Stable oral benzimidazole compositions and process of preparation thereof

1. A stable oral benzimidazole composition comprising;

a) a benzimidazole core in the form of bead, the core comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable inert carrier coated with amorphous esomeprazole magnesium and one or more pharmaceutically acceptable additives;

b) a separating layer surrounding the core; and

c) an enteric coating surrounding the separating layer,

wherein the composition contains less than about 30% by weight of crystalline esomeprazole magnesium after storage at 40° C. and 75% relative humidity for 3 months.

2. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein the pharmaceutically acceptable additive comprises one or more of binders, diluents, disintegrants, lubricants and wetting agents.

3. The composition according to claim 2 , wherein the binder comprises one or more of cellulose derivatives, gums, water-soluble vinylpyrrolidone polymers, and sugars.

4. The composition according to claim 2 , wherein the diluent comprises one or more of sugars, sugar alcohols, cellulose derivatives, and starches.

5. The composition according to claim 2 , wherein the disintegrant comprises one or more of sodium starch glycolate, croscarmellose sodium, crospovidone, corn starch and mixtures thereof.

6. The composition according to claim 2 , wherein the lubricant comprises one or more of magnesium stearate, talc, sodium stearyl fumarate, colloidal silicon dioxide and mixtures thereof.

7. The composition according to claim 2 , wherein the wetting agent comprises one or more of sodium lauryl sulphate, polysorbate 80 and mixtures thereof.

8. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein the separating layer comprises a substantially water-soluble material.

9. The composition according to claim 8 , wherein the substantially water-soluble material comprises one or more of a substantially water-soluble polymer and a substantially water-soluble excipient.

10. The composition according to claim 9 , wherein the water-soluble polymer comprises one or more of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, polyvinylpyrrolidone, sodium alginate, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, copolymer of vinylpyrrolidone and vinyl acetate.

11. The composition according to claim 9 , wherein the water-soluble excipient comprises one or more of lactose, mannitol, sorbitol, sucrose and glucose.

12. A stable oral benzimidazole composition prepared according to a process, which process comprises the steps of

a) preparing a benzimidazole core formed by dispersing amorphous esomeprazole magnesium and one or more pharmaceutically acceptable additives in an aqueous or hydroalcoholic medium to obtain a dispersion;

b) spraying the dispersion on to a pharmaceutically acceptable inert carrier;

c) coating the core with a separating layer; and

d) coating the product of step (b) with an enteric coating, wherein the composition contains less than about 30% by weight of crystalline esomeprazole magnesium after storage at 40° C. and 75% relative humidity for 3 months.

13. A stable oral benzimidazole composition prepared according to a process, which process comprises the steps of

a) preparing a benzimidazole core formed by dispersing amorphous esomeprazole magnesium and one or more pharmaceutically acceptable additives in an aqueous or hydroalcoholic medium to obtain a dispersion;

b) spraying the dispersion on to a pharmaceutically acceptable inert carrier:

c) coating the core with a separating layer; and

d) coating the product of step (b) with an enteric coating,

wherein said composition contains less than about 5% by weight of crystalline esomeprazole magnesium after storage at 40° C. and 75% relative humidity for 3 months.

14. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein said composition contains less than about 5% by weight of crystalline esomeprazole magnesium after storage at 40° C. and 75% relative humidity for 3 months.

15. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein the amount of crystallinity of the esomeprazole magnesium in the core is controlled during preparation of the composition by spraying a dispersion of the amorphous esomeprazole magnesium and one or more pharmaceutically acceptable additives in an aqueous or hydroalcoholic medium onto the pharmaceutically acceptable inert carrier at a bed temperature of less than about 50° C. for a total spraying time of less than about 24 hours to reduce conversion of the amorphous esomeprazole magnesium to crystalline esomeprazole magnesium.

16. A stable oral benzimidazole composition comprising;

a) a benzimidazole core in the form of bead, the core comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable inert carrier coated with one or more amorphous benzimidazole compounds and one or more pharmaceutically acceptable additives, wherein during coating of the core a dispersion of the one or more amorphous benzimidazole compounds and the one or more pharmaceutically acceptable additives in an aqueous or hydroalcoholic medium was applied onto the pharmaceutically acceptable inert carrier at a bed temperature of less than about 50° C. for a total spraying time of less than about 24 hours;

b) a separating layer surrounding the core; and

c) an enteric coating surrounding the separating layer,

wherein the composition contains less than about 30% by weight of crystalline benzimidazole, after storage at 40° C. and 75% relative humidity for 3 months.