Formulations

1. An alkali metal salt of 4-chloro-N-[2-[(4-chlorophenyl)methyl]-3-oxo-1,2,4-thiadiazol-5-yl]benzamide.

2. The alkali metal salt of claim 1 wherein the alkali metal is sodium.

3. The alkali metal salt of claim 1 wherein the alkali metal salt is potassium.

4. A pharmaceutical formulation comprising the alkali metal salt of claim 1 .

5. The pharmaceutical formulation according to claim 4 , wherein said alkali metal salt has been milled.

6. The pharmaceutical formulation according to claim 4 , wherein the formulation comprises particles containing the alkali metal salt, said particles having a particle size distribution defined by a D90 of less than 10 μm.

7. The pharmaceutical formulation according to claim 6 , wherein the particles have a particle size distribution defined by a D90 of less than 9 μm; a D50 of less than 6 μm; a D50 of less than 5 μm; a D10 of less than 2 μm; or a D10 of less than 1.5 μm.

8. The pharmaceutical formulation according to claim 4 , wherein the formulation further comprises an enteric coating.

9. The pharmaceutical formulation according to claim 8 , wherein the enteric coating comprises beeswax, shellac, ethylcellulose polymers, carboxymethylethylcellulose, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose phthalate, acrylic acid and methacrylic acid copolymers, methacrylic acid copolymers, methyl methacrylate copolymers, ethoxyethyl methacrylates, cyanoethyl methacrylate, methyl methacrylate, copolymers, methacrylic acid copolymers, methyl methacrylate copolymers, methyl methacrylate copolymers, methacrylate copolymers, methacrylic acid copolymer, aminoalkyl methacrylate copolymer, methacrylic acid copolymers, methyl methacrylate copolymers, poly(acrylic acid), poly(methacrylic acid, methacrylic acid alkylamide copolymer, poly(methyl methacrylate), poly(methacrylic acid) (anhydride), methyl methacrylate, polymethacrylate, methyl methacrylate copolymer, poly(methyl methacrylate), poly(methyl methacrylate) copolymer, polyacrylamide, aminoalkyl methacrylate copolymer, poly(methacrylic acid anhydride), glycidyl methacrylate copolymers), cellulose acetate phthalate, or polyvinyl acetate phthalate.

10. The pharmaceutical formulation according to claim 4 , wherein the formulation further comprises at least one pharmaceutically acceptable excipient.

11. The pharmaceutical formulation according to claim 4 , wherein the formulation further comprises a lubricant, a binder, a filler, a surfactant, a diluent, an anti-adherent, a coating, a flavouring, a colourant, a glidant, a preservative, a sweetener, a disintegrant, an adsorbent, a buffering agent, an antioxidant, a chelating agent, a dissolution enhancer, a dissolution retardant, or a wetting agent, or any combination thereof.

12. The pharmaceutical formulation according to claim 4 , wherein the formulation further comprises PVP K30, Na-docusate and mannitol.

13. The pharmaceutical formulation according to claim 4 , wherein the formulation is provided in the form of a capsule or a tablet.

14. The pharmaceutical formulation according to claim 13 , wherein an enteric coating is present on said capsule or tablet.

15. The pharmaceutical formulation according to claim 13 , wherein the capsule or tablet contains particles comprising the alkali metal salt, and wherein each particle is coated with an enteric coating.

16. A pharmaceutical formulation according to claim 4 , wherein the alkali metal salt has been milled so that particles containing the alkali metal salt have a particle size distribution defined by a D90 of less than 10 μm, and wherein the formulation further comprises an enteric coating.

17. A method of treatment of a disorder or condition ameliorated by the activation of AMPK comprising administering to a subject in need thereof the alkali metal salt of claim 1 .

18. The method of treatment according to claim 17 , where in the disorder or condition ameliorated by the activation of AMPK is type 2 diabetes.

19. The method of treatment according to claim 17 , where in the disorder or condition ameliorated by the activation of AMPK is a condition associated with hyperinsulinemia selected from the group consisting of obesity and cardiovascular disease.

20. The method of treatment according to claim 17 , where in the disorder or condition ameliorated by the activation of AMPK is cancer.

21. A process for preparing a pharmaceutical formulation of claim 6 , wherein the process comprises milling the alkali metal salt to produce the particles having a particle size distribution defined by a D90 of less than 10 μm.

22. The process according to claim 21 , wherein the process comprises dry milling.

23. The process according to claim 21 , wherein the alkali metal salt is mixed with one or more pharmaceutically acceptable excipients after milling of the alkali metal salt.

24. The process according to claim 21 , wherein the pharmaceutical formulation is provided in the form of a capsule or tablet and the process further comprises the step of coating said capsule or tablet with an enteric coating after the milled alkali metal salt is incorporated into said capsule or tablet.

25. The process according to claim 21 , wherein the pharmaceutical formulation is provided in the form of a capsule or tablet and the process further comprises the step of applying an enteric coating to the milled alkali metal salt prior to incorporating said milled alkali metal salt into the capsule or tablet.

26. A pharmaceutical formulation comprising the alkali metal salt of claim 2 ; and at least one pharmaceutically acceptable excipient.

27. A pharmaceutical formulation comprising the alkali metal salt of claim 3 ; and at least one pharmaceutically acceptable excipient.

28. The pharmaceutical formulation according to claim 26 , wherein said alkali metal salt has been milled.

29. The pharmaceutical formulation according to claim 26 , wherein the formulation comprises particles containing the alkali metal salt, said particles having a particle size distribution defined by a D90 of less than 10 μm.

30. The pharmaceutical formulation according to claim 29 , wherein the particles have a particle size distribution defined by a D90 of less than 9μm; a D50 of less than 6 μm; a D50 of less than 5 μm; a D10 of less than 2 μm; or a D10 of less than 1.5 μm.

31. The pharmaceutical formulation according to claim 26 , wherein the formulation further comprises an enteric coating.

32. The pharmaceutical formulation according to claim 31 , wherein the enteric coating comprises beeswax, shellac, ethylcellulose polymers, carboxymethylethylcellulose, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose phthalate, acrylic acid and methacrylic acid copolymers, methacrylic acid copolymers, methyl methacrylate copolymers, ethoxyethyl methacrylates, cyanoethyl methacrylate, methyl methacrylate, copolymers, methacrylic acid copolymers, methyl methacrylate copolymers, methyl methacrylate copolymers, methacrylate copolymers, methacrylic acid copolymer, aminoalkyl methacrylate copolymer, methacrylic acid copolymers, methyl methacrylate copolymers, poly(acrylic acid), poly(methacrylic acid, methacrylic acid alkylamide copolymer, poly(methyl methacrylate), poly(methacrylic acid) (anhydride), methyl methacrylate, polymethacrylate, methyl methacrylate copolymer, poly(methyl methacrylate), poly(methyl methacrylate) copolymer, polyacrylamide, aminoalkyl methacrylate copolymer, poly(methacrylic acid anhydride), glycidyl methacrylate copolymers), cellulose acetate phthalate, or polyvinyl acetate phthalate.

33. The pharmaceutical formulation according to claim 26 , wherein the formulation further comprises a lubricant, a binder, a filler, a surfactant, a diluent, an anti-adherent, a coating, a flavouring, a colourant, a glidant, a preservative, a sweetener, a disintegrant, an adsorbent, a buffering agent, an antioxidant, a chelating agent, a dissolution enhancer, a dissolution retardant, or a wetting agent, or any combination thereof.

34. The pharmaceutical formulation according to claim 26 , wherein the formulation further comprises PVP K30, Na-docusate and mannitol.

35. The pharmaceutical formulation according to claim 26 , wherein the formulation is provided in the form of a capsule or a tablet.

36. The pharmaceutical formulation according to claim 35 , wherein an enteric coating is present on said capsule or tablet.

37. The pharmaceutical formulation according to claim 35 , wherein the capsule or tablet contains particles comprising the alkali metal salt, and wherein each particle is coated with an enteric coating.

38. A pharmaceutical formulation according to claim 26 , wherein the alkali metal salt has been milled so that particles containing the alkali metal salt have a particle size distribution defined by a D90 of less than 10 μm, and wherein the formulation further comprises an enteric coating.

39. A method of treatment of a disorder or condition ameliorated by the activation of AMPK comprising administering to a subject in need thereof the alkali metal salt of claim 2 .

40. The method of treatment according to claim 39 , where in the disorder or condition ameliorated by the activation of AMPK is type 2 diabetes.

41. The method of treatment according to claim 39 , where in the disorder or condition ameliorated by the activation of AMPK is a condition associated with hyperinsulinemia selected from the group consisting of obesity and cardiovascular disease.

42. The method of treatment according to claim 39 , where in the disorder or condition ameliorated by the activation of AMPK is cancer.

43. A process for preparing a pharmaceutical formulation of claim 29 , wherein the process comprises milling the alkali metal salt to produce the particles having a particle size distribution defined by a D90 of less than 10 μm.

44. The process according to claim 43 , wherein the process comprises dry milling.

45. The process according to claim 43 , wherein the alkali metal salt is mixed with one or more pharmaceutically acceptable excipients after milling of the alkali metal salt.

46. The process according to claim 43 , wherein the pharmaceutical formulation is provided in the form of a capsule or tablet and the process further comprises the step of coating said capsule or tablet with an enteric coating after the milled alkali metal salt is incorporated into said capsule or tablet.

47. The process according to claim 43 , wherein the pharmaceutical formulation is provided in the form of a capsule or tablet and the process further comprises the step of applying an enteric coating to the milled alkali metal salt prior to incorporating said milled alkali metal salt into the capsule or tablet.