Pharmaceutical composition and uses thereof

1. A pharmaceutical composition comprising:

a) an extended release core comprising metformin hydrochloride, poly(ethylene oxide) as a swellable and/or extended release polymer, and one or more excipients;

b) a barrier coating comprising a mixture of hydroxypropyl cellulose and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose as film-coating agent, and

c) an immediate release coating consisting of

linagliptin,

L-arginine,

polyethylene glycol,

hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, and

talc.

2. The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 1 , wherein the weight ratio of the L-arginine to linagliptin is within the range from about 4:1 to about 2:1.

3. The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 1 , wherein the immediate release coating c) contains:

polyethylene glycol of molecular weight of about 6000 in an amount of 8-20% w/w linagliptin in an amount of 1-10% w/w,

L-arginine in an amount of 4-40% w/w,

hydroxypropyl methylcellulose in an amount of 40-70% w/w,

polyethylene glycol of molecular weight of about 8000 in an amount of 0-5% w/w, and talc in an amount of 5-20% w/w,

wherein % w/w relate to the weight of the immediate release coating, and

wherein the content of linagliptin is in the range from 1 to 10 mg.

4. The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 1 , wherein the barrier coating is a film coat formulation further comprising:

one or more plasticizers selected from polyethylene glycol, propylene glycol, diethyl phthalate, tributyl sebacate and/or triacetin, or a mixture thereof,

optionally a glidant selected from talc, magnesium stearate and fumed silica, and

optionally one or more pigments and/or colorants.

5. The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 1 , wherein the barrier coating is a film coat formulation further comprising a plasticizer, and

optionally, a glidant, one or more pigments and/or colors.

6. The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 1 , wherein the metformin hydrochloride is present in an unit dosage strength of 500, 750, 850, 1000 or 1500 mg.

7. The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 1 , wherein the linagliptin is present in an unit dosage strength of 0.5, 1, 2.5 or 5 mg.

8. The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 1 , wherein said pharmaceutical composition is a tablet for oral administration.

9. The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 8 further comprising a color and/or final coating.

10. The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 9 , wherein the color and/or final coating is each a film coat formulation independently comprising:

one or more film-coating agents selected from hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), ethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, polydextrose, methacrylic and/or acrylic polymer, or a mixture thereof,

optionally one or more plasticizers selected from polyethylene glycol, propylene glycol, diethyl phthalate, tributyl sebacate and/or triacetin, or a mixture thereof,

optionally a glidant selected from talc, magnesium stearate and fumed silica, and

optionally one or more pigments and/or colorants.

11. The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 9 , wherein the color and/or final coating is each a film coat formulation independently comprising a film-coating agent, a plasticizer, and, optionally, a glidant, one or more pigments and/or colors.

12. A method of treating and/or preventing a metabolic disease comprising administering a pharmaceutical composition according to claim 1 :

either in type 2 diabetes patients who have not been previously treated with an antihyperglycemic agent,

or in type 2 diabetes patients with insufficient glycemic control despite therapy with one or two conventional antihyperglycemic agents selected from the group consisting of metformin, sulphonylureas, thiazolidinediones, glinides, alpha-glucosidase blockers, GLP-1 or GLP-1 analogues, and insulin or insulin analogues.

13. The method according to claim 12 , wherein linagliptin is comprised in an amount of 2.5 mg, and metformin hydrochloride is comprised in an amount of 750 mg or 1000 mg.

14. The method according to claim 13 , wherein the composition is administered as two tablets once daily to the patients.

15. The method according to claim 12 , wherein linagliptin is comprised in an amount of 5 mg, and metformin hydrochloride is comprised in an amount of 1000 mg.

16. The method according to claim 15 , wherein the composition is administered as one tablet once daily to the patients.

17. The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 1 , wherein the weight ratio of the L-arginine to linagliptin is about 4:1.