome wherein associated side effects are significantly reduced.
• the invention provides a method of treating Irritable bowel syndrome where said method is effective to treat other symptoms of IBS-C, e.g., abdominal discomfort, and other symptoms of IBS-D, e.g., abdominal discomfort and fecal incontinence.
• the invention provides a method of treating Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) wherein said IBS is caused by colonic and/or somatic hypersensitivity.
• the invention provides a method of treating Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) wherein said method is effective in inhibiting said colonic and/or somatic hypersensitivity.
• the invention provides a method of treating Irritable bowel syndrome, comprising administering a palonosetron dose of less than 0.01 mg per kg body weight and a netupitant dose of less than 0.01 mg per kg body weight to a patient in need thereof.
• the invention provides a method of treating Irritable bowel syndrome, comprising administering a palonosetron dose of about 0.001 mg per kg body weight and a netupitant dose of about 0.001 mg per kg body weight to a patient in need thereof.
• compositions can be developed that make use of the combinations described herein.
• the composition can be administered by any appropriate route, for example, orally, parenterally, or intravenously, in liquid or solid form.
• compositions will generally include an inert diluent or an edible carrier. They may be enclosed in gelatin capsules (for oral use) or compressed into tablets (for oral or buccal use) or formulated into troches (for buccal use).
• the active compound can be incorporated with excipients and used in the form of tablets, troches, or capsules.
• Pharmaceutically compatible binding agents, and/or adjuvant materials can be included as part of the composition.
• Tablets, pills, capsules, troches and the like can contain any of the following ingredients, or compounds of a similar nature: a binder such as microcrystalline cellulose, gum tragacanth or gelatin; an excipient such as starch or lactose, a disintegrating agent such as alginic acid, Primogel, or corn starch; a lubricant such as magnesium stearate or Sterotes; a gliding such as colloidal silicon dioxide; a sweetening agent such as sucrose or saccharin; or a flavoring agent such as peppermint, methyl salicylate, or orange flavoring.
• a binder such as microcrystalline cellulose, gum tragacanth or gelatin
• an excipient such as starch or lactose, a disintegrating agent such as alginic acid, Primogel, or corn starch
• a lubricant such as magnesium stearate or Sterotes
• a gliding such as colloidal silicon dioxide
• dosage unit form When the dosage unit form is a capsule, it can contain, in addition to material of the above type, a liquid carrier such as a fatty oil.
• dosage unit forms can contain various other materials which modify the physical form of the dosage unit, for example, coatings of sugar, shellac, or other enteric agents.
• Solutions or suspensions used for injection can include the following components: a sterile diluent such as water for injection, saline solution, fixed oils, polyethylene glycols, glycerine, propylene glycol or other synthetic solvents; antibacterial agents such as benzyl alcohol or methyl parabens; antioxidants such as ascorbic acid or sodium bisulfite;
• a sterile diluent such as water for injection, saline solution, fixed oils, polyethylene glycols, glycerine, propylene glycol or other synthetic solvents
• antibacterial agents such as benzyl alcohol or methyl parabens
• antioxidants such as ascorbic acid or sodium bisulfite
• chelating agents such as ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid
• buffers such as acetates, citrates or phosphates and agents for the adjustment of tonicity such as sodium chloride, mannitol and dextrose.
• An injectable preparation can be enclosed in ampoules, disposable syringes or multiple dose vials made of glass or plastic.
• a model of experimental neuropathic pain with symptoms of allodynia and hyperalgesia was established by tightly ligating the L5 and L6 spinal nerves as previously described (Kim and Chung, 1992). Within a sterile theatre, rats weighing approximately 130-150g were anaesthetised (1 : 1 0 2 :N 2 0, 3% halothane for induction, 1% maintenance) and following a small left-side incision at approximately L4-S2, paraspinal muscle and fat was removed from spinous processes. Part of the L6 traverse process was clipped with rangeurs to expose the parallel-lying L4 and L5 spinal nerves.
• the L5 nerve was isolated and hooked with a finely-pulled glass rod and tightly tied with non-absorbable 6-0 silk thread distal to the dorsal root ganglion (and proximal to the formation of the sciatic nerve).
• the L6 nerve was then hooked from under the sacrum and tied in a similar way.
• the number of lifts in response to each of the filaments was noted for the contralateral and ipsilateral paw of each rat.
• the rotarod was also used to assess potential effects on motor performance of Netupitant and Palonosetron. Acceleration of the rotarod was set to increase from 0 to 20 revolutions per minute over the period of one minute. Due to initial, non-linear acceleration, rats were placed on the rotarod locked at a speed of 8 revolutions per minute. The rotarod was then set to accelerate and the latency to fall from the rotarod was timed from this point.
• Input represents the post-synaptic C-fibre-evoked dorsal horn neuronal response following the first of the 16 electrical stimuli in the electrical train. It gives a measure of resting pre-synaptic activity (taken as total neuronal responsiveness upstream of the neurone under study, therefore including afferent excitability, activity at terminals and interneurones) and transmitter release in the absence of potentiation.
• the baseline 'input' response given numerically and graphically in this and other studies, was calculated as the number of C-fibre-evoked action potentials produced by the first stimulus (i.e. initial baseline response) multiplied by the total number of stimuli.
• ⁇ -, ⁇ -, and C-fibre responses denote the number of action potentials respectively generated in the spinal cord as a consequence of ⁇ -, ⁇ -, and C-fibre activity following electrical stimulation of their peripheral receptive field.
• Neuronal responses that trail behind between 300-800ms post-stimulus are quantified as post-discharge, and represent spinal cord hyperexcitability that results as a consequence of repetitive stimulation of the neurone.
• the combination is administered in a capsule oral dosage form, wherein the capsule houses one or more soft-gel capsules for the palonosetron and one or more hard tablets for the netupitant.
• Table 4 below describes a representative
• Table 5 describes a representative formulation for a tablet containing 100 mg. of netupitant, suitable for inclusion in a hard shell.
• Acclimation Upon arrival all animals were acclimated to the animal facility for a minimum of one-week. To further acclimate and minimize experimental stress, the rats were brought to the laboratory for an additional week to acclimate to the laboratory environment and animal handlers.
• VMR Visceromotor responses
• CRD colorectal distension
• the balloon cannula was connected to a Distender Series IIR barostat (G & J Electronics Inc.) for controlled, isobaric inflation of the balloon and CRD using constant pressure (isobaric) tonic distensions were conducted at 0, 20, 40 and 60 mmHg. Each pressure was maintained for a period 10 min. during which time the number of abdominal muscle contractions were counted. A 10 min. recovery period was allowed between the each distension.
• Somatic Sensitivity Assessment Von Frey filaments were used to determine the level of somatic sensitivity in all animals receiving intracolonic infusion of AA.
• the Von Frey instrument measures the level of somatic sensitivity by recording the minimal force required to elicit hind paw withdrawal.
• the animals were placed in a mesh-bottomed Von Frey caging apparatus and a nylon filament was steadily pushed against the rat's foot pad until withdrawal of the hind paw. The force in grams which elicited hind paw withdrawal was then recorded.
• Test Compounds Following surgery, rats were pre-dosed with Palonosetron (1-hr pre-dose), Netupitant (2-hr pre-dose) or methyl cellulose vehicle. Palonosetron and Netupitant were supplied by Helsinn Healthcare Inc. and were stored at 4° C until prepared for dosing as a suspension in 1% methyl cellulose solution. The drug suspensions were prepared so that each rat received an oral dosing volume of 0.5 ml per 100 g body weight for doses of 0.001, 0.01, 0.1 or 1 mg/kg. Compounds were prepared fresh on the day of use. [090] Statistical Analysis: To determine statistical significance between multiple control and treatment groups, data was compared using one-way ANOVA followed by a

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