Ophthalmic Gel Compositions
A suspension comprising an ophthalmic active that has a solubility in water at 25° C. and a pH of 7 of less than 0.1 times the concentration of the active in mg/mL in the suspension, the ophthalmic active suspended in a formulation vehicle. The formulation vehicle comprises a lightly cross-linked carboxy-containing polymer and a concentration of ionic salt components to provide the suspension with a calculated ionic strength of less than 0.1. The suspension has the following rheological properties, G′>G″ and a suspension yield value of greater than 1 Pa. Also, upon addition of 30 mL of the suspension to a volume of 6 mL to 12 mL of simulated tear fluid, the resulting tear mixture transitions to a liquid form wherein, G″>G′ and the tear mixture has a yield value of less than 0.1 Pa.
1 . A suspension comprising an ophthalmic active that has a solubility in water at 25° C. and pH of 7 of less than 0.1 times the concentration of the active in mg/mL in the suspension, the ophthalmic active suspended in a formulation vehicle, the vehicle comprising a lightly cross-linked carboxy-containing polymer and a concentration of ionic salt components to provide the suspension with a calculated ionic strength of less than 0.1,
wherein the suspension has the following rheological properties, G′>G″ and a suspension yield value of greater than 1 Pa, and upon addition of 30 mL of the suspension to a volume of 6 mL to 12 mL of simulated tear fluid to provide a tear mixture of the suspension in a simulated ocular condition, the tear mixture has G″>G′ and a tear mixture yield value of less than 0.1 Pa.
2 . The suspension of claim 1 wherein the ophthalmic active is loteprednol etabonate.
3 . The suspension of claim 1 wherein the ophthalmic active is non-steroidal.
4 . The suspension of claim 1 wherein the carboxy-containing polymer is selected from the group consisting of polycarbophil and carbomer.
5 . The suspension of claim 1 wherein the suspension has a tan δ measured at 1 rad/s of from 0.035 to 0.105.
6 . The suspension of claim 1 wherein the suspension has a yield value of from 2 Pa to 10 Pa.
7 . The suspension of claim 2 comprising 0.2-0.5% of the carboxy-containing polymer, 0.3-0.6% propylene glycol, 0.6-1% glycerin, 0.1-0.25% loteprednol etabonate and water, wherein all percentages are in percent by weight of the total composition.
8 . The suspension of claim 7 wherein the loteprednol etabonate is present at a concentration of from 0.14% or 0.2%.
9 . The suspension of claim 1 wherein the tear mixture yield value is from 0 Pa to 0.05 Pa if 30 mL of the suspension is diluted with a volume of 6 mL of simulated tear fluid.
10 . The suspension of claim 1 wherein the tear mixture has no measurable yield value if 30 mL of the suspension is diluted with a volume of 10 mL of simulated tear fluid.
11 . The suspension of claim 1 wherein the 30 mL of the suspension is diluted with a volume of 10 mL of simulated tear fluid providing the mixture with a tear thin value of from 5 to 30.
12 . The suspension of claim 11 wherein the tear thin value is from 10 to 25.
13 . A suspension comprising an ophthalmic active that has a solubility in water at 25° C. and a pH of 7 of less than 0.1 times the concentration of the active in mg/mL in the suspension, and the ophthalmic active is suspended in a formulation vehicle, the vehicle comprising a lightly crosslinked carboxy-containing polymer and a concentration of ionic salt components to provide the suspension with a calculated ionic strength of from 0.03 to 0.08, wherein the suspension has the following rheological properties, G′>G″ and a suspension yield value of from 2 Pa to 8 Pa, and upon addition of 30 mL of the suspension to a volume of 10 mL of simulated tear fluid to provide a tear mixture of the suspension in a simulated ocular condition, the tear mixture has a tear mixture yield value from 0 Pa to 0.1 Pa and a tear thin value of from 5 to 30.
14 . The suspension of claim 13 wherein the ophthalmic active is loteprednol etabonate, which is present at a concentration of from 0.1 wt. % to 0.25 wt. %.
15 . The suspension of claim 13 wherein the ophthalmic active is non-steroidal.
16 . The suspension of claim 13 wherein the carboxy-containing polymer is selected from the group consisting of polycarbophil and carbomer.
17 . The suspension of claim 14 wherein the formulation vehicle comprises 0.2-0.5% of the carboxy-containing polymer, 0.3-0.6% propylene glycol, 0.6-1% glycerin, and water, wherein all percentages are in percent by weight of the suspension.
18 . The suspension of claim 13 wherein the suspension has a tan δ measured at 1 rad/s of from 0.035 to 0.105.
19 . A method for suspending an ophthalmic active that has a solubility in water at 25° C. and a pH of 7 of less than 0.1 times the concentration of the active in mg/mL in an aqueous-based, ophthalmic suspension, the method comprising:
combining the ophthalmic active with a formulation vehicle, the vehicle comprising a lightly crosslinked carboxy-containing polymer and a concentration of ionic salt components to provide the suspension with a calculated ionic strength of from 0.03 to 0.08, wherein the suspension has the following rheological properties, G′>G″, a suspension yield value of from 2 Pa to 8 Pa, and upon addition of 30 mL of the suspension to a volume of 10 mL of simulated tear fluid to provide a tear mixture of the suspension in a simulated ocular condition, the tear mixture has a tear mixture yield value of less than 0.1 Pa and a tear thin value of from 5 to 30.
20 . The method of claim 19 wherein the tear mixture yield value is from 0 Pa to 0.05 Pa and a tear thin value of from 10 to 25.
21 . The method of claim 19 wherein the suspension has a tan δ measured at 1 rad/s of from 0.035 to 0.105.
22 . A unit dosage package for administration of an ophthalmic formulation in the form of an eye drop, the ophthalmic formulation comprising an ophthalmic active that has a solubility in water at 25° C. and a pH of 7 of less than 0.1 times the concentration of the active in mg/mL in the formulation, wherein the ophthalmic active is suspended in a formulation vehicle, the formulation vehicle comprises a lightly crosslinked carboxy-containing polymer and a concentration of ionic salt components to provide the suspension with a calculated ionic strength of from 0.03 to 0.08, wherein the ophthalmic formulation has the following rheological properties, G′>G″, and a suspension yield value of from 2 Pa to 8 Pa, and upon addition of 30 mL of the suspension to a volume of 10 mL of simulated tear fluid to provide a tear mixture of the suspension in a simulated ocular condition, the tear mixture has a tear mixture yield value from 0 Pa to 0.1 Pa and a tear thin value of from 5 to 30.
23 . The unit dosage form of 22 wherein the ophthalmic active is loteprednol etabonate, which is present from 0.1 wt. % to 0.25 wt. %.
24 . The suspension of claim 22 wherein the ophthalmic active is non-steroidal.