Steroid lotion

Abstract: An improved lotion formulation for the topical administration of corticosteroids in a hydro-alcoholic base containing propylene glycol.

Description: This invention relates to a process for the manufacture of a topical lotion for use in the application of steroid medicaments. More particularly, this invention relates to an improved lotion vehicle for steroids having improved properties. The present invention provides a process for the manufacture of a corticosteroid lotion formulation exhibiting high vasoconstrictor activity and excellent anti-inflammatory activity in steroid responsive dermatoses. The addition of propylene glycol to a hydro-alcoholic lotion base exhibits significantly higher vasoconstrictor activity than the corresponding lotion without propylene glycol. This increase in vasoconstrictor activity appears to be unique to propylene glycol since substitution of propylene glycol with another glycol, such as hexylene glycol or polyethylene glycol 400, decreases the vasoconstrictor activity of the lotion formulation. This present invention relates to a process for the manufacture of a topical composition for the treatment of dermatological disorders that are responsive to corticosteroids. In detail the present invention relates to a process for the manufacture of a topical lotion for the treatment of inflammation which comprises 0.01 to 1.0 % by weight of the composition of a dermatologically acceptable anti-inflammatory corticosteroid selected from the group consisting of betamethasone 17, 21 dipropionate, alclomethasone dipropionate and mometasone furoate in a hydro-alcoholic base comprising: 15 to 50% by weight of propylene glycol; 20 to 40 % by weight of isopropyl alcohol; 20 to 60 % by weight water; 0.1 to 0.5 % by weight of a thickening agent, and sufficient buffer to maintain the pH of the composition within the range of 3.0 to 6.0, by thoroughly mixing the ingredients in a conventional manner. The dermatological disorders are disorders such as psoriasis, seborrheic dermatitis, atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis and eczema. Treatment with the lotions of this invention is usually accomplished by applying the lotion to completely cover the affected area. The usual frequency of application is two to three times daily, although adequate maintenance therapy for some patients may be with less frequent application. The lotion manufactured according to the process of the present invention comprises a therapeutically effective amount of dermatologically acceptable anti-inflammatory corticosteroid. The therapeutically effective amount of corticosteroid is an amount of from 0.01 to 1.0 % by weight of the total composition. Ranges of 0.02 to 0.2 % are particularly suitable with a range of 0.05 to 0.1 % by weight being most preferable. The particular steroid medicaments useful in the composition of the present invention are dermatologically acceptable anti-inflammatory corticosteroids selected from betamethasone 17,21-dipropionate, alclometasone dipropionate, mometasone furoate [9α,21-dichloro-16α-methyl-1,4-pregnadiene-11β,17α-diol-3,20-dione-17-(2-furoate)]. This lotion composition of the present invention contains a thickening agent to achieve a lotion consistency. Examples of thickening agents useful in the invention are: Carbomer 940®, an acrylic acid polymer having an approximate molecular weight of 4,000,000 and available from B.F. Goodrich Chemical Company; Klucel®, hydroxypropyl cellulose which is a propylene glycol ether of cellulose available from Hercules Inc., Methocel A®, methyl cellulose which is a methyl ether of cellulose available from Dow Chemicals; and Polyquaternium-10® which is a polymeric quaternary ammonium salt of hydroxyethyl cellulose reacted with a trimethyl ammonium substituted epoxide, available from Amerchol Corporation Cosmetic preference or stability considerations will dictate selection of the thickening agent. The pH of the lotion composition of the present invention is in the range of 3.0 to 6.0 and preferably pH 4 to 5. Sufficient buffer solution is added to the lotion composition to maintain the pH in the desired range. Examples of buffers useful in the present invention are phosphate buffer, citrate buffer, citrate-phosphate buffer. The lotion of the present invention is manufactured in a conventional manner by thoroughly mixing the ingredients at ambient or elevated temperatures in order to achieve solubility of ingredients where appropriate. The following formulation examples illustrate the lotion compositions of the invention. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many modifications thereof may be practical without departing from the purpose and intent of this disclosure. The definition of components whose chemical composition is not immediately clear from the name used may be found in the CTFA Cosmetic Ingredients Dictionary, 3rd Edition, published by Cosmetic Toiletry and Fragrance Association, Inc., Washington, D.C. EXAMPLE 1 A 0.05% betamethasone dipropionate topical lotion formulation in accordance with the present invention having the following composition: Ingredients mg/g Betamethasone 17,21-Dipropionate USP 0.64 Sodium Phosphate Monobasic Monohydrate R 2.00 Phosphoric Acid NF Sodium Hydroxide R Propylene Glycol USP 300.00 Isopropyl Alcohol USP 300.00 Hydroxypropyl Cellulose NF 1.50 Purified Water USP q.s. 1.00 g In preparing the topical lotion formulation, the steroid is dissolved in isopropyl alcohol. Hydroxy-propylcellulose is dispersed in the alcoholic solution. A solution of sodium phosphate monobasic in water is added to the isopropyl alcoholic solution. Propylene glycol is then added and the solution is adjusted to total weight. Phosphoric acid is used to adjust the lotion to the target pH. In case the thickening agent is Carbomer 940®, sodium hydroxide is added to neutralize the acidic pH of the lotion and to achieve a final pH of approximately 4.5. EXAMPLE 2 A 0.05% alclometasone dipropionate lotion formulation in accordance with the present invention having the following composition. Ingredients mg/g Alclometasone dipropionate 0.5 Carbomer 940® 2.60 Sodium Hydroxide, R 0.04 Propylene Glycol, USP 200.0 Isopropyl Alcohol, NF 300.0 Hydrochloric Acid Purified Water, USP q.s. ad to 1.0 g EXAMPLE 3 A 0.1% mometasone furoate lotion formulation in accordance with the present invention having the following composition: Ingredients mg/g Mometasone fuorate 1.0 Isopropyl Alcohol USP 400.0 Propylene Glycol USP 300.0 Hydroxypropylcellulose (Klucel HF®) 1.5 Sodium Phosphate Monobasic Monohydrate R 2.0 Phosphoric Acid NF Water Purified USP q.s. to make 1 g Local anti-inflammatory activity of the topical compositions of this invention were tested by the vasoconstrictor assay described by McKenzie and Stoughton, Arch. Dermatol., 86 , 608 (1962). Sixteen to 32 subjects from a pool of healthy volunteers who met certain selection criteria were selected for each study. No individual was used more frequently than once every two weeks. Four sites, each approximately 2 cm in diameter and at least 1 cm apart, were delineated on the flexor surface of each of the subject's forearms, giving a total number of eight sites per subject. Ten (10) mg of each of the formulations tested per study were randomly applied to these sites using a Latin square design code, so that each site location received each test preparation an equal number of times. The four sites on each arm were then covered with a protective plastic shield. Six and one half hours later the shields were removed, and the test sites were washed with soap and water. Approximately 1/2 and 18 hours after removal of the shields, (7 and 24 hours after initial application of the test materials), the sites were examined and the degree of blanching (vasoconstriction) was graded as follows: No blanching -0; mild blanching - 1; moderate blanching - 2 and strong blanching - 3. Table I reports the results of a topical composition of this invention containing propylene glycol with a corresponding formulation without propylene glycol. In two test panels of 24-32 subjects per panel, the lotion with propylene glycol exhibits significantly higher vasoconstrictor activity than the lotion without propylene glycol. VASOCONSTRICTOR ACTIVITY OF BETAMETHASONE DIPROPIONATE (BDP) LOTIONS LOTION VASOCONSTRICTOR SCORE AT 7 HOURS TEST 1 TEST 2 BDP Lotion, 0.05% with propylene glycol 1.8 1.5 BDP Lotion, 0.05% without propylene glycol 1.5 1.1 Table II reports data demonstrating that when another glycol such as hexylene glycol or polyethylene glycol 400 (PEG 400) is replaced for propylene glycol, the vasoconstrictor activity of the propylene glycol formulation, is significantly higher than the other two glycol containing formulas. LOTION VASOCONSTRICTOR SCORE 7 HOURS 24 HOURS BDP Lotion, 0.05% with propylene glycol 1.5 0.6 BDP Lotion, 0.05% with hexylene glycol 0.7 0.4 BDP Lotion, 0.05% with PEG 400 0.2 0.1 Table III reports data of a 0.05% alclometasone lotion containing propylene glycol. Substituting propylene glycol with another glycol, hexylene glycol caused a significant decrease in vasoconstrictor activity. VASOCONSTRICTOR ACTIVITY OF ALCLOMETASONE DIPROPIONATE (AD) LOTIONS LOTION VASOCONSTRICTOR ACTIVITY 7 HOURS 24 HOURS AD Lotion, 0.05% with 20% propylene glycol 1.1 0.16 AD Lotion, 0.05% with 20% hexylene glycol 0.41 0.09 The data presented in the foregoing tables demonstrate that propylene glycol uniquely potentiates the vasoconstrictor activity and anti-inflammatory activity of steroids when formulated in a hydro-alcoholic base of this invention. Table IV reports data of a 0.1% Mometasone furoate lotion containing propylene glycol. Substituting propylene glycol with hexylene glycol or polyethylene glycol-400 caused a significant decrease in vasoconstrictor activity. Vasoconstrictor Activity of Momethasone Furoate (MF) Lotion Lotion Vasoconstrictor Activity 7 Hours 24 Hours MF Lotion, 0.1% with 30% propylene glycol 1.0 0.33 MF Lotion 0.1% with 30% Hexylene glycol 0.13 0.06 MF Lotion 0.1% with 30% polyethylene glycol 400 0 0.04

Claims: Process for the manufacture of a topical lotion for the treatment of inflammation which comprises 0.01 to 1.0 % by weight of the composition of a dermatologically acceptable anti-inflammatory corticosteroid selected from the group consisting of betamethasone 17,21-dipropionate, alclometasone dipropionate and mometasone furoate in a hydro-alcoholic base comprising: 15 to 50% by weight of propylene glycol; 20 to 40 % by weight of isopropyl alcohol; 20 to 60 % by weight water; 0.1 to 0.5 % by weight of a thickening agent, and sufficient buffer to maintain the pH of the composition within the range of 3.0 to 6.0, by thoroughly mixing the ingredients in a conventional manner. The process of claim 1 wherein the corticosteroid comprises 0.02 to 0.2 % by weight of the composition. The process of claim 1 wherein the betamethasone 17,21-dipropionate is present in an amount of 0.064 % by weight. The process of claim 3 comprising: Ingredients Concentration (mg/g) Betamethasone 17,21-Dipropionate USP 0.64 Sodium Phosphate Monobasic Monohydrate R 2.00 Phosphoric Acid NF Sodium Hydroxide R Propylene Glycol USP 300.00 Isopropyl Alcohol USP 300.00 Hydroxypropyl Cellulose NF 1.50 Purified Water USP q.s. 1.00 g The process of claim 1 comprising: Ingredients Concentration mg/g Alclometasone Dipropionate 0.5 Carbomer 940® 2.60 Sodium Hydroxide, R 0.04 Propylene Glycol, USP 200.0 Isopropyl Alcohol, NF 300.0 Hydrochloric Acid Purified Water, USP q.s. ad to 1.0 g The process of claim 1 comprising: Ingredients Concentration mg/g Mometasone Fuorate 1.0 Isopropyl Alcohol USP 400.0 Propylene Glycol USP 300.0 Hydroxypropyl Cellulose (Klucel HF®) 1.5 Sodium Phosphate Monobasic Monohydrate R 2.0 Phosphoric Acid NF Water Purified USP q.s. 1 g The process of claim 1 wherein the thickening agent is an acrylic acid polymer. The process of claim 1 wherein the thickening agent is hydroxypropyl cellulose.

Inventors: GALEOS REBECCA, MUNAYYER FARAH J, SEQUEIRA JOEL A, GALEOS, REBECCA, MUNAYYER, FARAH J., SEQUEIRA, JOEL A.
Applicants: SCHERING CORP, SCHERING CORPORATION
Application year: 1988
Main classification: A61K31
IPC codes: A61K31, A61K47, A61K9, A61P29