PHARMACEUTICAL FORMULATIONS CONTAINING FLAVOURING SUBSTANCES WITH IMPROVED PHARMACEUTICAL

Abstract
The invention relates to flavouring-containing pharmaceutical formulations with improved pharmaceutical properties, and to process for the production thereof.
Description

The invention relates to flavouring-containing pharmaceutical formulations with improved pharmaceutical properties, and to process for the production thereof.


The use of flavourings in pharmaceutical formulations is becoming increasingly important in the veterinary medical sector. The flavourings are intended to facilitate administration of solid drug forms to animals, especially dogs or cats. Flavourings available on the market, such as, for example, Trigarol Bayopal P® (Haarmann and Reimer GmbH, Holzminden, D) or Artificial Beef Flavor (Pharma Chemie, Syracuse, Nebr., USA) have an adverse effect on the pharmaceutical properties of tablets. Thus, for example, the tablet hardness (determination of tablet hardness described for example in Bauer, Kurt H.; Frömming, Karl-Heinz; Führer, Claus: Lehrbuch der Pharmazeutischen Technologie, 6th revised and corrected edition 1999) is reduced or the stability of the tablets is adversely affected by a deterioration in release or tablet hardness. These changes result in disadvantages for the quality of the pharmaceutical products.


Botzolakis, Harris and Nesbitt describe in Pharm. Res. (5, No. 10, Suppl. S253, 1988) and in EP-A 0345787 or U.S. Pat. No. 4,910,023 formulations with unpleasantly tasting active ingredients and processes for their production. In this case, unpleasantly tasting, hygroscopic active ingredients are suspended in water and dried in combination with colloidal silicon dioxide. This results in pleasantly tasting, less hygroscopic tablets.


The requirements to be met by a solid pharmaceutical formulation suitable for administration to animals are diverse:

    • good acceptance by the animals, in the best case voluntary intake
    • good storage stability, especially low tendency to absorb water
    • good mechanical properties, especially tablet hardness
    • good disintegration and release properties.


The increased acceptance can be achieved by adding flavourings. The problem existing in this connection to date is that these flavourings cause a deterioration in the pharmaceutical properties of the corresponding solid formulations.


It has now been found, surprisingly, that the disadvantageous effects of flavouring can be reduced or completely compensated by adding comparatively large amounts of colloidal silicon dioxide, and the resulting solid pharmaceutical formulations display good or very good properties in all the abovementioned criteria. It is noteworthy in this connection that the colloidal silicon dioxide scarcely influences the effect of the flavourings although it is proposed in the state of the art for taste masking.


The invention therefore relates to solid pharmaceutical formulations comprising an active pharmaceutical ingredient, a flavouring and at least 1.5% by weight of colloidal silicon dioxide based on the total weight of the finished formulation.


The pharmaceutical formulations of the invention normally comprise the active pharmaceutical ingredient in an amount of 0.001-90% by weight.


Suitable active pharmaceutical ingredients are in general all those customary in veterinary medicine. Examples which may be mentioned are: quinolone antibiotics, and agents for treating cancers, especially MMP inhibitors.


Quinolone antibiotics are described inter alia in the following documents: U.S. Pat. No. 4,670,444 (Bayer AG), U.S. Pat. No. 4,472,405 (Riker Labs), U.S. Pat. No. 4,730,000 (Abbott), U.S. Pat. No. 4,861,779 (Pfizer), U.S. Pat. No. 4,382,892 (Daiichi), U.S. Pat. No. 4,704,459 (Toyama), as specific examples of quinolone antibiotics which may be mentioned are: ciprofloxacin, enrofloxacin, ibafloxacin, sarafloxacin, difloxacin, binfloxacin, danofloxacin, marbofloxacin, benofloxacin, ofloxacin, orbifloxacin, tosufloxacin, temafloxacin, pipemidic acid, norfloxacin, pefloxacin, levofloxacin, fleroxacin. Further suitable quinolone antibiotics which may be mentioned are the compounds described in WO 97/31001, especially, pradofloxacin (8-cyano-1-cyclopropyl-7-((1S,6S)-2,8-diazabicyclo[4.3.0]nonan-6-fluoro-1,4-dihydro-4-oxo-3-quinolinecarboxylic acid) of the formula




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Preferred quinolone antibiotics are described in general by the formulae (I) and (II)




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in which

  • A is nitrogen or ═C—R4,
  • R4 is hydrogen, fluorine, chlorine, cyano, nitro or methyl,
  • B is




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and

  • R5 is hydrogen, a branched or unbranched alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, which may optionally be substituted by a hydroxyl or methoxy group,
  • R6 is hydrogen, methyl or phenyl,
  • R7 is hydrogen or methyl,
  • R8 is amino, alkyl- or dialkylamino having 1 or 2 carbon atoms in the alkyl group, aminomethyl, alkyl- or dialkylaminomethyl having 1 or 2 carbon atoms in the alkyl group,
  • R1 is an alkyl radical having 1 to 3 carbon atoms, cyclopropyl, 2-fluoroethyl, vinyl, methoxy, 4-fluorophenyl or methylamino,
  • R2 is hydrogen, alkyl having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, and cyclohexyl, benzyl, 2-oxopropyl, phenacyl and ethoxycarbonylmethyl,
  • R3 is hydrogen, methyl or ethyl,
  • Z is oxygen, methyl- or phenyl-substituted nitrogen, and —CH2—,


    and their pharmaceutically usable salts.


Preferred active ingredients are quinolonecarboxylic acids and their derivatives of the formula (Ia)




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in which

  • B is




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and

  • A, R2, R5, R6 and R7 have the meaning indicated above.


Particularly preferred active ingredients are quinolonecarboxylic acid and its derivatives of the formula (Ia)




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in which

  • R2 is hydrogen, alkyl having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and benzyl, 2-oxopropyl, phenacyl and ethoxycarbonylmethyl,
  • B is




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  • R5 is hydrogen, methyl or ethyl,

  • R6 is hydrogen or methyl,

  • R7 is hydrogen or methyl, and

  • A has the meaning indicated above.



Particular mention may be made of the following quinolonecarboxylic acids and their derivatives as active ingredients:


1-cyclopropyl-6-fluoro-1,4-dihydro-4-oxo-7-(1-piperazinyl)quinoline-3-carboxylic acid (cipro-floxacin), 1-cyclopropyl-6-fluoro-1,4-dihydro-4-oxo-7-(4-methyl-1-piperazinyl)quinoline-3-carboxylic acid, 1-cyclopropyl-6-fluoro-1,4-dihydro-4-oxo-7-(4-ethyl-1-piperazinyl)quinoline-3-carboxylic acid (enrofloxacin), 1-ethyl-6-fluoro-1,4-dihydro-4-oxo-7-(4-methyl-1-piperazinyl)-quinoline-3-carboxylic acid, 1-ethyl-6-fluoro-1,4-dihydro-4-oxo-7-(1-piperazinyl)quinoline-3-carboxylic acid, 1-ethyl-6-fluoro-1,4-dihydro-4-oxo-7-(1-piperazinyl)-1,8-naphthyridine-3-carboxylic acid, 9-fluoro-3-methyl-10-(4-methyl-1-piperazinyl)-7-oxo-2,3-dihydro-7H-pyrido-[1,2,3-de]-1,4-benzoxazine-6-carboxylic acid and the pharmaceutically usable salts thereof, and the methyl and ethyl esters of these compounds.


Enrofloxacin and pradofloxacin, and the pharmaceutically usable salts thereof, are very particularly preferably employed.


Pharmaceutically usable salts which may be mentioned are physiologically tolerated acid addition salts, and salts with bases. The salts are known or can be prepared in analogy to known processes.


Examples of acids which may be mentioned are: hydrochloric acid, sulphuric acid, phosphoric acid, organic acids such as formic acid, acetic acid, lactic acid, malic acid, fumaric acid, citric acid, ascorbic acid, succinic acid, tartaric acid, malonic acid, maleic acid, embonic acid.


Hydrochloric acid, acetic acid, lactic acid, embonic acid may be mentioned as preferred.


Examples of salts with bases are the alkali metal, alkaline earth metal, silver and guanidinium salts of the underlying carboxylic acids. Examples of suitable bases which may be mentioned are inorganic bases such as NaOH, KOH, Ca(OH)2, ammonia, organic bases such as amines such as mono-, di-, trialkylamines, substituted amines such as ethanolamine, cyclic amities such as morpholine, piperazine, basic amino acids such as arginine, lysine, choline, N-methylglucamine.


The following bases are preferred: NaOH, KOH, ethanolamine, lysine, N-methylglucamine.


The following bases are particularly preferred: NaOH, KOH.


Pharmaceutically acceptable solvates, in particular hydrates, of the active ingredients or of the salts etc. can likewise be employed.


The active ingredients are known or can be prepared in analogy to known processes.


Suitable MMP inhibitors are described in detail in WO 96/15 096, express reference being made to this document. Among the compounds disclosed therein, those having basic biphenyl structures are preferred; a particularly preferred example which may be mentioned is the compound tanomastat:




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Pharmaceutically acceptable salts, hydrates etc. can likewise be employed.


The flavourings employed according to the invention constitute mixtures of proteins, fats and carbohydrates which are specifically processed. Particular mention may be made of Trigarol Bayopal P®, of Haarmann & Reimer, and Artificial Beef Flavor® of Pharma Chemie (Syracuse, Nebr., USA). The flavourings are employed in the pharmaceutical formulations of the invention in an amount of 1-40% by weight, based on the total weight of the finished formulation, preferably 2.5-30% by weight, in particular 4-20% by weight.


Colloidal silicon dioxide is described for example in the European Pharmacopoeia (Ph.Eur., SILICA, COLLOIDAL ANHYDROUS) or US Pharmacopeia (USP, Colloidal Silicon dioxide). Examples of commercial products are Aerosil (Degussa), Dissolvurol or Entero-Teknosal.


The solid pharmaceutical formulations of the invention comprise at least 1.5% by weight of colloidal silicon dioxide based on the total weight of the finished formulation, and they preferably contain at least 2.5% by weight, particularly preferably at least 4% by weight, of colloidal silicon dioxide based on the total weight of the finished formulation. The solid pharmaceutical formulations of the invention normally comprise not more than 15% by weight, preferably not more than 10% by weight, of colloidal silicon dioxide. Within the limits indicated above, it has proved to be particularly advantageous to process the colloidal silicon dioxide in the colloidal silicon dioxide to flavouring ratio by weight of from 1:4 to 1:1.


A process for producing the solid pharmaceutical formulations of the invention has also been found, in which the flavouring is granulated with the colloidal silicon dioxide and one or more active ingredients and pharmaceutically usual excipients. Suitable variants for the production process of the invention are as follows:

    • addition of the flavouring and of the colloidal silicon dioxide to the admixture (i.e. to granules consisting of the other ingredients), mixing of the solid components, where appropriate after screening, for example through a sieve with a mesh width of 0.5-2 mm, in a suitable container for 2-30 minutes
    • aqueous granulation of the flavouring with the colloidal silicon dioxide using binder solutions consisting of water or water with, for example, starches (maize starch, rice starch, wheat starch, potato starch), modified starches (pregelatinized starch, hydroxyethyl starch), gelatin, tragacanth, cellulose derivatives (methylcellulose, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose, sodium carboxymethylcellulose) or polyvinylpyrrolidone, addition of these granules to the admixture (i.e. to granules consisting of the other ingredients) or to the further granulation
    • alcoholic (e.g. ethanolic) granulation of the flavouring with the colloidal silicon dioxide, addition of these granules to the admixture or to the further granulation
    • granulation of the flavouring with the colloidal silicon dioxide using a further binder, addition of these granules to the admixture or to the further granulation
    • addition of the flavouring with the colloidal silicon dioxide to the granulation of the active ingredient, possibly with the addition of further excipients such as, for example, fillers, disintegrants or binders.


The granulation may take place by means of a high-speed mixer as wet granulation with subsequent drying for example in a fluidized bed or tray dryer with inlet air temperatures of 40-120° C., or as granulation for example in a fluidized bed granulator.


The pharmaceutical formulations of the invention are suitable for use in veterinary medicine, e.g. in livestock management and in livestock breeding. They can be administered to agricultural and breeding livestock, zoo, laboratory and experimental animals and pets.


The agricultural and breeding livestock include mammals such as, for example, cattle, horses, sheep, pigs, goats, camels, water buffalos, donkeys, rabbits, fallow deer, reindeer, fur-bearing animals such as, for example, mink, chinchilla, raccoon, birds such as, for example, chickens, geese, turkeys, ducks, pigeons, and bird species for keeping at home and in zoos. Productive and ornamental fish are also included.


The laboratory and experimental animals include mice, rats, guinea pigs, golden hamsters, dogs and cats.


Pets include dogs and cats.


The solid pharmaceutical formulations of the invention are preferably tablets. However, other solid preparations are also suitable, such as powders, premixes or concentrates, granules, pellets, boli, capsules, aerosols and inhalations.


The solid pharmaceutical formulations of the invention may comprise further pharmaceutically acceptable additives and excipients such as, for example, carriers, and the excipients detailed hereinafter.


Carriers which may be mentioned are all physiologically tolerated inert solids. Inorganic and organic substances are used as such. Examples of inorganic substances are sodium chloride, carbonates such as calcium carbonate, bicarbonates, aluminium oxides, silicas, aluminas, phosphates.


Examples of organic substances are sugars, lactose, mannitol, cellulose, human and animal foods such as milk powder, animal meals, ground and crushed grains, starches.


Excipients are antioxidants such as, for example, ascorbic acid, tocopherol, colours, which are approved for use in animals and can be employed in solution or suspension.


Further suitable excipients are lubricants and glidants such as, for example, magnesium stearate, stearic acid, talc, bentonites, disintegration-promoting substances such as starch and starch derivatives, croscarmellose sodium or crosslinked polyvinylpyrrolidone, binders such as, for example, starches (maize starch, rice starch, wheat starch, potato starch), modified starches (pregelatinized starch, hydroxyethyl starch), gelatin, tragacanth, cellulose derivatives (methylcellulose, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose, sodium carboxymethylcellulose) or polyvinylpyrrolidone, and dry binders such as microcrystalline cellulose.





FIGURES


FIG. 1 shows the dependence of the resistance to crushing [N] on the load applied [kN] for Examples 1 to 4 compared with the standard.



FIG. 2 shows the dependence of resistances to crushing [N] on the load applied [kN] for Examples 2, 5 and 6, and the standard.



FIG. 3 shows the flexural strength [N] for Examples 7 to 11.



FIG. 4 shows the water uptake [%] for Examples 20 to 23 over a period of 7 days.



FIG. 5 shows the decrease in tablet hardness [%] for Examples 20 to 23.



FIG. 6 shows the dependence of the resistances to crushing [N] on the load applied [kN] for Examples 20 and 27 to 30.



FIG. 7 shows the dependence of the disintegration time [min] on the resistance to crushing [N] for Examples 20 and 27 to 30; the upper limit for an acceptable disintegration time is indicated. The time should be far below the upper limit of 15 minutes required by the European Pharmacopoeia in order to guarantee that all the tablets always comply with the required limits. For this reason, a disintegration time of less than 10 minutes is judged to be acceptable.



FIG. 8 shows the kinetics of release from tablets of Examples 28 and 30 after storage under moist conditions for 8 weeks. The percentage of active ingredient released is plotted against the time.



FIG. 9 shows the dependence of the resistances to crushing [N] on the load applied [kN] for tablets with the composition of Example 28 produced in various ways.



FIG. 10 shows the dependence of the resistances to crushing [N] on the load applied [kN] for tablets with the composition of Example 30 produced in various ways.





EXAMPLES
I. Enrofloxacin Tablets



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TABLE 1







Formulations investigated:














Example 1
Example 2
Example 3
Example 4




5%
10%
15%
10% Artificial


Ingredient
Standard
Bayopal
Bayopal
Bayopal
Beef Flavor















Enrofloxacin
50.0
50.0
50.0
50.0
50.0


Lactose
31.0
31.0
31.0
31.0
31.0


Maize starch
27.0
27.0
27.0
27.0
27.0


PVP 25
3.0
3.0
3.0
3.0
3.0


Microcrystalline cellulose
8.0
8.0
8.0
8.0
8.0


Bayopal

6.0
12.0
18.0


Artificial Beef Flavor




12.0


Colloidal silicon dioxide
0.2
0.2
0.2
0.2
0.2


Magnesium stearate
0.8
0.8
0.8
0.8
0.8





Tablet compositions [mg/tablet]






Addition of the flavouring produces the tablet hardness as the content of the flavouring increases, as shown in FIG. 1.


The tablet hardness can be improved by adding large amounts of colloidal silicon dioxide (e.g. Aerosil 200®) and by adding further excipients (FIG. 2).













TABLE 2







Example 2
Example 5
Example 6




10%
10% Bayopal +
Additional


Ingredient
Standard
Bayopal
10% Aerosil
MCC



















Enrofloxacin
50.0
50.0
50.0
50.0


Lactose
31.0
31.0
31.0
31.0


Maize starch
27.0
27.0
27.0
27.0


PVP 25
3.0
3.0
3.0
3.0


Microcrystalline
8.0
8.0
8.0
28.0


cellulose


Bayopal ®

12.0
12.0
17.5


Colloidal silicon
0.2
0.2
12.2
10.0


dioxide


Croscarmellose



7.0


sodium


Magnesium stearate
0.8
0.8
0.8
0.8





Stated amounts of ingredients in mg/tablet






II. Pradofloxacin Tablets



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Various formulations were chosen for pradofloxacin (structural formula), and the influence of an added flavouring on the tablet properties was tested.









TABLE 3







Mannitol-based formulations:













Example
Example
Example
Example
Example



7
8
9
10
11
















Pradofloxacin
100
100
100
100
100


Microcrystalline cellulose
20
20
20
20
20


Mannitol
157.5
157.5
157.5
157.5
157.5


PVP 25
15
15
15
15
15


Anificial Beef Flavor




15


Bayopal ®

15
15
15


Croscarmellose sodium
6
6
6
6
6


Colloidal silicon dioxide


15
3.75
15


Magnesium stearate
1.5
1.5
1.5
1.5
1.5


Flexural strength/load ratio
2.13 × 10−3
2.00 × 10−3
3.03 × 10−3
2.36 × 10−3
2.30 × 10−3





Stated amounts of ingredients in mg/tablet


Tablet format: oblong 14 × 6 r 5 [mm]






Addition of Bayopal reduces the tablet hardness (indicated as hardness yield=flexural strength/load ratio). Compared with the flavouring-free formulation, the flexural strength of the oblong tablets decreases. The tablet hardness can be increased markedly by adding colloidal silicon dioxide, which has advantages both in manufacture (transport, packaging) and in administration of the tablets.


Additional advantages emerge for the formulations with colloidal silicon dioxide on storage under moist conditions. After storage for one week at a humidity of >80%, the flexural strength of all the tablets with flavourings is reduced. This decrease can be reduced, as shown by FIG. 3 hereinafter, to an extent acceptable for practice on use of large amounts of colloidal silicon dioxide.









TABLE 4







Formulations based on microcrystalline cellulose:













Example
Example
Example
Example
Example



12
13
14
15
16
















Pradofloxacin
100
100
100
100
100


Microcrystalline cellulose
152.8
152.8
152.8
152.8
152.8


PVP 25
30
30
30
30
30


Artificial Beef Flavor




15


Bayopal

15
15
15


Croscarmellose sodium
15
15
15
15
15


Colloidal silicon dioxide
0.9
0.9
15.9
4.65
15.9


Magnesium stearate
1.35
1.35
1.35
1.35
1.35


Flexural strength/load ratio
6.53 × 10−3
4.25 × 10−3
5.29 × 10−3
4.68 × 10−3
6.46 × 10−3





Stated amounts of ingredients in mg/tablet


Tablet format: oblong 14 × 6 r 5 [mm]






The principle, which has already been described several times, of improving the tablet hardness also applies to pradofloxacin formulations based on microcrystalline cellulose. As the above table shows, addition of flavourings has particularly disadvantageous effects on the tablet hardness of these tablets, but this can be avoided by adding colloidal silicon dioxide.


Pradofloxacin tablets with lactose and microcrystalline cellulose:


The following mixture can be compressed to tablets of various sizes:













TABLE 5









Pradofloxacin
15.0%




Microcrystalline cellulose
35.0%



Lactose
24.0%



PVP 25
5.0%



Artificial Beef Flavor
10.0%



Croscarmellose sodium
7.5%



Colloidal silicon dioxide
2.5%



Magnesium stearate
1.0%










Tablets with the following sizes and dosages are possible, for example:
















Dosage Pradofloxacin
Tablet format





















Example 17:
15 mg
8 × 4 r 4.5
[mm]



Example 18:
60 mg
14 × 7 r 6
[mm]



Example 19:
120 mg 
18 × 8 r 6
[mm]










Small tablets are particularly sensitive to moisture. On storage of the tablets from Example 17 in the open without protective packaging they retain a hardness which is sufficient for their size, as shown below and confirmed and supplemented by the findings from the preceding pradofloxacin tablet examples.









TABLE 6







Tablet hardness after storage in the open


at 85% rel. humidity for 15 days:










Load [kN]
Tablet hardness after storage in the open [N]














9
32



12
34



13.5
36










III. Tanomastat Tablets



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Tanomastat (structural formula) was investigated in the form of various taste-optimized tablets.









TABLE 7







Formulations with Artificial Beef Flavor












Example
Example
Example
Example



20
21
22
23















Tanomastat
200.0
200.0
200.0
200.0


Lactose
121.20
121.20
121.20
121.20


Microcrystalline
60.8
60.80
60.80
60.80


cellulose


Na lauryl sulphate
2.0
2.0
2.0
2.0


Artificial Beef Flavor

40.0
40.0
20.0


Croscarmellose sodium
12.0
12.0
12.0
12.0


Colloidal silicon dioxide


10.0
20.0


Magnesium stearate
4.0
4.0
4.0
4.0





Stated amounts of ingredients in mg/tablet






Example 20 is a formulation without flavouring for comparison. On storage of the flavouring-containing formulations under moist conditions, they take up water, as shown in FIG. 4 hereinafter for the exemplary formulations. This can be reduced by adding colloidal silicon dioxide in large amounts.


During storage, the tablets additionally lose hardness to a marked extent, which may lead to problems in the market (customer complaints). This problem can also be reduced by the inventive measure (see FIG. 5).


The formulation corresponding to Example 23 can be compressed to tablets of a wide variety of sizes, as shown below by way of example:














TABLE 8







Example
Example
Example
Example



23
24
25
26




















Tanomastat
200.0
50.0
300.0
400.0


Lactose
121.20
30.3
181.8
242.4


Microcrystalline
60.80
15.2
91.2
121.6


cellulose


Na lauryl sulphate
2.0
0.5
3.0
4.0


Artificial Beef Flavor
20.0
5.0
30.0
40.0


Croscarmellose sodium
12.0
3.0
18.0
24.0


Colloidal silicon dioxide
20.0
5.0
30.0
40.0


Magnesium stearate
4.0
1.0
6.0
8.0


Tablet format
16*6 r 5
9*4 r 4.5
17*7 r 6
18*8 r 6





Stated amounts of ingredients in mg/tablet; tablet format in mm






All these formulations display the advantages described above on storage under moist conditions.









TABLE 9







Bayopal-containing formulations













Example
Example
Example
Example
Example



20
27
28
29
30
















Tanomastat
200.0
200.0
200.0
200.0
200.0


Lactose
121.20
121.20
121.20
121.20
121.20


Microcrystalline cellulose
60.80
60.80
60.80
60.80
60.80


Na lauryl sulphate
2.0
2.0
2.0
2.0
2.0


Bayopal

40.0
40.0
40.0
40.0


Croscarmellose sodium
12.0
12.0
12.0
12.0
12.0


Colloidal silicon dioxide


40.0
20.0
10.0


Magnesium stearate
4.0
4.0
4.0
4.0
4.0





Stated amounts of ingredients in mg/tablet






The formulations lose hardness through the addition of Bayopal. This can, as already described also for other active ingredients and flavourings, be avoided by adding colloidal silicon dioxide (see FIG. 6).


Besides the adverse effect on the tablet hardness, the flavouring also causes a deterioration in the disintegration and -release properties. These adverse effects can also be reduced by the described inventive measure.


Disintegration of the tablets with colloidal silicon dioxide is, despite the improved tablet hardness, faster than for tablets with flavouring without colloidal silicon dioxide (FIG. 7).


After storage under moist conditions for 8 weeks, tablets produced as tablet with 50 mg of active ingredient in analogy to the composition of Examples 28 and 30 show improved release if a large amount of colloidal silicon dioxide has been incorporated (FIG. 8).


IV. Acceptance Tests on Dogs

The formulations corresponding to Examples 23 and 24 were tested on 40 dogs. In contrast to the taste masking described in EP 00345787 or U.S. Pat. No. 4,910,023, the tested formulations were voluntarily consumed by 92.5% of the investigated dogs, proving that the added flavouring has surprisingly not lost its functionality.


V. Influence of the Production Process

Various production processes can be chosen for all the formulations described:

    • addition of the flavouring and the colloidal silicon dioxide to the admixture
    • aqueous granulation of the flavouring with the colloidal silicon dioxide, addition of these granules to the admixture or to the further granulation
    • alcoholic (e.g. ethanolic) granulation of the flavouring with the colloidal silicon dioxide, addition of these granules to the admixture or to the further granulation
    • granulation of the flavouring with the colloidal silicon dioxide using a further binder, addition of these granules to the admixture or to the further granulation
    • addition of the flavouring with the colloidal silicon dioxide to the granulation of the active ingredient, possibly with addition of further excipients such as, for example, fillers, disintegrants or binders.


These production processes result in tablets having identical properties. This is shown in FIG. 9 for the hardness of tablets corresponding to the composition from Example 28, which were produced by different granulation processes.


Choosing different production processes for tablets according to Example 30 likewise results in tablets having virtually identical load/hardness profiles (FIG. 10).


These data prove that the principle of incorporating large amounts of colloidal silicon dioxide in flavouring-containing formulations results in an improvement in the pharmaceutical properties of tablets, irrespective of the chosen granulation or tableting process.

Claims
  • 1. Solid pharmaceutical formulation comprising an active pharmaceutical ingredient, a flavouring and at least 1.5% by weight of colloidal silicon dioxide based on the total weight of the finished formulation.
  • 2. Solid pharmaceutical formulation according to claim 1, comprising as active pharmaceutical ingredients enrofloxacin, an enrofloxacin salt or a hydrate of enrofloxacin or of its salt.
  • 3. Solid pharmaceutical formulation according to claim 1, comprising as active pharmaceutical ingredient pradofloxacin, a pradofloxacin salt or a hydrate of pradofloxacin or of its salt.
  • 4. Process for producing the solid pharmaceutical formulation according to claim 1, in which the flavouring is granulated with the colloidal silicon dioxide and with one or more active ingredients and pharmaceutically customary additives and/or excipients.
Priority Claims (1)
Number Date Country Kind
103 51 448.1 Nov 2003 DE national
Continuations (1)
Number Date Country
Parent 10576408 Jan 2007 US
Child 12949833 US