WO1999044588A2

WO1999044588A2 - Method for producing solid, spherical forms containing pharmaceutical active agents in a binder matrix

Info

Publication number: WO1999044588A2
Application number: PCT/EP1999/001271
Authority: WO
Inventors: Andreas Kleinke; Thomas Kessler; Jörg Rosenberg; Harald Krull; Gunther Berndl; Werner Maier; Jörg Breitenbach
Original assignee: Basf Aktiengesellschaft
Priority date: 1998-03-05
Filing date: 1999-02-26
Publication date: 1999-09-10
Also published as: CA2322629A1; DE19809242A1; WO1999044588A3; EP1059914A2

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for producing solid, spherical forms containing at least one pharmaceutical active agent homogeneously dispersed in an auxiliary matrix. According to this method, the constituents are mixed to form a melt which is then shaped. The invention is characterised in that at least one pharmaceutical active agent is processed with at least one thermoplastically processable matrix auxiliary to form a homogeneous melt with a viscosity of less than 5000 mPas and in that this melt is shaped into drops using a rotating perforated roll. These drops are then cooled so that they solidify.

Description

Process for the production of solid, spherical shaped articles containing pharmaceutical active substances in a binder matrix

description

The present invention relates to a process for the production of solid, spherical shaped articles which contain at least one active pharmaceutical ingredient homogeneously dispersed in a binder matrix by mixing the ingredients to form a melt and subsequent shaping.

It is known from EP-A 240 904, EP-A 240 906 and EP-A 358105 that pharmaceutical active ingredients can be processed together with polymeric binders by melt extrusion to give various types of solid pharmaceutical forms. The shaping is done by calendering or hot cutting with the help of rotating knives.

However, such shaping processes are less suitable for shaping low-viscosity melts, as are obtained for example in formulations with sugar alcohols as a matrix. Such low-viscosity melts also have a tendency to stickiness, which also complicates the shaping by means of the above-mentioned methods.

From EP-A 012 192 a device for pressing out flowable masses is known, which can preferably be used for granulating. In this device, the flowable mass is divided into drops using rotating perforated cylinders. Corresponding devices are commercially available under the name Rotoformer® (Sandvik company).

WO 93/25074 describes the manufacture of crop protection agents by extrusion and shaping using such a rotoformer. The formulations available thereafter are cloudy, mostly soft powder granules.

The object of the present invention was to provide a process for the production of solid spherical dosage forms which also enables the processing of low-viscosity melts and which leads to dosage forms with good product properties.

Accordingly, a process for the production of solid, spherical shaped bodies has been found which contains at least one active pharmaceutical ingredient homogeneously dispersed in an auxiliary matrix. ten, by mixing the ingredients into a melt with subsequent shaping, which is characterized in that at least one active pharmaceutical ingredient with at least one thermoplastically processable matrix auxiliary is processed to a homogeneous melt with a viscosity of less than 5000 mPas, and the melt with the aid a rotating perforated roller forms into drops, which are then solidified by cooling.

The process according to the invention is suitable for all active ingredients which do not decompose under the processing conditions.

The process according to the invention is suitable, for example, for formulating the following substances or their physiologically acceptable salts, it also being possible to produce the salts in situ in the extruder:

Anti-infectives

Acyclovir, aminoglycosides, amphotericin B, azole antifungals, clotrimazole, itraconazole, sepraconazole, clindamycin,

Cephalosporins, chloramphenicol, erythromycin, 5-fluorouracil, etoposide, fluctytosin, ganciclovir, griseofulvin, gyrase inhibitors, isoniacid, lincosamides, mebendazole, mefloquine, metanidazole, nitroimidazole, bionobiocimiminin, rbobi polimiminquin, novobiocimiminquin, platinum - navir, streptomycin, sulfonamides, tetracyclines, trimethoprim, vancomycin, zidovudine;

Antipyretics, analgesics, anti-inflammatory agents, paracetamol, ibuprofen, ketoprofen, oxaprozine, acetylsalicylic acid, morphine, oxaprozine, propoxyphene, phenylbutazone;

Antibiotics

Rifampicin, griseofulvin, chloramphenicol, cycloserine, erythromycin, penicillins such as penicillin G, streptomycin, tetracycline;

Antiepileptics hydantoins, carbamazepine;

Antitussives and antiasthmatics diphenhydramine;

Anti-rheumatic drugs chloroquine, indomethacin, gold compounds, phenylbutazone, oxyphenylbutazone, penicillinamine; Hypnotics

Barbiturates, phenobarbital, zolpidem, dioxopiperidines, urides;

- psychotropic drugs, neuroleptics

Perazin, Promazin, Sulpirid, Thioridazin, Chlorpromazin, Meprobamat, Triflupromazin, Melperon, Clozapin, Risperdion, Reserpin;

- tranquillizers;

Antidepressants

Imipramine, paroxetine, viloxazine, moclobemide;

- psychotonics;

Psychomimetics;

Diuretics potassium canrenoate, loop diuretics, furosemide, hydrochlorothiazide, spironolactone, thiazides, triamterene;

Hormones

Androgens, antiandrogens, progestogens, glucocorticoids, estrogens, cortisol, dexamethasone, prednisolone, testosterone, adutinin, oxytocin, somatropin, insulin;

Immunosuppressive agents ciclosporin;

Bronchodilators;

Muscle relaxants, tranquillizers

Carisoprodol, tetrazepam, diazepam, chlordiazepoxide;

Enzymes

Lipase, phytase;

Allopurinol, colchicine;

Anticoagulants coumarins; Antiepileptics

Phenotoin, phenobarbital, primidone, valproic acid, carbamazepin;

- antihistamines

Chlorphenoxamine, dimenhyrinate;

Antimimetics;

- antihypertensive drugs, antiarrhythmic drugs

Lidocaine, procainamide, quinidine, calcium anatagonists, glycerol trinitrate, isosorbide dinitrate, isosorbide 5 -mononitrate, pentaerythrityl tetranitrate, nifedipine, diltiazem, felodipine, verapamil, reserpine, minoxidil, reserpine, enoprinilil, captoprilil;

Sympathomimetics

Norfenefrin, oxedrine, midodrin, phenylephrine, isoprenaline, salbutamol, clenbutorol, ephedrine, tyramine, isoprenaline, β-blockers such as alprenolol, metoprolol, bisoprolol;

Antidiabetic drugs

Biguanides, sulfonyureas, carbutamide, tolbutamide, glibenclamide, metformin, acarbose, troglitazone;

Iron preparations;

Vitamins

Vitamins C, B, A, D, folic acid;

ACE inhibitors

Captopril, ramipril, enalapril;

Anabolic steroids;

Iodine compounds;

X-ray contrast media;

- CNS active compounds;

Anti-Parkinson Center 1

Biperiden, benzatropin, amantadine, opioid analgesics, barbiturates, bezodiazepines, disulfiram, lithium salts, theophylline, valproinate, neuroleptics; Cytostatics;

Antispasmodics;

5 - vasodilators

Naftidrofuryl, pentoxifylline.

Preparations of the biologically active substances can also be obtained in the form of "solid solutions". The term “solid solutions” is familiar to the person skilled in the art (see Chiou and Riegelman, J. Pharm. Sei. JSJ 1281-1302 (1971)). In solid solutions of active pharmaceutical ingredients in polymers or other matrices, the active ingredient is molecularly dispersed in the matrix.

5 Preferred active ingredients are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, opioids and vitamins. Ibuprofen and tramadol hydrochloride are particularly preferred.

The amount of active ingredients in the overall preparation can vary within wide limits depending on the effectiveness, release rate and solubility. The active substance content can be 0.1 to 90, preferably 5 to 70,% by weight, based on the entire preparation. The only condition is that the melts can be processed by the method according to the invention. 25

The active ingredient is homogeneously dispersed, preferably as a so-called "solid solution", i.e. molecularly disperse, in an auxiliary matrix.

30 Suitable structural components for the auxiliary matrix can be polymeric or also low-molecular-weight binders, provided that they can be processed without thermoplastic decomposition and, together with the active ingredient and possibly other additives, result in solid forms which do not tend to cold flow.

35

Suitable polymeric matrix components are, for example:

Homopolymers or copolymers of N-vinylpyrrolidone such as polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), copolymers of N-vinylpyrrolidone

40 with vinyl esters, especially with vinyl acetate, or also with vinyl propionate. The K values (according to H. Fikentscher, Cellulose-Chemie 13 (1932), pages 58-64 and 71 to 74) are in the range from 10 to 100, preferably 12 to 70, in particular 12 to 35. For PVP, the K are -Values particularly preferred in the range of

45 10 to 40. Copolymers of vinyl acetate and crotonic acid, partially saponified polyvinyl acetate or polyvinyl alcohol.

Cellulose derivatives such as cellulose ethers, especially methyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose, hydroxyalkyl celluloses, especially hydroxypropyl cellulose, hydroxyalkyl alkyl celluloses, especially hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose and hydroxypropyl ethyl cellulose.

Cellulose esters such as cellulose phthalates, in particular cellulose sulfate phthalate and hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose phthalate, furthermore also mannans, in particular galactomannans.

Also suitable as polymeric binders are polymers based on acrylates or methacrylates, for example the polyacrylates and polymethacrylates known as Eurogitite types, copolymers of acrylic acid and methyl methacrylate or polyhydroxyalkyl acrylates or methacrylates.

Polylactides, polyglycolides, polylactide-polyglycolides, polydioxanes, polyanhydrides, polystyrene sulfonates, polyacetates, polycaprolactones, poly (ortho) esters, polyamines, polyhydroxyalkanoates or alginates are also suitable.

Suitable matrix components can also be natural or semisynthetic binders such as starches, degraded starches, for example maltodextrin, and also gelatin, which, depending on requirements, can have a basic or acidic character, chitin or chitosan. Gelatins are preferred.

Low molecular weight binders are also suitable according to the invention as matrix auxiliaries, in particular sugar alcohols such as, for example, sorbitol, mannitol, xylitol or, particularly preferably, isomalt. Also preferred is trehalose, which has a cryoprotective effect.

Fats or waxes can also be used as binders -eiaag-e-. For example, polyethylene glycols or polypropylene glycols with molecular weights in the range from 300 to 100,000 are suitable as binders.

Particularly preferred binders are the homo- and copolymers of N-vinylpyrrolidone, sugar alcohols and gelatin.

Mixtures of the abovementioned can of course also be used

Binders are used, in particular also mixtures of thermoplastically processable polymers with sugar alcohols. The binder must soften or melt in the total mixture of all components in the range from 40 to 180 ° C., preferably 60 to 130 ° C.

5 A solvent can also be added to the melt, which in addition to its dissolving properties can also have a softening effect in the melt. Such solvents are above all monohydric or polyhydric alcohols or water or mixtures of alcohols and water. Preferred softening

10 Solvent is water. It may be advisable to add the plasticizing solvent in amounts of 0.5 to 30% by weight. By adding the solvent, the viscosity of the melt can be adjusted in a targeted manner and the tear behavior at the nozzle or nozzle plate can be influenced. When solidifying in the

15 cold liquid medium, which represents freeze drying, the solvent can be removed again. According to the invention, melts are processed whose viscosity at 120 ° C. is less than 5000 mPas, preferably 1000 to 4000 mPas (measured with a rotary viscometer with shear rates in the range from 10

20 100 ° / s).

The molds produced by the process according to the invention can furthermore contain customary auxiliaries in the amounts customary for the applications mentioned.

25

Pharmaceutical auxiliaries are e.g. Fillers, lubricants, mold release agents, plasticizers, blowing agents, stabilizers, dyes, extenders, flow agents and mixtures thereof. In principle, however, these pharmaceutical auxiliaries must not

Restrict 30 ideas according to the invention of a medicinal form which is successively dissolving or at least eroding and which surrounds the digestive juices with a gel layer.

Examples of fillers are inorganic fillers such as the 35 oxides of magnesium, aluminum, silicon, titanium etc. in a concentration of 0.02 to 50, preferably from 0.20 to 20% by weight, based on the total weight of the pharmaceutical form.

Examples of lubricants are stearates of aluminum, calcium 40 and magnesium as well as talc and silicones in a concentration of 0.1 to 5, preferably 0.1 to 3% by weight, based on the total weight of the mold.

For example, sodium carboxymethyl starch 45 or crospovidone can be used as decay accelerators. Wetting agents such as sodium lauryl sulfate or sodium docusate can also be used. Examples of plasticizers include low molecular weight poly (alkylene oxides), such as poly (ethylene glycols), poly (propylene glycols), poly (ethylene propylene glycols); organic low molecular weight plasticizers such as glycerol, pentaerythritol, glycerol monoacetate, diacetate or triacetate, propylene glycol, sodium diethyl sulfosuccinate etc., added in concentrations of 0.5 to 15, preferably 0.5 to 5% by weight, based on the Total weight of the dosage form.

Examples of dyes are known azo dyes, organic and inorganic pigments or colorants of natural origin.

Inorganic pigments are preferred in concentrations of 0.001 to 10, preferably 0.5 to 3% by weight, based on the total weight of the pharmaceutical form.

In addition, other additives can be added which improve the flow properties of the mixture or act as mold release agents, such as: animal or vegetable fats, preferably in their hydrogenated form, especially those which are solid at room temperature. These fats preferably have a melting point of 50 ° C or higher. Triglycerides of C ₁₂ ", C ₁₄ -, C ₆ - and Cχ ₈ -fatty acids are preferred. The same function can also be performed by waxes such as carnauba wax. These additives can be added alone without the addition of fillers or plasticizers. These fats and Waxes can advantageously be admixed alone or together with mono- and / or diglycerides or phosphatides, especially lecithin The mono- and diglycerides preferably derive from the Fet types described above, ie C _i2 -, C ₁₄ -, Cχ ₆ - and . Cχ _S fatty acids the total amount of fats, waxes, mono- and diglycerides and / or lecithins is 0.1 to 30, preferably 0.1 to 50 wt -.% based on the total weight of the dosage form.

As flow regulators, e.g. Aerosils or talc are used.

Stabilizers can also be added, e.g. Antioxidants, light stabilizers, hydroperoxide destroyers, radical scavengers and stabilizers against microbial attack.

In the context of the invention, auxiliary substances are also to be understood as meaning substances for producing a solid solution with the active pharmaceutical ingredient. These auxiliaries are, for example, pentaerythritol and pentaerythritol tetraacetate, polymers such as, for example, polyethylene or polypropylene oxides and their block copolymers (poloxamers), phosphatides such as lecithin, homo- and copolymers of Vinyl pyrrolidones, surfactants such as polyoxyethylene 40 stearate and citric and succinic acid, bile acids, sterols and others, as indicated, for example, by JL Ford, Pharm. Acta Helv. £ 1, 69-88 (1986).

Additions of bases or acids to control the solubility of an active ingredient are also considered pharmaceutical auxiliaries (see, e.g., K. Thoma et al., Pharm. Ind. 51, 98-101 (1989)).

The biologically active substance can be mixed with the auxiliaries in a manner known per se. The components can first be mixed and then melted and homogenized. Particularly in the case of active substances which are thermolabile or sensitive to shear forces, it may be advisable to first melt and premix the auxiliary substances and then to mix in the active substance.

The melting and mixing takes place in a device which is customary for this purpose. Devices such as those used in plastics technology are generally suitable as mixing and melting devices. Suitable devices are described, for example, in "Mixing in the manufacture and processing of plastics", H. Pahl, VDI-Verlag, 1986. Particularly suitable devices are extruders and dynamic and static mixers, as well as stirred tanks, single-shaft agitators with stripping devices, in particular so-called paste agitators , multi-shaft agitators, solid mixers and preferably mixing-kneading reactors, double-bowl kneaders (trough mixers), stamp kneaders (internal mixers) or rotor / stator systems. Mixing and melting is particularly preferably carried out in a single or multi-screw extruder, in particular a twin-screw extruder, with kneading chambers also being connected upstream of this. Mixing and melting can also take place in apparatuses in which the energy is supplied in the form of microwaves or ultrasound.

The mixing and melting device can be fed continuously or discontinuously in the usual manner. Powdery components can be fed in freely, for example using a differential weigh feeder. Plastic masses can be fed directly from an extruder, for example, or fed in via a gear pump. Liquid components can be metered in using suitable pump units. According to the invention, low-viscosity pastes or gels with a high dispersant content can also be supplied, water being preferably used as the dispersant. The mixtures are preferably processed into melts at temperatures from 20 to 280 ° C., particularly preferably from 25 to 180 ° C.

For shaping, the still thermoplastic melt is divided into drops using rotating perforated rolls, which are then solidified by cooling.

According to the invention, the plastic mixture is first extruded into a continuous strand using a suitable extrusion device. Any solvents and residual moisture that may be present can be drawn off during the extrusion by means of a vacuum pump. The shape of the extrusion tool depends on the desired shape. The melt is preferably extruded through round-hole nozzles, the plastic mixture being shaped as a strand with a circular cross section and discharged into the Rotoformer® or into an apparatus suitable for the production of pastilles.

The plastic melt is passed through rotating perforated rolls and broken down into drops in this way.

In particular, the device suitable for pastillation consists of a rotating, heatable roller with openings, which is surrounded by a screen jacket. The roller and screen casing preferably move in opposite directions to one another.

The method according to the invention is explained below using examples.

General implementation

The amounts of active ingredient and matrix auxiliaries given in the examples were in a co-rotating, tightly intermeshing twin-screw extruder (ZSK 40 from Werner &

Pfleiderer, Stuttgart) mixed. The temperature of the extruder zones was (in ° C.): zone 1/80; Zone 2/110; Zone 3/150; Zone 4/150; Zone 6/150; Zone 7/150. The speed of the screws was 70 rpm. The throughput was 20 kg / h with a residence time of 1-2 minutes. The melt emerging at the extruder head through a nozzle was fed into the roller of the Rotofor ers® (type 50.211, Sandvik Process Systems GmbH, Stuttgart) via a gear pump. The Rotoformer consists of a rotating, heated roller that has a screen jacket, from the perforation of which the plastic extrudate was discharged onto a cooled conveyor belt. The screen jacket had 3720 holes (d = 1 mm), the capacity of the roller is about 2 kg of melt. The distance between that Sieve jacket and the cooling belt was 3 mm. The cooling belt had a length of 4 m with a belt width of 400 mm. The temperature of the roller was kept at 150 to 170 ° C, the belt temperature was set to 20 ° C by means of water cooling and the belt speed was 30 m / min.

example 1

Ibuprofen 50% by weight PVP K30 50% by weight

Example 2

Ibuprofen 40% by weight PVP K30 55% by weight

Copolyvidone 5% by weight

Example 3

Ibuprofen 26% by weight

Isomalt 74% by weight

(Palatinit®)

Temperature of the extruder zones: in ° C 20, 80, 120, 80, 80, 80 (nozzle)

Example 4

Tramadol hydrochloride 20% by weight isomalt 80% by weight

Example 5

Ibuprofen 20% by weight Na ibuprofenate 44% by weight

PVP K30 22% by weight

Hydroxypropylmethylcellulose m.w. with a viscosity of 4000 mPa-s 14% by weight (Methocel® K4M, Colorcon Dow))

Claims

claims

1. A process for the production of solid spherical moldings which contain at least one active pharmaceutical ingredient homogeneously dispersed in an auxiliary matrix by mixing the ingredients to form a melt and subsequent shaping, characterized in that at least one active pharmaceutical ingredient with at least one thermoplastic plastic auxiliary to a homogeneous

Processed melt with a viscosity less than 5000 mPas, and the melt is formed into drops with the help of a rotating perforated roller, which are then solidified by cooling.

Process according to Claim 1, characterized in that sugar alcohols are used as matrix auxiliaries.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that isomalt is used as matrix auxiliary.