Pharmaceutical compositions of a sparingly soluble glycogen phosphorylase inhibitor

1. A process for forming a pharmaceutical composition, comprising the steps of:

(a) forming solid amorphous dispersion particles each comprising a sparingly soluble drug and a concentration enhancing polymer, wherein at least a major portion of said drug is amorphous;

(b) blending said solid amorphous dispersion particles and matrix material to form a blend;

(c) feeding said blend to a melt-congeal process to form a molten mixture comprising said solid amorphous dispersion particles and said matrix material; and

(d) cooling said molten mixture and forming solid particles each comprising said solid amorphous dispersion particles trapped within said matrix material.

2. The process of claim 1 , wherein said matrix material is selected from the group consisting of hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated vegetable oils; mono-, di-, and tri-glycerides of fatty acids; propylene glycol and ethylene glycol mono- and di-esters of fats and fatty acids; waxes; and long chain alcohols.

3. The process of claim 1 wherein said solid amorphous dispersion particles are formed by a process selected from the group consisting of melt fusion, melt congealing, lyophilization, trituration, extrusion, milling, and solvent processing.

4. The process of claim 3 wherein said solid amorphous dispersion particles are formed by spray-drying a solution comprising said sparingly soluble drug, said concentration-enhancing polymer, and a solvent.

5. The process of any one of claims 4 , wherein said solution further comprises an additional excipient selected from the group consisting of a surfactant, a water-swellable polymer, a water-soluble polymer, and a hydrophobic solute.

6. The process of any one of claims 1 – 4 wherein said concentration-enhancing polymer is selected from the group consisting of hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose acetate, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, methyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl methyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose acetate, hydroxyethyl ethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose acetate succinate, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose succinate, hydroxypropyl cellulose acetate succinate, hydroxyethyl methyl cellulose succinate, hydroxyethyl cellulose acetate succinate, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose phthalate, hydroxyethyl methyl cellulose acetate succinate, hydroxyethyl methyl cellulose acetate phthalate, carboxyethyl cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose, cellulose acetate phthalate, methyl cellulose acetate phthalate, ethyl cellulose acetate phthalate, hydroxypropyl cellulose acetate phthalate, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose acetate phthalate, hydroxypropyl cellulose acetate phthalate succinate, cellulose propionate phthalate, hydroxypropyl cellulose butyrate phthalate, cellulose acetate trimellitate, methyl cellulose acetate trimellitate, ethyl cellulose acetate trimellitate, hydroxypropyl cellulose acetate trimellitate, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose acetate trimellitate, hydroxypropyl cellulose acetate trimellitate succinate, cellulose propionate trimellitate, cellulose butyrate trimellitate, cellulose acetate terephthalate, cellulose acetate isophthalate, cellulose acetate pyndinedicarboxylate, salicylic acid cellulose acetate, hydroxypropyl salicylic acid cellulose acetate, ethylbenzoic acid cellulose acetate, hydroxypropyl ethylbenzoic acid cellulose acetate, ethyl phthalic acid cellulose acetate, ethyl nicotinic acid cellulose acetate, and ethyl picolinic acid cellulose acetate.

7. The process of any one of claims 1 – 4 wherein said solid amorphous dispersion particles provide concentration-enhancement in a use environment relative to a control composition consisting of crystalline drug without any concentration-enhancing polymer, said concentration-enhancing polymer being at least one of:

(i) a maximum dissolved drug concentration in said use environment that is at least 1.25-fold that provided by said control composition; and

(ii) a dissolved drug concentration versus time curve (AUC) for any period of at least 90 minutes between the time of introduction into the use environment and about 270 minutes following introduction into the use environment that is at least 1.25-fold that provided by said control composition.

8. The process of any one of claims 1 – 4 wherein said solid amorphous dispersion particles provide improved relative bioavailability relative to a control composition consisting of crystalline drug without any concentration-enhancing polymer.

9. The product of the processes of any one of claim 1 – 4 .