Sunday, August 30, 2009

Processes of making and using pharmaceutical formulations of antineoplastic agents

This application is a divisional application of U.S. Ser. No. 10/371,808 filed Feb. 21, 2003, now allowed, which claims the benefit of U.S. Ser. No. 60/359,198 filed Feb. 22, 2002, the entirety of which are incorporated by reference as if set forth fully herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention pertains to pharmaceutical formulations comprising antineoplastic agents, such as Temozolomide, and dissolution enhancing agents.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

Antineoplastic agents are useful in cancer therapies against a wide array of cancer and other diseases. Temozolomide is one such antineoplastic agent. U.S. Pat. No. 6,096,759 lists a variety of antineoplastic agents including Temozolomide, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

Temozolomide is known for its anti-tumor effects. For example, one study showed that clinical responses were achieved in 17% of patients having advanced melanoma (Newlands E S, et al. Br J Cancer 65 (2) 287-2981 (1992)). In another study, a clinical response was achieved in 21% of patients with advanced melanoma (Journal of Clinical Oncology, 13(4) 910-913 (1995)). Treatment of gliomas in adults with Temozolomide is also known (Eur. J. Cancer 29A 940 (1993)). Treatment of the following cancers in adults with Temozolomide has also been disclosed: metastatic melanoma; malignant melanoma, high grade glioma, glioblastoma and other brain cancers; lung cancer; breast cancer; testicular cancer; colon and rectal cancers; carcinomas; sarcomas; lymphomas; leukemias; anaplastic astrocytoma; and mycosis fungoides.

Temozolomide is a water-insoluble compound. Temozolomide has been administered in patients as micronized suspensions, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,251,886. However, suspension formulations are not desirable because they may lead to clogged veins.

Storage of pharmaceutical and biological agents, especially antineoplastic agents, as a frozen solution can cause the active ingredient therein to rapidly deteriorate.

Lyophilization, also known as freeze-drying, is a process whereby water is sublimed from a composition after it is frozen. In this process, pharmaceutical and biological agents that are relatively unstable in an aqueous solution over a period of time can be placed into dosage containers in an easily processed liquid state, dried without the use of damaging heat and stored in a dried state for extended periods. Most pharmaceutical and biological agents, including antineoplastic agents, require additional ingredients to protect the active ingredient during lyophilization. In addition, it can be difficult to reconstitute a lyophilized antineoplastic agent into an aqueous solution.

Accordingly there is an increased need for formulations containing antineoplastic agents, such as Temozolomide, which are water soluble, stable and/or suitable for lyophilization, long term storage and reconstitution of the lyophilized formulation into an aqueous solution.

Furthermore, there is an increased need for administering to a patient an antineoplastic agent, such as Temozolomide, as a water soluble and stable formulation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to pharmaceutical formulations comprising at least one antineoplastic agent, processes of making the same, processes of lyophilization of the pharmaceutical formulations, lyophilized powders and articles of manufacture thereof, pharmaceutical formulations comprising the lyophilized powder reconstituted in at least one aqueous diluent, and processes of treating or preventing diseases comprising administering the pharmaceutical formulation to an animal in need thereof.

One aspect of the invention relates to a pharmaceutical formulation comprising at least one antineoplastic agent or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, at least one aqueous diluent, and at least one dissolution enhancing agent sufficient to substantially dissolve said antineoplastic agent(s), wherein said dissolution enhancing agent is urea, L-histidine, L-threonine, L-asparagine, L-serine, L-glutamine or mixtures thereof.

Another aspect of the invention relates to a process for making the pharmaceutical formulation of the invention. This process comprises the steps of dissolving at least one dissolution enhancing agent in at least one aqueous diluent, and adding at least one antineoplastic agent or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

Another aspect of the invention relates to a lyophilized powder produced by lyophilization of the pharmaceutical formulation of the invention.

Another aspect of the invention relates to an article of manufacture comprising a container containing the lyophilized powder of the invention.

Another aspect of the invention relates to a pharmaceutical formulation suitable for administration to a patient, wherein the formulation is prepared by reconstituting (resolubilizing) the lyophilized powder of the invention in a volume of water or other aqueous diluent.

Another aspect of the invention relates to a process for treating or preventing diseases in patients comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of the pharmaceutical formulation of the invention to a patient in need thereof.

Other aspects of this invention relate to and disclose pharmaceutical formulations of Temozolomide, a process of making the same, a lyophilized powder of said formulation and articles of manufacture thereof, a pharmaceutical formulation comprising the lyophilized powder reconstituted in water or other aqueous diluents, and a process of treating or preventing diseases (such as, for example, cancer) comprising administering the pharmaceutical formulation to a patient in need thereof.

1 comment:

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