Patent Application
20240390276
The present invention relates to the field of drug formulations, in particular to a composition of ruxolitinib or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and a preparation method for the composition.
Ruxolitinib, with the chemical name of (R)-3-cyclopentyl-3-[4-(7H-pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidin-4-yl)-1H-pyrazol-1-yl]propionitrile, is an inhibitor for tyrosine kinases JAK1 and JAK2, for used in adult patients with middle- or high-risk primary myelofibrosis (PMF) (also known as chronic idiopathic myelofibrosis), myelofibrosis secondary to polycythemia vera (PPV-MF), or myelofibrosis secondary to primary thrombocytosis (PET-MF) for treating splenomegaly or other symptoms associated with the above diseases.
The Chinese invention patent application with publication No. CN103002875B discloses a cream formed by an oil-in-water emulsion for topical skin application. The cream has (R)-3-cyclopentyl-3-[4-(7H-pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidin-4-yl)-1H-pyrazol-1-yl] propionitrile (i.e. ruxolitinib) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof as the therapeutic agent, an oil phase selected from one or more of vaseline, fatty alcohols, mineral oils, triglycerides, and dimethyl siloxane, an emulsifier component including one or more independently selected from glycerol fatty esters and sorbitan fatty acid esters, a solvent component including one or more independently selected from alkylene glycols and polyalkylene glycols, and a stabilizer component including one or more independently selected from polysaccharides. Topical formulations generally require a pH value between 4.5 and 7, while the sample of the formulation in that patent has a pH value of about 3.1-3.6, so that the formulation has certain skin irritation to the patients when applied, and is not suitable for skin sites with certain damage.
The US invention patent with publication No. US20200405627A1 discloses a method for treating vitiligo by using 1.5% w/w oil-in-water emulsion of ruxolitinib, which has an oil component selected from vaseline, fatty alcohols, mineral oils, triglycerides, and polydimethylsiloxane, an emulsifier component selected from glycerol fatty acid esters and sorbitan fatty acid esters, a solvent component selected from alkylene glycols and polyalkylene glycols, and a stabilizer component selected from polysaccharides such as xanthan gum.
In vitro release test is a currently recognized effective method for evaluating semi-solid formulations (such as a cream, an ointment, and a gel), and is an in vitro manifestation of the efficacy of the formulations in vivo. In vitro release is characterized by strong operability, good reproducibility and high sensitivity. Therefore, a suitable in vitro release test method will facilitate the development of transdermal absorption formulations. The Chinese invention patent with publication No. CN111337640A discloses a method for rapidly evaluating in vitro release of a topical formulation. At present, in vitro release and penetration of topical formulations is mainly evaluated in a Franz diffusion cell. In vitro release is conducted using an artificial membrane, while penetration is conducted using isolated rat abdominal skin or Bama miniature pig skin, or an artificial bionic membrane (Strat-M® Membrane) to investigate skin penetration rate of drugs.
In one aspect, the present invention provides a ruxolitinib composition containing a therapeutic agent and an emulsifier.
In some embodiments according to the invention, the therapeutic agent is ruxolitinib and/or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, with a free base-based content of 0.5%-2.0% of the weight of the composition.
In some embodiments according to the invention, the emulsifier is one or more of polyoxyethylene alkyl aryl ether, polyoxyethylene monolaurate, polyoxyethylene monolaurate, polyoxyethylene lauryl ether, polyoxyethylene hydrogenated castor oil, polyoxyethylene castor oil, polyoxyethylene plant oil, polyoxyethylene monooleate, polyoxyethylene monolaurate, and vitamin E succinate, preferably one or more of polyoxyethylene hydrogenated castor oil, polyoxyethylene castor oil, polyoxyethylene monooleate, polyoxyethylene monolaurate, and vitamin E succinate, and further preferably one or more of polyoxyethylene hydrogenated castor oil, polyoxyethylene castor oil, and vitamin E succinate.
In some embodiments according to the invention, the emulsifier is one or more of polyoxyethylene hydrogenated castor oil, polyoxyethylene castor oil, and vitamin E succinate, wherein the polyoxyethylene hydrogenated castor oil is one or more selected from RH20, RH30, RH40, RH50, and RH60, preferably one of RH40 and RH60, and more preferably RH40; the polyoxyethylene castor oil is one or more selected from EL20, EL25, EL30, EL35, EL40, and EL60, preferably one or more of EL30, EL35, and EL40, and more preferably EL35; and the vitamin E succinate is one or more selected from VE-TPGS 400, VE-TPGS 1000, and VE-TPGS1500, preferably VE-TPGS 1000. The content of the emulsifier is 2%-30%, further preferably 3%-12% of the weight of the composition.
In some embodiments according to the invention, the ruxolitinib composition contains a therapeutic agent, an emulsifier, and a co-emulsifier.
In some embodiments according to the invention, the co-emulsifier contains propylene glycol monocaprylate (Capryol-90), with a content of 0-10%, preferably 0-7% of the weight of the composition.
In some embodiments according to the invention, the ruxolitinib composition contains a therapeutic agent, an emulsifier, a co-emulsifier, and a solvent.
In some embodiments according to the invention, the solvent is one or more of propylene glycol, diethylene glycol monoethyl ether (HP), and ethanol, with a content of 0-60%, preferably 0-50% of the weight of the composition.
In some embodiments according to the invention, the ruxolitinib composition contains a therapeutic agent, an emulsifier, a co-emulsifier, a solvent, and an aqueous phase.
In some embodiments according to the invention, the aqueous phase contains water and optionally an excipient. A pH regulator, an osmotic pressure regulator, a preservative, an antioxidant, an opacifying agent or the like can be added to water to further improve a formulation of the ruxolitinib composition in order to meet the clinical demands of different administration routes, and the content of the aqueous phase is such that it, together with the contents of the therapeutic agent, the emulsifier, the co-emulsifier and the solvent, reaches a sum of 100% of the weight of the composition.
In some embodiments of the present invention, the ruxolitinib composition contains: a therapeutic agent: ruxolitinib, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof;
In some embodiments of the present invention, the ruxolitinib composition contains:
In an embodiment according to the invention, a method for preparing the ruxolitinib composition is as follows:
In an embodiment according to the invention, the method for preparing the ruxolitinib composition is as follows:
In another aspect of the present invention, the present invention provides a use of the ruxolitinib composition as described above. The composition can be used for preparing a pharmaceutical formulation, including but not limited to a tablet, granules, micro pills, an ointment, a cream, and a gel.
In yet another aspect of the present invention, the present invention provides a use of the ruxolitinib composition as described above, particularly a ruxolitinib gel. In addition to the ruxolitinib composition as described above, the gel contains a gel material. The gel material is one or more selected from carbomer, methylcellulose, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, chitosan, gellan gum, guar gum, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, and hydroxypropyl cellulose, preferably carbomer, with a content of 0.10%-2.0% in percentage by weight, further preferably 0.25%-1.0%.
In some embodiments, the ruxolitinib gel contains:
In some embodiments, the ruxolitinib gel contains:
In some embodiments, the ruxolitinib gel contains:
In some embodiments, the ruxolitinib gel contains:
In some embodiments, the ruxolitinib gel contains:
According to an embodiment of the invention, the method for preparing the gel of the ruxolitinib composition includes the following steps: mixing the ruxolitinib composition except the aqueous phase and heating to 30-70° C., preferably 35-60° C., stirring to make the excipient completely melted and the therapeutic agent dissolved, then uniformly stirring with swollen carbomer, followed by adding the aqueous phase to obtain the ruxolitinib gel.
In yet another aspect, the present invention provides a use of the ruxolitinib composition and the ruxolitinib gel as described above for treating diseases which is one or more of dermatitis, psoriasis, vitiligo, hydradenitis, urticaria, and alopecia areata.
The present invention has the following beneficial effects: the ruxolitinib composition provided in the present invention has an average particle size ranging from 10 to 200 nm and a PDI value of 0.05-0.40, and further can reach an average particle size ranging from 10 to 100 nm and a PDI value of 0.05-0.20; and is characterized by good stability and being less prone to aggregation and flocculation, etc. Further, the gel prepared from a composition of the present invention has improved membrane penetration efficiency, and satisfactory stability when topically administered to the skin at a pH value of 5-7, compared to a ruxolitinib cream. Even further, the gel prepared from a composition of the present invention has better efficacy in the treatment of psoriasis, compared to a ruxolitinib cream and commercially available calcipotriol and Benvitimod.
The solutions of the present invention will be explained below in combination with Examples. Those skilled in the art will understand that the following examples are only for illustrating the present invention, and should not be taken as limiting the scope of the present invention. Where specific technologies or conditions are not noted in the Examples, the technologies or conditions described in the literatures in the art or the instructions of products are followed. All agents or instruments that are not noted with manufacturers are conventional products that are commercially available.
All the reagents and raw materials used in the following Examples are commercially available.
“Diethylene glycol monoalkyl ether” should be understood as one or more diethylene glycols substituted by C1 to C6 alkyl ethers. Diethylene glycol monoalkyl ethers is one or two of diethylene glycol monoethyl ether (DGME) and diethylene glycol monomethyl ether (DGMM).
HP in the Examples of the present invention refers to diethylene glycol monoalkyl ethers, further to diethylene glycol monoethyl ether.
In the present invention, “PDI” is the abbreviation of polydispersity index, and its physical meaning is the uniformity of particle size distribution. The smaller a value (distribution range) is, the more uniform the particle size dispersion is.
The average particle size and the PDI value of the ruxolitinib composition were detected by Malvern Nano S90.
The ruxolitinib composition of the present invention contains the following components:
Prescriptions 1-7 were prepared with Method 1: mixing the therapeutic agent, the emulsifier, the co-emulsifier and the solvent, heating them to 50° C. and stirring to make the excipients completely melted and the therapeutic agent dissolved, followed by adding the aqueous phase to obtain the ruxolitinib composition.
Prescriptions 8-14 were prepared with Method 2: mixing the therapeutic agent, the co-emulsifier and the solvent, heating them to 50° C. and stirring to make the excipients completely melted and the therapeutic agent dissolved, then adding the emulsifier, stirring, followed by adding the aqueous phase to obtain the ruxolitinib composition.
As shown in Table 1 and Table 2, when the content of the therapeutic agent was 0.5-2.0%, the emulsifier could be one or more of polyoxyethylene hydrogenated castor oil, polyoxyethylene castor oil, and vitamin E succinate, with a content of 3%-12% w/w, the content of the co-emulsifier was 0-7% w/w; the content of the solvent was 2%-50% w/w; and the sum of the contents of the aqueous phase, the therapeutic agent, the emulsifier, the co-emulsifier and the solvent was 100%. The resultant ruxolitinib composition had an average particle size of not more than 100 nm and a PDI value of not more than 0.2.
The preparation method of Example 2 was the same as that of Example 1, except the type and amount of the emulsifier used, particularly as shown in the following table:
As shown in Table 3, when the emulsifier was selected from Kolliphor hs15, glycerol fatty acid ester, poloxamer 407, Tween 80, polyoxyethlene cetyl ether, and polyoxyethylene sorbitan monolaurate, the ruxolitinib composition with a desirable particle size or PDI value could not be formed.
Prescription 2, Prescription 8, Prescription 9, and Prescription 12 of the ruxolitinib composition in Example 1 were selected. The stability of the ruxolitinib composition prescriptions of the present invention was investigated based on the change in average particle size and PDI value of the ruxolitinib composition prescriptions of the present invention after one month and two months at 25° C. and 40° C. Detailed results are shown in Table 4.
The above results show the ruxolitinib compositions provided in the present invention underwent no significant change in the average particle size or the PDI at room temperature or 40° C., and had good stability.
In addition, Prescription 12 of the ruxolitinib composition in Example 1 was selected for investigating pH stability of the ruxolitinib composition prescription of the present invention. Prescription 12 was adjusted to different pH values using triethanolamine, and subjected to experiments at room-temperature or under accelerated conditions to investigate the content of the ruxolitinib in the prescription. Detailed results are shown in Table 5.
The results show that the ruxolitinib composition prescription of the present invention did not experience an obvious change in the content of the ruxolitinib at different pH values ranging from 3 to 7, and had good stability.
Prescription 9, Prescription 10, and Prescription 12 in Example 2 were selected to prepare Gel prescription 1, Gel prescription 2, and Gel prescription 3, respectively. The total weight of the gels was 100 g.
The preparation method is as follows: mixing the ruxolitinib composition except the aqueous phase and heating to 45° C., stirring to make the excipients completely melted and the therapeutic agent dissolved, then uniformly stirring with swollen carbomer, followed by adding the aqueous phase to obtain the gel of the ruxolitinib composition.
The stability of the gel prescriptions provided in the present invention was investigated based on the content of ruxolitinib in Gel prescriptions 1, 2, and 3. Detailed results are shown in Table 6.
The results show that the pH values of Gel prescriptions 1, 2, and 3 were between 5 and 7, and the contents did not change significantly at both 25° C. and 40° C., showing good temperature stability.
Test method: A Franz diffusion cell (Tianjin Boyuweiye Technology Co., Ltd., Model TP-6) was used. An artificial membrane (Strat-M® Membrane) was fixed between the diffusion cell and a receiving cell, where the diffusion cell had a diameter of 1.5 cm, and the receiving cell had a volume of 15 mL. The diffusion cell was filled with about 300 mg of a ruxolitinib gel sample, and a receiving liquid (0.05 M phosphate buffer with a pH value of 7.2-7.4) was injected into the receiving cell. The water bath was at a temperature of 32±1° C., and the magnetic stirring speed at constant temperature was 300 rpm/min. At 1 h, 2 h, 4 h, 6 h and 8 h, 1.5 mL of the receiving liquid was taken out from the receiving cell, and the same amount of the receiving liquid at the same temperature was supplemented into the receiving cell in time. The taken receiving liquid samples were centrifuged at a high speed (18000 rpm/min for 10 min), and the supernatant was taken out for determining the concentration (Cn) of the solution at different time points by HPLC.
The cumulative amount of the penetrated drug per unit area is calculated using the equation as follows:
A comparative example was prepared with reference to the prescription (wherein the concentration of the free base of ruxolitinib was 1.0%) shown in Table 4 of Example 3 of the specification of Chinese invention patent CN103002875 B granted to Incyte Holding Corporation.
From Table 8, it can be seen that compared to the comparative cream, Gel prescriptions 1, 2 and 3 exhibited faster release and significantly higher in vitro released amounts than the comparative cream.
The drug of the present invention can effectively improve symptoms of psoriasis. The therapeutic effect of the drug of the present invention on psoriasis can be further confirmed by the following study.
Test materials: 48 healthy SPF level C57BL/6J mice (half male and half female, aged 8-9 weeks, and weighted 20-25 g); drug for modeling (5% imiquimod cream, Sichuan Mingxin Pharmaceuticals); positive control drugs (a commercially available calcipotriol ointment, and a commercially available Benvitimod cream); a blank gel preparation; a commercially available ruxolitinib phosphate cream (referred to as an original patented cream, ruxolitinib free base 1.5%); Gel 1; and Gel 2, where the prescriptions of Gel 1 and Gel 2 are shown in Table 8.
Grouping: 8 test groups, 6 mice in each group and 48 mice in total.
1) Blank control group (no treatment except shaving) (N=6).
2) PSO model group (no treatment except smearing imiquimod for modeling) (N=6).
3) PSO model+blank gel preparation group (externally smeared twice a day, 15 mg/cm2, treated for 7 consecutive days) (N=6).
4) PSO model+positive drug A group (treated with 0.005% calcipotriol ointment by externally smearing twice a day, 15 mg/cm2, for 7 consecutive days) (N=6).
5) PSO model+positive drug B group (treated with 1% Benvitimod cream by externally smearing twice a day, 15 mg/cm2, tentatively for 7 consecutive days) (N=6).
6) PSO model+Gel 1 sample (externally smeared twice a day, 15 mg/cm2, treated for 7 consecutive days) (N=6).
7) PSO model+commercially available ruxolitinib cream (externally smeared twice a day, 15 mg/cm2, treated for 7 consecutive days) (N=6).
8) PSO model+Gel 2 sample (externally smeared twice a day, 15 mg/cm2, treated for 7 consecutive days) (N=6).
Modeling: The mice were adaptively fed for 7 days to prepare a psoriasis vulgaris (PSO) mouse model.
The modeling method is as follows: A skin area (about 2 cm*3 cm) on the back of the mice is prepared, 50 mg of 5% imiquimod cream was topically applied to the exposed skin every morning for 3 consecutive days for model preparation, and the application of the drug for modeling continued later.
Model validation: This model has mature SOP standard, and no more mice are set up for model validation.
Treatment: (3 days after modeling), treatment with a corresponding drug was performed on Day 4. During drug treatment, the administration of 5% IMQ continued to maintain modeling, and the administration of the drug for modeling continued according to the days of administration of the corresponding drug.
Group 1): The blank control group (no treatment) was not subjected to any treatment.
Group 2): The model group was smeared with 5% imiquimod cream at an amount of 62.5 mg per mouse for maintaining modeling, and not subjected to any therapeutic treatment.
Group 3): The model group was smeared with 5% imiquimod cream at an amount of 62.5 mg per mouse for maintaining modeling, additionally smeared with the blank gel 2 times every day, and subjected to the treatment for 7 consecutive days.
Group 4): The model group was smeared with 5% imiquimod cream at an amount of 62.5 mg per mouse for maintaining modeling, additionally smeared with the positive drug A (the calcipotriol ointment) 2 times every day, and subjected to the treatment for 7 consecutive days.
Group 5): The model group was smeared with 5% imiquimod cream at an amount of 62.5 mg per mouse for maintaining modeling, additionally smeared with the positive drug B (the Benvitimod cream) 2 times every day, and subjected to the treatment for 7 consecutive days.
Group 6): The model group was smeared with 5% imiquimod cream at an amount of 62.5 mg per mouse for maintaining modeling, additionally smeared with the tested drug (Gel 1 of this Example) 2 times every day, and subjected to the treatment for 7 consecutive days.
Group 7): The model group was smeared with 5% imiquimod cream at an amount of 62.5 mg per mouse for maintaining modeling, additionally smeared with the tested drug (the commercially available ruxolitinib phosphate cream) 2 times every day, and subjected to the treatment for 7 consecutive days. The sequence of administration was as follows: the therapeutic drug was administrated once in the morning, the drug for modeling was administrated once at noon, and the therapeutic drug was administrated once at night.
Group 8): The model group was smeared with 5% imiquimod cream at an amount of 62.5 mg per mouse for maintaining modeling, additionally smeared with the tested drug (Gel 2 of this Example) 2 times every day, and subjected to the treatment for 7 consecutive days.
In order to prevent drug licking between animals, the animals were separately placed in independent cages without padding for a period of time after the gel was smeared on the back to allow the gel to dry naturally (expected within 1 hour), and then put into the feeding cage for normal feeding. Individually feeding was prohibited since the animals were prone to depression; wrapping the applied area with gauze was prohibited since the drug could be absorbed.
2.2 Test Results: Pathological Examination on PSO Model Animals Treated with Drugs
Psoriasis-like lesion area and severity index (PASI) scores of the mice in various groups were evaluated: changes in body weights and skin lesions of the mice in various groups were observed daily (weight determination: from adaptive feeding to the end of the administration, the weight were determined once a day per mouse with a total of 17 times; skin lesion scores: from the modeling period to the administration period, scores were evaluated daily once a day per mouse with a total of 10 times), and recorded daily by means of digital photography. According to the PASI scoring standard, the erythema, scales, and the degree of infiltration and thickening at skin lesions in the mice were scored 0-4 points; and the scores of the three were added to obtain a severity score of total skin lesions. After the scores of various groups of the mice were averaged, a trend line of the skin lesion scores was drawn to observe the changes in skin lesions in the mice in various groups.
Results were expressed as mean±standard errors (Mean±S.E.M.) and analyzed by statistical software SPSS 17.0. Differences between groups were compared using one-way ANOVA (homogeneity of variance not assumed, Dunnett's T3). P<0.05 indicates that the difference is statistically significant.
Effects of the gels, the positive drugs and the commercially available ruxolitinib phosphate cream on skin lesion appearances (PASI) of imiquimod-induced psoriasis model mice.
PASI scores were evaluated according to the erythema, the scales and the degree of infiltration and thickening at skin lesions of the mice. From the 7-day score trend chart, it is found that after 4 days of administration, the PASI scores of the drug groups were decreased significantly, compared to the model group. On Day 4, the PASI scores of the Benvitimod group and the gel groups of the present invention were all decreased significantly as compared to the model group and also decreased significantly as compared to the blank gel group (p<0.05, or p<0.01). On Day 5 of the administration, the PASI scores of the gel groups of the present invention were decreased significantly as compared to the model group; and the PASI scores of the gel groups of the present invention were decreased significantly as compared to the blank gel. On Day 6 of the administration and Day 7 of the administration, the scores of the gel groups of the present invention were decreased significantly, compared to the model group and the blank gel group (p<0.01). Details are shown in
In this research, an imiquimod-induced psoriasis mouse model was used to evaluate the protective effects of the prescriptions of the present invention, the positive drugs and a commercially available comparative ruxolitinib cream. Results show that the gels of the present invention, the positive drugs and the commercially available ruxolitinib cream can all significantly reduce the PASI scores of the mice. Compared to the positive drugs and the commercially available ruxolitinib cream, the gels of the present invention has better effects, indicating that the gels of the present invention, the positive drugs and the commercially available ruxolitinib cream all have therapeutic effects for psoriasis, and that the effects of the gels of the present invention in topically treating psoriasis are better than the positive drugs and the commercially available ruxolitinib cream at the same concentration.
In the description of this specification, descriptions with reference to terms such as “one embodiment”, “some embodiments”, “example”, “specific example” or “some examples” mean that the specific features, structures, materials or characteristics described in combination with the embodiments or the examples are included in at least one embodiment or example of the present invention. In the specification of the present invention, the illustrative representation of the above terms does not necessarily mean the same embodiment or example. Moreover, the specific features, structures, materials or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples. In addition, features of various embodiments or examples described in the specification may be connected or combined by those skilled in the art without contradicting each other.
While the embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described above, it should be understood that the above embodiments are illustrative, but cannot be construed as limiting the present invention. Changes, modifications, substitutions and variations may be made to the above embodiments by those of ordinary skill in the art within the scope of the present invention.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 202111142379.6 | Sep 2021 | CN | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/CN2022/126399 | 10/20/2022 | WO |
