Stabilized 1, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D2 and method of making same

1. A stabilized, crystalline 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D 2 composition, characterized by:

(a) being free of formate ester solvents;

(b) comprising no more than 0.5% by weight of total residual solvents; and

(c) wherein an initial purity of the composition is in a range of 98-100% as manufactured and a second purity is in a range of 98-100% after the composition is stored at 60° C. for a period of 24 hours, and wherein both the initial and the second purities are based on total area under the curve (“AUC”) by a high performance liquid chromatography (“HPLC”) assay.

2. The stabilized, crystalline 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D 2 composition according to claim 1 , comprising no more than 0.5% by weight of 1,25-dihydroxyprevitamin D 2 based on the total weight of the 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D 2 .

3. The stabilized, crystalline 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D 2 composition according to claim 1 , further being free of acids and free of at least one solvent selected from the group consisting of acetate ester solvents, lactate ester solvents, alcohol ester solvents, halogenated solvents, dimethylsulfoxide, dimethylformamide, and solvents capable of generating acid at elevated temperature or over time.

4. The stabilized, crystalline 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D 2 composition according to claim 1 , wherein each of the initial and second purities of the composition is in a range of 98.5-100% based on total AUC by HPLC assay.

5. The stabilized, crystalline 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D 2 composition according to claim 2 , wherein the initial purity is in a range of 98.5-100% as manufactured and a third purity in a range of 98.5-100% after the composition as manufactured is stored at −20° C. under argon for a period of 12 months, based on total AUC by a HPLC assay.

6. A pharmaceutical composition comprising an active component which is the stabilized, crystalline 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D 2 composition of claim 1 and a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient.

7. The composition of claim 6 , which is selected from the group consisting of a tablet, a soft gelatin capsule, a non-aqueous solution, and a non-aqueous suspension.

8. The composition of claim 6 , in unit dosage form, having a content of active component of 0.1 μg to 25 μg.

9. The composition of claim 7 , comprising a solution of an effective amount of the stabilized, crystalline 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D 2 dissolved in fractionated coconut oil, the solution contained in a soft gelatin capsule and further comprising an antioxidant selected from the group consisting of butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), vitamin E, and combinations thereof.

10. The composition of claim 6 , comprising a solid pharmaceutical preparation of an effective amount of the stabilized, crystalline 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D 2 composition, wherein the solid pharmaceutical preparation is in the form of a tablet, a capsule, a granule or a powder.

11. The stabilized, crystalline 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D 2 composition of claim 1 , wherein each of the initial and second purities is in a range of 99-100%, based on total AUC by a HPLC assay.

12. The stabilized, crystalline 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D 2 composition according to claim 1 , being free of acids and free of formate ester solvents, acetate ester solvents, lactate ester solvents, alcohol ester solvents, halogenated solvents, dimethylsulfoxide, dimethylformamide, and solvents capable of generating acid at elevated temperature or over time.

13. A stabilized 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D 2 composition, characterized by:

(a) being free of formate ester solvents;

(b) having no more than 0.5% total residual solvents by weight;

(c) comprising one or more of 1β,25-dihydroxyvitamin D 2 , 5,6-trans-1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D 2 , 1,25-dihydroxyprevitamin D 2 , and 22-cis-1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D 2 present in a total amount up to 0.5%, based on total area under the curve (“AUC”) by a high performance liquid chromatography (“HPLC”) assay; and

(d) comprising an initial amount of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D 2 as manufactured and a second amount of the 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D 2 after the composition is stored at −20° C. under argon for a period of 12 months, wherein the initial and second amounts each are in a range of 98.5-100% purity based on AUC by HPLC assay, and the second amount is 99.5-100% of the initial amount.

14. A pharmaceutical formulation comprising an oil and a stabilized 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D 2 composition according to claim 13 dissolved in the oil.

15. The formulation of claim 14 , wherein the formulation is in a capsule.

16. The formulation of claim 15 , wherein the formulation comprises an antioxidant.

17. A solid pharmaceutical formulation comprising a stabilized 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D 2 composition according to claim 13 and one or more pharmaceutically acceptable excipients.

18. The formulation of claim 17 , wherein the formulation is in the form of a tablet, a capsule, a granule, or a powder.

19. A stabilized, crystalline 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D 2 composition, characterized by:

(a) being free of formate ester solvents;

(b) having no more than 0.5% total residual solvents as measured by a high performance liquid chromatography (“HPLC”) assay;

(c) comprising no more than 0.5% of 1β,25-dihydroxyvitamin D 2 , 5,6-trans 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D 2 , 22-cis-1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D 2 , and 1,25-dihydroxyprevitamin D 2 as measured by the HPLC assay;

(c) having an initial amount of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D 2 as manufactured;

(f) having a second amount of the 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D 2 after the composition is stored at −20° C. under argon for a period of 12 months; and

(g) wherein the initial and second amounts each are in a range of 98.5-100% purity as measured by the HPLC assay, and the second amount is 99.5-100% of the initial amount.