# Patent

## Title
Microgranular formulation including coagulation unit comprising discontinuous phase and continuous phase

## Abstract

A pharmaceutical composition which is Rapidly Dissolved in a mouth, comprising

    
    
        (a) agglomerate units which is consisted of a discontinuous phase comprising the first component; and a continuous phase comprising the second component; and
        (b) a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient,
        in which the pharmaceutical composition is characterized in that the first component is an effective ingredient exhibiting the pharmacological activity, and the second component is sugar or sugar alcohol is provided.

## Background
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a national phase application of PCT Application No. PCT/KR2013/012351, filed on Dec. 27, 2013, which claims the benefit and priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2012-0158630, filed Dec. 31, 2012. The entire disclosures of the applications identified in this paragraph are incorporated herein by references.
FIELD
The present invention relates to a microgranule preparation which can be taken without water, and rapidly dissolved in a mouth when administering it orally. More specifically, the present invention relates to a microgranule preparation comprising an agglomerate unit which has the first component consisting of a main component with a bitter taste to mask a high bitterness as a discontinuous phase, and the second component consisting of sugar or sugar alcohol as a continuous phase. The microgranule preparation of the present invention has characteristics that it does not have any feeling of irritation and aftersensation in a mouth, when orally administering, furthermore it can be rapidly degraded and dissolved in the mouth.
BACKGROUND
Orodispersible tablet (ODT), orodispersible film (ODF) or oral disgrading powder is referred as an alternative administration preparation which can be administrated to a patient who is difficult to administer with a customary tablet or capsule, for example, an older patient or patient who represents a disphagia. Meanwhile, in the case of such special preparations, there are a lot of limitations in applying the special effective ingredients to it due to their inherent properties. For example, in the case of orodispersible film, there are problems that the amount of the effective ingredient which can be loaded on it is limited or the means for masking bitterness is not available to apply the drug with bitterness to it, and in the case of orodispersible tablet also has a limitation that it is difficult to apply to the drug with bitterness. Likewise, in the case of the powder, when the amount of the effective ingredient is higher, the one dose is too much and thus there is a difficulty to administer it. Also, in the case of the drug with bitterness, any separate means for masking the bitterness is needed, for example, when an inclusion compound with cyclodextrin, etc., is used, a unit cost of production is increased. Therefore, it is difficult to say that it is a proper industrial solution applicable to the real industrial site.
In particular, in the case of ODT or ODF, various means for masking the bitterness are already known in the art, but in the case of a powder, the means for masking the bitterness specialized to the powder has not developed until now in making the drug with the bitterness into the powder.
Technical Problem
Accordingly, the technical problem of the present invention is to provide a technical means for achieving the superior effects for masking the bitterness, with a relatively simple process, in preparing the drug with bitterness into a powder, as well as to provide a new powder preparation in which its disintegrating time in a mouth is very short and also does not have feelings of irritation and aftersensation in the mouth (since it has not been known in the relevant art until now, it is referred to ‘microgranule preparation’ in the present application).
Technical Solution
To accomplish the above-mentioned object, according to the present invention, there is provided a technical means as follows:
That is, a pharmaceutical composition which is rapidly dissolved in a mouth, which is characterized in comprising

    
    
        (a) agglomerate units which is consisted of a discontinuous phase comprising the first component; and a continuous phase comprising the second component; and
        (b) a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient,
        in which the first component is an effective ingredient exhibiting the pharmacological activity, and the second component is sugar or sugar alcohol.
        In addition, there is provided a pharmaceutical composition characterized in that the second component is selected from the group consisting of xylitol, mannitol, isomalt, sorbitol, maltitol, refined white sugar, lactose, inositol, erythritol, crystal fructose, trehalose, ribitol, arabitol, galatitol, lactitol and maltotritol.
    
    


Furthermore, in said pharmaceutical composition, there is provided a pharmaceutical composition which is characterized in additionally comprising a high sweetening agent.
Further, there is a pharmaceutical composition, which is characterized that the said high sweetening agent is present within the continuous phase.
Furthermore, there is provided a pharmaceutical composition which is characterized in that the said high sweetening agent is selected from a group consisting of sucrose, dextrose, fructose, glucose, liquid glucose, maltose saccharin, cyclamate, aspartame, acesulpham K, sucralose, alitame and neotame.
Furthermore, there is provided a preparation method which is characterized in that it comprises:

    
    
        (a) a step for dissolving all or a part of the second component in a solvent;
        (b) a step for obtaining a dispersion by dispersing the first component in the said solvent; and
        (c) a step for obtaining an agglomerate unit by drying the said solvent.
    
    


Furthermore, there is provided a preparation method which is characterized in using no binding agent in obtaining the agglomerate unit.
Furthermore, there is provided a preparation method which is characterized in that the (a) step comprises dissolving the second component with the high sweetening agent in the solvent.
Advantageous Effects
According to the present invention, there can be provided a microgranule preparation which can be orally administered and is rapidly disintegrated in a mouth when orally administering unlike the general powder or granular preparation already known in the art, and the microgranule preparation has the superior effects for making bitterness of the drug and has no feelings of irritation and aftersensation in a mouth, after administering.



DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 represents an evaluation result for the masking effect of bitterness.
FIG. 2 represents an evaluation result for the feelings of irritation.
FIG. 3 represents an evaluation result for the aftersensation.
FIG. 4 represents an evaluation result for the dissolution time in a mouth.



BEST MODE FOR INVENTION
Hereinafter, terms used in the present specification are defined.
‘Microgranule preparation’ as used in the present specification is used as having a common meanings comprising all of powder, microgranule and granule preparations defined in the Korean pharmacopoeia, but is not limited into them, and refers to the preparation having a granular form made of small fine or common granule.
Especially, the microgranule preparation of the present invention does not use a binding agent as used in the procedure assembling it with an ordinary common dry process or wet process, and also, means an assembly of an agglomerate unit consisting of a continuous and discontinuous phase by adopting the special preparation method.
‘Agglomerate unit’ of the present invention means a state in which effective ingredients agglomerate and contact with pharmaceutical acceptable excipients or additives by a physical binding.
‘Discontinuous phase’ of the present invention represents an embodiments in which the first component which is one element composing the agglomerate unit is present in the agglomerate unit, and means the form which is separately present by totally being surrounded by the second component within the agglomerate unit.
‘Continuous phase’ of the present invention represents an embodiment in which the second component which is another element composing the agglomerate unit is present in the agglomerate unit, and means the form which allows the first component to be present as discontinuous phase.
‘Drug’ of the present invention is included in the preparation of the present invention, and comprises a drug with bitterness, as a pharmacological active effective ingredient. Since the present invention is merely based on the fact that effective components can be included in the preparation of the invention, as the invention characterized in the preparation itself, such effective ingredients are not limited. Only that for example, the effective ingredients included in the present invention can be mentioned as sildenafil, tadalafil, udenafil, donepezil, glymeperid, dexybupropen, acetaminopen, pitavastatin, rebamipid, azythromycin, desmopressin, pranlukast, hydrochloric acid pseudoephedrine, hydrochloric acid ranitidine, hydrochloric acid rebocetirizine, etc., and comprise the pharmaceutical acceptable salts thereof.
‘Sugar or sugar alcohol’ as used in the present invention refers to the carrier which can be rapidly dissolved when orally administering it, and can constitute the continuous phase through the process for preparation of the present invention, as being an element for constituting the second component. As the specific example thereof, the pharmaceutical acceptable sugar or sugar alcohol and a mixture thereof, such as xylitol, manitol, isomalt, sorbitol, maltitol, the fined white sugar, lactose, inositol, erythritol, a crystal fructose, trehalose, ribitol, arabitol, galatitol, lactitol and maltotritol, etc. can be mentioned, but are not limited to them.
The feelings of irritation as used in the present specification refers to the feelings to which patient taken a medicine causes uncomfortableness due to that the patient notices it as a foreign substance and comprises, for example, a frickly feeling such as a sand, or a feeling irritating a mucosa of a mouth or tongue, and also a sticky feeling such as a mucus substance.
An aftersensation as used in the present specification means that although substantial amount of time has passed after administering the preparation, for example, about 20 seconds has passed after orally administering, and then the preparation comprising the effective ingredients has already dissolved and absorbed into the body, the sensation that a preparation or a part of it is remained in the mouth or the sensation related to a trace of taking the medicine such as a taste or feeling for the preparation is not yet removed in the mouth is maintained within the mouth, and means the sensation causing displeasure according to the patient, although it does not correspond to the feeling of irritation. When such aftersensation is present, it can result a desire to further drink water or a drink, and in this case, since the feature of the preparation characterized in taking it without water is not effected, it must be considered to improve the quality of the preparation together with the feeling of irritation.
Hereinafter, the present invention will be specifically explained.
When the effective ingredients are prepared in the form of powder or granule and then are administered, various limitations such as a dosage, a presence for aftersensation or feeling of irritation within a mouth, masking of bitterness, etc., are present. Among these, regarding the means for masking of bitterness, a method in which common sweetening agent is included in the preparation is classical, but according to the drug, it is not impossible to effectively mask the bitterness only with a sweetening agent. Therefore, methods using alkaline agent to adjust solubility by changing pH of the effective ingredients, or using an inclusion complex, or coating the effective ingredients by the polymer, etc. are considered as a means for masking bitterness, such methods are easily to destroy the characteristic features which are essential parts, that is, there is no aftersensation or feeling of irritation within the mouth, and also it should be rapidly dissolved in the mouth. Meanwhile, in the case of microgranule preparation of the present invention, inventors of the present application considered that since a residence time of the preparation presented in the mouth ranges from in short several minute to at length less than about 20 ̃30 minutes, the preparation is instantaneously dissolved within such a short time and then moved into a gastrointestinal tract, and thus, when the masking means so as not to represent the bitterness are provided during staying it within the mouth, the patient can not feel the bitterness and then completed the present invention.
That is, the present invention is characterized in that the masking bitterness is made by controlling the internal structure of the agglomerate unit, unlike the traditional trials that the bitterness of the effective ingredients is masked by chemical methods.
More specifically, the agglomerate unit of the present invention is consisted of an effective ingredient (the first component) and the pharmaceutically acceptable excipients (the second component), i.e., sugars or sugar alcohols, can comprise the other additives which can be commonly added in the pharmaceutical field. In the agglomerate unit of the present invention, the said first component is present as discontinuous phase, and the said second component is present as continuous phase. That is, the said second component is present in the form surrounding the first component, in which the first component is surrounded by the second component, simultaneously with forming a separate discontinuous phase. In addition, it is preferable for the first component to uniformly disperse in the second component. When the powder of the present invention comprising such the agglomerate unit is administered to a patient, it is assumed that the patient can not feel the bitterness due to that the second component with sweetness and the first component with bitterness almost concurrently stimulate taste cells of a taste bud, simultaneously with that the bitterness of which the first component constituting the discontinuous phase is dissolved by the second component constituting the continuous phase in the mouth and thus, a rate for sensing the bitterness is delayed instantaneously.
Especially, it is considered as being a very special phenomenon that the effect for masking the bitterness is obtained by taking the internal structure of the agglomerate of the present invention, in light of that the effect for masking the bitterness does not exhibit when the form of agglomerate unit is made into common granular form without segregating the discontinuous and continuous phases like the present invention.
Meanwhile, in order to prepare the agglomerate unit into discontinuous and continuous phases, it is necessary to dissolve the second component in the proper solvent and then disperse the first component into the solution. In this case, the solvent can be the solvent comprising at least one organic solution selected from the group consisting of water, a straight, branched or cyclic chain alcohol having 1 to 4 carbon atoms and a straight, branched or cyclic chain ketone having 3 to 6 carbon atoms, or the mix solution thereof. In the most preferable embodiment, said solvent is water. The composition comprising the agglomerate unit of the present invention can be obtained by dispersing said the first component and then, drying the dispersion obtain, in this case the dry method can be a solvent evaporation method, spray drying or freeze-drying, etc., and any dry method can be used unless the internal structure of the agglomerate unit is constituted by the continuous phase and the discontinuous phase. The composition dried as such is adjusted as a proper size by pulverizing or sieving, and also is mixed with the pharmaceutical acceptable excipient or additive, and thus, is obtained as the microgranule preparation of the present invention.
In addition, a high sweetening agent can be included in the agglomerate unit, for example, the high sweetening agent selected from sucrose, dextrose, fructose, glucose, liquid glucose, maltose saccharin, cyclamate, aspartame K, sucralose, alitame and neotame can be included. Such the high sweetening agent can be comprised in the preparation of the present invention after mixing process, i.e. after mixing the agglomerate unit, and in the case of the effective ingredient with severe bitterness, the effect masking the bitterness can be more superior by constituting such high sweetening agent as the continuous phase.
One or more of the pharmaceutical acceptable flavoring agent can be used so as to improve the flavor of the preparation and to enhance drug compliance. As the acceptable flavoring agent, orange flavor, grape flavor, apple flavor, lemon flavor, strawberry flavor, cherry flavor, pineapple flavor, banana flavor, tutti frutti flavor, blueberry flavor, peppermint flavor, cocoa flavor, peach flavor and milk flavor or the pharmaceutically acceptable flavoring agent and the mixture thereof can be used.
The microgranule preparation obtained by such method has effects that it has a rapid dissolving rate in the mouth, and does not have the aftersensation and feeling irritation in the mouth, together with the effect for masking the bitterness.
The feeling irritation refers to the sensation that a person feels the preparation unpleasant by perceiving it as a foreign substance in the mouth when administering it as mentioned above, according to the research of the inventors of the present application, it can be shown that such feeling irritation is closely related to a microscopic disintegration and a dissolution pattern. That is, in order to reduce the feeling of irritation, it is shown that the disintegration and dissolution should be rightly started in the mouth soon after administering it, and also, rates of the disintegration and dissolution should be very constant in the mouth.
Especially, in order to achieve it, it is shown that it is important not to use a binding agent which was considered as being necessary to use the ordinary granule preparation. Therefore, the present invention has another characteristic feature that the binding agent is not used in dissolving the second component constituting continuous phase and/or the sweetening agent in the solvent, and dispersing the first component into it and drying it. That is, unlike the ordinary granule agent, the internal structure of the agglomerate unit is constituted as the continuous phase and discontinuous phase and thus the disintegration and dissolution are started in a moment in the mouth when administering the preparation, and the rapid and continuous disintegration and dissolution are exhibited during a microscopic section ranging from several seconds ̃numbers of seconds and thus the new preparation having no feeling irritation is obtained.
In addition, according to the inventor's research of the present application, it is shown that the internal structure of the agglomerate unit affects the feeling of irritation in the mouth, and when the binding agent is not used, since the inert excipient constituting the preparation together with the effective ingredients does not remain in the mouth and moves to gastrointestinal tract in a moment together with a saliva, it is found that any sensation due to the administration of the preparation in the mouth after administering it does not remain.
Especially, the microgranule preparation of the present invention has the characteristic feature that it can be rapidly disintegrated and dissolved in a mouth, and such the characteristic feature is also considered as being the effects which can be obtained by constituting the agglomerate into the continuous phase and discontinuous phase and simultaneously using no binding agent. That is, in the case of the other preparation without water like in the present invention, for example, industrially available ODF or ODT, it remains in the mouth for at least of numbers of second after administering it, but, since the preparation of the present invention is disintegrated and dissolved within several seconds (substantially, almost simultaneously with the administration) and then moved into the gastrointestinal tract, such characteristic feature is very differentiated from the ordinary ‘preparation taking without water’.
EMBODIMENT FOR PRACTICING THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained with working examples. But, it should be paid attention to that the following examples are not limited the scope of the rights of the present invention as the specific embodiments, and various modifications can be present within the technical idea of the present invention.
Examples 1 to 7
Pharmaceutical compositions comprising the agglomerate units according to the present invention were made by using various effective ingredients. That is, based on the components and the contents as listed in the below Table 1, the second component was dissolved in the solvent, and then the first component was added and dispersed by stirring. After drying the dispersion, the agglomerate unit according to the present invention was obtained. After mixing sugar or sugar alcohol in the state of particle into the agglomerate unit obtained, the pharmaceutical composition according to the present invention was prepared. Also, it was identified as to whether the internal structure of the agglomerate unit exhibits the discontinuous/continuous phases by observing the agglomerate unit obtained.














TABLE 1






Example 1
Example 2
Example 3
Example 4
Example 5
Example 6
Example 7























the first
component
hydrochloric
udenafil
citric acid
hydrochloric
succinic
hydrochloric
hydrochloric


component

acid

sildenafil
acid
acid
acid
acid




donepezil


vardenafil
sumatriptan
dapoxetine
ondansetron



the
 10 mg
100 mg
70.23 mg  
23.7 mg 
 70 mg
67.2 mg 
 8 mg



amount










used









The
component
xylitol
xylitol
xylitol
xylitol
xylitol
xylitol
xylitol


second
the
250 mg
250 mg
250 mg
250 mg
250 mg
250 mg
250 mg


component
amount










used









solvent
kinds
purified
purified
purified
purified
purified
purified
purified




water
water
water
water
water
water
water



the
170 mg
170 mg
170 mg
170 mg
170 mg
170 mg
170 mg



amount










used









internal

continuous/
continuous/
continuous/
continuous/
continuous/
continuous/
continuous/


structure

discontinuous
discontinuous
discontinuous
discontinuous
discontinuous
discontinuous
discontinuous




phase
phase
phase
phase
phase
phase
phase


sugar/sugar
kinds
xylitol
xylitol
xylitol
xylitol
xylitol
xylitol
xylitol


alcohol (post-
the
210 mg
120 mg
149.77 mg  
196.3 mg  
150 mg
152.8 mg  
212 mg


mixing)
amount










used









high
kinds
aspartame
aspartame
aspartame
aspartame
aspartame
aspartame
aspartame


sweetening
the
 30 mg
 30 mg
 30 mg
 30 mg
 30 mg
 30 mg
 30 mg


agent (post-
amount









mixing)
used









total

500 mg
500 mg
500 mg
500 mg
500 mg
500 mg
500 mg


mass (solid)









Comparative Examples 1 to 7
As corresponding to examples 1 to 7, preparations were made to have the contents listed in the below Table 2, as prepared by the granule preparation method (wet process) of the ordinary technique.















TABLE 2







comparative
comparative
comparative
comparative
comparative
comparative
comparative




example 1
example 2
example 3
example 4
example 5
example 6
example 7







the first
component 
hydrochloric
udenafil
citric acid
hydrochloric
succinic
hydrochloric
hydrochloric


component

acid

sildenafil
acid
acid
acid
acid




donepezil


vardenafil
sumatriptan
dapoxetine
ondansetron



the
 10 mg
100 mg
70.23 mg  
23.7 mg 
 70 mg
67.2 mg 
 8 mg



amount










used









The
component
xylitol
xylitol
xylitol
xylitol
xylitol
xylitol
xylitol


second
the
250 mg
250 mg
250 mg
250 mg
250 mg
250 mg
250 mg


component
amount










used









Binding
kinds
polyvinyl
polyvinyl
polyvinyl
polyvinyl
polyvinyl
polyvinyl
polyvinyl


agent

pyrrolidone
pyrrolidone
pyrrolidone
pyrrolidone
pyrrolidone
pyrrolidone
pyrrolidone



the
 10 mg
 10 mg
 10 mg
 10 mg
 10 mg
 10 mg
 10 mg



amount










used









Binding
kinds
the
the
the
the
the
the
the


agent

purified
purified
purified
purified
purified
purified
purified




water
water
water
water
water
water
water



the
200 mg
200 mg
200 mg
200 mg
200 mg
200 mg
200 mg



amount










used









internal

discontinuous/
discontinuous/
discontinuous/
discontinuous/
discontinuous/
discontinuous/
discontinuous/


structure

discontinuous
discontinuous
discontinuous
discontinuous
discontinuous
discontinuous
discontinuous




phase
phase
phase
phase
phase
phase
phase


sugar/sugar
kinds
xylitol
xylitol
xylitol
xylitol
xylitol
xylitol
xylitol


alcohol (post-
the
200 mg
110 mg
139.77 mg  
186.3 mg  
140 mg
142.8 mg  
202 mg


mixing)
amount










used









high
kinds
aspartame
aspartame
aspartame
aspartame
aspartame
aspartame
aspartame


sweetening
the
 30 mg
 30 mg
 30 mg
 30 mg
 30 mg
 30 mg
 30 mg


agent(post-
amount









mixing)
used









total

500 mg
500 mg
500 mg
500 mg
500 mg
500 mg
500 mg


mass(solid)









Examples 8 to 14
Pharmaceutical compositions were prepared as the same method as examples 1 to 7, except that the high sweetening agent is included within the continuous phase. That is, when dissolving the second component in the solvent, the high sweetening agent was dissolved together, and then, the first component was dispersed therein and pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention were prepared as the same manner as in examples 1 to 7. The specific contents are listed in the below Table 3.














TABLE 3








Example
Example
Example
Example
Example



Example 8
Example 9
10
11
12
13
14























the 1st
component
hydrochloric
udenafil
citric acid
hydrochloric
succinic
hydrochloric
hydrochloric


component

acid

sildenafil
acid
acid
acid
acid




donepezil


vardenafil
sumatriptan
dapoxetine
ondansetron



the
 10 mg
100 mg
70.23 mg  
23.7 mg 
 70 mg
67.2 mg 
 8 mg



amount










used









The
component
xylitol
xylitol
xylitol
xylitol
xylitol
xylitol
xylitol


second
the
250 mg
250 mg
250 mg
250 mg
250 mg
250 mg
250 mg


component
amount










used









high
component
aspartame
aspartame
aspartame
aspartame
aspartame
aspartame
aspartame


sweetening
the
 30 mg
 30 mg
 30 mg
 30 mg
 30 mg
 30 mg
 30 mg


agent
amount










used









solvent
kinds
the
the
the
the
the
the
the




purified
purified
purified
purified
purified
purified
purified




water
water
water
water
water
water
water



the
170 mg
170 mg
170 mg
170 mg
170 mg
170 mg
170 mg



amount










used









internal

continuous/
continuous/
continuous/
continuous/
continuous/
continuous/
continuous/


structure

discontinuous
discontinuous
discontinuous
discontinuous
discontinuous
discontinuous
discontinuous




phase
phase
phase
phase
phase
phase
phase


sugar/sugar
kinds
xylitol
xylitol
xylitol
xylitol
xylitol
xylitol
xylitol


alcohol (post-
the
210 mg
120 mg
149.77 mg  
196.3 mg  
150 mg
152.8 mg  
212 mg


mixing)
amount










used









total

500 mg
500 mg
500 mg
500 mg
500 mg
500 mg
500 mg


mass(solid)









Experiment 1: Identification of the Effect for Masking Bitterness
Sensory test by twenty (20) healthy adults were practiced for bitterness regarding to the pharmaceutical composition prepared in the above examples 1 to 14 and comparative examples 1 to 7. The results were estimated according to the below evaluation criteria and then were represented. In this case, a blind-test was keep for the test subjects in all tests.
Score 0: No bitterness
Score 1: No rarely bitterness
Score 2: A little bitterness
Score 3: Present bitterness
Score 4: Very severe bitterness
A result tables scored by the respective subjects are represented in the below Tables 4 to 6.








TABLE 4








Example















Example 1
Example 2
Example 3
Example 4
Example 5
Example 6
Example 7

















subject
0
0
2
2
2
1
2


score
0
1
2
0
0
1
2



0
1
0
2
0
1
0



0
2
1
1
2
2
2



0
0
1
1
1
2
1



1
1
2
1
2
1
0



1
1
1
0
1
0
2



2
2
2
0
0
0
1



2
1
2
1
2
1
2



0
1
0
2
2
2
2



1
2
1
0
2
1
2



0
0
0
0
2
0
1



2
0
2
2
2
2
1



0
2
0
2
2
2
2



1
1
1
1
2
1
1



1
1
0
0
1
1
0



1
2
2
2
0
1
1



0
0
1
2
1
1
0



0
0
0
0
0
2
1



1
0
1
1
2
2
0


average
0.7
0.9
1.1
1.0
1.3
1.2
1.2

















TABLE 5








Example















Example 8
Example 9
Example 10
Example 11
Example 12
Example 13
Example 14

















subject
0
0
1
1
1
1
1


score
0
0
1
1
0
1
1



0
0
0
1
1
0
1



0
0
1
1
0
0
0



0
0
0
1
1
1
0



0
0
0
0
0
1
1



1
1
1
1
0
0
1



1
1
0
0
0
0
0



0
0
1
1
0
0
1



1
0
1
0
0
0
0



1
1
1
0
0
1
1



1
1
0
0
0
0
0



1
1
0
1
1
1
0



1
1
0
0
0
0
1



0
1
1
0
1
1
0



1
0
1
0
1
1
0



1
0
1
1
0
1
0



0
1
1
1
1
1
0



0
0
1
1
0
1
1



1
1
0
1
0
0
0


average
0.5
0.5
0.6
0.6
0.4
0.6
0.5

















TABLE 6








Example















comparative
comparative
comparative
comparative
comparative
comparative
comparative



example 1
example 2
example 3
example 4
example 5
example 6
example 7

















Subject
4
3
3
3
4
3
3


score
4
4
3
3
4
4
4



4
4
3
3
3
4
4



4
3
3
3
4
4
4



3
4
3
4
3
3
4



3
4
4
4
3
4
3



4
3
4
4
3
3
3



3
3
4
3
3
4
4



4
3
4
3
4
4
4



3
4
3
4
4
3
4



3
3
4
3
4
3
3



4
3
4
4
3
3
3



3
4
4
4
4
3
3



4
3
3
3
4
4
4



4
3
4
4
3
3
4



4
3
4
4
3
3
3



3
4
3
3
3
4
4



4
4
3
4
3
3
4



3
3
4
4
4
3
3



4
3
3
3
3
4
3


Average
3.6
3.4
3.5
3.5
3.5
3.5
3.6









Based on the above Tables 4 to 6, when determining significance via t-test for the same main components of examples and comparative examples, the results of Tables 7 and 8 were obtained. That is, it was verified that all of examples 1 to 7 and examples 8 to 14 represent differences having the statistical significances.













TABLE 7





Example 1
Example 2
Example 3
Example 4
Example 5
Example 6
Example 7


vs
vs
vs
vs
vs
vs
vs


comparative
comparative
comparative
comparative
comparative
comparative
comparative


example 1
example 2
example 3
example 4
example 5
example 6
example 7







p < 0.001
p < 0.001
p < 0.001
p < 0.001
p < 0.001
p < 0.001
p < 0.001






















TABLE 8





Example 8
Example 9
Example 10
Example 11
Example 12
Example 13
Example 14


vs
vs
vs
vs
vs
vs
vs


comparative
comparative
comparative
comparative
comparative
comparative
comparative


example 1
example 2
example 3
example 4
example 5
example 6
example 7







p < 0.001
p < 0.001
p < 0.001
p < 0.001
p < 0.001
p < 0.001
p < 0.001









Experiment 2: Experiment for Feeling of Irritation in a Mouth
Sensory test by twenty (20) healthy adults were practiced for feeling of irritation regarding to the pharmaceutical compositions prepared in the above examples 1 to 14 and comparative examples 1 to 7. The results were estimated according to the below evaluation criteria and then the result were determined. In this case, a blind-test was keep for the test subjects in all tests.
Score 0: No feeling of irritation
Score 1: No rarely feeling of irritation
Score 2: A little feeling of irritation
Score 3: Presence for feeling of irritation
Score 4: Very severe feeling of irritation
A result tables scored by the respective subjects are represented in the below Tables 9 to 11.








TABLE 9








Example















Exam-
Exam-
Exam-
Exam-
Exam-
Exam-
Exam-



ple 1
ple 2
ple 3
ple 4
ple 5
ple 6
ple 7

















sub-
0
1
0
1
0
0
0


ject
1
1
0
0
1
1
1


score
0
1
0
0
0
1
1



0
1
0
1
0
0
0



1
0
1
1
0
1
0



0
1
1
1
1
0
0



1
1
0
0
0
1
1



0
0
1
1
0
1
0



1
1
0
1
1
0
0



0
0
1
1
0
0
0



1
0
1
0
0
0
0



1
1
0
0
0
0
1



0
1
1
1
0
0
1



1
1
0
0
1
0
0



1
1
1
1
1
0
1



1
0
1
1
1
1
0



1
1
0
1
1
0
1



1
1
0
0
1
1
1



1
0
1
1
0
0
1



0
0
1
0
0
0
1


aver-
0.6
0.7
0.5
0.6
0.4
0.4
0.5


age

















TABLE 10








Example















Exam-
Exam-
Exam-
Exam-
Exam-
Exam-
Exam-



ple 8
ple 9
ple 10
ple 11
ple 12
ple 13
ple 14

















Sub-
0
1
1
1
1
0
1


ject
0
0
1
1
0
0
0


score
0
0
1
1
0
1
0



1
0
0
1
1
0
1



0
1
1
0
0
0
1



1
0
0
1
1
1
0



1
1
0
0
1
0
1



1
0
0
1
0
0
0



1
1
0
1
0
1
0



0
1
1
0
0
0
1



0
1
0
1
1
1
0



1
1
1
1
1
0
1



1
1
1
0
0
0
1



0
0
1
1
0
1
1



1
0
1
0
1
1
1



0
1
0
0
0
1
0



0
1
1
0
0
1
1



0
0
1
0
1
0
1



0
0
0
0
0
1
0



1
1
1
0
0
0
1


aver-
0.5
0.6
0.6
0.5
0.4
0.5
0.6


age

















TABLE 11








comparative example















comparative
comparative
comparative
comparative
comparative
comparative
comparative



example 1
example 2
example 3
example 4
example 5
example 6
example 7

















Subject
2
2
2
2
3
2
1


score
2
2
3
1
3
3
1



1
1
1
3
3
2
3



2
3
2
3
3
3
1



3
3
3
3
1
2
3



1
3
2
3
3
2
2



3
1
3
3
2
2
1



1
3
3
2
1
2
3



3
2
2
2
2
2
3



2
2
3
2
1
3
2



3
2
1
1
2
2
3



1
1
3
3
1
2
3



1
1
3
2
3
3
1



2
3
3
2
3
1
3



1
2
1
1
3
3
2



3
2
1
1
3
3
1



2
3
1
3
3
1
3



3
1
3
2
2
3
2



2
1
1
3
2
2
2



3
2
3
1
3
1
3


average
2.1
2.0
2.2
2.2
2.4
2.2
2.2









Based on the above Tables 9 to 11, when determining significance via t-test for the same main components of examples and comparative examples, the results of Tables 12 and 13 were obtained. That is, it was verified that all of examples 1 to 7 and examples 8 to 14 represent differences having the statistical significances with comparative examples 1 to 7.













TABLE 12





Example 1 vs
Example 2 vs
Example 3 vs
Example 4 vs
Example 5 vs
Example 6 vs
Example 7 vs


comparative
comparative
comparative
comparative
comparative
comparative
comparative


example 1
example 2
example 3
example 4
example 5
example 6
example 7







p < 0.001
p < 0.001
p < 0.001
p < 0.001
p < 0.001
p < 0.001
p < 0.001






















TABLE 13





Example 8 vs
Example 9 vs
Example 10 vs
Example 11 vs
Example 12 vs
Example 13 vs
Example 14 vs


comparative
comparative
comparative
comparative
comparative
comparative
comparative


example 1
example 2
example 3
example 4
example 5
example 6
example 7







p < 0.001
p < 0.001
p < 0.001
p < 0.001
p < 0.001
p < 0.001
p < 0.001









Experiment 3: Experiment for Aftersensation in a Mouth
Sensory test by twenty (20) healthy adults were practiced for aftersensation in a mouth regarding to the pharmaceutical compositions prepared in the above examples 1 to 14 and comparative examples 1 to 7. The results were estimated according to the below evaluation criteria and then the result were determined. In this case, a blind-test was keep for the test subjects in all tests.
Score 0: No aftersensation
Score 1: No rarely aftersensation
Score 2: A little aftersensation
Score 3: Present aftersensation
Score 4: Very severe aftersensation
A result tables scored by the respective subjects are represented in the below Tables 14 to 16.








TABLE 14








Example















Exam-
Exam-
Exam-
Exam-
Exam-
Exam-
Exam-



ple 1
ple 2
ple 3
ple 4
ple 5
ple 6
ple 7

















Sub-
1
1
0
0
0
1
0


ject
1
0
0
1
0
1
0


score
1
1
0
1
1
0
0



0
0
0
1
1
1
0



0
1
1
0
0
1
1



1
1
0
1
1
1
0



0
1
0
0
1
1
1



0
0
1
0
1
1
0



1
1
1
1
1
1
1



0
0
0
0
1
1
1



1
0
1
1
0
1
0



1
0
1
1
1
1
0



1
1
1
0
0
1
1



1
1
1
0
1
0
1



0
1
1
1
0
1
0



0
0
1
1
0
1
1



0
0
0
1
1
0
0



0
0
1
0
0
0
0



1
1
1
1
1
1
0



0
0
0
1
0
1
0


Aver-
0.5
0.5
0.6
0.6
0.6
0.8
0.4


age

















TABLE 15








Example















Exam-
Exam-
Exam-
Exam-
Exam-
Exam-
Exam-



ple 8
ple 9
ple 10
ple 11
ple 12
ple 13
ple 14

















sub-
0
1
1
1
0
1
1


ject
1
0
1
1
0
0
0


score
0
0
1
0
0
1
1



0
1
1
1
0
1
1



0
0
0
1
1
0
1



0
1
0
1
0
1
1



0
0
1
0
0
1
0



0
1
1
1
1
1
0



1
0
0
1
0
1
1



1
0
1
1
0
1
1



1
0
0
0
1
0
0



1
1
0
0
0
0
0



0
0
0
0
1
0
1



0
0
0
0
0
1
0



1
0
0
0
1
0
1



0
1
1
0
0
1
1



1
0
0
1
0
1
0



1
1
0
0
0
1
0



0
1
0
1
0
1
0



0
0
0
1
1
0
0


Aver-
0.4
0.4
0.4
0.6
0.3
0.7
0.5


age

















TABLE 16








comparative example















comparative
comparative
comparative
comparative
comparative
comparative
comparative



example 1
example 2
example 3
example 4
example 5
example 6
Example 7

















Subject
3
3
3
1
1
3
2


score
2
2
1
3
3
2
2



2
2
3
2
3
1
1



2
3
1
2
2
3
3



3
3
2
1
2
2
2



3
1
1
1
2
3
2



1
3
2
2
1
3
2



2
1
1
1
2
2
2



3
2
2
2
3
2
2



2
3
3
2
3
1
2



2
2
2
3
2
1
3



2
1
1
3
3
1
3



2
1
2
1
3
1
1



1
1
2
1
2
2
3



2
1
2
1
3
3
2



1
1
1
1
1
1
2



1
3
2
1
3
3
1



1
3
1
3
2
2
2



1
3
2
2
1
2
1



1
2
2
3
3
2
2


Average
1.9
2.1
1.8
1.8
2.3
2.0
2.0









Based on the above Tables 14 to 16, when determining significance via t-test for the same main components of examples and comparative examples, the results of Tables 17 and 18 were obtained. That is, it was verified that all of examples 1 to 7 and examples 8 to 14 represent differences having the statistical significances with comparative examples 1 to 7.













TABLE 17





Example 1 vs
Example 2 vs
Example 3 vs
Example 4 vs
Example 5 vs
Example 6 vs
Example 7 vs


comparative
comparative
comparative
comparative
comparative
comparative
comparative


example 1
example 2
example 3
example 4
example 5
example 6
example 7







p < 0.001
p < 0.001
p < 0.001
p < 0.001
p < 0.001
p < 0.001
p < 0.001






















TABLE 18





Example 8 vs
Example 9 vs
Example 10 vs
Example 11 vs
Example 12 vs
Example 13 vs
Example 14 vs


comparative
comparative
comparative
comparative
comparative
comparative
comparative


example 1
example 2
example 3
example 4
example 5
example 6
example 7







p < 0.001
p < 0.001
p < 0.001
p < 0.001
p < 0.001
p < 0.001
p < 0.001









Experiment 4: Test for the Dissolution Time in a Mouth
The test for the dissolution time in a mouth by twenty (20) healthy adults were practiced for the pharmaceutical compositions prepared in the above examples 1 to 14 and comparative examples 1 to 7. The dissolution time in the mouth was determined by using a stopwatch a duration for from the administration time to complete dissolution time. In this case, a blind-test was keep for the test subjects in all tests.








TABLE 19








Example















Example
Example
Example
Example
Example
Example
Example



1
2
3
4
5
6
7

















subject
4
8
4
7
3
6
6


determination
6
8
6
5
3
4
4


results
3
3
4
8
6
3
3



3
3
4
7
3
4
7



8
4
6
8
6
7
6



3
3
5
4
5
8
6



7
6
6
3
5
8
8



6
4
6
7
8
8
5



5
3
7
7
5
6
4



3
5
7
4
7
8
5



6
7
6
8
7
3
7



5
8
3
8
8
7
6



8
3
6
3
8
3
5



3
8
8
3
3
3
6



8
8
5
6
6
3
5



4
8
4
4
3
6
5



6
5
6
7
6
3
3



3
5
3
3
7
6
4



3
4
7
8
7
7
4



6
7
4
4
4
6
5


average
5.0
5.5
5.4
5.7
5.5
5.5
5.2

















TABLE 20








Example















Example
Example
Example
Example
Example
Example
Example



8
9
10
11
12
13
14

















subject
5
5
7
3
3
5
8


determination
8
5
7
8
7
5
5


results
8
3
5
8
7
8
4



4
5
9
9
7
3
7



7
8
6
4
4
6
6



6
3
9
5
8
6
7



9
4
6
6
9
6
7



3
6
9
9
9
3
6



5
5
5
9
7
7
6



4
4
7
4
6
3
9



4
3
6
6
4
6
7



3
4
3
6
7
8
8



3
3
6
5
4
7
8



3
5
6
6
4
6
5



5
3
5
7
9
9
9



6
4
5
9
4
3
6



5
3
7
9
6
5
7



4
7
4
6
9
6
9



8
5
9
4
4
4
8



6
4
9
9
9
9
8


average
5.3
4.5
6.5
6.6
6.4
5.8
7.0

















TABLE 21








comparative example















comparative
comparative
comparative
comparative
comparative
comparative
comparative



example 1
example 2
example 3
example 4
example 5
example 6
Example 7

















subject
17
21
20
21
25
25
26


determination
17
18
22
18
16
21
25


results
22
21
19
25
22
29
21



25
18
22
25
24
17
24



27
21
24
20
24
23
29



22
15
28
24
29
28
24



18
18
25
19
25
17
20



24
17
26
30
28
29
15



24
24
24
21
24
25
21



28
30
16
20
28
18
26



26
26
30
20
25
22
30



18
22
30
25
26
15
25



19
30
21
22
21
21
15



25
28
18
28
28
30
25



29
16
17
15
24
30
23



26
26
27
28
24
20
24



17
28
17
27
26
29
25



30
21
25
28
20
17
23



19
28
25
19
17
16
29



18
18
25
26
16
15
22


average
22.6
22.3
23.1
23.1
23.6
22.4
23.6









Based on the above Tables 19 to 21, when determining significance via t-test for the same main components of examples and comparative examples, the results of Tables 22 and 23 were obtained. That is, it was verified that all of examples 1 to 7 and examples 8 to 14 represent differences having the statistical significances with comparative examples 1 to 7.













TABLE 22





Example 1 vs
Example 2 vs
Example 3 vs
Example 4 vs
Example 5 vs
Example 6 vs
Example 7 vs


comparative
comparative
comparative
comparative
comparative
comparative
comparative


example 1
example 2
example 3
example 4
example 5
example 6
example 7







p < 0.001
p < 0.001
p < 0.001
p < 0.001
p < 0.001
p < 0.001
p < 0.001






















TABLE 23





Example 8 vs
Example 9 vs
Example 10 vs
Example 11 vs
Example 12 vs
Example 13 vs
Example 14 vs


comparative
comparative
comparative
comparative
comparative
comparative
comparative


example 1
example 2
example 3
example 4
example 5
example 6
example 7







p < 0.001
p < 0.001
p < 0.001
p < 0.001
p < 0.001
p < 0.001
p < 0.001









INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
The microgranule preparation of the present invention is new preparation which does not have feeling of irritation and aftersensation, and is rapidly disintegrated and dissolved in the mouth, as the preparation in which the masking bitterness of effective ingredients having bitterness is regulated by the internal structure of the agglomerated unit. Especially, the preparation of the present invention can achieve the effect of the invention regardless of the kinds of the effective ingredients, and thus can apply to various effective ingredients. In addition, since the preparation process is relatively simple, the high efficient process can be achieved with an expensive cost.

## Claims

1. A method for preparing a pharmaceutical composition comprising agglomerate units consisting of a discontinuous phase consisting of a drug and a continuous phase comprising a sugar or sugar alcohol selected from the group consisting of xylitol, mannitol, isomalt, sorbitol, maltitol, refined white sugar, lactose, inositol, erythritol, crystal fructose, trehalose, ribitol, arabitol, galatitol, lactitol, and maltotritol; and a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient, the method comprising:
dissolving all or part of the sugar or sugar alcohol in water;
obtaining a dispersion by dispersing the drug in the water wherein said all or part of the sugar or sugar alcohol is dissolved; and
obtaining an agglomerate unit by drying the solvent,
wherein a binding agent is not used in obtaining the agglomerate unit.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises dispersing a high sweeting agent with the drug in water.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the high sweetening agent is present within the continuous phase.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the high sweetening agent is selected from the group consisting of sucrose, dextrose, fructose, glucose, liquid glucose, maltose, saccharin, cyclamate, aspartame, acesulpham K, sucralose, alitame, and neotame.