Botulinum neurotoxin compositions

1. A pharmaceutical composition comprising:

a botulinum neurotoxin, an anesthetic and an aqueous buffer solution, wherein the anesthetic and the botulinum neurotoxin form an association complex able to enhance the shelf life of the botulinum neurotoxin to at least four weeks;

wherein the botulinum neurotoxin is obtained from a source selected from a group consisting of Clostridium botulinum, E. coli , and a plurality of expression systems;

wherein a pH of the pharmaceutical composition is about 6.8 to about 7.6; and

wherein a molar ratio of the anesthetic to the aqueous buffer solution in the pharmaceutical composition is 21:1; and,

wherein the amount of botulinum neurotoxin is about 0.10 mg/ml to about 0.15 mg/ml, and the amount of anesthetic is about 0.5% to 1.0% w/v or 0.01 to 2% w/v.

2. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 1 , wherein the botulinum neurotoxin is selected from the group consisting of botulinum toxins Types A, B, C, D, E, F, G and/or mixture thereof.

3. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 2 , wherein the botulinum neurotoxin is type A.

4. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 1 , further comprising a mixture of the botulinum neurotoxin with one or more components of neurotoxin-associated proteins (NAPs).

5. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 1 , wherein the anesthetic is selected from the group consisting of lidocaine or its derivatives, Mepivacaine, bupivacaine (Marcaine), Novocain, Carbocaine (Mepivacaine), Septocaine, Naropin, ropivacaine, Isocaine, Procaine, chloroprocaine, Xylocaine, articaine (epinephrine), and a mixture thereof.

6. The pharmaceutical composition as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the lidocaine derivative comprises a aminobenzothiazole, diethylamine, N[(2, 6-dimethylphenyl)-carbamoylmethyltriethylammonium bromide, N, N-bis(phenylcarbamoylmethyl) dimethylammonium chloride, 4-diethylamino-2,6-butyroxylidide, and/or quaternary amine derivative of lidocaine.

7. The pharmaceutical composition as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the aqueous buffer solution is selected from a group consisting of sodium phosphate, potassium phosphate, cacodylate buffer, citrate buffer, histidine buffer, and a mixture thereof.

8. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 1 , wherein the botulinum neurotoxin degrades up to 20% over a time period of 21 weeks.

9. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 1 , further comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable diluent, carrier or excipient, cyclodextrin(s) and/or a combination thereof.

10. A process for preparation of a pharmaceutical composition as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the process comprises the steps of:

a) preparing a solution of anesthetic in a buffer;

b) preparing a solution of botulinum neurotoxin in a buffer;

c) admixing the solution of step a) and step b) to obtain a stable pharmaceutical composition; and

d) wherein the anesthetic and the botulinum neurotoxin form an association complex able to enhance the shelf life of the botulinum neurotoxin to at least four weeks;

wherein the botulinum neurotoxin is obtained from a source selected from a group consisting of Clostridium botulinum, E. coli , and a plurality of expression systems;

wherein a pH of the pharmaceutical composition is about 6.8 to about 7.6; and

wherein a molar ratio of the anesthetic to the aqueous buffer solution in the pharmaceutical composition is 21:1; and,

wherein the amount of botulinum neurotoxin is about 0.10 mg/ml to about 0.15 mg/ml, and the amount of anesthetic is about 0.5% to 1.0% w/v or 0.01 to 2% w/v.

11. The process as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the botulinum toxin is selected from the group consisting of botulinum toxins types A, B, C, D, E, F, G, and a mixture thereof.

12. The process as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the botulinum toxin is type A, with or without one or more NAPs, or a mixture thereof.

13. The process as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the anesthetic is selected from the group consisting of lidocaine or its derivatives, Mepivacaine, bupivacaine (Marcaine), Novocain, Carbocaine (Mepivacaine), Septocaine, Naropin, ropivacaine, lsocaine, Procaine Hydrochloride, chloroprocaine, Xylocaine, articaine (epinephrine), and a mixture thereof.

14. The process as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the lidocaine derivative comprises a aminobenzothiazole, diethylamine, N-[(2,6-dimethylphenyl)carbamoylmethyltriethylam monium bromide, N, N-bis-(phenylcarbamoylmethyl) dimethylammonium chloride, 4-diethylamino-2,6-butyroxylidide, and/or quaternary amine derivative of lidocaine.

15. The process as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the lidocaine or its derivatives amount are in the range of 0.01 to 2% w/v or 0.5 to 1% w/v.

16. The process as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the buffer is selected from the group consisting of sodium phosphate, potassium phosphate, cacodylate buffer, Citrate buffer, histidine, and a mixture thereof, in a pH range of 6.8 to 7.6.

17. The process as claimed in claim 10 , wherein stable pharmaceutical composition is used along with a pharmaceutically acceptable diluent, carrier or excipient, cyclodextrin(s) and/or combination thereof.

18. A method for stabilizing botulinum neurotoxin, the method comprising:

a) providing botulinum neurotoxin; and subjecting the botulinum neurotoxin to anesthetic in a buffer medium, wherein the anesthetic forms an association complex with the botulinum neurotoxin;

b) wherein the anesthetic and the botulinum neurotoxin form an association complex able to enhance the shelf life of the botulinum neurotoxin to at least four weeks;

wherein the botulinum neurotoxin is obtained from a source selected from a group consisting of Clostridium botulinum, E. coli , and a plurality of expression systems;

wherein a pH of the pharmaceutical composition is about 6.8 to about 7.6;

wherein a molar ratio of the anesthetic to the aqueous buffer solution in the pharmaceutical composition is 21:1; and,

wherein the amount of botulinum neurotoxin is about 0.10 mg/ml to about 0.15 mg/ml, and the amount of anesthetic is about 0.5% to 1.0% w/v, or 0.01 to 2% w/v.

19. The method as claimed in claim 18 , wherein the buffering agent is sodium phosphate, potassium phosphate, cacodylate buffer, Citrate buffer, histidine and/or mixture thereof, at a 10 mM concentration.

20. The method as claimed in claim 18 , wherein stabilizing solution further includes sugars and/or cyclodextrin(s).

21. A method of treatment to reduce wrinkles in a human, comprising a step of administrating an effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition claimed in claim 1 .

22. The method of treatment as claimed in claim 21 , wherein the route of administration is topical and parenteral.