Modified release tablet of bupropion hydrochloride

1. A modified-release tablet comprising:

(i) a core comprising an effective amount of bupropion hydrochloride, polyvinyl alcohol, and glyceryl behenate, wherein said bupropion hydrochloride is present in an amount of at least about 94% by weight of the core dry weight, said polyvinyl alcohol is present in an amount of about 3% by weight of the core dry weight, and said glyceryl behenate is present in an amount of about 3% by weight of each core dry weight;

(ii) a control-releasing coat completely surrounding and contacting said core, said control-releasing coat comprising ethyl cellulose grade PR 100, polyethylene glycol 1450, and polyvinylpyrrolidone, wherein said ethyl cellulose grade PR 100 is present in an amount of from about 45% to about 50% by weight of the control-releasing coating dry weight, said polyethylene glycol 1450 is present in an amount of about 12% by weight of the control-releasing coating dry weight, and said polyvinylpyrrolidone is present in an amount of from about 25% to about 50% of the control-releasing coat dry weight, wherein the amount of said control-releasing coat applied is from about 9% to about 15% by weight of the dry tablet core; and

(iii) a moisture barrier surrounding said control-releasing coat, said moisture barrier comprising methacrylic acid copolymer, polyethylene glycol 1450, triethyl citrate and silicon dioxide, wherein said methacrylic acid copolymer is present in an amount of about 66% by weight of said moisture barrier dry weight, said polyethylene glycol 1450 and triethyl citrate is present in an amount of about 10% by weight of said moisture barrier dry weight in a proportion of 1 part triethyl citrate to 2 parts polyethylene glycol 1450, and said silicon dioxide is present in an amount of about 25% by weight of said moisture barrier dry weight, wherein the amount of the said moisture barrier applied is no more than about 2.5% of the tablet dry weight,

wherein the tablet provides an extended-release of the bupropion hydrochloride such that after about 2 hours about 5% of the bupropion hydrochloride content is released, after about 4 hours about 32% of the bupropion hydrochloride content is released, after about 8 hours about 74% of the bupropion hydrochloride content is released and after about 16 hours no less than about 99% of the bupropion hydrochloride content is released,

and wherein the ratio of the ethyl cellulose grade PR 100:polyethylene glycol 1450:polyvinylpyrrolidone is from about 3:1:4 to about 5:1:3.

2. The modified release tablet of claim 1 wherein said modified-release tablet provides a C max of bupropion in the blood plasma at between about 3 hours and about 8 hours (T max ) after administration in the fasted state.

3. The modified-release tablet of claim 1 wherein said modified-release tablet provides a C max of bupropion ranging from about 60 ng/ml to about 280 ng/ml in the blood plasma at about 5 hours (T max ) after administration of a once daily 300 mg dose of said modified-release bupropion hydrochloride tablet or a 2×150 mg dose once daily of said modified-release bupropion hydrochloride tablet in the fasted state.

4. The modified-release tablet of claim 1 wherein said modified-release tablet exhibits an AUC (0-t) for bupropion from about 800 ng.hr/ml to about 2850 ng.hr/ml after administration of a once daily 300 mg dose of said modified-release bupropion hydrochloride tablet or a 2×150 mg dose once daily of said modified-release bupropion hydrochloride tablet in the fasted state.

5. The modified-release tablet of claim 1 wherein said modified-release tablet exhibits an AUC (0-inf) for bupropion from about 840 ng.hr/ml to about 3000 ng.hr/ml after administration of a once daily 300 mg dose of said modified-release bupropion hydrochloride tablet or a 2×150 mg dose once daily of said modified-release bupropion hydrochloride tablet in the fasted state.

6. The modified-release tablet of claim 1 which when administered in a once-daily bupropion treatment regimen to a patient in need of treatment provides a C max for bupropion ranging from about 60 ng/ml to about 280 ng/ml at between 3 hours and 8 hours (T max ) and an AUC (0-t) for bupropion ranging from about 800 ng.hr/ml to about 2850 ng.hr/ml.

7. The modified-release tablet of claim 1 wherein the moisture content of said modified-release tablet is no more than about 0.4 % in said tablet when stored at 40° C.±2° C./75% RH±5% RH in an open dish after about 10 days.

8. The modified-release tablet of claim 1 wherein the moisture content of said modified-release tablet is no more than about 1% in said tablet when stored at 40° C.±2° C./75% RH±5% RH after storage for about 6 months.

9. The modified-release tablet of claim 1 wherein said modified-release tablet contains at least about 95% undegraded bupropion hydrochloride after storage for 12 months at about 25° C.±2° C./60% RH±5% RH.

10. The modified-release tablet of claim 1 wherein said modified-release tablet contains at least about 95% undegraded bupropion hydrochloride after storage for 18 months at about 25° C.±2° C./60% RH±5% RH.

11. The modified-release tablet of claim 1 , wherein said tablet contains 150 mg of bupropion hydrochloride.

12. The modified-release tablet of claim 1 , wherein said tablet contains 300 mg of bupropion hydrochloride.

13. The modified release tablet of claim 1 which does not exhibit any food effects.

14. A method of treating depression in a patient in need thereof comprising administering to the patient the modified-release tablet of claim 1 .

15. The method of claim 14 wherein said modified-release tablet contains a 300 mg dose.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein said modified-release tablet contains a 150 mg dose.