IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,740,951
Granted Patent B2
US 12,740,951 · App. 17/470,335 · Granted Sep 22, 2026

Delayed release compositions

Inventors: Kanji Meghpara (Morris Plains, NJ); Siva Ram Kiran Vaka (Piscataway, NJ); Dipen Desai (Whippany, NJ); Navnit H. Shah (Monmouth Junction, NJ)
Assignee: Amneal Complex Products Research LLC
A61K31/165A61K9/0004A61K9/2031A61K9/2086A61K9/2095A61K9/2866
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,740,951
App. No.
17/470,335
Granted
Sep 22, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present disclosure provides oral compositions providing delayed release of armodafinil/modafinil. The compositions of the disclosure provide a lag time that is independent of the presence or absence of food, type of food, pH, gastric emptying, gastric motility, and volume and viscosity of gastric fluid. The compositions of the disclosure can be programmed to provide a desired lag time, and release drug at a rhythm that matches the human circadian rhythm regulating sleep-wake cycle to optimize therapeutic outcome and minimize side effects.

Claims (41)

1 . A delayed release composition comprising:

a) a vertically compressed multilayer core comprising a placebo layer, an active layer, and a push layer, wherein:

(i) the placebo layer comprises at least one polyethylene oxide polymer having a weight average molecular weight of from about 400,000 Da to about 900,000 Da,

(ii) the active layer comprises an active agent comprising armodafinil or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and at least one polyethylene oxide polymer having a weight average molecular weight of from about 100,000 Da to about 300,000 Da,

(iii) the push layer comprises at least one polyethylene oxide polymer having a weight average molecular weight of greater than or equal to 1,000,000 Da; and

b) a semipermeable membrane containing an orifice and surrounding the multilayer core, and

wherein the layers in the multilayer core are placed in the following order: the placebo layer facing the orifice in the semipermeable membrane; the active layer; and the push layer facing away from the orifice.

2 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the push layer further comprises an osmogen in an amount from about 10 wt % to about 60 wt %, based on total weight of the push layer.

3 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the composition provides a lag time of at least about 4 hours, during which the composition releases no more than 10 wt. % of the active agent.

4 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the semipermeable membrane is present in an amount of from about 1 wt. % to about 30 wt. % coating weight gain, based on the total weight of the uncoated multilayer core.

5 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the semipermeable membrane comprises at least one water-insoluble polymer and at least one plasticizer.

6 . The composition of claim 5 , wherein the plasticizer is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene glycols, triethyl citrate, triacetin, diethyl tartrate, dibutyl sebacate, and combinations thereof.

7 . The composition of claim 5 , wherein the water-insoluble polymer is selected from the group consisting of cellulose acetate, cellulose acetate butyrate, and cellulose triacetate.

8 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the polyethylene oxide polymer in the push layer has a weight average molecular weight of about 1000,000 Da, about 2000,000 Da, about 4000,000 Da, about 5000,000 Da, about 7000,000 Da, or intermediate values therein.

9 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the active layer comprises a weight ratio of the active agent:polyethylene oxide polymer of from about 50:50 to about 95:5.

10 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein each of the push layer, the placebo layer, and the active layer exhibit a viscosity, measured using Brookfield viscometer, in 1 wt % aqueous solution at 25° C., wherein the viscosity of the push layer is higher than the viscosity of the placebo layer, and the viscosity of the placebo layer is higher than the viscosity of the active layer.

11 . A method for treating excessive sleep disorder in patients suffering from narcolepsy, obstructive sleep apnea, shift work sleep disorders, or idiopathic hypersomnia, the method comprising orally administering to the patient a delayed release composition comprising:

a) a vertically compressed multilayer core comprising a placebo layer, an active layer, and a push layer, wherein:

(i) the placebo layer comprises at least one polyethylene oxide polymer having a weight average molecular weight of from about 400,000 Da to about 900,000 Da,

(ii) the active layer comprises an active agent comprising armodafinil or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and at least one polyethylene oxide polymer having a weight average molecular weight of from about 100,000 Da to about 300,000 Da,

(iii) the push layer comprises at least one polyethylene oxide polymer having a weight average molecular weight of greater than or equal to 1,000,000 Da; and

b) a semipermeable membrane comprising an orifice and surrounding the multilayer core, and

wherein the layers in the multilayer core are placed in the following order: the placebo layer facing the orifice in the semipermeable membrane; the active layer; and the push layer facing away from the orifice.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein each of the push layer, the placebo layer, and the active layer exhibit a viscosity, measured using Brookfield viscometer, in 1 wt % aqueous solution at 25° C., wherein the viscosity of the push layer is higher than the viscosity of the placebo layer, and the viscosity of the placebo layer is higher than the viscosity of the active layer.

13 . A method for treating excessive sleep disorder and improving early morning wakefulness in patients suffering from narcolepsy, obstructive sleep apnea, shift work sleep disorders, or idiopathic hypersomnia, the method comprising orally administering to the patient a delayed release composition comprising:

a) a vertically compressed multilayer core comprising a placebo layer, an active layer, and a push layer, wherein:

(i) the placebo layer comprises at least one polyethylene oxide polymer having a weight average molecular weight of from about 400,000 Da to about 900,000 Da,

(ii) the active layer comprises an active agent comprising armodafinil or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and at least one polyethylene oxide polymer having a weight average molecular weight of from about 100,000 Da to about 300,000 Da,

(iii) the push layer comprises at least one polyethylene oxide polymer having a weight average molecular weight of greater than or equal to 1,000,000 Da, and b) a semipermeable membrane comprising an orifice and surrounding the multilayer core, and

wherein the layers in the multilayer core are placed in the following order: the placebo layer facing the orifice in the semipermeable membrane; the active layer; and the push layer facing away from the orifice.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein each of the push layer, the placebo layer, and the active layer exhibit a viscosity, measured using Brookfield viscometer, in 1 wt % aqueous solution at 25° C., wherein the viscosity of the push layer is higher than the viscosity of the placebo layer, and viscosity of the placebo layer is higher than the viscosity of the active layer.

15 . A method for making a delayed release composition comprising a multilayer core comprising a placebo layer comprising a placebo layer blend; an active layer comprising an active layer blend; and a push layer comprising a push layer blend; and a semipermeable membrane covering at least a portion of the multilayer core and comprising at least one orifice; the method comprising:

(i) making a placebo layer blend comprising at least one polyethylene oxide polymer having a weight average molecular weight of from about 400,000 Da to about 900,000 Da;

(ii) making an active layer blend comprising an active agent comprising armodafinil or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and at least one polyethylene oxide polymer having a weight average molecular weight of from about 100,000 Da to about 300,000 Da;

(iii) making a push layer blend comprising at least one polyethylene oxide polymer having a weight average molecular weight of greater than or equal to 1,000,000 Da;

(iv) sequentially filling and compressing the placebo layer blend, followed by the active layer blend, and finally the push layer blend into a tablet dye; and finally compressing the three blends into a multilayer tablet core;

(v) coating the multilayer core with a semipermeable membrane coat; and

(vi) laser drilling an orifice in the semipermeable membrane coat, wherein the layers in the multilayer core are placed in the following order: the placebo layer facing the orifice in the semipermeable membrane; the active layer; and the push layer facing away from the orifice.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the placebo layer blend comprises placebo layer granules comprising the polyethylene oxide polymer with a weight average molecular weight of from about 400,0000 Da to about 900,0000 Da.

17 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the active layer blend comprises active layer granules comprising the polyethylene oxide polymer with a weight average molecular weight of from about 100,0000 Da to about 300,0000 Da.

18 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the push layer blend comprises push layer granules comprising the polyethylene oxide polymer with a weight average molecular weight of greater than or equal to 1000,000 Da.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 16, 2021
From: MEGHPARA, KANJI; VAKA, SIVA RAM KIRAN; DESAI, DIPEN; SHAH, NAVNIT H.
To: AMNEAL COMPLEX PRODUCTS RESEARCH LLC
Reel/Frame 057498/0759 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63077276 · Sep 11, 2020
Related Publication 20220079896A1 · Mar 17, 2022
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