Formulations
The present invention relates to a formulation comprising a pharmaceutically active ingredient and a coating. The invention also relates to the use of the formulation in the treatment and prevention of disorders of the gastrointestinal tract. Also disclosed are methods for preparing the formulations.
1. A pharmaceutical formulation comprising a population of minibeads presented in a unit dosage form for oral administration, said minibeads each comprising a core and a single coating, wherein:
the population comprises minibeads having a largest cross sectional dimension of from about 0.5 mm to about 2.5 mm;
the core is in the form of a solid colloid, the colloid comprising a continuous phase and a disperse phase;
the continuous phase comprises a gelatin matrix, the matrix comprising an anionic surfactant and optionally a plasticiser selected from glycerin, a polyol, polyethylene glycol, triethyl citrate or a mixture thereof;
the disperse phase is a hydrophobic phase that comprises cyclosporin A in solution and a non-ionic surfactant;
the coating comprises at least 50% by weight of the coating of one or more film-forming polymers and optionally, in addition to film-forming polymer(s), one or more other components other than film-forming polymers;
the one or more film-forming polymers present in the coating are one or more water soluble cellulose ethers selected from the group consisting of hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl methylcellulose and hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose and combinations thereof, provided that hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose is at least one of the film-forming polymers;
the coating is present in an amount corresponding to a weight gain due to the coating of from 9% to 15% by weight of the core; and
said minibeads do not comprise a second coating.
2. A pharmaceutical formulation of claim 1 , wherein the coating is present in an amount corresponding to a weight gain due to the coating of from 10% to 15% by weight of the core.
3. A pharmaceutical formulation of claim 1 , wherein the anionic surfactant is at least one surfactant selected from fatty acid salts and bile salts.
4. A pharmaceutical formulation of claim 1 , wherein the anionic surfactant is an alkyl sulphate salt.
5. A pharmaceutical formulation of claim 1 , wherein the anionic surfactant is sodium dodecyl sulphate.
6. A pharmaceutical formulation of claim 1 , wherein the disperse phase comprises a medium chain mono- di- or triglyceride, a polyethoxylated castor oil and 2-(ethoxyethoxy)ethanol.
7. A pharmaceutical formulation of claim 6 , wherein the medium chain mono- di- or triglyceride is a medium chain triglyceride.
8. A pharmaceutical formulation of claim 1 , wherein the non-ionic surfactant is selected from sorbitan-based surfactants, PEG-fatty acids, glyceryl fatty acids and poloxamers.
9. A pharmaceutical formulation of claim 1 , wherein the non-ionic surfactant is polyethoxylated castor oil.
10. A pharmaceutical formulation of claim 1 , wherein the disperse phase comprises a solvent.
11. A pharmaceutical formulation of claim 10 , wherein the solvent is 2-(ethoxyethoxy)ethanol.
12. A minibead for oral administration, said minibead comprising a core and a single coating, wherein:
the minibead has a largest cross sectional dimension of from about 0.5 mm to about 2.5 mm;
the core is in the form of a solid colloid, the colloid comprising a continuous phase and a disperse phase;
the continuous phase comprises a gelatin matrix, the matrix comprising an anionic surfactant and optionally a plasticiser selected from glycerin, a polyol, polyethylene glycol, triethyl citrate or a mixture thereof;
the disperse phase is a hydrophobic phase that comprises cyclosporin A in solution and a non-ionic surfactant;
the coating comprises at least 50% by weight of the coating of one or more film-forming polymers and optionally, in addition to film-forming polymer(s), one or more other components other than film-forming polymers;
the one or more film-forming polymers present in the coating are one or more water soluble cellulose ethers selected from the group consisting of hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl methylcellulose and hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose and combinations thereof, provided that hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose is at least one of the film-forming polymers;
the coating is present in an amount corresponding to a weight gain due to the coating of from 9% to 15% by weight of the core; and
said minibead does not comprise a second coating.
13. The minibead of claim 12 , wherein the coating is present in an amount corresponding to a weight gain due to the coating of from 10% to 15% by weight of the core.
14. The minibead of claim 12 , wherein the anionic surfactant is at least one surfactant selected from fatty acid salts and bile salts.
15. The minibead of claim 12 , wherein the anionic surfactant is an alkyl sulphate salt.
16. The minibead of claim 12 , wherein the anionic surfactant is sodium dodecyl sulphate.
17. The minibead of claim 12 , wherein the disperse phase comprises a medium chain mono- di- or triglyceride, a polyethoxylated castor oil and 2-(ethoxyethoxy)ethanol.
18. The minibead of claim 17 , wherein the medium chain mono- di- or triglyceride is a medium chain triglyceride.
19. The minibead of claim 12 , wherein the non-ionic surfactant is selected from sorbitan-based surfactants, PEG-fatty acids, glyceryl fatty acids and poloxamers.
20. The minibead of claim 12 , wherein the non-ionic surfactant is polyethoxylated castor oil.
21. The minibead of claim 12 , wherein the disperse phase comprises a solvent.
22. The minibead of claim 21 , wherein the solvent is 2-(ethoxyethoxy)ethanol.
23. The pharmaceutical formulation of claim 1 , wherein the coating comprises at least 60% by weight of the coating of one or more film-forming polymers.
24. The pharmaceutical formulation of claim 1 , wherein the coating comprises from 50% to 90% by weight of the coating of one or more film-forming polymers.
25. The pharmaceutical formulation of claim 1 , wherein the coating comprises from 60% to 80% by weight of the coating of one or more film-forming polymers.
26. The minibead of claim 12 , wherein the coating comprises at least 60% by weight of the coating of one or more film-forming polymers.
27. The minibead of claim 12 , wherein the coating comprises from 50% to 90% by weight of the coating of one or more film-forming polymers.
28. The minibead of claim 12 , wherein the coating comprises from 60% to 80% by weight of the coating of one or more film-forming polymers.