Polymorphous forms of rifaximin, processes for their production and use thereof in the medicinal preparations

1. A process for the production of the rifaximin polymorphic forms δ and ε, wherein:

reacting a molar equivalent of rifamycin ο with an excess of 2-amino-4-methylpyridine in a first solvent mixture, comprising water and ethyl alcohol in volumetric ratios between 1:1 and 2:1, for between 2 and 8 hours at a temperature between 40° C. and 60° C., to obtain a first reaction mixture;

treating the first reaction mixture at room temperature with a solution of ascorbic acid in a mixture of water, ethyl alcohol and concentrated aqueous hydrochloric acid to obtain a second reaction mixture;

adding concentrated aqueous solution of hydrochloric acid to the second reaction mixture to bring the pH to 2.0 thereby obtaining a first suspension;

filtering the first suspension to obtain a first solid;

washing the first solid with the first solvent mixture to obtain raw rifaximin;

dissolving the raw rifaximin in ethyl alcohol at a temperature between 45° C. and 65° C.;

forming a precipitate by adding water and lowering the temperature of the mixture to between 50° C. and 0° C. while stirring for between 4 and 36 hours to obtain a second suspension;

filtering the second suspension to obtain a second solid;

washing the second solid with water and drying it under vacuum or under normal pressure, with or without a drying agent, at a temperature between room temperature and 105° C., for between 2 and 72 hours,

wherein the rifaximin polymorphic form δ is free from other polymorphic forms of rifaximin and has x-ray powder diffraction pattern peaks at about 5.7°±0.2, 10.8°±0.2, 12.1°±0.2, and 17.0°±0.2 2-θ, and

wherein the rifaximin polymorphic form ε is free from other polymorphic forms of rifaximin and has x-ray powder diffraction pattern peaks at about 8.2°±0.2, 12.4°±0.2, and 16.3°±0.2 2-θ.

2. The process of claim 1 , wherein the excess of 2-amino-4-methylpyridine is present at from 2.0 to 3.5 molar equivalents compared to the rifamycin O.

3. The process of claim 1 , wherein the amount of water added to form the precipitate is between 15% and 70% by weight compared to the weight of ethyl alcohol used for the dissolution in the previous step.

4. The process of claim 1 , wherein when the water is added to form the precipitate, the temperature is lowered to between 28° C. and 32° C.

5. The process of claim 4 , further comprising:

stirring the second suspension at between 40° C. and 50° C. for between 6 and 24 hours followed by cooling the mixture to 0° C. for between 15 minutes and one hour to obtain a third suspension; and

filtering the third suspension and drying the obtained solid to a water content of between 2.5% and 6% (w/w).

6. The process of claim 5 , wherein the water content is between 3.0% and 4.5%.

7. A solid pharmaceutical composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of rifaximin δ, rifaximin ε, or a combination thereof, and a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient, together disposed in a formulation for oral administration,

wherein the rifaximin δ has x-ray powder diffraction pattern peaks at about 5.7°±0.2, 10.8°±0.2, 12.1°±0.2, and 17.0°±0.2, 2-θ, and

wherein the rifaximin ε has x-ray powder diffraction pattern peaks at about 8.2°±0.2, 12.4°±0.2, and 16.3°±0.2 2-θ.

8. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 7 , wherein the excipient is selected from the group consisting of diluting, binding, lubricating, disintegrating, coloring, flavoring, and sweetening agents.

9. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 7 , wherein the formulation for oral administration is selected from the group consisting of coated or uncoated tablet, hard or soft gelatin capsule, sugar-coated pill, lozenge, wafer sheet, pellet, and powder in sealed packet.

10. A solid pharmaceutical composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of rifaximin δ rifaximin ε, or a combination thereof, in a formulation for topical administration,

wherein the rifaximin δ has x-ray powder diffraction pattern peaks at about 5.7°±0.2, 10.8°±0.2, 12.1°±0.2, and 17.0°±0.2, 2-θ, and

wherein the rifaximin ε has x-ray powder diffraction pattern peaks at about 8.2°±0.2, 12.4°±0.2, and 16.3°±0.2 22-θ.

11. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 10 , wherein the formulation for topical administration is selected from the group consisting of ointment, pomade, cream, gel, and lotion.

12. A method of treating bacterial activity in the gastrointestinal tract of a subject, the method comprising:

identifying the needed systemic level of rifaximin; and

administering to the subject a pharmaceutical composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of rifaximin δ, rifaximin ε, or a combination thereof, thereby reducing the bacterial activity in the gastrointestinal tract,

wherein the rifaximin δ has x-ray powder diffraction pattern peaks at about 5.7°±0.2, 10.8°±0.2, 12.1°±0.2, and 17.0°±0.2, 2-θ, and

wherein the rifaximin δ has x-ray powder diffraction pattern peaks at about 8.2°±0.2, 12.4°±0.2, and 16.3°±0.2, 2-θ.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the bacterial activity causes infectious diarrhea.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the bacteria are anaerobic bacteria.

15. The method of ctaim 12 , wherein the pharmaceutical composition is administered orally.

16. The method of claim 12 , wherein the bacteria are gastrointestinal bacteria.

17. Rifaximin in polymorphic form δ free from other polymorphic forms of rifaximin not derived from form δ by moisture absorption or release, wherein the rifaximin form δ has x-ray powder diffraction pattern peaks at about 5.7°±0.2, 10.8°±0.2, 12.1°±0.2, and 17.0°±0.2 2-θ.

18. The rifaximin of claim 17 , wherein the x-ray powder diffraction pattern further comprises a peak at about 11.3°±0.2 2-θ.

19. The rifaximin of claim 17 , wherein the x-ray powder diffraction pattern further comprises peaks at about 7.1°±0.2 and 21.5°±0.2 2-θ.

20. The rifaximin of claim 17 , wherein the x-ray powder diffraction pattern further comprises peaks at about 6.7°±0.2 and 8.7°±0.2 2-θ.

21. The rifaximin of claim 17 , wherein the polymorph has x-ray powder diffraction pattern peaks at about 5.7°±0.2, 6.7°±0.2, 7.1°±0.2, 8.0°±0.2, 8.7°±0.2, 10.4°±0.2, 10.8°±0.2, 11.3°±0.2, 12.1°±0.2, 17.0°±0.2, 17.3°±0.2, 17.5°±0.2, 18.5°±0.2, 18.8°±0.2, 19.1°±0.2, 21.0° and 21.5°±0.2 2-θ.

22. The rifaximin of claim 17 , wherein the polymorph δ has a water content of between 3% and 4.5%.

23. Rifaximin in polymorphic form ε free from other polymorphic forms of rifaximin not derived from form ε by moisture absorption or release, wherein the rifaximin form δ has x-ray powder diffraction pattern peaks at about 8.2°±0.2, 12.4°±0.2, and 16.3°±0.2 2-θ.

24. The rifaximin of claim 17 , wherein the polymorph δ has a water content of between 2.5% and 6%.