Co-crystal of etravirine and nicotinamide

1. Co-crystal of etravirine and nicotinamide.

2. The co-crystal of claim 1 , wherein the etravirine and nicotinamide are present in a 1:1 molar ratio.

3. A process for preparing the co-crystal of claim 1 or 2 , said process comprising dissolving etravirine and nicotinamide in a halogenated hydrocarbon solvent or a polar, aprotic solvent, if desired by warming the mixture to complete dissolution; removing the solvent, to provoke crystallization, by evaporation; and allowing the mixture to cool to room temperature whereupon the co-crystal precipitates.

4. The process of claim 3 , wherein etravirine is dissolved in a halogenated hydrocarbon solvent or a polar, aprotic solvent whereupon nicotinamide is added; the whole is warmed until complete dissolution; solvent is removed by evaporation by a stream of inert gas while allowing the mixture to cool to room temperature; the co-crystal that is formed is filtered off and optionally washed and dried.

5. The process of claim 3 , wherein the solvent is removed by introducing a stream of inert gas.

6. A pharmaceutical composition comprising an anti-HIV effective amount of the etravirine and nicotinamide co-crystal defined in claims 1 or claim 2 , and a carrier.

7. A composition comprising the etravirine and nicotinamide co-crystal as defined in claim 1 or claim 2 , and further comprising one or more dissolution improving ingredients selected from hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC), hydroxypropylmethylcellulose phthalate (HPMCP), polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), a copolymer of vinylpyrrolidone and vinyl acetate (PVPcoVA), and nicotinamide, including mixtures thereof.

8. The composition of claim 7 wherein the weight/weight ratio between the etravirine and nicotinamide co-crystal and the total amount of the one or more dissolution improving ingredients is 1:1.

9. The composition of claim 7 wherein the one or more dissolution improving ingredients are selected from HPMC, PVP and nicotinamide.

10. The composition of claim 7 , wherein the composition comprises the etravirine and nicotinamide co-crystal as defined in claim 1 or claim 2 , and the dissolution improving ingredients PVP, nicotinamide and HPMC, in a 1:1:1:1/2 weight/weight ratio.

11. The composition of claim 7 , wherein the HPMC is HPMC 2910 E5.

12. A pharmaceutical composition comprising the composition of claim 7 and a carrier.

13. A method for the treatment of HIV in a subject, said method comprising administration of co-crystal of claim 1 or claim 2 to the subject.

14. The composition of claim 8 , wherein the composition comprises the etravirine and nicotinamide co-crystal as defined in claim 1 or claim 2 , and the dissolution improving ingredients PVP, nicotinamide and HPMC, in a 1:1:1:1/2 weight/weight ratio.

15. The composition of claim 9 , wherein the composition comprises the etravirine and nicotinamide co-crystal as defined in claim 1 or claim 2 , and the dissolution improving ingredients PVP, nicotinamide and HPMC, in a 1:1:1:1/2 weight/weight ratio.

16. The composition of claim 8 wherein the one or more dissolution improving ingredients are selected from HPMC, PVP and nicotinamide.

17. The composition of claim 8 , wherein the HPMC is HPMC 2910 E5.

18. The composition of claim 9 , wherein the HPMC is HPMC 2910 E5.

19. A pharmaceutical composition comprising the composition of claim 8 and a carrier.

20. A pharmaceutical composition comprising the composition of claim 9 and a carrier.

21. A pharmaceutical composition comprising the composition of claim 10 and a carrier.

22. The process of claim 4 , wherein the solvent is removed by introducing a stream of inert gas.