Mazindol IR/SR multilayer tablet and its use for the treatment of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

1. A mazindol oral pharmaceutical unit dosage form in the form of a multilayer matrix-type tablet comprising:

at least one immediate-release (IR) layer comprising mazindol and at least one diluent,

at least one sustained-release (SR) layer comprising mazindol and at least one sustained-release, pH-independent and water-insoluble polymer,

for a total amount of mazindol ranging from 1 to 6 mg and a ratio of mazindol in weight between the IR layers and the SR layers ranging from 40:60 to 80:20.

2. The unit dosage form according to claim 1 , with a dissolution of between 60% and 80% at 1 hour, of between 70% and 90% at 2 hours, as measured according to the US Pharmacopeia Method 2 using a rotating blade method at 50 rpm in a 500 ml dissolution medium of 0.01 N HCl.

3. The unit dosage form according to claim 1 , wherein the total weight of the unit dosage form ranges from 50 to 200 mg.

4. The unit dosage form according to claim 3 , wherein the total weight of the unit dosage form is 100 mg.

5. The unit dosage form according to claim 1 , wherein the diluent in said IR layers is selected in the group consisting of lactose, anhydrous lactose, spray-dried lactose, calcium carbonate, calcium sulfate, calcium sulfate dehydrate, calcium lactate trihydrate, monobasic calcium sulfate monohydrate, calcium carbonate, tribasic calcium phosphate, diabasic calcium phosphate, compressible sugars, dextrates, dextrin, dextrose, calcium phosphate, kaolin, magnesium carbonate, magnesium oxide, maltodextrin, mannitol, powdered cellulose, starch, modified starch, starch hydrolyzates, pregelatinized starch, microcrystalline cellulose, powdered cellulose, cellulose and cellulose derivatives, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose and sucrose.

6. The unit dosage form according to claim 1 , wherein the sustained-release, pH-independent and water insoluble polymer is said SR layers is selected from the group consisting of cellulose polymers, high-molecular weight polymers of acrylic acid that are crosslinked with either allyl sucrose or allyl ethers of pentaerythritol (carbomers), polymers from the class of methacrylic acids, polyvinylalcohol derivatives, polymers of lactic and glycolic acids (PLGA), starches, waxes, polyvinyl acetate derivatives, polyvinylpyrrolidone derivatives and mixtures thereof.

7. The unit dosage form according to claim 1 , further comprising a lubricant in each layer.

8. The unit dosage form according to claim 1 , wherein said unit dosage form is capable of maintaining a steady-state mazindol plasma concentration in vivo at a reduced fluctuation above 40% of the Cmax(ss) value for at least 12 h.

9. The unit dosage form according to claim 8 , wherein the reduced fluctuation is above 60% of the Cmax(ss) value.

10. The unit dosage form according to claim 1 , for its use as medicinal product administered in repeat once-a-day form via oral route.

11. The unit dosage form according to claim 1 , for use for treating attention deficit disorders (ADD) or attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or related deficit of alertness or decline of vigilance or excessive daytime sleepiness.

12. The unit dosage form according to claim 11 , for treating narcolepsy or idiopathic hypersomnia.

13. The unit dosage form according to claim 1 , for use in combination with iron as a combination product for simultaneous, separate or sequential use.

14. The unit dosage form according to claim 11 , for treating attention deficit disorders (ADD) or attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or related deficit of alertness or decline of vigilance or excessive daytime sleepiness.

15. The unit dosage form according to claim 1 , for use in combination with a psychostimulant as a combination product for simultaneous, separate or sequential use.

16. The unit dosage form according to claim 15 , for treating attention deficit disorders (ADD) or attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or related deficit of alertness or decline of vigilance or excessive daytime sleepiness.

17. The unit dosage form according to claim 1 , wherein the weight ratio ranges from 50:50 to 70:30.

18. The unit dosage form according to claim 1 , wherein the weight ratio is 50:50.

19. The unit dosage form according to claim 1 , wherein the SR layer comprises a hydrophilic matrix.

20. A process for preparing the unit dosage form according to claim 1 , comprising:

(a) preparing the blend of the excipients of the IR layers,

(a′) preparing the blend of the excipients of the SR layers,

(b) adding the IR blend of step (a) and the SR blend of step (a′) into a multilayer tablet press.

21. The process according to claim 20 , wherein the multilayer tablet press is a bilayer tablet press.