Cholestyramine granules, oral cholestyramine formulations and use thereof

1. A population of granules, each granule comprising a homogenous mixture of at least 70% w/w cholestyramine and

i. a combination of at least 6% w/w of a binding agent and at least 2% w/w of an acrylate copolymer; or

ii. a combination of at least 5% w/w of a binding agent and at least 3% w/w of an acrylate copolymer; or

iii. a combination of at least 6% w/w of a binding agent, at least 1% w/w of an acrylate copolymer and from 5% to 15% w/w microcrystalline cellulose;

wherein the binding agent comprises a cellulose ether, a vinylpyrrolidone-based polymer, or a combination thereof.

2. The granules according to claim 1 , wherein the binding agent is a cellulose ether.

3. The granules according to claim 1 , wherein the binding agent is a vinylpyrrolidone-based polymer.

4. The granules according to claim 1 , wherein the binding agent comprises a combination of a cellulose ether and a vinylpyrrolidone-based polymer.

5. The granules according to claim 1 , wherein the cellulose ether is methyl cellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose or sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, or a mixture comprising two or more of these cellulose ethers.

6. The granules according to claim 1 , wherein the vinylpyrrolidone-based polymer is copovidone.

7. The granules according to claim 1 , wherein the acrylate copolymer is an ammonio methacrylate copolymer.

8. The granules according to claim 1 , wherein the granules comprise at least 85% w/w cholestyramine.

9. The granules according to claim 1 , wherein the diameter of the granules is from 1000 μm to 1600 μm.

10. The granules according to claim 1 , formulated for colon targeted delivery.

11. A multiparticulate drug delivery system comprising a plurality of cholestyramine granules according to claim 1 .

12. The drug delivery system according to claim 11 , wherein the cholestyramine granules are formulated for colon targeted delivery.

13. The drug delivery system according to claim 12 , wherein the colon targeted delivery is based on an enzyme-controlled release.

14. The drug delivery system according to claim 12 , wherein the colon targeted delivery is based on a pH- and diffusion-controlled release.

15. An oral formulation comprising

i. a plurality of granules according to claim 1 ; and

ii. a colon release coating around said granules.

16. The formulation according to claim 15 , wherein the colon release coating is elastic.

17. The formulation according to claim 15 , wherein the colon release coating comprises starch.

18. The formulation according to claim 17 , wherein the starch is resistant starch type 2 (RS2).

19. The formulation according to claim 15 , wherein the colon release coating comprises a diffusion-controlled inner coating layer and an enteric outer coating layer.

20. The formulation according to claim 19 , wherein the diffusion-controlled inner coating layer comprises poly(ethyl acrylate-co-methyl methacrylate-co-trimethylammonioethyl methacrylate chloride) 1:2:0.2, 1:2:0.1 or a combination thereof.

21. The formulation according to claim 19 , wherein the enteric outer coating layer comprises hydroxypropyl methylcellulose acetate succinate.

22. A method for treating or preventing bile acid malabsorption or bile acid diarrhoea in a patient in need thereof, the method comprising administering to the patient a therapeutically effective amount of a formulation according to claim 15 .

23. The method according to claim 22 , wherein the bile acid malabsorption is the result of ileal disease (Crohn's disease), ileal resection or ileal bypass, the result of overproduction of bile acids or defective feedback inhibition of hepatic bile acid synthesis, or the result of cholecystectomy, vagotomy, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), coeliac disease, pancreatic insufficiency (chronic pancreatitis, cystic fibrosis), pancreatic transplant, radiation enteritis, collagenous colitis, microscopic colitis, lymphocytic colitis, ulcerative colitis or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D).

24. The method according to claim 22 , wherein the bile acid diarrhoea is bile acid diarrhoea following oral administration of an IBAT inhibitor.

25. The method according to claim 22 , wherein the bile acid diarrhoea is bile acid diarrhoea following treatment of a cholestatic liver disease comprising oral administration of an IBAT inhibitor.

26. The method according to claim 25 , wherein the IBAT inhibitor is

1,1-dioxo-3,3-dibutyl-5-phenyl-7-methylthio-8-(N-{(R)-α-[N—((S)-1-carboxypropyl)-carbamoyl]-4-hydroxybenzyl}carbamoylmethoxy)-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1,2,5-benzothiadiazepine; or

1,1-dioxo-3,3-dibutyl-5-phenyl-7-methylthio-8-(N-{(R)-1′-phenyl-1′-[N′-(carboxymethyl)carbamoyl]methyl}carbamoylmethoxy)-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1,5-benzothiazepine;

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

27. A population of granules, each granule comprising at least 70% w/w cholestyramine and

i. a combination of at least 6% w/w of a binding agent and at least 2% w/w of an acrylate copolymer; or

ii. a combination of at least 5% w/w of a binding agent and at least 3% w/w of an acrylate copolymer; or

iii. a combination of at least 6% w/w of a binding agent, at least 1% w/w of an acrylate copolymer and from 5% to 15% w/w microcrystalline cellulose;

wherein the binding agent comprises a cellulose ether, a vinylpyrrolidone-based polymer, or a combination thereof; and

wherein the cholestyramine, the binding agent, the acrylate copolymer, and the microcrystalline cellulose, and a liquid are combined to form a wet mass that is dried and milled to form the population of granules.