WO2021090015A1 - Nouvelles compositions - Google Patents

Nouvelles compositions Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2021090015A1
WO2021090015A1 PCT/GB2020/052812 GB2020052812W WO2021090015A1 WO 2021090015 A1 WO2021090015 A1 WO 2021090015A1 GB 2020052812 W GB2020052812 W GB 2020052812W WO 2021090015 A1 WO2021090015 A1 WO 2021090015A1
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WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
composition
silica particles
particles
silica
treatment
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PCT/GB2020/052812
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English (en)
Inventor
Carl-Johan Dalsgaard
Adam Feiler
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Vicore Pharma Ab
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Publication of WO2021090015A1 publication Critical patent/WO2021090015A1/fr

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    • 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
    • A61K9/0012—Galenical forms characterised by the site of application
    • A61K9/007—Pulmonary tract; Aromatherapy
    • A61K9/0073—Sprays or powders for inhalation; Aerolised or nebulised preparations generated by other means than thermal energy
    • A61K9/0075—Sprays or powders for inhalation; Aerolised or nebulised preparations generated by other means than thermal energy for inhalation via a dry powder inhaler [DPI], e.g. comprising micronized drug mixed with lactose carrier particles
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K31/00—Medicinal preparations containing organic active ingredients
    • A61K31/33—Heterocyclic compounds
    • A61K31/395—Heterocyclic compounds having nitrogen as a ring hetero atom, e.g. guanethidine or rifamycins
    • A61K31/435—Heterocyclic compounds having nitrogen as a ring hetero atom, e.g. guanethidine or rifamycins having six-membered rings with one nitrogen as the only ring hetero atom
    • A61K31/44—Non condensed pyridines; Hydrogenated derivatives thereof
    • A61K31/445—Non condensed piperidines, e.g. piperocaine
    • A61K31/4523—Non condensed piperidines, e.g. piperocaine containing further heterocyclic ring systems
    • A61K31/454—Non condensed piperidines, e.g. piperocaine containing further heterocyclic ring systems containing a five-membered ring with nitrogen as a ring hetero atom, e.g. pimozide, domperidone
    • 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
    • A61K9/14—Particulate form, e.g. powders, Processes for size reducing of pure drugs or the resulting products, Pure drug nanoparticles
    • A61K9/141—Intimate drug-carrier mixtures characterised by the carrier, e.g. ordered mixtures, adsorbates, solid solutions, eutectica, co-dried, co-solubilised, co-kneaded, co-milled, co-ground products, co-precipitates, co-evaporates, co-extrudates, co-melts; Drug nanoparticles with adsorbed surface modifiers
    • A61K9/143—Intimate drug-carrier mixtures characterised by the carrier, e.g. ordered mixtures, adsorbates, solid solutions, eutectica, co-dried, co-solubilised, co-kneaded, co-milled, co-ground products, co-precipitates, co-evaporates, co-extrudates, co-melts; Drug nanoparticles with adsorbed surface modifiers with inorganic compounds
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
    • A61P11/00—Drugs for disorders of the respiratory system

Definitions

  • This invention relates to new pharmaceutical compositions, their use as medicaments and particularly to their administration to the lung to treat, for example, interstitial lung diseases.
  • Interstitial lung diseases are a group of lung diseases that affect the interstitium, characterised by tissue around alveoli becoming scarred and/or thickened, and so inhibiting the respiratory process.
  • ILDs are distinct from obstructive airway diseases (e.g. chronic obstructive airway disease (COPD) and asthma), which are typically characterized by narrowing (obstruction) of bronchi and/or bronchioles. ILDs may be caused by injury to the lungs, which triggers an abnormal healing response but, in some cases, these diseases have no known cause. ILDs can be triggered by chemicals (silicosis, asbestosis, certain drugs), infection (e.g. pneumonia) or other diseases (e.g. rheumatoid arthritis, systemic sclerosis, myositis, hypersensitivity pneumonitis or systemic lupus erythematosus).
  • COPD chronic obstructive airway disease
  • asthma chronic obstructive airway disease
  • ILDstruction e.g. chronic obstructive airway disease (COPD) and asthma
  • COPD chronic obstructive airway disease
  • asthma chronic obstructive airway disease
  • ILDs idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and sarcoidosis, both of which are characterised by chronic inflammation and reduced lung function.
  • IPF idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
  • sarcoidosis sarcoidosis
  • Sarcoidosis is a disease of unknown cause that is characterised by collections of inflammatory cells that form lumps (granulomas), often beginning in the lungs (as well as the skin and/or lymph nodes, although any organ can be affected).
  • symptoms include coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, and/or chest pain.
  • NSAIDs non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
  • glucocorticoids e.g. prednisone or prednisolone
  • antimetabolites e.g. prednisone or prednisolone
  • monoclonal anti-tumor necrosis factor antibodies are often employed.
  • IPF on the other hand is a chronic lung disease characterized by a progressive and irreversible decline in lung function caused by scarring of the lungs. Symptoms typically include cough and shortness of breath. Although less prevalent than asthma and COPD, mortality rates from IPF are much higher (e.g. 5 times higher than that of asthma, despite asthma being 100 times more prevalent).
  • IPF oxygen supplementation
  • Medications that are used include pirfenidone or nintedanib, but with only limited success in slowing the progression of the disease. Further, both of these drugs commonly cause (predominantly gastrointestinal) side-effects.
  • IPF affects about 5 million people globally. Average life expectancy after diagnosis is around four years.
  • Immunomodulatory imide drugs are a class of immunomodulatory drugs that contain an imide group.
  • the drug class includes thalidomide and analogues thereof, such as lenalidomide and pomalidomide.
  • IMIDs Primary medical uses of IMIDs include the treatment of cancers, such as multiple myeloma and myelodysplastic syndrome (a precursor condition to acute myeloid leukaemia), as well as certain autoimmune diseases (including erythema nodosum leprosum, a painful vasculitic complication of leprosy).
  • cancers such as multiple myeloma and myelodysplastic syndrome (a precursor condition to acute myeloid leukaemia), as well as certain autoimmune diseases (including erythema nodosum leprosum, a painful vasculitic complication of leprosy).
  • Off- label uses include other forms of cancer, such as Hodgkin's lymphoma and prostate cancer, as well as other conditions like primary myelofibrosis.
  • Cyclodextrin-based thalidomide formulations for the local treatment of nosebleeds in hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia are also known (see Colombo
  • Particles comprising nanoporous (mesoporous) silica materials have been disclosed for use in general pharmaceutical and cosmetic applications in inter alia international patent application WO 2012/035074.
  • poorly soluble active ingredients are incorporated within nanopore channels of the silica particles.
  • the use of similar particles with a specific particle size distribution for delivery of active ingredients to the respiratory tract are disclosed in international patent application WO 2018/202818.
  • Formulations comprising lenalidomide in various porous carriers including silica have been described in WO 2016/097030.
  • Ao et al Braz . J. Med. Res., 51, 1 (2018)
  • low density lipopeptide modified silica nanoparticles loaded with docetaxel and thalidomide for use in chemotherapy of liver cancer are disclosed.
  • the use of porous materials for potential delivery of active ingredients to the lung has been disclosed.
  • US patents US 6,254,854, US 6,740,310 and US 7,435,408 all disclose polymeric materials, such as polyanhydrides and copolymers poly(lactic acid) grafted to amino acids; and international patent application WO 03/043586 discloses polymeric nanoparticles.
  • Tartula et al J . Drug Target., 19, 900 (2011)
  • Li et al Nanomedicine , 11, 1377 (2015)
  • Wang et al Nanoscale Research Letters, 12, 66 (2017)
  • international patent application WO 03/011251 discloses mesoporous silicon carriers for pulmonary delivery.
  • Inhalation devices that are typically employed to administer active compounds to the lung include metered dose inhalers (MDIs), dry powder inhalers (DPIs) and soft mist inhalers (SMIs). DPIs may be divided into low, medium and high resistant DPIs.
  • MDIs metered dose inhalers
  • DPIs dry powder inhalers
  • SMIs soft mist inhalers
  • the efficiency of DPIs is affected by two main forces 1) an inspiration air flow (IAF), which depends on a flow generated by the patient, and 2) a turbulence produced by the device.
  • IAF inspiration air flow
  • turbulence produced by the device.
  • a balance between these two forces is important for optimal performance of a device. If the IAF is too low, most of the drug is lost in the upper lung, i.e. the throat and the trachea. On the other hand, with most DPI-administered formulations, if the IAF is too high, more drug may be delivered in the lower lung (the bronchi and alveoli), but in a manner where there is often poor disaggregation of particles, and therefore dispersion of the drug in the lung.
  • Typical fixed-dose drug combinations for pulmonary delivery require powder homogeneity to deliver a uniform dose of drug to patients. This is often attempted by a simple blend of micronized drugs with coarse carrier particles.
  • the pharmaceutical composition is typically present in a liquid form, as a solution or suspension in a propellant, such as a hydrocarbon, a fluorocarbon or a hydrogen-containing fluorocarbon.
  • a propellant such as a hydrocarbon, a fluorocarbon or a hydrogen-containing fluorocarbon.
  • solvents and/or surfactants are employed with a view to imparting stability to the suspension of drug particles.
  • the compound needs to have a low solubility in the solvents that are used.
  • IMIDs show an excellent solubility profile when presented in this way, which renders such compositions of potential utility in the topical treatment of ILDs, such as IPF, by pulmonary administration.
  • composition suitable for administration to the lung, which composition comprises a plurality of amorphous nanoporous (mesoporous) silica particles, in which one or more IMID is loaded into the pores of said particles, and wherein the silica particles have:
  • MMAD mass median aerodynamic diameter
  • mean particle size that is/are between about 0.95 pm and about 6.05 pm
  • compositions are hereinafter referred to as 'compositions of the invention'.
  • the loaded silica particles of the compositions of the invention may also have a mass density that is less than about 0.6 g/cm 3 , such as about 0.4 g/cm 3 for example between about 0.15 and about 0.35 g/cm 3 .
  • mean particle sizes may be presented as weight-, number-, or volume-, based mean diameters.
  • weight based mean diameter' will be understood by the skilled person to include that the average particle size is characterised and defined from a particle size distribution by weight, i.e. a distribution where the existing fraction (relative amount) in each size class is defined as the weight fraction, as obtained by e.g. sieving (e.g. wet sieving).
  • volume based mean diameter' is similar in its meaning to weight based mean diameter, but will be understood by the skilled person to include that the average particle size is characterised and defined from a particle size distribution by volume, i.e.
  • the existing fraction (relative amount) in each size class is defined as the volume fraction, as measured by e.g. laser diffraction.
  • the term 'number based mean diameter' will be understood by the skilled person to include that the average particle size is characterised and defined from a particle size distribution by number, i.e. a distribution where the existing fraction (relative amount) in each size class is defined as the number fraction, as measured by e.g. microscopy.
  • Other instruments that are well known in the field may be employed to measure particle size, such as equipment sold by e.g. Malvern Instruments, Ltd (Worcestershire, UK), Sympatec GmbH (Clausthal- Zellerfeld, Germany) and Shimadzu (Kyoto, Japan).
  • Mass median aerodynamic diameter will be understood by those skilled in the art to mean the diameter at which 50% of the particles by mass are larger and 50% are smaller over the total delivered dose as determined by any approved device, usually a cascade impactor such as a NGI, Andersen or Marple Miller impactor (see e.g. US Pharmacopeia at ⁇ 601>; and/or www.uspbpep.com/usp31/v31261/usp31nf26sl_c601.asp).
  • MMAD may be readily determined by those skilled in the art, for example by plotting on log probability paper the percentages of mass that is less than the stated aerodynamic diameters versus the aerodynamic diameters. The MMAD is taken as the intersection of the line with the 50% cumulative percent.
  • Particle sizes and/or MMADs that may be mentioned is/are between about 0.75 pm and 6.5 pm, for example between about 2 pm and about 6 pm, more preferably between about 3 pm and about 5 pm, such as between about 2.5 pm and about 4.8 pm, including between about 2.8 pm and about 4.4 pm, for example about 2.9 pm, about 3.0 pm, about 3.1 pm, about 3.2 pm, about 4.0 pm, about 4.1 pm, about 4.2 pm, or about 4.3 pm, more preferably between about 3.3 pm and about 3.9 pm, such as 3.4 pm or about 3.8 pm, including about 3.5 pm, about 3.6 pm or about 3.7 pm.
  • the particle size and/or MMAD of particles in compositions of the invention is between about 0.95 pm and about 6.05 pm; and, such as between about 1 pm and about 5.50 pm or, more preferably the particle size and/or MMAD of particles in compositions of the invention is between about 1.05 pm (e.g. about 1.5 pm) and about 5.0 pm, such as up to about 4.4 pm, for example up to about 3.0 pm, and for example specifically about 1.6 pm, about 1.7 pm, about 2.9 pm, about 2.8 pm, about 2.7 pm, about 2.6 pm, about 2.5 pm, about 2.4 pm, or about 2.3 pm preferably between about 1.8 pm and about 2.2 pm, such as 1.9 pm or about 2.1 or about 2.0 pm.
  • the particle size and/or MMAD of particles in compositions of the invention is between about 0.95 pm and about 6.05 pm; and, such as between about 1 pm and about 5.50 pm or, more preferably the particle size and/or MMAD of particles in compositions of the invention is between about 1.05 pm (e.g
  • GSD will be understood by those skilled in the art to be a measure of the spread of an aerodynamic particle size distribution. It is typically calculated as follows as:
  • d9o/dlo 1/2 wherein d9o and dio represent the diameters at which 90% and 10%, respectively, of the aerosol mass are contained, in diameters less than these diameters.
  • the GSD of particles in compositions of the invention is about less than 1.32, such as less than 1.28 or less than 1.25, including less than 1.23. less than about 1.22, and even less than about 1.21, about 1.20, about 1.19, about 1.18, about 1.17, about 1.16, about 1.15, about 1.14, about 1.13, about 1.12, about 1.11, about 1.10, about 1.09, about 1.08, about 1.07, about 1.06 or about 1.05 or less.
  • Other parameters that may be used to define particles include mass density and the fine particle fraction (FPF).
  • the FPF is the proportion of particles that have a diameter below about 5 pm.
  • Preferred FPFs are at least about 50%, including at least about 60%, such as at least about 75% (e.g. at least about 80%), including at least about 85%, e.g. at least about 90%, such as at least about 95%, at least about 98%, and up to at least about 99%, at least about 99.9% or about 100%.
  • compositions of the invention comprise particles that are very small, but have a well-defined particle size distribution.
  • the silica particles that are employed in compositions of the invention may also have a pore size that is between about 1 nm (e.g. about 2 nm) and about 100 nm (e.g. about 50 nm).
  • Porous silica particles of compositions of the invention preferably have an average pore size that is in the range of about 2 nm (e.g. about 3 nm, such as about 4 nm, including about 5 nm and about 8 nm) up to about 30 nm (e.g. about 20 nm, such as about 16 nm (e.g. about 15 nm), including about 13 nm, such as about 12 nm (e.g. about 10 nm).
  • Specific average pore sizes that may be mentioned include about 4.5 nm, about 5.0 nm, about 5.5 nm, about 6.5 nm, about 7.0 nm, about 7.5 nm, about 8.0 nm, about 8.5 nm, about 9.0 nm, about 9.5 nm, about 10 nm, about 11 nm, about 12 nm, about 13 nm, or about 14 nm.
  • Such particles may also possess a pore volume that is between about 0.05 cm 3 /g, such as about 0.08 cm 3 /g, including about 0.09 cm 3 /g (e.g.
  • about 0.1 cm 3 /g such as about 0.2 cm 3 /g, or about 2 cm 3 /g
  • 3 cm 3 /g such as about 2.5 cm 3 /g, including about 2.0 cm 3 /g (e.g. about 1.5 cm 3 /g or about 1.0 cm 3 /g), and/or may preferably possess a surface area that is in the range of about 35 m 2 /g, e.g.
  • m 2 /g or about 50 m 2 /g (such as about 100 m 2 /g, including about 150 m 2 /g or about 200 m 2 /g) up to about and about 1,200 m 2 /g, such as about 450 m 2 /g, including about 350 m 2 /g, e.g. about 300 m 2 /g. All of these parameters may be determined by routine techniques, such as nitrogen adsorption isotherm (Brunauer, Emmett and Teller (BET)), mercury inclusion, and Barrett, Joyner and Halenda (BJH), methods.
  • BET Brunauer, Emmett and Teller
  • BJH Barrett, Joyner and Halenda
  • Shapes of the porous particles may be controlled by the process of manufacture. Shape may be important for the incorporation and dissolution of the IMID.
  • silica particles may potentially be any shape (e.g. gyroids, rods, fibres, pseudo-spheres, cylinders, core-shells) in compositions of the invention, they are preferably essentially spherical.
  • spherical' we mean that they may possess an aspect ratio smaller than about 20, more preferably less than about 10, such as less than about 4, and especially less than about 2, and/or may possess a variation in radii (measured from the centre of gravity to the particle surface), in at least about 90% of the particles that is no more than about 20% of the average value, such as no more than about 10% of that value, for example no more than about 5% of that value.
  • Porous silica particles may be loaded with one or more IMIDs by any suitable process known to those skilled in the art.
  • particles may be loaded by way of a solvent evaporation technique, for example as described hereinafter, impregnation, for example using a melt, use of supercritical CO2, shear mixing, co-grinding, spray-drying or freeze-drying.
  • Well known equipment such as a fluidized bed may be used.
  • a preferred technique is solvent evaporation.
  • Loading the IMID into the silica particles means that it is loaded into the nanopores of the particles. It is preferred that the pores of the silica particles are loaded such that between about 0.1 and about 60%, preferably up to about 50%, such as up to about 45%, including up to about 40%, such as up to about 35% or up to about 30%, including up to about 25% (e.g. about 20% or about 10%) of the total weight of the loaded particles is IMID and, optionally, other pharmaceutical excipients, diluents or additives. In the alternative, it is preferred that up to about 60%, including up to about 70%, or up to about 80%, such as up to about 90%, e.g.
  • IMID iodiol
  • diluents or additives up to about 100% of the pores of the silica particles are loaded with IMID and, optionally, other pharmaceutical excipients, diluents or additives.
  • the entire mass of IMID does not have to be loaded into the pores of the particles and may otherwise be attached to the surfaces of the particle.
  • the IMID may be presented within the pores of the particles of compositions of the invention in an essentially crystalline state.
  • 'essentially crystalline' we mean that the IMID is at least about 95%, such as at least about 98%, for example at least about 99%, e.g. at least about 99.5%, and preferably at least about 99.9%, such as at least about 99.99%, crystalline, which may be detected by standard techniques, such as PXRD.
  • the IMID may be presented within the pores of the particles of compositions of the invention in an essentially amorphous state.
  • 'essentially amorphous' we mean that the IMID is no more than about 5%, such as no more than about 2%, for example no more than about 1%, e.g. no more than about 0.5%, and preferably no more than about 0.1% crystalline, which, again, may be detected by standard techniques, such as PXRD.
  • IMID in a crystalline or in an amorphous state within the pores of the particles of compositions of the invention means that the latter are capable of delivering a consistent and/or uniform dose of IMID, which is independent of solubility, after administration to the lung.
  • the IMID may remain in the same physical state (e.g. crystalline or amorphous), during and after manufacture, under normal storage conditions, and during use.
  • the IMID compound can be stored in the form of a composition of the invention, optionally in admixture with pharmaceutically acceptable carriers, diluents or adjuvants, under normal storage conditions, with an insignificant degree of solid state transformation (e.g. crystallisation, recrystallisation, loss of crystallinity, solid state phase transition, hydration, dehydration, solvatisation or desolvatisation).
  • solid state transformation e.g. crystallisation, recrystallisation, loss of crystallinity, solid state phase transition, hydration, dehydration, solvatisation or desolvatisation.
  • the IMID compound may be stored in this form under normal storage conditions, with an insignificant degree of chemical degradation or decomposition.
  • Examples of 'normal storage conditions' include temperatures of between minus 80 and plus 50°C (preferably between 0 and 40°C and more preferably ambient temperature, such as between 15 and 30°C), pressures of between 0.1 and 2 bars (preferably atmospheric pressure), relative humidities of between 5 and 95% (preferably 10 to 60%), and/or exposure to 460 lux of UV/visible light, for prolonged periods (i.e. greater than or equal to six months). Under such conditions, IMID may be found to be less than about 15%, more preferably less than about 10%, and especially less than about 5%, solid-state and/or chemically transformed.
  • the skilled person will appreciate that the above- mentioned upper and lower limits for temperature and pressure represent extremes of normal storage conditions, and that certain combinations of these extremes will not be experienced during normal storage (e.g. a temperature of 50°C and a pressure of 0.1 bar).
  • active ingredient can be transformed from one solid state form to another, resulting in changes in adhesive forces, which will, in turn, affect the performance of the formulation to be inhaled.
  • formulators have often presented microparticulate active ingredients in a crystalline form in such prior art formulations. This has often led to difficulties in achieving reproducibly, because micronization or milling are often used to reduce particle size of the active ingredient, which can lead to high energy particles in amorphous form.
  • the loading of IMIDs into the pores of the silica particles in accordance with the invention can physically stabilize the IMID in an essentially crystalline and/or or an essentially amorphous form, and prevents it from undergoing solid state transformation, such that the physio-chemical properties of the drug do not change over time.
  • amorphous porous silica particles are biodegradable mesoporous silica.
  • 'biodegradable' means that the silica particles are dissolvable. Accordingly, a preferred embodiment of the invention is that the silica is a synthetic amorphous silica.
  • the silica particles of the compositions of the invention must be amorphous and therefore entirely non-crystalline (and remain so under normal storage conditions as hereinbefore defined), by which we mean that no crystallinity is detectable by standard techniques, such as PXRD. This is especially important considering the indications in which the compositions of the invention are intended to be used, in which injury by crystalline silica or other agents may be one of the causes of ILDs, such as PF.
  • Amorphous silica is less sensitive to humidity when compared to dry crystalline powder compositions that are typically used in pulmonary delivery of active ingredients.
  • Amorphous silica particles may be manufactured by processes known in the art.
  • porous particles may be manufactured by cooperative self- assembly of silica species and organic templates such as cationic surfactants such as alkyltrimethylammonium templates with varying carbon chain lengths, and counterions such as cetyltrimethylammonium chloride (CTA+CI- or CTAC) or cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTA+Br- or CTAB), or non-ionic species such as diblock and triblock polymer species, such as copolymers of polyethylene oxide and polypropylene oxide for example Pluronic 123 surfactant.
  • organic templates such as cationic surfactants such as alkyltrimethylammonium templates with varying carbon chain lengths, and counterions such as cetyltrimethylammonium chloride (CTA+CI- or CTAC) or cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTA+Br- or CTAB), or non-ionic species such as diblock and triblock polymer species, such as copolymers of polyethylene oxide and polypropylene oxide for example Plur
  • mesoporous silica particles occurs following the hydrolysis and condensation of silica precursors which can include alkylsilicates such as tetraethylorthosilcate (TEOS) or tetramethylorthosilicate (TMOS) in solution or sodium silicate solution.
  • TEOS tetraethylorthosilcate
  • TMOS tetramethylorthosilicate
  • the mesoporous silica particle size can be controlled by adding suitable additive agents, e.g. inorganic bases, alcohols including methanol, ethanol, propanol, and other organic solvents, such as acetone, which affect the hydrolysis and condensation of silica species.
  • Pore size may not only be influenced by hydrothermal treatment of the reaction mixture such as heating up to 100°C or even above and also with the addition of swelling agents in the form of organic oils and liquids that expand the surfactant micelle template, but also, after condensation of the silica matrix, removing the templating surfactant by calcination typically at temperatures from about 500°C to about 650°C, or alternatively from 650°C up to about 750°C, in each case for e.g. several hours.
  • Calcination at the higher of the above two temperature ranges not only burns away the organic template resulting in a porous matrix of silica (which the lower of the above two temperature ranges will also achieve), but also creates particles with one or more of the smaller average pore sizes mentioned hereinbefore (e.g. about 2 nm to about 14 nm, about 3 nm to about 13 nm and/or about 4 nm to about 12 nm (e.g. about 10 nm)), pore volumes (e.g. about 0.05 cm 3 /g to about 2.5 cm 3 /g, including about 0.08 cm 3 /g (e.g.
  • the template may alternatively be removed by extraction and washing with suitable solvents such as organic solvents or acidic of basic solutions.
  • the porous silica particles may be manufactured by a sol-gel method comprising a condensation reaction between a silica precursor solution, such as sodium silicate or an aqueous suspension of silica nanoparticles as an emulsion, in either case with a non-miscible organic solution (such as benzyl alcohol), an oil, or a liquid polymer.
  • a silica precursor solution such as sodium silicate or an aqueous suspension of silica nanoparticles as an emulsion
  • a non-miscible organic solution such as benzyl alcohol
  • droplets are formed by, for example, stirring or spraying the solution.
  • Gelation of the silica may be carried out by means of changing pH, which may be carried out during or after the condensation step, and/or evaporation of the aqueous phase.
  • the porosity of the particles here are formed either by exclusion due to the presence of the non-miscible secondary phase or by the jamming of the silica nanoparticles during evaporation.
  • Such particles may further be treated by washing to remove the non-miscible secondary phase and heating to induce condensation of the silica matrix. Furthermore, the particles may be treated by calcination as hereinbefore described to strengthen the silica matrix.
  • the porous particles may be manufactured as porous glass through a process of phase separation in borosilicate glasses (such as Si02-B203-Na20), followed by liquid extraction of one of the formed phases through the sol-gel process, or simply by sintering glass powder.
  • borosilicate glasses such as Si02-B203-Na20
  • liquid extraction of one of the formed phases through the sol-gel process, or simply by sintering glass powder.
  • a thermal treatment typically between 500°C and 760°C, an interpenetration structure is generated, which results from a spinodal decomposition of the sodium-rich borate phase and the silica phase.
  • the porous particles may also be manufactured using a fumed process.
  • fumed silica is produced by burning silicon tetrachloride in an oxygen- hydrogen flame producing microscopic droplets of molten silica which fuse into amorphous silica particles in three-dimensional secondary particles which then agglomerate into tertiary particles.
  • the resulting powder has an extremely low bulk density and high surface area.
  • silica particles are manufactured (e.g. as described herein or otherwise), following such manufacture and prior to loading with IMID, they are separated and classified into the particle size ranges disclosed herein by an appropriate process known to those skilled in the art.
  • particles may be separated using cyclonic separation, by way of an air classifier, sedimentation, force-field fractionation, and/or by sieving using one or more sieves or filters to obtain particles within the desired size ranges.
  • particles within a desired size ranges are preferably obtained by elutriation, for example as described hereinafter.
  • Elutriation is a process for separating particles based on their size, shape and density, using flowing liquid in a direction opposite to the direction of sedimentation.
  • the smaller particles rise to the top (overflow) because their terminal sedimentation velocities are lower than the velocity of the rising fluid.
  • particle aggregation would be expected. Aggregation of dry particles in the micron-sized range is a well-known phenomenon in particle and powder processing. Aggregation is caused by numerous attractive (ubiquitous) forces, such as van der Waals forces and/or electrostatic interactions. In many cases, particle aggregation causes unwanted problems such as poor handling and flowability and sticking to containers.
  • Particles within the size range mentioned herein are also often prone to aggregation in air due to the large surface area to volume ratio.
  • particle aggregation is a serious hurdle for pulmonary delivery, given that the particle size is critical to ensure correct distribution of the particles in the lung. Aggregation of particles would be expected to lead to accumulation in the throat and upper airways thereby limiting the effectiveness of the formulation. Additionally, aggregation of particles or sticking of particles in the capsules during inhalation is a severe limitation.
  • active ingredients are typically administered in the form of micronized particles (of a size between about 1 pm and about 6 pm).
  • the problem of aggregation is typically solved by either suspending micronized particles of active ingredient in a propellant (e.g. HFA), sometimes with other excipients, such as mannitol, lactose, sorbitol, etc.) in an MDI requiring actuation, or by blending such micronized particles of active ingredient with an inactive excipient of larger particle size (e.g. mannitol or lactose), inside a capsule, which is then pre-loaded or manually loaded into a DPI, whereupon inhalation de-aggregates the medication particles and disperses them within the airways.
  • a propellant e.g. HFA
  • excipients such as mannitol, lactose, sorbitol, etc.
  • an inactive excipient of larger particle size e.g. mannitol or lactose
  • monodisperse porous particles in the size range 1 to 6 pm may be made on a bench scale by various routine methods, such as precipitation, seeded and controlled growth, emulsification and microfluidics techniques, it is very difficult or very costly to manufacture porous particles on a larger, industrially-relevant scale with a perfectly uniform particle size without the creation of fine particles or sub-micron particles.
  • Spray drying is technique that is used on an industrial scale but this produces particles with a broad particle size distribution and creates fine particles.
  • composition suitable for administration to the lung, which composition consists essentially of a plurality of amorphous nanoporous (mesoporous) silica particles, in which one or more IMID is loaded into the pores of said particles, and wherein the silica particles have:
  • a MMAD and/or a mean (or an absolute) particle size, that is/are between about 0.95 pm and about 6.05 pm;
  • the phase 'consisting essentially of includes that the composition of the invention is substantially free of any excipients that are added and either do act, or are intended to act, as a lubricant.
  • the phrase 'consisting essentially of includes that the composition comprises less that about 1%, such as less than about 0.5%, including less than about 0.1%, or less than about 0.01%, or even less than about 0.001%, of such excipients by total weight of a composition of the invention.
  • compositions of the invention are provided in the form of handleable powders that can be administered to patients using conventional devices in a manner that provides effective therapy in a reproducible manner, in view of the fact that aggregation is not a problem.
  • silica particles prior to loading with IMID, may be surface modified by chemical reaction of free silanol groups with a reagent that provides at least one organic group.
  • silica particles This can be achieved by surface modification of silica particles by reaction with an alkoxysilane, and/or an alkylhalosilane, many of which are commercially available, for example as described hereinafter.
  • alkoxysilane and/or an alkylhalosilane, many of which are commercially available, for example as described hereinafter.
  • These reagents are capable of forming 1 to 3 Si-O-Si links to the surface by way of a condensation reaction with surface silanol groups.
  • Typical functionalising reagents that may be employed to achieve this include 3-aminopropyl triethoxysilane, 3-mercaptopropyl trimethoxysilane and various PEG-silanes.
  • a functionalising reagent that may be mentioned is an alkylhalosilane, which alkylhalosilane may be an alkylchlorosilane containing up to 4 (e.g. 3) alkyl groups, such as between 1 and 4 (e.g. 3) linear or branched C 1-24 alkyl groups, such as Ci-is alkyl groups, including Ci-io alkyl groups, e.g. a di- or tri-C alkylchlorosilane, such as tripropylchlorosilane, triethylchlorosilane or trimethylchlorosilane.
  • Alternative (and/or preferred) functionalising reagents include reactive species that comprise only one alkyl chain, such as alkyl esters of halocarboxylic acids (e.g. alkylchloroformates) or haloalkanes, for example as described hereinafter.
  • Preferred reagents include those containing linear or branched Ci-24 alkyl groups, such as Ci-is alkyl groups, including Ci-io alkyl groups, such as Ci-4 alkyl groups, e.g. methylchloroformate or methyliodide, propylchloroformate or propyl iodide or, more preferably, ethylchloroformate or ethyliodide.
  • surface modifications of this type may be carried out by reacting said functionalising reagent with silica particles, optionally in the presence of an appropriate solvent (e.g. toluene or tetrahydrofuran) and/or an appropriate base (e.g. imidazole, N-methylmorpholine or sodium carbonate), for example as described hereinafter, or alternatively as described in Zhao and Li, J. Phys. Chem., 102, 1556 (1998), Taib etal, Int. J. Chem., 3, 2 (2011), or Chmielowiec and Morrow, J. Colloid Interface Sci., 94, 319 (1983).
  • an appropriate solvent e.g. toluene or tetrahydrofuran
  • an appropriate base e.g. imidazole, N-methylmorpholine or sodium carbonate
  • functionalisation of silica is preferably achieved with a low conversion (i.e. only functionalising a portion of the surface -OH groups).
  • Longer alkyl chains are expected to lower static interactions between the silica particles, and be more hydrophilic. Further, because the obtained products are known to be sensitive to hydrolysis to liberate the corresponding alcohol, functionalization with ethyl groups is preferred as it will liberate only ethanol in the body.
  • the loaded silica particles may be admixed with one or more fatty acid- or lipid-based surfactants.
  • Such admixing is preferably done by dry mixing said surfactant with said loaded particles, more preferably by way of a high energy mixing process.
  • Appropriate high energy mixing equipment may include, for example, intensive mechanical processors (e.g. the Nobilita- 130 Unit Mechanofusion System (Hosokawa Micron Corporation, Osaka, Japan) or Laboratory Mixer Granulator P 1-6 (DIOSNA Dierks &. Sohne GmbH, Osnabruck, Germany)), for example under appropriate mixing conditions, such as those described hereinafter and/or in Zhou et al, J. Pharm. Sci., 99, 969 (2010).
  • intensive mechanical processors e.g. the Nobilita- 130 Unit Mechanofusion System (Hosokawa Micron Corporation, Osaka, Japan) or Laboratory Mixer Granulator P 1-6 (DIOSNA Dierks &
  • Admixing may also be achieved by other techniques known to those skilled in the art, including spraying a solution or a suspension of said surfactant onto the surfaces of said particles by a suitable means, such as using a fluidized bed and/or a jet mill.
  • fatty acid- or lipid-based surfactant' will be understood to include any surfactant comprising a long (Cs-24) hydrocarbon chain.
  • Surfactants comprising such hydrocarbon chains are or may be derived from oilseeds (e.g. palm, palm kernel, coconut, etc.), and may be saturated, branched, linear and/or aromatic.
  • Surfactants based on lipids or fatty acids may be non-ionic, but are preferably ionic.
  • Ionic surfactants may include those with a cationic head group (e.g. primary, secondary, or tertiary amines; primary and secondary amines and quaternary ammonium salts); Zwitterionic (amphoteric) surfactants (e.g. sultaines, betaines and phospholipids); but more preferably include anionic surfactants, such as salts of sulfate esters (e.g. ammonium lauryl sulfate and sodium lauryl sulfate), sulfonate esters and phosphate esters or, more preferably, carboxylate esters.
  • a cationic head group e.g. primary, secondary, or tertiary amines; primary and secondary amines and quaternary ammonium salts
  • Zwitterionic (amphoteric) surfactants e.g. sultaines, betaines and phospholipids
  • anionic surfactants such as salts of sul
  • Anionic surfactants based on carboxylate esters include carboxylate salts (soaps), which surfactants comprises an alkali, or an alkaline earth, metal ion (e.g. sodium, potassium, calcium or magnesium) and one or more fatty acid chain with at least 10, such as at least 12, including at least 14, such as at least 16, carbon atoms.
  • Preferred specific anionic surfactants in this class include sodium stearate, sodium lauroyl sarcosinate and carboxylate-based fluorosurfactants, such as perfluorononanoate and perfluorooctanoate.
  • the surfactant that is employed in compositions of the invention is magnesium stearate.
  • the amount of surfactant that may be employed in compositions of the invention is in the range of about 0.1% to about 12% by weight of the composition, such as about 0.2% to about 11%. Preferred amounts are in the range of about 1%, such as about 2%, including about 3%, up to about 10% by weight of the composition. Specific amounts that may be included are thus about 0.5%, about 1.0%, about 1.5%, about 2.0%, about 2.5%, about 3.0%, about 3.5%, about 4.0%, about 4.5%, about 5.0%, about 5.5%, about 6.0%, about 6.5%, about 7.0%, about 7.5%, about 8.0%, about 8.5%, about 9.0%, about 9.5%, about 10.0% and about 10.5%.
  • step (f) optionally, admixing the loaded particles from step (e) with a fatty acid- or lipid-based- surfactant as described herein.
  • the process described herein for production of compositions of the invention has the advantage that it allows the production of particles with sizes that enable better control of the site of deposition of the particles in the lung, so enabling accurate tailoring of site-specific lung delivery (e.g. improved delivery to the deep lung) compared to prior art inhalation formulations comprising other drugs.
  • the process described herein also reduces manufacturing costs compared to processes in which separation is conducted after loading particles with a bioactive compound, and is a scalable process. This may improve the yield and efficiency of the manufacturing process.
  • the process also provides for a higher drug loading of the bioactive compounds in final dosage forms comprising compositions of the invention.
  • compositions of the invention are useful as medicaments/pharmaceuticals. Their unexpectedly good flow properties renders them suitable for pulmonary delivery.
  • compositions of the invention find particular utility in the pulmonary treatment of an ILD.
  • a composition of the invention for use in the treatment of an ILD by pulmonary administration as well as the use of a composition of the invention for the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of an ILD by pulmonary administration.
  • ILDs include autoimmune diseases (in which the immune system attacks the body), such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, sarcoidosis and scleroderma/systemic scelorosis, lung inflammation due to breathing in a foreign substance such as dust, fungus or mould (hypersensitivity pneumonitis), side effects of medicines (such as nitrofurantoin, sulfonamides, bleomycin, amiodarone, methotrexate, gold, infliximab, etanercept, and other chemotherapy medicines) or radiation treatment to the chest, or occupational lung disease, brought on by working with or around asbestos, coal dust, cotton dust, and silica dust.
  • autoimmune diseases in which the immune system attacks the body
  • lupus rheumatoid arthritis
  • lung inflammation due to breathing in a foreign substance such as dust, fungus or mould (hyp
  • the term 'ILD' may in addition and/or in the alternative be understood by those skilled in the art to include any pulmonary condition characterized by an abnormal healing response, including chronic inflammation, reduced lung function and/or scarring, irrespective of the cause, such as sarcoidosis, and PF, especially IPF.
  • the term may also include diseases and/or conditions that are known to lead to, and/or be causes of, such pulmonary conditions, such as systemic sclerosis.
  • compositions of the invention may also be useful not only in treating underlying conditions, such as ILDs, but also treating, preventing and/or alleviating specific symptoms of those diseases, including wheezing, tiredness, weight loss/cachexia, chest pain and especially cough and shortness of breath.
  • 'treatment of an ILD' includes treatment of the symptoms of an ILD, such as IPF cough.
  • a method of treatment of an ILD which method comprises the pulmonary administration of a pharmacologically-effective amount of an IMID in the form of a composition of the invention to a patient in need of such treatment.
  • compositions of the invention may also be useful in the treatment or prevention of any fibrotic condition of one or more internal organs characterised by the excessive accumulation of fibrous connective tissue, and/or in the treatment or prevention of fibrogenesis and the morbidity and mortality that may be associated therewith.
  • fibrosis may be associated with an acute inflammatory condition, such as acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), and multiple- organ inflammation, injury and/or failure, which may be caused by internal or external trauma (e.g. injury), or by an infection.
  • ARDS acute respiratory distress syndrome
  • SARS severe acute respiratory syndrome
  • multiple- organ inflammation, injury and/or failure which may be caused by internal or external trauma (e.g. injury), or by an infection.
  • Such conditions may thus result from sepsis or septic shock caused by a viral, bacterial or fungal infection.
  • acute lung injury ARDS and, particularly, SARS may be caused by viruses, such as coronaviruses, including the novel SARS coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which may result in internal tissue damage and/or dysfunction of relevant internal (e.g. mucosal) tissues, such as the respiratory epithelium.
  • SARS-CoV-2 novel SARS coronavirus 2
  • tissue damage may in turn give rise to severe fibrosis.
  • SARS disease 2019 or COVID-19 coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19
  • composition of the invention for use in the treatment of a 'precursor' condition that may lead to fibrosis, and/or in the treatment of a fibrotic condition, such as an ILD (e.g. PF or IPF), that is caused by such a precursor condition.
  • a fibrotic condition such as an ILD (e.g. PF or IPF)
  • ILD e.g. PF or IPF
  • precursor conditions may include systemic sclerosis, acute injury or a relevant (e.g. viral) infection, including those mentioned above (such as SARS-CoV-2).
  • 'Patients' include mammalian (particularly human) patients.
  • Human patients include both adult patients as well as paedeatric patients, the latter including patients up to about 24 months of age, patients between about 2 to about 12 years of age, and patients between about 12 to about 16 years of age. Patients older than about 16 years of age may be considered adults for purposes of the present invention. These different patient populations may be given different doses of IMID.
  • IMIDs include lenalidomide, pomalidomide and, especially, thalidomide. IMIDs may be administered in the form of racemates, single enantiomers and/or pharmaceutically-acceptable salts.
  • salts of IMIDs include base addition salts and preferably acid addition salts.
  • Such salts may be formed by conventional means, for example by reaction of a free acid or, preferably, free base form of an active ingredient with one or more equivalents of an appropriate acid or base as appropriate, optionally in a solvent, or in a medium in which the salt is insoluble, followed by removal of said solvent, or said medium, using standard techniques (e.g. in vacuo, by freeze-drying or by filtration). Salts may also be prepared by exchanging a counter-ion of an active ingredient in the form of a salt with another counter-ion, for example using a suitable ion exchange resin.
  • IMIDs are employed in formulations of the invention in their free form (i.e. not in the form of a pharmaceutically- acceptable salt).
  • Pulmonary delivery means compositions of the invention are adapted for delivery to the lungs by direct inhalation, and thereby giving rise to the direct topical treatment by IMIDs of ILDs in the lungs.
  • Administration of IMID is preferably intermittent.
  • the mode of administration may also be determined by the timing and frequency of administration, but is also dependent, in the case of the treatment of ILDs, on the severity of the condition, or otherwise on the need for treatment.
  • compositions of the invention may also impart, or may be modified to impart, an immediate, or a modified, release of IMIDs.
  • compositions of the invention may be combined with other excipients that are well known to those skilled in the art for pulmonary delivery of active ingredients.
  • excipients may include propellants; surfactants, such as poloxamers; sugars or sugar alcohols, such as lactose, glucose, mannitol or trehalose; lipids, such as DPPC, DSPC, DMPC, cholesterol; amino acids, such as leucine or trileucine; cyclodextrins, hydroxypropylated chitosan, poly-lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA); antioxidants; humidity regulators and the like, though such are by no means essential. Indeed, we have found that, in the pulmonary delivery of compositions of the invention, fewer additional excipients are needed, which may reduce cost of manufacture.
  • Inhalation devices that may be employed to administer compositions of the invention to the lung include MDIs, SMIs and DPIs, including low, medium and high resistant DPIs.
  • compositions of the invention may form stable compound suspensions when suspended in solvents that are typically employed in MDIs.
  • the loaded silica particles may be well-dispersed in different solvents and may be further modified to prevent dissolution or leakage of drug into the solvent before delivery to the target site or lung.
  • compositions of the invention have unexpectedly good flow properties, this minimizes the need for disaggregation of the particles by increased IAF and turbulence produced by the inhalation device. This in turn improves the balance between the two forces discussed hereinbefore, and thus improves delivery of IMID to the lower lung without loss of drug in the upper lung. This further reduces the dependence on the inhalation device that is employed.
  • a drug delivery device adapted for delivery of active ingredients to the lung, which delivery device comprises a composition of the invention.
  • the delivery device may be a MDI, a DPI or a SMI.
  • the composition of the invention is optionally mixed with a propellant, which propellant has a sufficient vapour pressure to form aerosols upon activation of the delivery device.
  • the propellant may be selected from the group a hydrocarbon, a fluorocarbon, a hydrogen-containing fluorocarbon and a mixture thereof.
  • excipients may be commercially-available or otherwise are described in the literature, for example, Remington The Science and Practice of Pharmacy, 19th ed., Mack Printing Company, Easton, Pennsylvania (1995) and the documents referred to therein, the relevant disclosures in all of which documents are hereby incorporated by reference. Otherwise, the preparation of suitable pulmonary formulations may be achieved non-inventively by the skilled person using routine techniques.
  • the amount of IMID in the formulation will depend on the severity of the condition, and on the patient, to be treated, but may be determined by the skilled person.
  • suitable lower daily doses (calculated as the free base) of thalidomide in adult patients may be about 0.01 mg, such as about 0.1 mg, for example about 1 mg, or about 5 mg, per day.
  • Suitable upper limits of daily dose ranges of e.g. thalidomide may be about 200 mg, such as about 50 mg, including about 25 mg, such as about 10 mg.
  • Inhaled doses may be given between once and six, such as four times daily, preferably three times daily and more preferably twice daily. Alternatively, inhaled doses may be given between once and four times weekly, for example every other day.
  • the medical practitioner or other skilled person, will be able to determine routinely the actual dosage, which will be most suitable for an individual patient, depending on the severity of the condition and mode and frequency of administration.
  • the dose administered to a mammal, particularly a human, in the context of the present invention should be sufficient to affect an appropriate response (e.g. a reduction in symptoms such as, in the case of IPF, cough) in the mammal (e.g. human) over a reasonable timeframe (as described hereinbefore).
  • an appropriate response e.g. a reduction in symptoms such as, in the case of IPF, cough
  • the selection of the exact dose and composition and the most appropriate delivery regimen will also be influenced by inter alia the pharmacological properties of the formulation, the nature, stage and severity of the condition being treated, and the physical condition and mental acuity of the recipient, as well as the age, condition, body weight, sex and response of the patient to be treated, and the stage/severity of the disease, as well as genetic differences between patients.
  • compositions of the invention may be co administered with other pharmaceutical formulations comprising different (or the same) active ingredients that are intended for the treatment of ILDs (whether administered pulmonarily, orally, or otherwise).
  • uses and methods that involve pulmonary administration of compositions of the invention may be combined with one or more treatments comprising other active ingredients that are useful in the treatment of ILDs (or a peroral treatment comprising one or more IMID).
  • IPF immunosuppressants
  • anti-fibrotics such as nintedanib and pirfenidone
  • corticosteroids such as cortisone, dexamethasone and prednisone
  • inflammation suppressants such as cyclophosphamide
  • other immunosuppressants such as azathioprine and mycophenolate mofetil
  • antioxidants such as N-acetylcysteine.
  • sarcoidosis includes, for example, corticosteroids, such as dexamethasone, cortisone, prednisone and prednisolone; antimetabolites; immune system suppressants, such as methotrexate, azathioprine, leflunomide, mycophenoic acid/mycophenolate mofetil, cyclophosphamide; aminoquinolines; monoclonal anti-tumor necrosis factor antibodies, such as infliximab and adalimumab; AT2 receptor agonists, such as C21 (N-butyloxycarbonyl-3-(4-imidazol-l-ylmethylphenyl)-5-iso-butylthio- phene-2-sulfonamide); TNF inhibitors, such as etanercept; and painkillers, such as ibuprofen and paracetamol; cough suppressants and/or expectorants.
  • corticosteroids such as dexamethasone
  • compositions useful in the treatment of ILDs include those that are known in the art and described for the drugs in question to in the medical literature, such as Martindale - The Complete Drug Reference (35 th Edition) and the documents referred to therein, the relevant disclosures in all of which documents are hereby incorporated by reference.
  • compositions of the invention provide for an improved drug loading for the reasons described hereinbefore.
  • This enables high quantities/doses of bioactive compound to be presented in dosage forms comprising compositions of the invention, and also efficient delivery of such higher doses to the desired site in the lung in a consistent/uniform manner.
  • This in turn means that the frequency of dosing may be reduced, so increasing the effectiveness and efficiency of treatment as well as reducing costs of healthcare.
  • compositions of the invention may also be improved by compositions of the invention.
  • compositions of the invention may include additional bioactive compounds (IMID or otherwise as described hereinbefore), which may also be loaded into silica particles without substantial loss of material. This may be useful in e.g. co-therapy as described hereinbefore, and moreover may further reduce cost of manufacture.
  • additional bioactive compounds IMID or otherwise as described hereinbefore
  • compositions of the invention also have the advantage that the dissolution kinetics of the IMID compound is largely independent of particle size, morphology of the compound and site of delivery in the lung. Adjusting pore size may thus be employed to tailor drug dissolution kinetics, but the dissolution kinetics of the drug will be independent of the position of the particles in the lung.
  • the uses/methods described herein may otherwise have the advantage that, in the treatment of ILDs, they may be more convenient for the physician and/or patient than, be more efficacious than, be less toxic than, have a broader range of activity than, be more potent than, produce fewer side effects than, or that it may have other useful pharmacological properties over, similar methods (treatments) known in the prior art, whether for the treatment of ILDs or otherwise.
  • Pluronic 123 triblock co-polymer, E020P070E020, Sigma-Aldrich; 4 g; templating agent
  • TMB 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene
  • H2O distilled H2O
  • HAI hydrochloric acid
  • TEOS tetraethyl orthosilicate
  • the mixture was stirred for another 10 minutes at a speed of 500 rpm, then kept at 40°C for 24 hours, and then hydrothermally treated in the oven at 100°C for another 24 hours. Finally, the mixture was filtered, washed and dried at room temperature.
  • the product was calcined to remove the surfactant template and swelling agent.
  • the calcination was conducted by heating to 600°C with a heating rate of 1.5°C/min and kept at 600°C for 6 hours, followed by cooling to ambient conditions.
  • the resultant product was a white powder comprising porous silica particles. Comparative Example 2 Silica Particle Manufacture II
  • a drop of acetic acid was added and vacuum (200 bar) was applied during heating at 80°C to remove the aqueous phase.
  • the resulting particles were collected by filtration and washing with acetone.
  • the product was calcined by heating to 600°C with a heating rate of 1.5°C/min and kept at 600°C for 6 hours, followed by cooling to ambient conditions.
  • the resultant product was a white powder comprising porous silica particles in the size range 2 to 4 microns measured by scanning electron microscope (JEOL, Japan) and by electrical sensing zone method (Elzone, Micromeretics USA).
  • the particles were further treated by refluxing in ammonium hydroxide overnight followed by filtering and refluxing in nitric acid overnight and finally filtered and washed in water and oven dried at 80°C.
  • silica particles were made by essentially the same process as described in Comparative Example 3 above and were characterised to determine their GSD and GPS using an 8-Stage Cascade Impactor (Marple), as shown in Table 2 below.
  • Marple 8-Stage Cascade Impactor
  • Thalidomide was encapsulated into the porous silica particles described in Comparative Example 3 above (those with the bulk density of 0.18 mg/mL and the MMAD of 4.33 pm) by a solvent impregnation and evaporation method.
  • a concentrated solution of thalidomide was made in a chosen good solvent for the drug, and various known masses of nanoporous silica particles were added to the solution. The solvent was removed by evaporation.
  • thalidomide 200 mg; Sigma
  • methylene chloride 120 mL; Sigma
  • Nanoporous silica particles 300 mg were added to the thalidomide solution.
  • the mixture was stirred for 30 minutes at 40°C.
  • the solvent was evaporated with controlled evaporation under a reduced pressure of 200 mBar in a rotary evaporator, with a water bath temperature of 60°C.
  • the resultant dry powder that was collected was free flowing.
  • the samples were further dried at 40°C under vacuum for 4 hours.
  • the samples were characterized by TGA to evaluate drug loading. Loading amounts of 20, 40 and 50 wt% (calculated as mass of drug/mass of loaded particles) were determined.
  • the physical state of the drug (crystalline vs amorphous) was measured with DSC. Thalidomide has a melting peak in DSC of around 270°C. Thalidomide was stabilized in an amorphous state in the samples with a drug loading up to 40%. There was a small melting peak observed with the samples with a drug loading amount of 50% indicating presence of crystalline drug. This demonstrates that the maximum loading capacity of the particles was probably reached at 50% loading i.e. complete loading of the particles and it is likely that crystalline drug resided on the outside of the particles.
  • Silica compositions prepared essentially as described in Comparative Example 1, Comparative Example 2, and/or as described in Comparative Example 3 above were fractionated into tight particle sizes in which fine particles were removed through elutriation.
  • a conical stainless steel funnel 17 L was used. 200 g of silica particles were added as a slurry in methanol to the elutriation funnel. Methanol was pumped into the funnel through the bottom inlet tube using an HPLC pump (Aglient) at a flow rate of 1 mL/min until the funnel was full and the methanol drained out of the top outlet tube. The flow rate was increased to 1.2 mL/min and maintained at fixed flow until particles emerged through the outlet.
  • HPLC pump Aglient
  • the particle size was measured using Elzone/Electric Sensing Zone (Micromeritics, USA). The flow was maintained at a fixed flow until no further particle sizes were detected coming from the outlet (typically from one day to several days).
  • the flow rate was increased systematically in increments of 0.2 mL/min and the particles emerging from the outlet tube were measured for particle size. The elutriation continued until a particle size with dso of 2 pm was reached. The residue particles were collected by filtration and dried overnight in an oven at 40°C. The collected particles were measured for particle size. The particles that were collected had a mean particle size of 3.7 pm measured by optical microscopy (Nikon) and Electric Sensing Zone (Micromeritics, USA) and GSD of 1.25.
  • shaking powders in a vial gave rise to particles that were more discrete and did not aggregate to the same degree as corresponding particles in which fines had not been removed, not only by visual observation of the vials, but also by optical microscopy, after sprinkling particles onto a microscope slide.
  • silica particles were characterised to determine their GSD and GPS using an 8-Stage Cascade Impactor (Marple), as shown in Table 3 below.
  • Thalidomide was encapsulated into the porous silica particles described above by a solvent impregnation and evaporation method, as described in Comparative Example 5 above.

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Abstract

Selon l'invention, il s'agit d'une composition pharmaceutique appropriée pour une administration pulmonaire, laquelle composition comprend une pluralité de particules de silice nanoporeuse (mésoporeuse) amorphe, dans laquelle un ou plusieurs médicaments imide immunomodulateurs est chargé dans les pores desdites particules de silice, et les particules de silice ont: (a) un diamètre aérodynamique moyen en masse qui est compris entre environ 0,95 µm et environ 6,05 µm; et (b) un écart type géométrique qui est inférieur à environ 1,33. Les compositions sont utiles dans le traitement de pneumopathies interstitielles par administration pulmonaire. Les médicaments à base d'imide immunomodulateurs préférés comprennent le thalidomide. Les pneumopathies interstitielles qui peuvent être mentionnées comprennent la fibrose pulmonaire idiopathique et la sarcoïdose. Les compositions comprennent des particules qui sont très petites, mais ont une distribution granulométrique bien définie, avec une faible quantité de fines. De manière surprenante on a découvert que ceci donnait lieu à un manque inattendu d'agrégation et à des propriétés d'écoulement étonnamment bonnes.
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