SK1662004A3 - Intraorally disintegrating valdecoxib compositions prepared by spray drying process - Google Patents

Abstract

Orally disintegrating valdecoxib fast-melt tablets and processes for preparing such dosage forms are provided. The compositions are useful in treatment or prophylaxis of cycloosygenase-2 mediated conditions and disorders.

Description

intraorally disintegrating formulations of valdecoxib prepared by spray drying

Technical field

The invention relates to intraorally disintegrating pharmaceutical formulations containing valdecoxib as an active ingredient, to methods of preparing such formulations, and to methods of treating cyclooxygenase-2 mediated disorders that involve oral administration of such formulations to a subject.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The compound 4- (5-methyl-3-phenyl-4-isoxazolyl) benzenesulfonamide, also referred to herein as valdecoxib, is described in U.S. Patent No. 5,633,272 (Talley et al.), The contents of which are incorporated herein by reference, together with by methods of preparing this and related compounds. Valdecoxib has the structure:

The compounds disclosed in the above-cited U.S. Patent No. 5,633 ', 272, including valdecoxib, are described herein as being useful against inflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic drugs having a high degree of selectivity for inhibiting cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) over cyclooxygenase-1 ( COX-1). The above-cited U.S. Patent No. 5,633,272 also includes general references to formulations intended for administration of such compounds, including orally deliverable dosage forms such as tablets and capsules.

Valdecoxib has an extremely low solubility in water. See, for example, Dionne (1999), "COX-2 inhibitors-IBC Conference, 12-13 April 1999, Coronado, CA, U.S.A., Drugs, 2 (7), 664-666.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,576,014, incorporated herein by reference, describes the intrabucal dissolution of a compressed molding prepared by a wet granulation process, wherein the low-formability sugar is granulated together with the high-formability sugar to form a granulate which is subsequently compressed to obtain a compact. The active ingredient may be incorporated into the resulting molding and is reported to exhibit rapid disintegration and dissolution in the mouth, while maintaining sufficient hardness not to break during production and distribution. The molded part of U.S. Pat. No. 5,576,014 is a type of dosage form known as a " fast-melt tablet " which exhibits rapid disintegration, generally associated with carrier materials, typically sugars, and associated rapid dissolution or dispersion of the active ingredient in the mouth the need for water other than that contained in saliva. The active ingredient formulated in such a tablet is readily swallowed.

Related International Patent Publication WO 01/41761 discloses orally deliverable formulations of valdecoxib having rapid onset ability. None of the compositions described herein is an intraorally disintegrating composition.

A known problem of many intraorally disintegrating agents, including those containing sugars and / or sweeteners and / or flavoring agents, is the unpleasant taste caused by the presence of the active ingredient. The lower the amount of active ingredient in the respective intraorally disintegrating dosage form, and / or the lower the solubility of the active ingredient in water, the less bitter and / or acidic the taste of the dosage form will be. See, for example, Lieberman et al. (1989), Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms: Tablets Vol. 381. Marcel Dekker, New York. Thus, it would be anticipated that valdecoxib, an active substance with very low water solubility and relatively low dosage requirements, would have acceptable or, at worst, only slightly unpleasant organoleptic properties when formulated as an intraorally disintegrating agent. However, it has surprisingly been found that valdecoxib has an extremely unpleasant taste. Thus, the task remains to impart acceptable organoleptic properties to the intraorally disintegrating formulations of valdecoxib.

Taste-masking technologies have been applied to pharmaceutical dosage forms to inhibit the oral dissolution of active ingredients that are moderately or highly water-soluble. See, for example, Lieberman et al. (1989), op. cit. In such cases, the improved taste is believed to result from a reduction in the amount of active ingredient that dissolves in the mouth before entering the gastrointestinal tract. However, due to the already extremely low solubility of valdecoxib in water, it is not expected that any further limitation of the oral dissolution of valdecoxib resulted in an improvement in organoleptic properties. Further, it was expected that further limiting the water solubility of valdecoxib would lead to an unacceptable delay in therapeutic onset. However, surprisingly, methods have now been discovered for the preparation of organoleptically acceptable intraorally disintegrating formulations of valdecoxib, which exhibit improved organoleptic properties while exhibiting a rapid onset of therapeutic effect.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Thus, the invention provides a process for preparing an intraorally disintegrating formulation of valdecoxib (e.g., a fast-melt tablet), the method comprising the step of providing valdecoxib in particulate form; a step of dissolving the at least one pharmaceutically acceptable excipient that exhibits rapid oral dissolution in water in the container; a step of dispersing valdecoxib in water, and optionally a water heating step. The dissolution, dispersion and optional heating are carried out in any order or simultaneously, resulting in a sprayable liquid. The method further comprises the step of spray-drying the sprayable liquid to form a tablet mixture and the step of compressing the tablet mixture into tablets. In practicing the method of the invention, the at least one pharmaceutically acceptable excipient that exhibits rapid oral dissolution is dissolved in water in a total amount such that upon completion of the method of the invention, the at least one excipient that exhibits rapid oral dissolution is about 50% up to about 99%, preferably about 50% to about 95%, and more preferably about 50% to about 90%, by weight of the tablet.

Optionally, the method further comprises the step of adding a soaking agent or an aqueous solution of the soaking agent to the container prior to spray drying.

Compositions prepared in such an embodiment according to the invention.

The invention also provides a therapeutic composition intraorally comprising (a) a particulate effective amount, and (b;

represent a disintegrating valdecoxib into at least one pharmaceutically acceptable excipient which exhibits rapid oral dissolution and which is in direct association with the valdecoxib particles. The formulation is organoleptically acceptable and at least one pharmaceutically acceptable excipient that exhibits rapid oral dissolution is present in a total amount of about 50% to about 99%, preferably about 50% to about 95%, and more preferably about 50% to about 90%, weight of the preparation.

The term "in close connection with the context of the invention" means, for example, valdecoxib mixed with an excipient that exhibits rapid oral dissolution, valdecoxib encapsulated or incorporated in an excipient that exhibits rapid oral dissolution, valdecoxib coating on excipient particles that exhibit rapid oral dissolution, or vice versa, and a substantially homogeneous dispersion of valdecoxib throughout the excipient which exhibits rapid oral dissolution. This immediate coupling is, for example, prepared by the methods described above; alternatively or additionally, other means for making such an immediate connection may be used in the preparation of the compositions of the invention.

Valdecoxib in direct association with an excipient that exhibits rapid oral dissolution is also referred to herein as a "valdecoxib composite." The term "substantially homogeneous" herein in connection with a composite or pharmaceutical composition comprising a plurality of ingredients means that the ingredients are sufficiently mixed so that the individual ingredients are not present as discrete layers and do not form concentration gradients in the composition. Without wishing to be bound by theory, it is believed that the relatively high ratio of an excipient that exhibits rapid oral dissolution to valdecoxib in the methods and compositions of the invention and / or the immediate association of valdecoxib with an excipient that exhibits rapid oral dissolution results in a valdecoxib composite having improved organoleptic properties.

A particularly useful intraoral disintegrant composition of the invention is a rapidly disintegrating oral dosage form that dissolves in the mouth without the need for swallowing with water or other liquid (e.g., fast melt). As used herein, the term " hot melt " refers to a formulation such as a tablet wherein the active ingredient is distributed or dispersed in a carrier matrix which, upon oral administration to the subject, disintegrates in the oral cavity to release the active ingredient, typically in particulate form, to enter the gastrointestinal tract by ingestion and subsequent absorption. The term " oral cavity includes the entire interior of the mouth, including not only the buccal cavity (i.e., the anterior portion of the oral cavity up to the teeth and the ducts), but also the sublingual and supralingeal spaces.

"Organoleptically acceptable dosage form or dosage form having" acceptable organoleptic properties herein refers to a dosage form which, upon intraoral interaction in an amount providing a single dose of therapeutic agent, does not have an unpleasant taste, smell or mouthfeel, for example a distinctly bitter taste perceived by most human subjects. , or determined by an appraisal of appetite appraisal procedure as described below.

It has been found that the methods and compositions of the invention overcome the unacceptable organoleptic properties of valdecoxib without unacceptable loss of rapid onset or therapeutic efficacy. Significant progress in

Thus, this area is the fact that valdecoxib is now presented in an organoleptically acceptable rapid formulation. Accordingly, an advantage of the compositions of the invention is that they have improved organoleptic properties, acceptable therapeutic onset characteristics, and can be effectively prepared by the methods described herein.

A particular embodiment of the invention is an oral quick-melt preparation comprising (a) particulate valdecoxib in a therapeutically effective amount and (b) at least one pharmaceutically acceptable excipient that exhibits rapid oral dissolution; wherein the composition is organoleptically acceptable. At least one pharmaceutically acceptable excipient that exhibits rapid oral dissolution is in direct association with the valdecoxib particles in the formulation, and is present in a total amount of about 50% by weight. % to about 99 wt.%, preferably about 50 wt. % to about 95 wt.%, and more preferably about. % to about 90 wt.

A related embodiment of the invention provides an intraorally disintegrating composition comprising (a) particulate valdecoxib in a therapeutically effective amount and (b) at least one pharmaceutically acceptable excipient that exhibits rapid oral dissolution and which is in direct association with said valdecoxib particles; wherein the composition is organoleptically acceptable; at least one pharmaceutically acceptable excipient that exhibits rapid oral dissolution is present in a total amount of about 50% by weight. up to about 99% by weight based on the total weight of the formulation; and the formulation disintegrates within about 60 seconds, more preferably within about 30 seconds, and more preferably within about 15 seconds after being placed into the oral cavity of a human subject.

Another related embodiment of the invention provides an intracrally disintegrating composition comprising (a) particulate valdecoxib in a therapeutically effective amount and (b) at least one pharmaceutically acceptable excipient that exhibits rapid oral dissolution and which is in direct association with said valdecoxib particles; wherein the composition is organoleptically acceptable; at least one pharmaceutically acceptable excipient that exhibits rapid oral dissolution is present in a total amount of about 50% by weight. up to about 99% by weight based on the total weight of the formulation; and the composition, when subjected to the in vitro disintegration test number 701 of United States Pharmacopoeia 24, exhibits a disintegration time of less than about 300 s, preferably less than about 200 s, and more preferably less than about 100 s.

Another embodiment of the invention provides an intraorally disintegrating composition comprising (a) particulate valdecoxib in a therapeutically effective amount and (b) at least one pharmaceutically acceptable excipient that exhibits rapid oral dissolution and which is in direct association with said valdecoxib particles; wherein the composition is organoleptically acceptable; at least one pharmaceutically acceptable excipient that exhibits rapid oral dissolution is present in a total amount of about 50% by weight. up to about 99% by weight based on the total weight of the formulation; and oral administration of the formulation to a human subject results in a limiting concentration of valdecoxib providing a therapeutic effect within about 0.5 h, preferably about 0.3 h after administration.

The term "limiting concentration providing a therapeutic effect" refers to the minimum serum concentration of valdecoxib that provides therapeutic benefit in the case of a particular indication that results in valdecoxib administration. Generally, the cut-off concentration is at least about 20 ng / ml, for example about 25 ng / ml to about 75 ng / ml.

It will be appreciated that the amount of valdecoxib that will be effective to provide a limiting concentration providing a therapeutic effect is dependent, inter alia, on the body weight of the subject being treated. For example, if the subject is a child or a small animal (e.g., a dog), then a relatively low amount of valdecoxib that is within the therapeutically effective range will provide a blood serum concentration of about 1 mg to about 100 mg, consistent with the cut-off concentration and C _m x criteria. If the subject is an adult or a large animal (e.g., a horse), then the indicated serum serum valdecoxib concentrations are likely to require a relatively higher dose amount of valdecoxib. In the case of an adult, a suitable amount of valdecoxib per dose in a composition of the invention that provides the indicated blood serum concentrations is typically about 5 mg to about 40 mg.

A related embodiment of the invention provides an intraorally disintegrating composition comprising (a) particulate valdecoxib in a therapeutically effective amount and (b) at least one pharmaceutically acceptable excipient which exhibits rapid oral dissolution and which is in direct association with the valdecoxib particles; wherein the composition is organoleptically acceptable; at least one pharmaceutically acceptable excipient that exhibits rapid oral dissolution is present in a total amount of about 50% to about 99%, by weight of the composition; and administration of the composition to a human subject results in a maximum blood serum concentration (C max) of not less than about 100 ng / ml.

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Another related embodiment of the invention provides an intraorally disinfecting composition comprising (a) particulate valdecoxib in a therapeutically effective amount and (b) at least one pharmaceutically acceptable excipient that exhibits rapid oral dissolution and which is in direct association with the valdecoxib particles; wherein the composition is organoleptically acceptable; at least one pharmaceutically acceptable excipient that exhibits rapid oral dissolution is present in a total amount of about 50% to about 99% by weight of the composition; and administration of the composition to a human subject results in a maximum serum concentration (Tmax) of no more than 5 hours, preferably no more than about 4 hours, and more preferably no more than about 3 hours.

Additives of the preparations according to the invention

The composition of the invention comprises valdecoxib as an active ingredient and at least one pharmaceutically acceptable excipient which exhibits rapid oral dissolution. Optionally, the composition of the invention may comprise one or more other pharmaceutically acceptable excipients including, but not limited to, water-soluble lubricants, water-insoluble lubricants, disintegrants, glidants, sweeteners, flavoring agents, coloring agents, and the like. These, if any, other ingredients should be physically and chemically compatible with the other ingredients of the preparation and should not adversely affect the recipient.

valdecoxib

The methods and compositions of the invention are particularly suitable for valdecoxib as active ingredient. Methods for preparing particulate valdecoxib are known per se, for example as described in the above-cited U.S. Patent No. 5,474,995, incorporated herein by reference. It is important that any solid form of valdecoxib can be used for the methods and compositions of the invention, for example, to illustrate the form described in International Patent Publication WO 98/06708, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

The unit dose of valdecoxib of the invention comprises valdecoxib in a therapeutically effective amount of about 1 mg to about 100 mg, preferably about 5 mg to about 50 mg. The formulations of the invention contain valdecoxib in particulate form. The primary particles of valdecoxib, made, for example, by milling or crushing or by precipitation from solution, can be agglomerated to form secondary particle aggregates.

As used herein, the term "particle size" refers to size, i. the longest dimension, primary particles, unless the context requires a different definition. Particle size is believed to be an important parameter affecting the clinical efficacy of valdecoxib. In one embodiment, the dosage form of valdecoxib has a particle size distribution of valdecoxib such that the particle size D 90 is less than about 75 µm. The term "particle size D 90" is defined herein as the particle size for which 90% by weight of the particles are smaller in its longest dimension than this particle size.

Additionally or alternatively, the valdecoxib particles in the dosage form of the invention preferably have a weight average particle size of about 1 µm to about 10 µm, most preferably about 5 µm to about 7 µm.

Excipients that exhibit rapid oral dissolution

Suitable excipients that exhibit rapid oral dissolution are those pharmaceutically acceptable excipients that are soluble, freely soluble, or highly soluble in water, for example those described in Ansel et al. (1995) Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms and Drug Delivery Systems 6th Ed. 228. Williams & Wilkins, Baltimore. Preferably, these excipients have a sweet taste. Presently, sugars are a preferred class of excipients that exhibit rapid oral dissolution for use in the compositions and methods of the invention. Particularly preferred excipients which exhibit rapid oral dissolution are carbohydrates including both lowformable and highformable saccharides.

Presently preferred lowforming carbohydrates include lactose and mannitol, especially mannitol in its indirectly compressed or powdered form, as described in Kibbe (2000) Handbook of Pharmaceutical Excipients, 3rd Ed. 324-328. Presently preferred high-formable carbohydrates include maltose, maltitol and sorbitol. Alternatively, certain oligosaccharides may be used. The oligosaccharide used is not particularly limited as long as it exhibits rapid dissolution in the oral cavity and consists of two or more monosaccharide residues. When an oligosaccharide is used, one containing 2 to 6 monosaccharide residues is preferred, the type and combination of monosaccharide oligosaccharide residues not being limited. Particularly preferred high-formable carbohydrates are maltose and maltitol, with maltose being more preferred.

When both a highformable carbohydrate and a lowformable carbohydrate are present in the formulation of the invention, the weight ratio of the highformable carbohydrate to the lowformable carbohydrate is important to maintain a suitable combination of acceptable tablet hardness and rapid intraoral disintegration. A suitable ratio is about 2 to about 20 parts by weight, preferably about 5 to about 10 parts by weight, and more preferably about 5 to about 7.5 parts by weight, of a high-formable carbohydrate per 100 parts by weight of a low-formable carbohydrate.

If the ratio of high-formable to low-formable carbohydrate is about 2: 100 by weight, the tablets generally do not achieve the desired hardness, and as a consequence, they become more brittle and friable during storage, transport or handling. Alternatively, if the ratio of high-formable to low-formable carbohydrate is greater than about 20: 100 by weight, the tablets become too hard to achieve the desired rapid disintegration in the oral cavity.

One or more excipients that exhibit rapid oral dissolution are generally present in the compositions of the invention in a total amount of about 45% to about 95%, preferably about 50% to about 87%, and more preferably about 55% to about 80%.

Soaking agents

The compositions of the invention optionally comprise one or more pharmaceutically acceptable wetting agents. Surfactants, hydrophilic polymers and certain clays may be used as wetting agents to aid in wetting the hydrophobic active ingredient, such as valdecoxib, during the spray granulation process.

Non-limiting examples of surfactants which may be used as wetting agents in the compositions of the invention include quaternary ammonium compounds, for example, benzalkonium chloride, benzethonium chloride and cetylpyridinium chloride, dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate, polyoxyethylene olefinol 9, polyoxyethylene olefinolol, polyoxyethylene olefinolol polyoxypropylene block copolymers), polyoxyethylene glycerides and fatty acid oils, for example, polyoxyethylene (8) monocaprylic / capric acid, oil and diglyceride

Labrasol '35) castor (e.g.

polyoxyethylene

Gattefossé), polyoxyethylene (40) hydrogenated castor oil; polyoxyethylene alkyl ethers such as polyoxyethylene (20) cetostearyl ether, polyoxyethylene fatty acid esters such as polyoxyethylene (40) stearate, polyoxyethylene sorbitan esters such as polysorbate 20 and polysorbate 80 (e.g. Tween 80 from ICI), propylene glycol esters of fatty acids, e.g. Lauroglycol from Gattefossé), sodium lauryl sulfate, fatty acids and salts thereof, e.g. oleic acid, sodium oleate and triethanolamine oleate, glyceryl esters of fatty acids e.g. glyceryl monostearate, sorbitan esters e.g. sorbitan monolaurate, sorbitan monooleate, sorbitan monopolymitate, sorbitan monopalmitate . Sodium lauryl sulfate is the preferred wetting agent in the compositions of the invention.

Typically, one or more wetting agents, if desired, are present in the compositions of the invention in a total amount of about 0.05% to about 5%, preferably about 0.075% to about 2.5%, and more preferably about 0.25% to about 5%. 1%, for example approximately

0.5% by weight of the formulation.

Water-insoluble lubricants

The compositions of the invention optionally comprise one or more pharmaceutically acceptable water-insoluble lubricants as a carrier material. Suitable water-insoluble lubricants include, alone or in combination, glycerylbehapat (e.g. Compritol 888), stearates (magnesium, calcium and sodium), stearic acid, hydrogenated vegetable oils (e.g. Sterotex), colloidal silica, talc, waxes, and waxes. mixtures thereof. Alternatively, it is possible in water. insoluble grease may be used in admixture with a wetting agent, such as in mixtures of calcium stearate and sodium lauryl sulfate (e.g. Sterowet). Magnesium stearate, stearic acid and mixtures thereof are preferred water-insoluble lubricants.

The one or more water-insoluble lubricants are optionally present in the compositions of the invention in a typical total amount of about 0.05% to about 5%, preferably about 0.75% to about 2.5%, and more preferably about 1% to about 2% %, for example, about 1.5% by weight of the composition.

Water-soluble lubricants

The compositions of the invention optionally comprise one or more pharmaceutically acceptable water-soluble lubricants. Water-soluble lubricants can help to improve the dissolution characteristics of tablets. Water-soluble lubricants that can be used in the compositions of the invention, or alone or in combination, include, for example, boric acid, sodium benzoate, sodium acetate, sodium fumarate, sodium chloride, DL-leucine, polyethylene glycols (e.g., Carbowax 4000 and Carbowax 6000). ) and sodium oleate.

Disintegrants

The compositions of the invention optionally comprise one or more pharmaceutically acceptable disintegrants. However, the oral fast melt tablets provided herein generally disintegrate rapidly in the oral cavity and thus do not require the addition of an additional disintegrant. Suitable disintegrants, if desired, include, either alone or in combination, starches, sodium starch glycolate, clays (e.g., Veegum HV), cellulose (such as purified cellulose, methylcellulose, sodium carboxymethylcellulose and carboxymethylcellulose), sodium croscarmellose, alginate carmellose, alginate carmellose, alginate such as National 1551 and National 1550), crospovidone, and gums (such as agar gum, guar gum, locust bean gum, Sterculia gum, pectin and tragacanth). The disintegrants may be added at any convenient step during the preparation of the formulation, particularly prior to granulation or during grinding prior to tablet compression. Croscarmellose sodium and sodium starch glycolate are preferred disintegrants.

The one or more disintegrants are optionally present in a total amount of about 0.0% to about 15%, preferably about 0.5% to about 10%, and more preferably about 1% to about 3.5%, by weight of the composition.

'7

Glidants

The compositions of the invention optionally comprise one or more; more pharmaceutically acceptable glidants, for example, to improve the flow of tablet material into tablet forms, to prevent sticking of the tablet material to the pistons and molds, or to produce a tablet having a gloss. The glidants may be added at any convenient step during the preparation of the formulation, particularly prior to granulation or during mixing prior to tablet compression.

Without wishing to be bound by theory, it is anticipated that, in some situations, glidants, such as talc or silica, will reduce the interfacial tension between particles of the active agent, which tends to inhibit and / or reduce agglomeration of the active agent. , reduce electrostatic charges on the surface of the powdered active ingredient, and reduce friction and surface roughness between the active ingredient particles. See, for example, York (1975) J. Pharm. Sci., 64 (7), 1216-1221.

Silica is a preferred glidant. Suitable silica-based products for use in the preparation of the compositions of the invention include fumed silica or colloidal silica (e.g., Cab-O-Sil from Cabot Corp. and Aerosil from Degussa). The silica, when present in the compositions of the invention, is present in a total amount of about 0.05% to about 5%, preferably about 0.1% to about 2%, and more preferably about 0.25% to about 1%, for example about 0.5%, by weight of the composition.

sweeteners

The compositions of the invention optionally comprise one or more pharmaceutically acceptable sweeteners. Non-limiting examples of sweeteners that can be used in the compositions of the invention include mannitol, propylene glycol, sodium saccharin, acesulfame K, neotame, aspartame, and the like.

flavorings

The compositions of the invention optionally comprise one or more pharmaceutically acceptable flavoring agents. Non-limiting examples of flavoring agents that can be used in the compositions of the invention include peppermint, spearmint, grapes, cherries, strawberries, lemon, etc.

Tablet properties

Size and shape

In a preferred embodiment, the formulations of the invention are in the form of discrete solid dosage units, most preferably tablets. The tablets of the invention may be made in any desired size, for example 8mm, 10mm, 12mm, etc .; shaped, for example, round, oval, rectangular, etc .; weight; and thickness. Optionally, the solid dosage units of the invention may have one or both sides provided with engravings or monograms.

disintegration

Preferred tablet. the compositions according to the invention disintegrate in less than 300 s, preferably less than 300 s

-L about 200 s, and more preferably less than about 100 s, for example about 30 s after initiation of a standard in vitro disintegration test (e.g., performed under US 24 (2000), Test No. 701).

Alternatively or additionally, the preferred hot melt compositions of the invention disintegrate within about 60 seconds, preferably within about 30 seconds, and more preferably within about 15 seconds after being placed into the subject's oral cavity.

hardness

The solid dosage forms of the invention have a hardness which, depending on many other properties, may depend on size and shape as well as the particular formulation. Tablet hardness can be measured by any method known in the art, for example using a tablet hardness tester (e.g. Schleuniger). Preferably, the formulations of the invention have a hardness of about 9.8 N to about 98 N, and more preferably about 9.8 N to about 58.8 N.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the solid dosage forms of the invention have sufficient hardness to handle and can be used in the same way as conventional tablets. The term "sufficient hardness for handling" as used herein means a hardness that allows the tablet to be removed from at least a standard type of blister pack, or a hardness that allows the tablet to withstand other handling such as packaging, transporting, and the like.

The tablets of the invention preferably have a minimum hardness to be resistant to breakage during removal of the tablet from the standard blister pack by pushing the tablet through the cover foil. A suitable hardness is about 9.8 N or more for a tablet having a diameter of about 8 mm, about 14.8 N or more for a tablet having a diameter of about 10 mm, and about 19.6 N or more if the tablet has a diameter of about 12 mm.

In a further presently preferred embodiment, the tablets of the invention have sufficient hardness to allow a plurality of such tablets to be packaged together, for example in a glass or plastic vial, without separate packaging of individual tablets, without causing significant breakage or sticking and / or or. building tablets during normal transport and handling. Tablets intended for such a method of packaging preferably have a hardness of approximately 29.4 N or more.

packing

The compositions of the invention may be packaged in any manner known in the art. For example, a plurality of fast-melt tablets may be packaged together, for example, in a glass or plastic bottle or container. Alternatively, the hot melt tablets of the invention may be packaged individually, for example in plastic or foil, or may be packaged in known blister packs. Blister packs with improved strength distribution, such as described in US Patent No. 5,954,204 (Grabowski), the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference, may be particularly suitable for packaging the hot melt tablets of the invention.

Administration of fast-melt tablets

The compositions of the invention may be administered to a subject by any oral oral route of administration consistent with the subject's choice or condition. For example, the rapid-melt tablets of the invention may be administered without water. Upon insertion into the oral cavity and in particular in the cheek area or above the tongue, this tablet is exposed to the saliva and rapidly disintegrates and dissolves. The rate of disintegration and / or dissolution is further increased when the tablet sucks the intraoral pressure, for example, the pressure between the climate and the tongue or the licking or suction pressure.

Alternatively, the tablets of the invention may be co-administered with water in an amount sufficient to soak the oral cavity to aid in tablet disintegration. The tablets of the invention may also be swallowed with a small amount of water after complete or partial disintegration in the oral cavity.

The compositions of the invention may also be ingested directly with water.

Method for producing fast-melt tablets

The process described below is a non-limiting illustrative process for preparing valdecoxib fast-melt tablets of the invention. It is important to note that the specific settings and parameters of the manufacturing process can be easily optimized by one skilled in the art in order to achieve the production of tablets with particularly desirable properties.

In this illustrative method, maltose and mannitol are dissolved in a vessel of water that is heated to about ° C to about 80 ° C, for example about 70 ° C. Valdecoxib is then dispersed in the vessel using a homogenizer. In a second vessel of water, a wetting agent such as sodium lauryl sulfate is dissolved. The contents of the first and second containers are then mixed to form a mixture. The resulting mixture is then spray dried using a Liro Laboratory Mobile Miner Spray Dryer to form dry granules. These dry granules are then optionally mixed with any desired excipients, for example flavoring, sweetening and lubricating agents, to form a tablet mixture. The resulting tablet blend is then compressed in a rotary tablet press to achieve the target weight and hardness of the tablets. The resulting tablets are then subjected to a treatment, such as an airflow treatment in a controlled humidity chamber, to increase the hardness of the tablet.

Pressing of tablets

Compression is a method by which granules of suitable volume can be produced from the tablet mixture by compressing the tablet mixture between the upper and lower punches to compact the material into a single solid dosage form, such as a tablet.

Any suitable compression means may be used in the methods of making the instant hot melt tablets of the invention, including, for example, a single punch tableting machine or a high speed rotary tablet press. The tablet pressure is not particularly limited, and a suitable pressure may be selected depending on the desired hardness and dissolution capacity of the resulting tablets. If the tablets are subjected to the temperature and humidity treatment described in the immediately following paragraph, the tablets are preferably compressed to an initial hardness (prior to the temperature and moisture treatment) of about 7.35 N to about 14.7 N.

Thermal and humidity treatment

Alternatively, the tablets of the invention may be subjected to a temperature and moisture treatment after compression. This treatment can be carried out in a moisture chamber, for example to increase the hardness of the tablets. During this treatment, for example, the tablets may be first exposed to a low temperature and high humidity air flow, such as about 25 ° C to about 32 ° C and about 80% relative humidity, for about 45 min to about 120 min. The tablets are then exposed to high temperature and low humidity, such as about 35 ° C to about 50 ° C and 30% relative humidity for about 45 min to about 120 min. Without wishing to be bound by theory, it is believed that treatment of fast-melt tablets in a low temperature and high humidity chamber followed by treatment in a high temperature and low humidity chamber will increase tablet hardness and reduce tablet fragility without that the desired rapid melt properties, such as rapid disintegration and rapid dissolution, would be impaired.

Applicability of the compositions of the invention

Molded articles, also referred to herein as formulations, of the invention are useful in the treatment and prevention of a wide range of disorders mediated by bicyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), including, but not limited to, disorders characterized by inflammation, pain and / or fever. These potentials for gastrointestinal gastrointestinal toxicity and upper limited, for example, formulations are particularly useful as anti-inflammatory agents, for example in the treatment of arthritis, with the added benefit of having substantially less harmful side effects than conventional non-steroidal anti-inflammatory active agents (NSAIDs). for COX-2 over COX-1. In particular, these formulations have limited gastrointestinal irritation including ulceration and bleeding, potential for renal side effects, reduced renal function leading to fluid retention and exacerbation of hypertension, limited effects on bleeding times including inhibition of platelet function, and possibly reduced ability to induce asthma attacks in asthma attacks aspirin-sensitive, as compared to conventional NSAIDs. These formulations of the present invention containing a selective COX-2 inhibitory drug are particularly useful as an alternative to conventional NSAIDs where such conventional NSAIDs are contraindicated, for example in patients with peptic ulcers, gastritis, regional enteritis, ulcerative diverticulitis or recurrent gastrointestinal colitis. lesions; gastrointestinal bleeding, coagulation disorders of hypoprothrombinemia, including anemia such as haemophilia or other bleeding problems; kidney disease; or in patients prior to surgery or in patients taking anticoagulants.

These compositions are useful in the treatment of arthritic disorders, including, but not limited to, joint rheumatism, spondyloarthropathies, prostate arthritis, osteoarthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus and juvenile arthritis.

The compositions are also useful in the treatment of asthma, bronchitis, menstrual cramps, preterm labor, tendinitis, bursitis, allergic neuritis, cytomegalovirus infection, apoptosis including HIV-induced apoptosis, cross pain, liver disease including hepatitis, skin conditions, such as psoriasis, psoriasis, psoriasis, acne, burns, dermatitis and ultraviolet radiation damage including sunburn, and post-operative inflammation including following ophthalmic surgery such as cataract surgery or refraction.

These preparations are useful in the treatment of gastrointestinal conditions, for example inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn's disease, gastritis, irritable bowel syndrome and ulcerative colitis.

These preparations are useful in the treatment of inflammation, for example, diseases such as migraine headaches, periarteritis nodosis, thyroiditis, aplastic anemia, Hodgkin's disease, scleroderma, rheumatic fever, type I diabetes, neuromuscular disease including Myasthenia gravis, white sclerosis including scattering , sarcoidosis, nephrotic syndrome, Behcet's syndrome, polymyositis, gum inflammation, nephritis, hypersensitivity, swelling occurring after surgery such as cerebral edema, myocardial ischemia, and the like.

These compositions are useful in the treatment of ophthalmic diseases such as retinitis, scleritis, episcleritis, conjunctivitis, retinopathy, uveitis, ocular photophobia and acute eye tissue injury.

These compositions are useful in the treatment of pulmonary inflammation, for example related to viral infections and cystic fibrosis, and for bone resorption, for example, of osteoporosis.

These preparations are useful in the treatment of certain disorders of the central nervous system, such as cortical dementia including neurodegenerative disease

Alzheimer's and damage to the disease, the central nervous system due to cerebral defeat, ischemia and trauma. The term "treatment in the context of partial or total inhibition."

Alzheimer's multi-infarct disease, dementia, vascular presenile invention includes dementia, including dementia, dementia, alcohol dementia, and senile dementia.

These compositions are useful in the treatment of allergic rhinitis, acute respiratory distress syndrome, endotoxin shock syndrome, and liver disease.

These formulations are useful in the treatment of pain, including but not limited to post-operative pain, toothache, muscular pain, and cancer pain. For example, the compositions are useful in relieving pain, fever and inflammation for a variety of conditions including rheumatic fever, influenza, and other viral infections including common colds, neck and back pain, dysmenorrhea, headache, toothache, sprain and strain, myositis, neuralgia, synovitis, arthritis, including joint rheumatism, degenerative joint diseases (osteoarthritis), gout and ankylosing spondylitis, bursitis, burns and trauma following surgery or dental surgery.

These compositions are useful, without limitation, for treating or preventing inflammation-related cardiovascular disorders in a subject. These formulations are useful in the treatment and prevention of vascular diseases, coronary arterial disease, aneurysms, vascular rejection, arteriosclerosis, atherosclerosis including atherosclerosis of the heart transplant, myocardial infarction, embolism, stroke, thrombosis including plaque, venous, venous, venous, venous, induced inflammation including Chlamydial-induced inflammation, viral-induced inflammation and surgery-related inflammation, bypass grafting into coronary revascularization processes including angioplasty, stent delivery, endarterectomy, or other invasive procedures performed on vessels and veins.

for example, in the artery, in

These compositions are useful in the treatment of angiogenesis-related disorders in a subject, for example, in inhibiting tumor angiogenesis.

These preparations are useful in the treatment of neoplasia, including metastasis; ophthalmic conditions such as corneal graft rejection, ocular neovascularization, retinal neovascularization including neovascularization following injury or after infection, diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, retrolental fibroplasia, and glaucoma, including neovascular glaucoma; ulcerative diseases such as stomach ulcer; pathological, but not malignant, conditions such as hemangiomas, including infantile hemangiomas, nasopharyngeal angiofibroma, and avascular bone necrosis; and disorders of the female reproductive system, such as endometriosis.

These compositions are useful in the prevention or treatment of benign and malignant tumors / neoplasia including carcinomas such as colorectal cancer, brain cancer, p

bone carcinoma, epithelial cell derived neoplasia (epithelial carcinoma), such as gastrointestinal basal carcinoma, cells, adenocarcinoma such as lipid carcinoma, mouth carcinoma, esophageal carcinoma, small intestine carcinoma, gastric carcinoma, colon carcinoma, bladder, pancreatic carcinoma, ovarian carcinoma, cervical carcinoma, lung carcinoma, breast carcinoma and skin carcinoma such as squamous cell carcinoma and basocellular carcinoma, prostate carcinoma, kidney carcinoma and other known carcinomas in the epithelial cell. Neoplasias which can be used in the treatment of the compositions according to the invention are in particular gastrointestinal carcinoma, Barrett's esophagus, liver carcinoma, bladder carcinoma, pancreatic carcinoma, ovarian carcinoma, prostate carcinoma, cervical carcinoma, lung carcinoma, breast carcinoma and skin carcinoma for example squamous cell carcinoma and basocellular carcinoma. The compositions of the invention may also be used in the treatment of fibrosis that occurs in radiation therapy. These compositions can be used to treat subjects having adenomatous polyps, including those with familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP). In addition, these preparations can be used to prevent polyps in patients, there is a risk of FAP.

where

These preparations inhibit prostanoid-induced smooth muscle contraction by preventing the synthesis of contractile prostanoids and thus can be used in the treatment of painful menstruation, premature labor, asthma and eosinophils-related disorders. They can also be used in reducing bone loss, especially in postmenopausal women (i.e., in the treatment of osteoporosis), and in the treatment of glaucoma.

Preferred applications are the compositions of the invention in the treatment of joint arthritis and osteoarthritis, in general pain management (especially pain following oral surgery, post-surgery pain in general surgery, post-surgery pain in orthopedics, and in acute outbreaks of osteoarthritis), in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, and in the chemo-prevention of colon cancer.

In addition to being useful for human medicine, the compositions of the invention are also useful for the veterinary treatment of domestic animals, exotic animals, livestock and the like, particularly mammals, including rodents. The compositions of the invention are particularly useful in the veterinary treatment of cyclooxygenase-2 mediated disorders in horses, dogs and cats.

The invention also relates to a therapeutic method for treating a condition or disorder in which treatment with a cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitory drug is induced, which comprises orally administering one or more of the compositions of the invention to a patient in need thereof. A dosage regimen that acts to prevent, provide relief or ameliorate the condition or disorder preferably corresponds to once-daily or twice-daily administration, but can be adjusted according to a variety of factors. These include the type, age, weight, sex, diet and health of the patient, and the nature and severity of the disorder. Thus, in practice, the dosage regimen actually employed can be varied within wide limits and thus deviated from the above preferred dosage regimens.

Initial treatment of a patient suffering from any of the aforementioned disease states or disorders when treatment with an active ingredient-inhibiting cyclooxygenase-2 is indicated may be initiated with the dosage regimen outlined above. Treatment is generally popkiai as it is necessary to continue for several weeks to several months or years until the condition or disorder is under control or eliminated. Patients undergoing treatment with a composition of the invention can be routinely monitored by any method known in the art to determine the effectiveness of the treatment. Continuous analysis of the data monitored in this way makes it possible to modify the treatment regimen during therapy so that an optimally effective amount of the active substance is administered at any time and to determine the duration of treatment. In this way, the treatment regimen and dosing schedule can be reasonably modified over the duration of the treatment, so that the lowest amount of active compound that exhibits satisfactory efficacy is administered, and is continued only for the time necessary to achieve successful treatment of the condition or disorder.

The formulations may be used in combination therapies with opioids and other analgesics, including, but not limited to, narcotic analgesics, Mu receptor antagonists, Kappa receptor antagonists, non-narcotic (ie non-addictive) analgesics, monamine uptake inhibitors, adenosine regulating agents, cannabinoid P antagonists, L-antagonists neurokinin-1 and sodium channel blockers. Preferred combination therapies include the use of a composition of the invention with one or more compounds selected from aceclofenac, acemetacin, ε-acetamido-caproic acid, acetaminophen, acetaminosalol, acetanilide, acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin), S-adenosylmethionine, alclofenac, alfentanin, alxentanin, alxentanil, alphaprodine, aluminum bis (acetylsalicylate), amfenac, aminochlorothenoxazine, 3-amino-4-hydroxybutyric acid,

2-amino-4-picoline, aminopropylone, aminopyrine, amixethrin, ammonium salicylate, ampiroxicam, amtolmetin guacil, anileridine, antipyrine, antipyrine salicylate, anthrophenin, apazone, bendazac, benorylate, benopipermine, benzpiphermine, benzpiphermine, benzpiphermine, benzoprophenine, benzoprophenine, benzoprophenine -bromoacetanilide, bromosaligenin acetate, bucetin, bumadizone, butopanol, carbifen, diclofenac diflunisal, acetate, bezitramide, α-bisabolol, bromfenacic, 5-bromosalicylic acid, bucloxic acid, bucolomate, butexamorpine, butexamacin, butexamacin, butexanol, butexanol, caprophen, carsalam, chlorobutanol, chlorothenoxazine, choline salicylate, cinchofen, cinmetacin, ciramadol, clidanac, clometacin, clonixin, clopirac, clove, codeine, codeine methyl bromide, codeine phosphate, codeine phosphate, codeine phosphate, codeine phosphate, codeine phosphate, codeine desocin, diampromide, sodium, diphene amizolu, difenpiramide, dihydrocodeine, dihydrocodeinone enol dihydromorphine, dihydroxyalumíniumacetylsalicylátu, dimenoxadol, dimepheptanol, dimethylthiambutene, dioxaphetyl butyrate, dipipanone, diprocetylu, dipyrone, ditazolu, droxicam, emorfazone, enfenamic acid, epirizolu, eptazocine, etersalate, ethenzamide, ethoheptazine, etoxazénu, etylmetyltiambuténu, ethylmorphine , etodolac, etofenamate, etonitazene, eugenol, felbinac, fenbufen, fenclozic acid, fendosal, fenoprofen, fentiazac, fepradinol, feprazone, flufenamic acid, flunoxaprofen, lupirtine, fluproquazone, flurbiprofenisicin, phosposin, phosposin, phosposin, phosposin, phosposin, hydrocodone, hydromorphone, hydroxypetidine, ibufenac, ibuprofen, fentanyl, floctafenine, fluoresone, imidazole ibuproxam, indoprofen, salicylate, indomethacin, isofezolac, isoladol, isometadone, isonixin, isoxepac, ketoboxam , ketorolac, p32 lactofenetide, lefetamine, levorpanol, iorentanil, lonazolac, lornoxicam, loxoprofen, lysine of acetylsalicylate, acetylsalicylate of magnesium, metheciazole acid, methephamidine acid, meptaidinone, meperidine, metopone, mofebutazone, mofezolac, morazone, morphine, morphine hydrochloride, morphine sulfate, morpholine salicylate, myrophin, nabumetone, nalbuphine, 1-naphthylsalicylate, naproxen, narcein, nephopam, nicomorphine, nifenazone, nimesenazone, nimesenazone, nimesenazone, nimesenazone, nimesenazone propoxyacetanilide, norlevorfanol, normorphine, norpipanone, olsalazine, opium, oxametacin, oxaprozin, oxycodone, oxyfenbutazone, papaveret, paranyline, normetadone, oxaceprol, oxymorphone, parsalmid, peradoxone, phenocolide, phenocollu, phenocollu piprofen, p ranoprofen, propacetamol, proquazone, remifentanil, phenacetin, hydrochloride, phenopyrazone, phenylacetyl salicylate, phenylsalicylate, phenyramidol, piminodine, pipebuzone, piperylone, piroxicam, promedol, pirazolac, piramramine, proglumetin, proglumetin, proglumetin, proglumetin, proglumetin, proglumine, proglumine, progazone , saacetamide, salicin, salicylamide, salicylamide o-acetic acid, salicylsulfuric acid, salsalte, salverine, simetride, sodium salicylate, sufentanil, sulfasalazine, sulindac, superoxide dismutase, suprofen, suxibuzone, talniflumate, tiazapamate, tenxaphenate, tenxaphenate tiaprofenic acid, tiaramide, tilidine, tinoridine, tolfenamic acid, tolmetin, tramadol, tropesin, viminol, xenbucine, ximoprofen, zaltoprofen and zepherin (see The Merck Index, 12th Edition (1996), Therapeutic Category and Biological Activity Index, Lists of Biological Activity Index) and "Analgesic", "Anti-inflammatory" and "Antipyretic".

Particularly preferred combination therapies include the use of a composition of the invention, for example a valdecoxib composition of the invention, with an opioid compound, more preferably an opioid compound that is codeine, meperidine, morphine or derivatives thereof.

The compound to be administered in combination with valdecoxib may be formulated alone or together with valdecoxib in a composition of the invention. When valdecoxib is formulated together with a second active agent, for example an opioid active agent, the second active agent may be formulated in an immediate release, rapid onset, sustained release or dual release form.

In an embodiment of the invention, particularly when the cyclooxygenase-2 mediated condition is a headache or migraine, the valdecoxib formulation is administered in combination therapy with a vasomodulator, preferably a xanthine derivative having a vasomodulatory effect, more preferably an alkylxantinone compound.

Combination therapies wherein the alkylxanthine compound is co-administered with the valdecoxib formulation of the invention are within the scope of the invention whether or not the alkylxanthine is a vasomodulator and whether the therapeutic efficacy of the combination contributes to some extent to the vasomodulatory effect. The term "alkylxanthine" includes xanthine derivatives having one or more C _1-4 alkyl groups, preferably methyl groups, or substituents, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts of these xanthine derivatives. Dimethylxanthines α '3 and theophylline are particularly preferred.

trimethylxanthines, including caffeine, theobromine The most preferred alkylxanthine compound is caffeine.

The total and relative dosage amounts of valdecoxib and the vasomodulator or alkylxanthine are selected to be therapeutically and / or prophylactically effective for relieving the pain associated with headache or migraine. Suitable dosage amounts will depend on the severity of the pain and the particular choice of vasomodulator or alkylxanthin. For example, in combination therapy with valdecoxib and caffeine, valdecoxib will generally be administered in a daily dosage amount of about 1 mg to about 100 mg, preferably about 5 mg to about 50 mg, and caffeine in a daily dosage amount of about 1 mg to about 500 mg, preferably about 10 mg to about 400 mg, more preferably about 20 mg to about 300 mg.

The vasomodulator or alkylxanthine component of the combination therapy may be administered in any suitable dosage form by any suitable route, preferably orally. The vasomodulator or alkylxanthine may optionally be formulated together with valdecoxib in the molded article of the invention. The molded article of the invention optionally comprises both valdecoxib and a vasomodulator or an alkylxanthine such as caffeine in total and relative amounts consistent with the dosage amounts set forth above.

The term "total and relative amount effective for pain relief, in relation to the amount of valdecoxib and a vasomodulator or alkylxanthine in a formulation according to an embodiment of the invention, means that the amounts are such that (a) the components are jointly effective for pain relief and (b) each ingredient is or would be able to contribute to a pain relieving effect, unless the other ingredient (s) is or is present in an amount sufficient to provide that contribution.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following exemplary embodiments of the invention are illustrative only and are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Example 1

Valdecoxib high melting tablets (Batch A, also referred to as High Melting A) were prepared according to the following procedure. Maltose (28.03 g) and mannitol (367.6 g) were dissolved in the first vessel during heating (70 ° C) and stirring with water. Valdecoxib (46.25 g) was dissolved in a solution of maltose and mannitol and homogenized for 10 min using a Silverson homogenizer. In a second vessel, sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) was dissolved in water with gentle stirring to form a soaking agent solution. The soaking agent solution was added to the first vessel to form a sprayable solution. The spray solution was spray dried using a Niro Laboratory Mobile Minor Spray Dryer under the following conditions: spray rate: 32 g / min; input process gas flow: 0.28 kPa; system pressure: 0.16 kPa; an inlet process gas pressure of 2 kPa; atomization pressure 0.16 kPa; atomization current percentage: 57; inlet temperature: 160 ° C; outlet temperature: about 55 ° C; atomizing air burner temperature: 287 ° C, to form dry granules.

ϋ Ό

Magnesium stearate (1 g), stearic acid (3 g), acesulfame K (1 g) and peppermint flavor (1 g) were placed in a polyethylene bag and shaken vigorously to form a mixture. The resulting mixture was then geometrically diluted with the dry granulate prepared above until 200 g of dry granulate were added. The tablets were then prepared by separately compressing 400 mg of the tablet mixture to give tablets having an intermediate hardness of 14.7 N. The resulting tablets were placed in a chamber where the temperature was maintained at 25 ° C and 80% relative humidity for 1 hour, the temperature was maintained at 40 ° C. ° C and 30% relative humidity. The composition (% by weight) of the fast-melting tablets A is shown in Table 1 below.

Table 1. Composition of fast-melting tablets

component number valdecoxib 10 maltose 6.06 mannitol 79.48 SLS 1.45 Magnesium stearate 0.5 Stearic acid 1.5 Acesulfame K 0.5 Peppermint 0.5

Example 2

A study was performed to determine the pharmacokinetic properties of rapid-melting valdecoxib A in beagles. Fast-boiling valdecoxib A was administered individually to each of the 4 dogs. Blood was collected from a vein before the first dose and at 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12 and 24 hours after the oral dose. Plasma was separated from blood by centrifugation at 3000 G and samples were stored at

-20 ° C until analysis. Plasma valdecoxib concentrations were determined using an HPLC assay. The results are summarized in Table 2 below.

Table 2 Pharmacokinetic properties of rapid-melting valdecoxib A in dogs

parameter Fast Melting Cmax (ng / ml) 8800 AUC (h * ng / ml) 2710 Tmax 1.4

Example 3

Valdecoxib rapid-melting tablets (Batch B, hereinafter also referred to as rapid-melting B) were prepared according to the following procedure. Maltose (0.158 kg) and mannitol (2.047 kg) were dissolved in water (14.167 kg) with stirring to form a solution. Sodium lauryl sulfate (0.037 kg) was added to the solution while stirring and stirring was continued until complete dissolution. Valdecoxib (0.258 kg) was dispersed in solution and homogenized using a Silverson homogenizer at approximately 5000 min ^-1 for 15 min to form a suspension. The suspension is then stirred using a conventional marine-type impeller at approximately 300 ^min-1 of approximately 2 hours. The suspension was spray dried using a Niro Laboratory Mobile Minor Spray Dryer under the following conditions: spray rate: 30 g / min; input process gas flow: 40 mm H2O; chamber pressure: -100 mm H2O; atomizing pressure of the atomizing fluid of 0.1 MPa; atomization current percentage: 70; inlet air temperature: 175 ° C; air outlet temperature: approximately 90 ° C; to form a dry granulate. The total theoretical yield was 2,500 Kg. The above process was performed twice and spray-dried granules of series A (1414.3 g) and series B (1971.9 g) were obtained.

The spray-dried granulate was sieved and the sieved granulates were:

Series A and Series B were dry blended for 15 min with peppermint flavor (17.5 g) and acesulfame K (17.5 g) in a V-mixer to form a mixture. Magnesium stearate (17.5 g), micronized stearic acid (52.5 g) and colloidal silica (8.8 g) were added to the mixture and mixed to form a tablet mixture. The tablets were compressed from the tablet mixture to a target hardness of 14.7 N and a target of 391.58 mg. After compression, the chambers for the IBC's moisture weights of the tablets were transferred to a tablet processing (17 liters) where the temperature was maintained at 25 ° C, 80% RH and 75 CFM air flow for 1 hour, and at 40 ° C, 30% RH for a second hour. and 75 CFM airflow. The composition of the fast-melting tablets B (mg / tablet) is shown in Table 3.

Table 3

Composition of rapid - melting tablets

component Quantity (mg) Granulate Series A 158.22 Granulate series B 220.61 Magnesium stearate NF 1, 96 Stearic acid NF (Micronized) 5.87 Colloidal silicon dioxide 1.00 Acesulfame K 1.96 Peppermint 1, 96 Pretty 391.58

Example 4

The in vitro dissolution profiles of the B tablets of Example 3 and the commercial 40 mg Bextra tablets were determined using 1000 ml of a 1% sodium lauryl sulfate solution and a USP Type II device. The data are summarized in Table 4. The rapid-melting tablets B showed very rapid dissolution. All valdecoxib was dissolved in the assay for 15 minutes.

Table 4. Amount (% by weight) of valdecoxib dissolved

Time (min) A fast B Bextra tablet 15 101 62 30 101 79 45 100 88 60 101 93

Example 5

The rapid-melting tablets of Example 3 were individually administered to 25 human subjects. Oral bioavailability parameters were determined and compared to the oral bioavailability parameters of commercial 40 mg Bextra tablets. The data are summarized in Table 5.

Table 5. Oral bioavailability of Bextra S and 4C mg tablets in human subjects

parameter High Speed B tablet Bextra Tmax (h) 3.22 3.3 C _raax (ng / ml) 580 468 AUC (Ng / ml) / h 6833 6126

These data suggest that rapid boiling Bs exhibit very good bioavailability when administered to human subjects.

Example 6

The rapid melting tablets B of Example 3 were evaluated for taste according to the following procedure. Four to five professional tasters were chosen and each of these tasters placed a quick-melting tablet under their tongue. The deguster slightly rolled the tablet against the climate, without chewing, while recording sensory information and the time of complete disintegration.

Sensory information includes organoleptic attributes associated with each tablet, such as flavor quality, bitterness, fullness, texture, mouthfeel, and taste that remains in the mouth upon dissolution of the tablet. Each of these attributes was graded on a scale of 1-5 to express perceptible differences that differ from other commercially available melt products by comparison with valdecoxib fast melt tablets containing one of the following flavors: sour cherry, strawberry, orange , peppermint or spearmint, and by comparison with fast-melt tablets containing various active ingredients.

After complete disintegration of the tablets, the taster has experienced a taste that remains in the mouth 30 minutes after the tablet has dissolved. Each tablet was evaluated in triplicate and all samples were encoded for presentation of tasters. The high-melting tablets B exhibited an average disintegration time of 23.6 s. Overall, valdecoxib B hot melt tablets showed acceptable flavor (data not shown) and disintegration time.

Claims (30)

PATENT An orally rapid melt formulation comprising: (a) particulate valdecoxib in a therapeutically effective amount, and (b) at least one pharmaceutically acceptable excipient which exhibits rapid oral dissolution and which is in direct association with the valdecoxib particles. ; wherein at least one excipient that exhibits rapid oral dissolution is present in a total amount of about 50% to about 99% by weight. The composition of claim 1, wherein the at least one pharmaceutically acceptable excipient that exhibits rapid oral dissolution is sugar. The composition of claim 1, wherein the at least one pharmaceutically acceptable excipient that exhibits rapid oral dissolution is a carbohydrate. The composition of claim 1, wherein the at least one pharmaceutically acceptable excipient that exhibits rapid oral dissolution is selected from the group consisting of maltose, maltitol, sorbitol, lactose, and mannitol. characterized 4 4 The composition of claim 1, wherein the at least one excipient that exhibits rapid oral dissolution is present in a total amount of about 50% by weight. % to about 90 wt. The composition of claim 1, wherein the at least one pharmaceutically acceptable excipient that exhibits rapid oral dissolution comprises a high-formable carbohydrate and a low-formable carbohydrate. The composition of claim 6, wherein the weight ratio of high-formable carbohydrate to low-formable carbohydrate is about 2 to about 20 parts of high-formable carbohydrate per 100 parts of low-formable carbohydrate. The composition of claim 6, wherein the weight ratio of high-formable carbohydrate to low-formable carbohydrate is about 5 to about 7.5 parts of high-formable carbohydrate per 100 parts of low-formable carbohydrate. The formulation of claim 1 having a hardness of about 1 to about 10 kp. The composition of claim 1, wherein valdecoxib is present in an amount of about 5 to about 50 mg. ^ι ·. at 11. The composition of claim 1, wherein the composition exhibits a disintegration time of less than about 300 seconds when subjected to the in vitro disintegration test number 701 of the United States Pharmacopoeia 24. 12. The composition of claim 1, wherein the composition exhibits a disintegration time of less than about 100 seconds when subjected to the in vitro disintegration test number 701 of the United States Pharmacopoeia 24. The composition of claim 1, which disintegrates within about 60 seconds after being placed into the oral cavity of a human subject. 14. The composition of claim 1, which disintegrates within about 30 seconds after being placed into the oral cavity of a human subject. A composition according to claim 1, characterized in that it is organoleptically acceptable. 16. A process for the preparation of a preparation of valdecoxib in the form of intraorally disintegrating tablets, comprising: a step of providing valdecoxib in particulate form; a step of dissolving the at least one pharmaceutically acceptable excipient having rapid oral dissolution in water in the container, wherein the at least one excipient is dissolved in a total amount such that upon completion of the method of the invention the excipient will be about 50% to about 99% the total weight of the tablets; a dispersion step of valdecoxib in water; wherein the dissolution and dispersion step is performed in any order or simultaneously to form an atomizable liquid; a spray drying step of the sprayable liquid to form a tablet mixture; and a step of compressing the tablet mixture to form tablets. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of heating the water container before, at the same time as or after the dissolution and / or dispersion step but before the spray drying step. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of dissolving the wetting agent in water before, simultaneously with or after the dissolution and / or dispersion step but before the spray-drying step. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of dissolving an aqueous solution of the wetting agent in water before, simultaneously with or after the dissolution and / or dispersion step but before the spray drying step. 4 7 The method of claim 16, wherein the at least one pharmaceutically acceptable excipient that exhibits rapid oral dissolution is sugar. The method of claim 16, wherein the at least one pharmaceutically acceptable excipient that exhibits rapid oral dissolution is a carbohydrate. The method of claim 16, wherein the at least one pharmaceutically acceptable excipient that exhibits rapid oral dissolution is selected from the group consisting of maltose, maltitol, sorbitol, lactose, and mannitol. The method of claim 16, wherein at least one excipient that exhibits rapid oral dissolution is dissolved in a total amount such that upon completion of the process of the invention the excipient is about 50% by weight. % to about 95 wt. total tablet weight. The method of claim 16, wherein the at least one excipient exhibiting rapid oral dissolution is dissolved in a total amount such that upon completion of the method of the invention the excipient is about 50% by weight. % to about 90 wt. total tablet weight. The method of claim 16, wherein the at least one pharmaceutically acceptable excipient that exhibits rapid oral dissolution comprises a high-formable carbohydrate and a low-formable carbohydrate. 26. The method of claim 25, wherein the weight ratio of highformable carbohydrate to lowformable carbohydrate is about 2 to about 20 parts of highformable carbohydrate per 100 parts of lowformable carbohydrate. 27. The method of claim 25, wherein the weight ratio of highformable carbohydrate to lowformable carbohydrate is about 5 to about 7.5 parts of highformable carbohydrate per 100 parts of lowformable carbohydrate. A preparation of valdecoxib in the form of an intraorally disintegrating tablet prepared by the method of claim 16. 29. A method of treating or preventing a medical condition or disorder in a subject, wherein treatment with a cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitory drug is indicated, comprising orally administering the tablet of claim 1 to the subject. 30. A method of treating or preventing, a medical condition or a disorder in a subject wherein the treatment with a cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitory drug is indicated, comprising orally administering the composition of claim 28 to the subject.