Patent Application
20230112220
The present invention relates to an inhalable liquid pharmaceutical composition comprising ensifentrine and glycopyrrolate. The invention also relates to a nebuliser comprising the liquid pharmaceutical composition.
Ensifentrine (N-(2-{(2E)-9,10-dimethoxy-4-oxo-2-[(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)imino]-6,7-dihydro-2H-pyrimido[6,1-a]isoquinolin-3(4H)-yl}ethyl)urea; also known as RPL554) is a dual PDE3/PDE4 inhibitor and is described in WO 00/58308 A1.
As a combined PDE3/PDE4 inhibitor, ensifentrine has both bronchodilatory and anti-inflammatory activity and is useful in the treatment of respiratory disorders such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The structure of ensifentrine is shown below.
WO 2016/042313 A describes formulations of ensifentrine as a suspension of particles in an aqueous diluent.
Ensifentrine may be used in combination with the muscarinic receptor antagonist glycopyrrolate. As used herein “glycopyrrolate” means a salt comprising the cation glycopyrronium. Glycopyrronium has the formula (1,1-dimethylpyrrolidin-1-ium-3-yl) 2-cyclopentyl-2-hydroxy-2-phenylacetate. The structure of glycopyrronium is shown below.
A combination of ensifentrine and glycopyrrolate useful for treating respiratory disorders is described in WO 2014/140648 A.
The formulation of pharmaceutical compounds is complex and unpredictable. This is particularly the case for liquid pharmaceutical compositions for administration by inhalation. For instance, such inhalable liquid pharmaceutical compositions must be sufficiently stable so that a suitably consistent dose is delivered during inhalation, even after storage for a period of time. The difficulties associated with preparation of an inhalable pharmaceutical composition are compounded when that composition comprises two active agents, for instance as for the combination of ensifentrine and glycopyrrolate. For such combination formulations, stability of both pharmaceutical compounds must be controlled.
There is a need to develop a liquid pharmaceutical composition comprising ensifentrine and glycopyrrolate in which both compounds are stable. It is also desirable to prepare a liquid pharmaceutical composition which is suitable for administration by inhalation.
It is a surprising finding of the present invention that a pharmaceutical composition in which both ensifentrine and glycopyrrolate are stable can be produced by formulating ensifentrine as a suspension of particles and glycopyrrolate as a solution in an aqueous diluent at a low pH and in which the concentration of glycopyrrolate is low relative to the concentration of ensifentrine. This specific formulation in which ensifentrine is suspended and glycopyrrolate is dissolved has been shown to be stable with respect to chemical degradation of both active agents after storage for at least three months.
The invention accordingly provides a liquid pharmaceutical composition suitable for administration by inhalation comprising: (i) ensifentrine particles; (ii) glycopyrrolate; and (iii) a diluent, which diluent comprises water, wherein: the glycopyrrolate is dissolved in the diluent; the concentration of glycopyrrolate is less than or equal to 5.0 mg/mL; and the pH of the liquid pharmaceutical composition is from 3.0 to 6.0.
The invention also provides a nebuliser comprising a liquid pharmaceutical composition according to the invention.
Further provided by the invention is a liquid pharmaceutical composition according to the invention for use in the treatment of the human or animal body.
The liquid pharmaceutical composition comprises glycopyrrolate. Glycopyrrolate is typically present in the liquid pharmaceutical composition as a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of glycopyrronium. Glycopyrrolate is typically the bromide salt, glycopyrronium bromide, but other pharmaceutically acceptable salts of glycopyrronium may be used, for instance glycopyrronium chloride. The glycopyrrolate is preferably glycopyrronium bromide.
The glycopyrrolate is dissolved in the diluent. Accordingly, of the total mass of glycopyrrolate present in the liquid pharmaceutical composition, at least some (for instance at least 50% by weight) is dissolved in the diluent. Typically, substantially all of the glycopyrrolate is dissolved in the diluent. For example, at least 99.0% by weight of the glycopyrrolate may be dissolved in the diluent, relative to the total mass of glycopyrrolate in the liquid pharmaceutical composition. The term “dissolved” takes its normal meaning in the art, for instance that the glycopyrrolate is in solution in the diluent and cannot be recovered by standard filtration.
The pharmaceutical composition is a liquid pharmaceutical composition and, as such, is liquid under ambient conditions (for instance at temperatures from 10 to 40° C.).
The pH of the liquid pharmaceutical composition is from 3.0 to 6.0. Typically, the pH of the liquid pharmaceutical composition is from 3.5 to 5.0. For instance, the pH of the liquid pharmaceutical composition may be from 4.3 to 4.7. The pH of the liquid pharmaceutical composition may be from 3.5 to 4.5, for instance from 3.8 to 4.2.
The pH of the liquid pharmaceutical composition is typically the pH as measured at a temperature of 20° C. The pH of the liquid pharmaceutical composition may be measured by any suitable technique. For instance, the pH may be as measured using a potentiometric pH meter.
The liquid pharmaceutical composition typically further comprises a buffer. The buffer can be used to control the pH of the liquid pharmaceutical composition. A buffer typically comprises a weak acid and its conjugate base. Examples of buffers include a citrate buffer, a phosphate buffer, an acetate buffer, and a bicarbonate buffer.
Preferably, the buffer is a citrate buffer. A citrate buffer typically comprises citric acid and a citrate salt. For instance, the citrate buffer may comprise citric acid and trisodium citrate. The citric acid may be citric acid monohydrate. The trisodium citrate may be trisodium citrate dihydrate.
The concentration of the buffer is typically from 10.0 to 40.0 mg/m L. Preferably the buffer concentration is from 20.0 to 30.0 mg/mL. The concentration of the buffer includes both the acid and conjugate base components of the buffer.
The concentration of glycopyrrolate in the liquid pharmaceutical composition is less than or equal to 5.0 mg/m L. For instance, the concentration of glycopyrrolate may be from 0.001 to 5.0 mg/mL. Typically, the concentration of glycopyrrolate is from 0.01 mg/mL to 2.0 mg/mL, for instance from 0.01 to 1.0 mg/mL.
Preferably, the glycopyrrolate concentration is from 0.02 mg/mL to 0.25 mg/mL. For instance, the concentration of glycopyrrolate may be from 0.14 to 0.16 mg/m L. The concentration of glycopyrrolate may be from 0.02 to 0.03 mg/mL, for instance about 0.025 mg/mL (25 μg/mL).
The liquid pharmaceutical composition comprises ensifentrine particles. The ensifentrine particles comprise ensifentrine (i.e. ensifentrine free base) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. Typically, the ensifentrine particles comprise ensifentrine. The ensifentrine particles typically comprise at least 90.0 wt % of ensifentrine or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, more preferably at least 95.0 wt %. The ensifentrine particles may consist essentially of ensifentrine or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, or may consist of ensifentrine or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. For instance, the ensifentrine particles may consist of ensifentrine free base.
A composition which consists essentially of a component typically comprises only that component and other components which do not materially affect the essential characteristics of the component of which the composition essentially consists. A composition consisting essentially of a component may comprise at least 99.5 wt % of that component relative to the total weight of the composition.
The ensifentrine particles in the liquid pharmaceutical composition are typically suspended in the diluent. The liquid pharmaceutical composition accordingly typically comprises a suspension of the ensifentrine particles. It may also be the case that some or all of the ensifentrine particles in the liquid pharmaceutical composition have settled to the bottom of a receptacle containing the liquid pharmaceutical composition, for instance after storage for a period of time. The ensifentrine particles may be re-suspended in any suitable way, for instance by agitation of the liquid pharmaceutical composition.
The weight ratio of ensifentrine:glycopyrrolate in the liquid pharmaceutical composition may be from 1:5 to 200:1. For instance, for each 1 gram of ensifentrine in the composition, there may be from 0.005 to 5.0 grams of glycopyrrolate. Typically, the total concentration of ensifentrine in the liquid pharmaceutical composition is greater than the total concentration of glycopyrrolate in the liquid pharmaceutical composition. Preferably, the weight ratio of ensifentrine:glycopyrrolate in the liquid pharmaceutical composition is from 5:1 to 150:1. The weight ratio of ensifentrine:glycopyrrolate in the liquid pharmaceutical composition may be from 15:1 to 120:1, for example from 8:1 to 12:1.
The concentration of ensifentrine particles in the liquid pharmaceutical composition can be any suitable concentration, for instance from 0.01 to 400 mg/m L. Typically, the concentration of ensifentrine particles is from 0.1 to 5.0 mg/mL. Preferably, the concentration of ensifentrine particles is from 0.1 to 2.5 mg/mL. For instance, the concentration of ensifentrine particles may be from 0.15 to 0.5 mg/mL or from 1.0 to 2.0 mg/mL.
The ensifentrine particles typically have a Dv50 of from 0.5 μm to 5.0 μm. The ensifentrine particles preferably have a Dv50 of from 1.0 μm to 2.0 μm. Typically, the Dv10 of the ensifentrine particles is from 0.2 μm to 1.0 μm and the Dv90 of the ensifentrine particles is from 2.5 μm to 6.0 μm. For instance, the Dv10 of the ensifentrine particles may be from 0.4 μm to 0.6 μm and the Dv90 of the ensifentrine particles may be from 2.8 μm to 3.8 μm.
Particle sizes are described herein by reference to the Dv50 value, which is the median particle size for a volume distribution. Thus, half the volume of the particles have diameters of less than the Dv50 value and half the volume of the particles have diameters of greater than the Dv50 value. This is a well-known manner in which to describe particle size distributions. The parameters of Dv10 and Dv90 may also be used to characterise a particle size distribution of a sample. 10% of the volume of particles have a diameter of less than the Dv10 value. 90% of the volume of the particles have a diameter of less than the Dv90 value.
The technique used to measure the Dv50 (and Dv10 and Dv90) values as stated herein is typically laser diffraction. The particle size distribution of the ensifentrine particles may be as measured by laser diffraction using a wet powder dispersion system. For instance, the particle size distribution can be measured by laser diffraction using a Malvern Spraytec in conjunction with a wet dispersion cell. Typically, the instrument parameters for the Malvern Spraytec are as follows:
The ensifentrine particles may be produced by any pharmaceutically acceptable size reduction process or particle size controlled production process. For instance, the particles may be produced by spray-drying a solution of ensifentrine, by controlled crystallisation, or by size reduction of a solid form of ensifentrine, for example by air jet milling, mechanical micronisation or media milling.
The diluent comprises water. The diluent may for instance comprise water and a secondary solvent such as ethanol. Typically, the liquid pharmaceutical composition comprises at least 50% by weight of water based on the total weight of the liquid pharmaceutical composition. Preferably, the diluent is water and the liquid pharmaceutical composition comprises at least 80% by weight of the diluent based on the total weight of the liquid pharmaceutical composition. The diluent is typically sterile. The liquid pharmaceutical composition is typically sterile.
The liquid pharmaceutical composition typically further comprises a tonicity adjuster. Examples of tonicity adjusters include sodium chloride, potassium chloride, glucose, glycerine and mannitol. Preferably, the tonicity adjuster is sodium chloride.
The concentration of the tonicity adjuster is typically greater than or equal to 1.0 mg/mL (for instance from 1.0 to 50.0 mg/mL). Preferably, the tonicity adjuster concentration is from 4.0 to 20.0 mg/mL, more preferably from 6.0 to 12.0 mg/mL.
The liquid pharmaceutical composition typically further comprises one or more surfactants. The one or more surfactant may comprise a non-ionic surfactant, an anionic surfactant, a cationic surfactant, a zwitterionic surfactant or a mixture thereof. Typically, the one or more surfactants comprise a non-ionic surfactant.
Examples of surfactants include lecithin, oleic acid, polyoxyethylene glycol alkyl ethers (for instance PEG 300, PEG 600, PEG 1000, Brij 30, Brij 35, Brij 56, Brij 76 and Brij 97), polypropylene glycol (for instance PPG 2000), glucoside alkyl ethers, polyoxyethylene glycol octylphenol ethers, polyoxyethylene glycol alkylphenol ethers, glycerol alkyl esters, polyoxyethylene glycol sorbitan alkyl esters (polysorbates, for instance polysorbate 20, polysorbate 40, polysorbate 60 and polysorbate 80), sorbitan alkyl esters (for instance sorbitan monolaurate (Span 20), sorbitan monooleate (Span 80) and sorbitan trioleate (Span 85)), cocamide MEA, cocamide DEA, dodecyldimethylamine oxide, block copolymers of polyethylene glycol and polypropylene glycol (poloxamers), block copolymers of polyethylene glycol and polypropylene oxide (for instance Pluronic surfactants), polyvinyl pyrrolidone K25, polyvinyl alcohol, oligolactic acid, sodium dioctyl sulfosuccinate and polyethoxylated tallow amine (POEA).
Preferably, the one or more surfactants comprise a polysorbate and/or a sorbitan alkyl ester. The one or more surfactants may for instance comprise polysorbate 20 (polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monolaurate), polysorbate 40 (polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monopalmitate), polysorbate 60 (polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monostearate) or polysorbate 80 (polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monooleate). The one or more surfactants may for instance comprise sorbitan monolaurate (Span 20), sorbitan monooleate (Span 80) or sorbitan trioleate (Span 85). Preferably, the liquid pharmaceutical composition comprises polysorbate 20 and/or sorbitan monolaurate (Span 20).
The liquid pharmaceutical composition may comprise two or more surfactants, or the liquid pharmaceutical composition may comprise a single surfactant. For instance the composition may comprise a single surfactant which is a polysorbate, for instance polysorbate 20. The composition may comprise two or more surfactants. For instance, the liquid pharmaceutical composition may comprise polysorbate 20 and sorbitan monolaurate (Span 20).
The total concentration of the one or more surfactants is typically from 0.01 to 2.0 mg/mL. Preferably, the total surfactant concentration is from 0.1 to 1.0 mg/mL. For instance, the total surfactant concentration in the liquid pharmaceutical composition may be from 0.25 to 0.75 mg/mL. The liquid pharmaceutical composition may for instance comprise a polysorbate at a concentration of from 0.1 to 1.0 mg/mL and optionally a sorbitan alkyl ester at a concentration of from 0.01 to 0.1 mg/m L.
The liquid pharmaceutical composition typically comprises:
For instance, the liquid pharmaceutical composition may comprise:
The liquid pharmaceutical composition may for instance comprise:
For example, the liquid pharmaceutical composition may comprise:
The liquid pharmaceutical composition may consist, or consist essentially of, components (i) to (vi), components (i) to (vii) or components (i) to (viii).
The liquid pharmaceutical composition is advantageously stable. In particular, the liquid pharmaceutical composition is typically stable with respect to chemical degradation of ensifentrine and glycopyrrolate for at least one month when stored at a temperature of 25° C. and a relative humidity of 60%. The liquid pharmaceutical composition may for instance be stable under these conditions for at least three months.
The liquid pharmaceutical composition may be produced by standard formulation methods. The liquid pharmaceutical composition is typically produced by a method comprising dissolving glycopyrrolate in the diluent to produce a solution of glycopyrrolate and mixing the ensifentrine particles with the solution of glycopyrrolate to produce a suspension of ensifentrine particles. The liquid pharmaceutical composition may alternatively be produced by a method comprising mixing the ensifentrine particles with the diluent to produce a suspension of ensifentrine particles and then dissolving the glycopyrrolate in the suspension.
The liquid pharmaceutical composition is suitable for administration by inhalation. Typically, the liquid pharmaceutical composition is suitable for administration by a nebuliser.
The invention provides a nebuliser comprising a liquid pharmaceutical composition according to the invention. The nebuliser is typically loaded with the liquid pharmaceutical composition. The nebuliser typically comprises from about 1.0 mL to about 200 mL, more typically from 1.0 mL to 20 mL of the liquid pharmaceutical composition. The nebuliser preferably comprises from 2.0 mL to 5.0 mL of the liquid pharmaceutical composition, for instance about 2.5 mL.
Nebulisers aerosolise a liquid pharmaceutical composition into an aerosol that is inhaled into a subject's respiratory tract. Examples of nebulisers include a soft mist nebuliser, a vibrating mesh nebuliser, a jet nebuliser and an ultrasonic wave nebuliser. Suitable nebuliser devices include the Philips I-neb™ (Philips), the Philips SideStream (Philips), the AeroNeb® (Philips), the Philips InnoSpire Go (Philips), the Pari LC Sprint (Pari GmbH), the AERxR™ Pulmonary Delivery System (Aradigm Corp) and the Pari LC Plus Reusable Nebuliser (Pari GmbH).
Ensifentrine is useful in the treatment of respiratory diseases and inflammatory diseases. Glycopyrrolate is useful in the treatment of respiratory diseases. Ensifentrine and glycopyrrolate have been found to interact synergistically in causing relaxation of bronchial smooth muscle. The invention provides a liquid pharmaceutical composition according to the invention for use in the treatment of the human or animal body. Typically, the liquid pharmaceutical composition is administered by inhalation.
The liquid pharmaceutical composition is typically for use in the treatment or prevention of a disease or condition selected from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, allergic asthma, hay fever, allergic rhinitis, bronchitis, emphysema, bronchiectasis, adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), steroid resistant asthma, severe asthma, paediatric asthma, cystic fibrosis, lung fibrosis, pulmonary fibrosis, interstitial lung disease, a skin disorder, atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, ocular inflammation, cerebral ischaemia, an inflammatory disease and an auto-immune disease. Preferably the disease or condition is COPD or asthma. More preferably, the disease or condition is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
An effective amount of ensifentrine is typically from about 0.001 mg/kg to 50 mg/kg for a single dose, for instance from 0.01 mg/kg to 1 mg/kg for a single dose. An effective amount of ensifentrine may be a dose of from about 0.1 mg to about 500 mg, or from about 0.1 mg to 100 mg, or from about 0.1 mg to about 6 mg. A single dose of ensifentrine may be from 0.3 mg to 3 mg.
An effective amount of glycopyrrolate is typically from about 0.001 mg/kg to 25 mg/kg for a single dose, for instance from 0.001 mg/kg to 0.5 mg/kg for a single dose. An effective amount of glycopyrrolate may be a dose of from about 0.01 mg to about 250 mg, or from about 0.02 mg to 3 mg. A single dose of glycopyrrolate may be from 0.02 mg to 2.0 mg.
The liquid pharmaceutical composition may be administered once, twice or three times a day, or may be administered twice, three times, four times or five times a week. For instance, the pharmaceutical composition may be administered twice a day.
The invention also provides use of a liquid pharmaceutical composition as defined herein in the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of a disease or condition as defined herein.
The invention is described in more detail by the following Examples.
Methods
Assay and related substances testing were performed using high performance liquid chromatography with an acetonitrile:water mobile phase.
Five pharmaceutical formulations (formulations A to E) comprising ensifentrine and glycopyrronium bromide (GP) were prepared.
The composition of the five formulations are shown in Table 1.
In each case, a suspension of particles of ensifentrine was first prepared at a concentration of 1.5 mg/mL in one of two vehicles:
Glycopyrronium bromide was then dissolved in the ensifentrine suspension at the stated concentration (0.15 mg/mL, 1.5 mg/mL or 15.0 mg/mL). The resulting formulations had the appearance of pale yellow suspensions which were free from visible agglomerates following re-suspension.
The pH of formulations A to C was determined to be 6.7. The pH of formulations D and E was determined to be 4.5.
The stability of formulations A to E with respect to chemical degradation of the active ingredients was assessed. 5 mL samples of the formulations were stored in stoppered glass vials under three different conditions: (a) 25° C./60% relative humidity (RH); (b) 40° C./75% RH; and (c) 60° C. All formulations were tested after storage under these conditions for two weeks. Formulations D and E were further tested after storage under these conditions for three months.
The results of the stability assessment after two weeks is set out in Table 2.
It can be seen that the pH 6.7 phosphate buffered formulations (A, B and C) were unstable under all conditions after two weeks with degradation of glycopyrronium observed. Formulation C after storage at 60° C. had significantly degraded and the particles of ensifentrine could not be re-suspended even after vigorous shaking.
In contrast, formulations D and E (pH 4.5 citrate buffered formulations) were more stable after two weeks than formulations A to C. No degradation was observed for formulation D after storage 25° C./60% RH or 40° C./75% RH. Slight degradation of the glycopyrronium was observed for formulation D after storage at 60° C.
There was some low level degradation of glycopyrronium observed for formulation E after storage 25° C./60% RH or 40° C./75% RH and more significant degradation after storage at 60° C.
In view of the instability of formulations A to C, no further stability assessment of those formulations was conducted. The stability of formulations D and E was assessed again at 3 months and the results are shown in Table 3.
It was found that formulation D was stable after storage for 3 months at both 25° C./60% RH and 40° C./75% RH. Slight degradation of glycopyrronium was observed after storage at 60° C. for 3 months.
Some chemical degradation was observed after storage of formulation E for 3 months at 25° C./60% RH. More significant degradation was observed after storage for 3 months at 40° C./75% RH and 60° C.
Out of the five formulations tested, it has been observed that only formula D has suitable stability characteristics after storage. The inventors have accordingly found that a low pH and low glycopyrrolate concentration relative to the ensifentrine concentration are important for stable formulation of the combination of glycopyrrolate and ensifentrine for use as an inhaled product.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002786.8 | Feb 2020 | GB | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/GB2021/050496 | 2/26/2021 | WO |
