Solvated crystal form of rifaximin, production, compositions and uses thereof

1. A crystalline form τ of rifaximin, wherein said form is a solvated form of rifaximin with diethylene glycol monoethyl ether, having a tetragonal crystal system, the space group is P41212 and the unit cell parameters are a=b=16.51 (1) Å; c=36.80 (1) Å; α=β=γ=90°; V=10027 (1) Å 3 or having a X-ray diffraction spectra with peaks at values of angles 2θ±0.1° of 5.9°; 9.0°; 12.9°; 15.4°; 18.8°; 22.8° and 23.4°.

2. A process for producing the crystalline form τ of rifaximin according to claim 1 comprising:

adding diethylene glycol monoethyl ether to rifaximin, in a molar ratio ranging from 10:1 to about 100:1, at temperatures ranging from room temperature to 100° C. for a duration of time ranging from 5 minutes to 5 hours to provide a rifaximin solution;

cooling the rifaximin solution to a temperature ranging from room temperature to −20° C. to obtain a precipitate;

filtering the obtained precipitate;

drying the obtained rifaximin precipitate at a temperature ranging from room temperature to 40° C. under a pressure comprised between ambient pressure and under vacuum, for a duration of time ranging from 5 minutes to 1 day,

wherein the precipitate before drying is optionally washed with an apolar solvent.

3. The process of claim 2 , wherein the product is dried by means of lyophilisation.

4. A pharmaceutical composition comprising an effective amount of a crystalline form τ of rifaximin according to claim 1 together with pharmaceutically acceptable excipients.

5. The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 4 comprising rifaximin τ in an amount between 20 and 1200 mg.

6. The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 4 in the form of tablets, capsules, creams, or granules for suspension.

7. The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 4 having a controlled release, delayed release, or quick release at pH values higher than 4.5.

8. A method of treating intestinal infections in a subject caused by bacteria Escherichia coli or Clostridium difficile , traveller's diarrhoea, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and hepatic encephalopathy, the method comprising:

administering to the subject an effective amount of the pharmaceutical composition according to claim 4 .

9. A method to detect a crystalline form τ of rifaximin according to claim 1 in a mixture, the method comprising:

providing an X-ray powder diffraction pattern of the mixture,

providing the crystalline form τ of rifaximin as analytical standard in X-ray analysis, and

comparing the X-ray powder diffraction pattern of the mixture with the standard to detect rifaximin τ in the mixture.

10. The process of claim 2 , wherein the apolar solvent is selected from the group consisting of n-pentane, n-hexane, or n-heptane.