Solid pharmaceutical compositions containing pregabalin

1. A pharmaceutical composition comprising an active pharmaceutical ingredient and excipients, the active pharmaceutical ingredient comprising pregabalin, or a pharmaceutically acceptable complex, salt, solvate or hydrate thereof, and the excipients comprising a matrix forming agent and a swelling agent, the matrix forming agent comprising polyvinyl acetate and polyvinylpyrrolidone, and the swelling agent comprising cross linked polyvinylpyrrolidone and polyethylene oxide, wherein the pharmaceutical composition is adapted for once-daily oral dosing; wherein the pregabalin comprises from about 5% to about 60% of the pharmaceutical composition by weight; the matrix forming agent comprises from about 5% to about 45% of the pharmaceutical composition by weight, and the swelling agent comprises from about 15% to about 70% of the pharmaceutical composition by weight.

2. The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 1 , wherein the active pharmaceutical ingredient is released over a period of time of about 12hours to about 20 hours.

3. The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 1 , in which the active pharmaceutical ingredient exhibits an in vivo steady-state C max of about 9μg/mL or less, or an in vivo steady-state C min of about 0.7 μg/mL or greater, or an in vivo steady-state C max of about 9 μg/mL or less and an in vivo steady-state C min of about 0.7 μg/mL or greater.

4. The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 1 , wherein the pharmaceutical composition is bioequivalent to an immediate release formulation comprising pregabalin, lactose monohydrate, maize, starch, and talc.

5. The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 1 in which:

a) said matrix forming agent comprises about 20% to about 35% of the pharmaceutical composition by weight, and;

b) said swelling agent comprises about 20% to about 55% of the pharmaceutical composition by weight.

6. The formulation according to claim 1 in which the polyvinyl acetate is present in the quantity of about 60% to about 90% by weight based on the total weight of the polyvinyl acetate and polyvinylpyrrolidone.

7. The formulation according to claim 1 in which the polyvinyl acetate is present in the quantity of about 70% to about 90% by weight based on the total weight of the polyvinyl acetate and polyvinylpyrrolidone.

8. A method of treating a condition or disorder in a subject which is responsive to pregabalin, the method comprising administering to the subject a pharmaceutical composition as in claim 1 , wherein the pharmaceutical composition is administered orally once daily.

9. The method according to claim 8 , wherein the condition or disorder is selected from epilepsy, pain, diabetic peripheral neuropathy, postherpetic neuralgia, physiological conditions associated with psychomotor stimulants, inflammation, gastrointestinal damage, alcoholism, insomnia, fibromyalgia, anxiety, depression, mania, and bipolar disorder.

10. A pharmaceutical formulation suitable for once-a-day administration comprising:

a) pregabalin, or a pharmaceutically acceptable complex, salt, solvate or hydrate thereof, present in the quantity of from about 5% to about 60%, based on the total weight of the formulation;

b) a matrix of polyvinyl acetate and polyvinylpyrrolidone, in which the polyvinyl acetate is present in the quantity of about 70% to about 90% based on the total weight of the polyvinyl acetate and polyvinylpyrrolidine and the matrix is present in the quantity of about 20% to 35% by weight, based on the total weight of the formulation;

c) cross linked polyvinylpyrrolidone, present in the quantity of about 10% to about 35% by weight, based on the total weight of the formulation, and;

d) polyethylene oxide, present in the quantity of about 5% to about 35% by weight, based on the total weight of the formulation.

11. The formulation according to claim 10 in which the cross linked polyvinylpyrrolidone is present in the quantity of from about 20% to about 30% by weight, based on the total weight of the formulation.

12. The formulation according to claim 10 in which the polyethylene oxide is present in the quantity of from about 10% to about 25% based on the total weight of the formulation.

13. A method of treating a condition or disorder in a subject which is responsive to pregabalin, the method comprising administering to the subject the formulation according to claim 10 once daily.

14. The method according to claim 13 , wherein the condition or disorder is selected from epilepsy, pain, diabetic peripheral neuropathy, postherpetic neuralgia, physiological conditions associated with psychomotor stimulants, inflammation, gastrointestinal damage, alcoholism, insomnia, fibromyalgia, anxiety, depression, mania, and bipolar disorder.

15. The method according to claim 13 , in which the active pharmaceutical ingredient exhibits an in vivo steady-state C max of about 9 μg/mL or less.

16. The method according to claim 13 , in which the active pharmaceutical ingredient exhibits an in vivo steady-state C min of about 0.7 μg/mL or greater.

17. The method according to claim 13 , in which the active pharmaceutical ingredient exhibits an in vivo steady-state C max of about 9 μg/mL or less and an in vivo steady-state C min of about 0.7 μg/mL or greater.