Abstract:
The present invention relates to improved pharmaceutical compositions of pharmaceutically active agents, having high bioavailability and to a method for preparing such compositions.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to improved pharmaceutical compositions of hydrophobic drugs which have enhanced solubility and to a method for preparing such compositions. 
       BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    One of the biggest challenges facing the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries at present is the poor solubility of new and established chemical entities. It is estimated that up to 90% on new molecular entities and 40% of existing compounds can be categorised as BCS class II or IV, which means that they show poor and variable oral bioavailability in vivo (Ref 1). Due to their low dissolution rate and poor bioavailability, hydrophobic drugs are challenging to administer and formulate. 
         [0003]    Hydrophobic drugs may also suffer from food effects, erratic absorption and large variability in inter- and intra-patient dose response. While microemulsion preconcentrates have been used in the art to overcome some of these difficulties, they are often administered in a concentrated liquid or semi-solid form either as a drink solution or in a monolithic soft or hard elastic capsule. As is well known in the art, monolithic dosage forms have several disadvantages including dose dumping, susceptibility to food intake, local irritation, variable gastric emptying and transit. In addition, drink solutions are not as acceptable to patients, are difficult to store and may be dosed irregularly by a patient. 
         [0004]    While numerous formulations of liquid emulsion pre-concentrates abound in the art, they pose a number of stability issues including leakage of fill from capsule during storage, dehydration of the capsule shell, retardation of capsule dissolution due to crosslinking of the shell or drug precipitation. Also, with liquids, solubilisation of the entire drug dose in a single capsule volume suitable for oral administration is sometimes not possible. High production costs, low portability and choice of available dosage forms are other disadvantages. 
         [0005]    A multiparticulate solid microemulsion preconcentrate would overcome many of the above-described hurdles. However, whilst solid dispersions and emulsion preconcentrates have been explored for poorly soluble drugs, scale-up has proved to be a significant limitation in their development as a formulation tool. 
         [0006]    In addition, there exists a need for patient-centric formulations to promote better treatment compliance. The multiparticulate format of the present invention allows individualised dosing and titration as opposed to the fixed dosing regimen of conventional dosage forms. Multiparticulates are easily swallowed and are therefore ideal for patients with swallowing difficulties (dysphagia) e.g. the elderly and children. Fenofibrate is a hydrophobic, lipid-regulating agent used in the treatment of adult endogenous hyperlipidaemia, hypercholesterolaemia and hypertriglyceridaemia. The chemical name for fenofibrate is 2-(4-(4-chlorobenzoyl)phenoxy)-2-methyl-propionate. The active metabolite of fenofibrate is its hydrolyzed acid derivative, fenofibric acid. Treatment with fenofibrate leads to reductions in total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, apolipoprotein B, total triglycerifes and triglyceride rich lipoprotein. Furthermore, an increase in the level of high-density lipoprotein (so called good cholesterol) and apoproteins apoA-I and apoA-II is observed on treatment with fenofibrate. 
         [0007]    Fenofibrate is currently marketed as tablets under the trade names Tricor™, Fenoglide® and Triglide® and as capsules under the trade names Antara® and Lipofen®. 
         [0008]    Fenofibrate is poorly soluble in water and consequently has limited bioavailability. The drug has poor solubility in gastrointestinal fluid and consequently is poorly absorbed. Ibuprofen (iso-butyl-propanoic-phenolic acid) is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) used for pain relief, fever reduction, and for reducing swelling. It has an antiplatelet effect, which is relatively mild and short-lived compared with aspirin or prescription antiplatelet drugs. In general, ibuprofen also has a vasodilation effect. Ibuprofen is available under a variety of trademarks, such as Motrin, Nurofen, Advil, and Nuprin. 
         [0009]    Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen work by inhibiting the enzyme cyclooxygenase (COX), which converts arachidonic acid to prostaglandin H2 (PGH2). PGH 2 , in turn, is converted by other enzymes to several other prostaglandins (which are mediators of pain, inflammation, and fever) and to thromboxane A2 (which stimulates platelet aggregation, leading to the formation of blood clots). 
         [0010]    Like aspirin and indomethacin, ibuprofen is a nonselective COX inhibitor, in that it inhibits two isoforms of cyclooxygenase, COX-1 and COX-2. The analgesic, antipyretic, and anti-inflammatory activity of NSAIDs appears to operate mainly through inhibition of COX-2, whereas inhibition of COX-1 would be responsible for unwanted effects on the gastrointestinal tract. 
         [0011]    Ibuprofen is only very slightly soluble in water. Less than 1 mg of ibuprofen dissolves in 1 ml water (&lt;1 mg/ml). 
         [0012]    Gemfibrozil is an oral drug used to lower lipid levels. It belongs to a group of drugs known as fibrates. It is most commonly sold as the brand names, Lopid, Jezil and Gen-Fibro. Ii is an activator of Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha (PPARα), a nuclear receptor that is involved in metabolism of carbohydrates and fats, as well as adipose tissue differentiation. This increase in the synthesis of lipoprotein lipase thereby increases the clearance of triglycerides and so lowers that lipid levels in the body. It has a solid ability in water of less than &lt;1 mg/ml at 25° C. 
         [0013]    Nabumetone is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, a 1-naphthaleneacetic acid derivative. It is available under numerous brand names, such as Relafen, Relifex, and Gambaran. It is used to treat pain or inflammation caused by arthritis or other inflammatory diseases and conditions like synovitis. Nabumetone works by reducing the effects of enzymes that cause pain and inflammation. It is practically insoluble in water. There are many other poorly soluble pharmaceutically active agents which could be formulated in accordance with the present invention. These include benzocaine, chlorambucil, cyclophosphamide, flurazepam, ketoprofen, lidocaine, nicorandil, oxprenolol, piribedil, pirprofen, suloctidil, tropinone, trimipramine, trimethadione, diethylcarbamazine, cyclandelate, quinine, scopolamine, promethazine, triprolidine, gemfibrozil, dinoprostone, etomidate, trimeprazine, isosorbide dinitrate, bleomycin, thioridazine, mitotane, chlorphenesin, allylestrenol, ethambutol, carisoprodol, benzocaine, maprotilin and ethotoin. The invention would also be suitable for use with new molecular entities that have poor solubility. 
         [0014]    Bioavailability is the degree to which an active ingredient, after administration becomes available to the target tissue. Poor bioavailability poses significant problems in the development of pharmaceutical compositions. Active ingredients that are poorly soluble in aqueous media often have insufficient dissolution and consequently have poor bioavailability within an organism after oral administration. If solubility is low there may be incomplete and/or erratic absorption of the drug on either an intra-patient or inter-patient basis. In order to circumvent this disadvantage, the administration of multiple therapeutic doses is often necessary. 
         [0015]    In recent years, focus in formulation laboratories for improving the bioavailability of hydrophobic pharmacologically active ingredients has been upon reducing particle size. The rate of dissolution of a particulate drug can be increased, by decreasing particle size, through an effective increase in surface area. 
         [0016]    Considerable effort has been made to develop methods for controlling drug particle size in pharmaceutical compositions. For example, in order to improve the rate of dissolution of fenofibrate, a wide variety of formulation methods have been employed, including micronization of the active principle, addition of a surfactant and co-micronization of fenofibrate with a surfactant. 
         [0017]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,961,890 to Boyer, describes fenofibrate granules, in which fenofibrate is micronized in order to increase its bioavailability. Each fenofibrate granule comprises an inert core, a layer based on fenofibrate and a protective outer layer. The crystalline fenofibrate particles are less than 30 μm in diameter. The binder used is a water soluble polymer, for example polyvinylpyrrolidine, and constitutes an inert water soluble matrix in which the micronized fenofibrate is suspended. The quantity of binder used is such that the amount of fenofibrate released after stirring in a galenical preparation for 1 hour is at least 65%. No examples quantifying specifically, the release of fenofibrate in aqueous media are provided. 
         [0018]    In the prior art, the problem of water-insoluble pharmaceutically active substances has been addressed by formulating the actives as micron and sub-micron sized particles in water or as a suspension in an aqueous environment. However these particles tend to grow over time and it is difficult to remove water from them to convert them to solid dosage forms. Alternative solutions include formulation in non-aqueous media, or in biocompatible oils which are then dispersed in water using surfactants to produce oil-in-water emulsions, or the drugs may be dissolved in water-miscible organic solvents or in mixtures of oils and surfactants. 
         [0019]    Other solutions to the problem include specific solutions for particular actives. U.S. Pat. No. 6,306,434 discloses a composition comprising cyclosporin which has low bioavailibility due to its poor aqueous solubility. The composition is a solid-state microemulsion which comprises a solidified product which consists essentially of a cyclosporin microemulsion dispersed in an enteric carrier. The carrier is typically an enteric polymer. 
         [0020]    European patent No. 1,214,059 discloses a composition comprising water-insoluble biologically active substances dispersed in a non-aqueous carrier which comprises a non-aqueous medium in which the active is either not soluble or is poorly soluble, a surfactant which in turn comprises at least one phospholipid surfactant which is soluble in the medium, but at least a portion of which adsorbs to the surface of the drug particles, and up to 10% of at least one hydrophilic substance which provides a self-dispersing property to the composition. 
         [0021]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,952,004 discloses a composition which comprises an oil-in-water emulsion which in turn comprises a discontinuous hydrophobic phase, a continuous aqueous hydrophilic phase and at least one surfactant selected from poloxamer 124, a polyglycolised glyceride, sorbitan laurate and polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monooleate, for dispersing the hydrophobic phase in the hydrophilic phase. 
         [0022]    WO0016749 discloses a method for preparing novel galenic formulations of fenofibrate with improved bioavailability after oral administration consisting of (a) micronizing fenofibrate; (b) granulating the fenofibrate in the presence of a liquid medium comprising a surfactant, water and water-miscible alcohol; and (c) drying the resulting granular material. 
         [0023]    In WO2004028506, pharmaceutical compositions of fenofibrate with high bioavailability after oral administration are disclosed. The immediate release fenofibrate composition comprises an inert hydro-insoluble carrier with at least one layer containing micronized fenofibrate, a hydrophilic polymer and a surfactant; and optionally one or several outer phases or layers. 
         [0024]    Curtet et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 4,895,726 proposes improving the bioavailability of fenofibrate by co-micronizing it with a solid surfactant such as sodium lauryl-sulphate, wherein the mean particle size of said co-micronized mixture is less than 15 μm. The co-micronizate is then granulated by wet granulation in order to improve the flow capacities of the powder and to facilitate the transformation into gelatin capsules. 
         [0025]    In U.S. Pat. No. 5,882,680, β-carotene is added to a middle chain length fatty acid (MCT); the resulting mixture is emulsified to produce a dispersion, which is subsequently homogenised to form a suspension. The suspension then enters a device for the manufacture of seamless capsules, namely a “Spherex” device (manufactured by Freund Industrial Co., Ltd.), the suspension is heated to 35° C. and forms an encapsulating liquid which is subsequently enveloped by an outer shell forming liquid at 70° C. composed of an aqueous solution of gelatin and sorbitol. The seamless capsule is formed when the encapsulating liquid is passed through the inner tube of series of coaxial tubes and simultaneously the outer shell liquid is passed through the outer tube of the coaxial tubing arrangement, the resulting droplets that form enter a hardening liquid of MCT cooled to 9° C. 
         [0026]    Other efforts to improve the solubility of fenofibrate include producing drug particles with an effective particle size of less than about 2000nm (see U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,276,249 and 7,320,802). Other attempts to improve solubility involve use of a crystalline drug substance which has a non-cross-linked surface modifier adsorbed onto its surface which maintains an effective particle size of less than about 400nm (see U.S. Pat. No. 5,145,684). 
         [0027]    Notwithstanding the state of the art there remains a need for alternative formulations for poorly soluble drugs to improve their bioavailability. 
       OBJECT OF THE INVENTION 
       [0028]    It is an object of the invention to provide an improved formulation for poorly water soluble or water insoluble active substances, which has improved bioavailability. Accordingly, a further object is to provide a novel composition, comprising poorly water soluble or water insoluble actives which have enhanced dissolution and absorption profiles. A still further object is to provide a solid dosage form for poorly water-soluble and water insoluble active substances. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0029]    According to the present invention, there is provided a pharmaceutical composition comprising:
       (a) a poorly soluble pharmaceutical agent;   (b) a hydrophobic component,   (c) a carrier; and   (d) a surfactant.       
 
         [0034]    The poorly soluble pharmaceutical agent may have a melting point of up to 110° C. The melting point of the pharmaceutical agent or active may be up to 105° C., or up to 100° C. According to the Biopharmaceutical Classification System (BCS), if the ratio of the highest unit dose of a drug to its minimum aqueous solubility (in the pH range 1.0-7.0 at 37° C.) is &gt;250 ml, the drug is considered poorly soluble. 
         [0035]    A co-melt of the poorly soluble pharmaceutical agent with a hydrophobic component, a carrier and a surfactant is introduced as droplets into a cold hardening liquid. This rapid or quench cooling of the molten drug converts it into an amorphous state. Amorphous materials have higher free energy than their crystalline counterparts and as a result exhibit higher apparent solubility and faster dissolution rates. This in turn can lead to higher bioavailability of poorly-soluble drugs whose absorption is dissolution-rate limited. The final composition of the invention is a solid preconcentrate that upon oral intake, forms an emulsion (e.g. a microemulsion) when exposed to gastro-intestinal fluids. The invention functions by causing the amorphous drug to stay dissolved in the lipid or hydrophobic phase of the emulsion and/or in the micellar phase of the surfactant, thereby enhancing drug absorption and bioavailability. 
         [0036]    Suitable pharmaceutical agents include fenofibrate (m.p 79-82° C.), benzocaine (m.p. 88-90° C., chlorambucil (m.p. 64-66° C.), cyclophosphamide (m.p. 41-45° C.), flurazepam (m.p. 77-82° C.), ketoprofen (m.p. 94° C.), lidocaine (m.p. 68-69° C.), nicorandil (m.p. 92-93° C.), oxprenolol (m.p.79-80° C.), piribedil (m.p. 98° C.), pirprofen (m.p.98-100° C.), suloctidil (m.p. 62-63° C.), tropinone (m.p. 41-42° C.), trimipramine (m.p. 45° C.), trimethadione (m.p. 46° C.), diethylcarbamazine (m.p. 48° C.), cyclandelate (m.p. 56° C.), quinine (m.p. 57° C.), scopolamine (m.p. 59° C.), promethazine (m.p 60° C.), triprolidine (m.p. 60° C.), gemfibrozil (m.p.62° C.), dinoprostone (m.p. 67° C.), etomidate (m.p.67° C.), trimeprazine (m.p 68° C.), isosorbide dinitrate (m.p. 70° C.), bleomycin (m.p 71° C.), thioridazine (m.p 73° C.), mitotane (m.p. 77° C.), chlorphenesin (m.p. 78° C.), allylestrenol (m.p. 80° C.), ethambutol (m.p. 88° C.), carisoprodol (m.p. 92° C.), benzocaine (m.p. 92° C.), maprotilin (m.p. 93° C.), ethotoin (m.p. 94° C.), nabumetone (m.p. 80-82° C.) and ibuprofen (m.p. 75-77° C.). 
         [0037]    Particularly preferred active pharmaceutical agents may be selected from fenofibrate, ibuprofen, nabumetone and gemfibrozil. 
         [0038]    Suitably the carrier is gelatin. The gelatin may have a bloom strength of from about 80 to about 350. Preferably the bloom strength is from about 180 to 300. The Bloom test is a test to measure the strength of a gel or gelatin and determines the weight (in grams) needed by a probe to deflect the surface of the gel 4 mm without breaking it with the result expressed in Bloom (grades).The gelatin may be porcine or bovine gelatin. 
         [0039]    The hydrophobic component may be selected from the group consisting of vegetable oils (e.g. corn oil, sesame oil, olive oil, peanut oil, cottonseed oil, sunflowerseed oil), animal oils (eg. omega-3 fatty acids), esterification products of vegetable fatty acids or propylene glycol including fatty acid triglycerides (eg. Miglyol 810, Crodamol GTCC, Neobee M5, Labrafac CC, Labrafac PG, Captex 355, fractionated coconut oil), fatty acid mono- and di-glycerides (eg. Peceol, Maisine 35-1, Imwitor 988, Capmul MCM). They may also be selected from long-chain fatty alcohols (eg. stearyl alcohol, cetyl alcohol, cetostearyl alcohol), sorbitan esters (Span 80, Arlacel 20), or phospholipids (eg. egg lecithin, soybean lecithin). Preferredglycerides include Maisine 35-1, Peceol, Capmul GMO, Cithrol GMO. 
         [0040]    The surfactant may have a HLB value of 14-16. As is well known to those of skill in the art, the hydrophilic-lipophilic balance of a surfactant is a measure of the degree to which it is hydrophilic or hydrophobic which is determined by calculating values for the different regions of the molecule. An HLB value of 0 corresponds to a completely lipophilic/hydrophobic molecule, and a value of 20 corresponds to a completely hydrophilic/lipophobic molecule. 
         [0041]    Suitable surfactants include polyoxyl 40 hydrogenated castor oil, Gelucire 44/14 and 50/13, Labrasol, Acconon MC-8, Acconon C-44, PEG-35 castor oil. 
         [0042]    The active pharmaceutical agent may be present in an amount of from about 1 to about 15%w/w based on the total weight of the composition. Preferably it is present in an amount of between 5% and 12%, preferably 7 and 10% w/w. 
         [0043]    The weight ratio of active pharmaceutical agent to surfactant may be in the range 1:1.6 to 1:1.29, preferably 1:1.5 to 1:1.4. 
         [0044]    The formulation may be an immediate release formulation. 
         [0045]    The composition may also be formulated as seamless spheres comprising: 
         [0046]    (a) a poorly soluble pharmaceutical agent; 
         [0047]    (b) a hydrophobic component, 
         [0048]    (c) a carrier; and 
         [0049]    (d) a surfactant. 
         [0050]    The spheres or cores may typically have a diameter in the range of 0.5 mm to 7.0 mm, preferably 1.0 mm to 2.5 mm, more preferably, 1.4 mm to 1.7 mm. 
         [0051]    In another aspect, the invention provides a method of manufacturing the pharmaceutical composition of the present invention comprising the steps of: 
         [0052]    (i) melting together the pharmaceutically active agent, the hydrophobic component and the surfactant at a temperature greater than the melting point of the agent to produce a solution; 
         [0053]    (ii) dispersing gelatin in water in a ratio of 0.8:1 to 1.2:1 by weight and allowing it to swell; 
         [0054]    (iii) adding the solution produced in step (i) to the remaining quantity of water which is maintained at a temperature just below its boiling point to form an emulsion; 
         [0055]    (iv) adding the swollen gelatin to the emulsion of step (iii) and allowing the gelatin to dissolve. 
         [0056]    The process of the invention thus involves the use of a molten active ingredient to produce a solid emulsion pre-concentrate which is the final dosage form. The particles of the active ingredient are standard-sized. In other words, it is not necessary to use a micron-sized or nanonised active ingredient particle in the process. 
         [0057]    The resultant mixture may be processed to produce seamless, spherical beads of size 1.4-1.7 mm in diameter. The mixture may be processed using a Spherex™ technology seamless spherical microcapsule manufacturing device, to produce seamless spherical microcapsules. 
         [0058]    One aspect of the present invention involves the manufacture of spheres comprising a poorly soluble active using the process described in EP2586429. 
         [0059]    Also provided for is a composition according to the present invention for use as a medicament. 
         [0060]    Advantageously, the method of manufacture is a single pot process wherein fenofibrate, polyglycolized glyceride and gelatine are mixed together and processed into spheres. The method of manufacture is significantly simpler than that of alternative fenofibrate products. For example the method of manufacture of Antara®, Tricor® and Fenoglide® involve multiple steps and complex processing methods, primarily a pre-treatment of fenofibrate (e.g. size reduction) before a final dosage form is produced. 
         [0061]    Also provided is a composition according to the present invention for use in the treatment of hyperlipidaemia or mixed dyslipidaemia, hypercholesterolaemia and hypertriglyceridaemia. 
         [0062]    The present invention provides an improved immediate release fenofibrate formulation, which has enhanced dissolution and absorption profiles. Advantages include reduced dose dumping, less variability in absorption compared to existing formulations, and much faster release and dissolution due to processing at the melt temperature of the drug, the minicapsule formulation and increased surface area of the spheres. Furthermore, the present invention does not require the addition of disintegrants to achieve this enhanced dissolution profile. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0063]    Embodiments of the invention will be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0064]      FIG. 1  shows the dissolution profiles for fenofibrate formulations in accordance with the invention; 
           [0065]      FIG. 2  shows the dissolution profiles for ibuprofen formulations in accordance with the invention; 
           [0066]      FIG. 3  shows the dissolution profiles for gemfibrozil formulations in accordance with the invention; 
           [0067]      FIG. 4  shows the dissolution profiles for nimodipine formulations in accordance with the invention; 
           [0068]      FIG. 5  shows the dissolution profiles for nifedipine formulations in accordance with the invention; 
           [0069]      FIG. 6  shows the dissolution profiles for nabumetone formulations in accordance with the invention, 
           [0070]      FIG. 7  shows Individual subject plots from bio-study comparing the 48 mg product (T1) of the invention against the Tricor 48 mg nano product (R), and 
           [0071]      FIG. 8  shows the Mean plot from Bio-Study leg comparing the 48 mg product of the invention with standard sized API versus Tricor 48 mg nanonised product. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0072]    The gelatin spheres of the present invention, incorporating fenofibrate, were manufactured according to the teachings of Freund Industrial Co. Ltd. EP2586429 the teachings of which are incorporated herein by reference. This technology is based on the principle that a laminar liquid jet can be broken into equally sized droplets by a superimposed vibration. When the droplets come in contact with a hardening liquid, they undergo gelation leading to the formation of spheres. This technique enables high-speed production of uniformly sized spheres. 
         [0073]    Gelatin is obtained by the partial hydrolysis of collagenous material, such as skin, connective tissues, or animal bones. There are two main classes of gelatin, Type A gelatin, which is obtained from acid-processing of porcine skins and exhibits an isoelectric point between pH 7 and pH 9; and Type B gelatin which is obtained from the alkaline-processing of bovine bone and skin and exhibits an isoelectric point between pH 4.7 and pH 5.2. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that varying blends of gelatin are available with varying bloom strength characteristics. 
         [0074]    In the examples disclosed below, porcine and bovine derived gelatin are used, however, the skilled person will be appreciate that other sources of gelatin are equally suitable. 
       EXAMPLE 1 
       [0075]    Objective: To enhance aqueous solubility by combining a low melting point, poorly soluble drug with a system consisting of a hydrophobic component (e.g. a monoglyceride such as Maisine 35-1), a surfactant with a high HLB value (14-16) (e.g. Polyoxyl 40 hydrogenated castor oil, Tradename: Kolliphor RH40) and a carrier, preferably gelatin (either procine or bovine derived with bloom strength in the range 180-300). 2 poorly soluble drugs, Fenofibrate and Ibuprofen, having a low melting point were chosen to test the utility of the above composition. Details of the trials are provided in the table below. Two ratios of Maisine/Kolliphor, 1:1.8 and 1:2.7 were tried as shown in the last row of the table. 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 % w/w 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 EXPROD- 
                   
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 0286A, 
               
               
                   
                 0295A, 
                 EXPROD- 
                 EXPROD- 
                 EXPROD- 
                 EXPROD- 
               
               
                 Batch No. 
                 0303B 
                 307A 
                 0295B 
                 0314A 
                 0314B 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 Fenofibrate 
                 8.99 
                 8.99 
                 8.99 
                 0 
                 0 
               
               
                 Ibuprofen 
                 0 
                 0 
                 0 
                 8.99 
                 8.99 
               
               
                 Maisine 
                 8.99 
                 8.99 
                 8.99 
                 8.99 
                 8.99 
               
               
                 35-1 (M) 
               
               
                 Kolliphor 
                 16.374 
                 16.34 
                 24.51 
                 16.34 
                 24.51 
               
               
                 RH40 (K) 
               
               
                 Gelatin 
                 65.68 
                 65.68 
                 57.51 
                 65.68 
                 57.51 
               
               
                 Drug:M:K 
                 1:1:1.8 
                 1:1:1.8 
                 1:1:2.7 
                 1:1:1.8 
                 1:1:2.7 
               
               
                 ratio 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0076]    Manufacturing Procedure: Fenofibrate (or Ibuprofen). Maisine 35-1 and Kolliphor RH 40 were melted together at a temperature greater than the melting point of the drug (Fenofibrate: 79-81° C., Ibuprofen: 75-77° C.) to obtain a clear solution. Gelatin was dispersed in water in a 1:1 ratio by weight and allowed to swell. The drug/solubiliser solution was added to the remaining quantity of water (heated at 95° C.) under stirring to form an emulsion. Of the total amount of water that is weighed out for the formulation, one part is used to swell the gelatin and the remaining part is mixed with the drug and solubliser and heated up. The swollen gelatin was added to this emulsion and stirred until the gelatin dissolved. The final solid content of the system was between 27-30% w/w. The resulting mixture was used to form spherical beads of size 1.4-1.7 mm using the SPHEREX™. During processing, the temperature of the drug/solubiliser/gelatin liquid was maintained above the melting point of the drug except in case of EXPROD-0307A where a lower liquid temperature (68-73° C.) was used. 
         [0077]    Dissolution profile: The drug release profiles of the above formulations and the reference products (TRICOR ® 48 mg Fenofibrated tablets and Buplex® 200 mg Ibuprofen tablets) was tested in biorelevant dissolution media; using Fasted State Simulated Intestinal Fluid (FaSSIF) for Tricor® and Fasted State Simulated Gastric Fluid (FaSSGF) for Buplex®. USP Apparatus I (Paddle) was used. 
         [0078]    Volume of media: 900 ml; 
         [0079]    Media temperature: 37° C.; 
         [0080]    Paddle rotation speed: 75 rpm; 
         [0081]    Samples taken: 
         [0082]    5, 10, 15, 20, 30 and 45 minutes (for EXPROD-0286A, 0314A and 0314B) 
         [0083]    15, 30, 60, 120, 180 and 240 minutes (for all other batches) 
         [0084]    Observations: A significant increase in % drug dissolved was observed with all formulations with respect to the prior art marketed products. In case of Fenofibrate, a 1:1.8 ratio of Maisine: Kolliphor proved optimal whereas with Ibuprofen, a 1:2.7 ratio of Maisine:Kolliphor showed higher dissolution than a 1:1.8 ratio. 
       EXAMPLE 2 
       [0085]    A number of formulations manufactured as described in the previous example were made up using different APIs as set out below:- 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Batch No. 
                 % w/w 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
                 API 
                 8.99 
               
               
                   
                 Maisine 35-1 
                 8.99 
               
               
                   
                 Kolliphor RH 40 
                 16.34-24.51 
               
               
                   
                 Gelatin (225 bloom) 
                 57.51-65.66 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0086]    The APIs used were:- 
         [0087]    Fenofibrate, melting point=79-82° C. 
         [0088]    Ibuprofen, melting point=75-78° C. 
         [0089]    Gemfibrozil, melting point=58-61° C. 
         [0090]    Nimodipine, melting point=123-126° C. 
         [0091]    Nifedipine, melting point=172-174° C. 
         [0092]    Nabumetone, melting point=80-82° C. 
         [0093]    The dissolution rate of the API form in solubility of each of the formulations was then compared with that of commercially available formulations of the same API, and the results are shown in  FIGS. 1 to 6 . 
         [0094]    The method used to measure the dissolution rate is as described under ‘dissolution profile’ in the previous example. Fasted State Simulated Intestinal Fluid (FaSSIF) was used for Fenofibrate, Nifedipine, Nimodipine and Nabumetone while Fasted State Simulated Gastric Fluid (FaSSGF) was used for Ibuprofen and Gemfibrozil. All other conditions remained the same. 
         [0095]    As can be seen from the Figures, the rate and extent of dissolution of the actives which have a melting point below about 110° C. and which were formulated in accordance with the invention, were significantly higher when compared to the currently available commercial version of the same active. This is likely due to the generation of a supersaturated system in which the concentration of drug dissolved is in excess of its equilibrium solubility. The generation of the supersaturated system could be attributed to the conversion of the API from a crystalline to an amorphous state as mentioned previously. Through achieving supersaturation, it has thus become possible to design a formulation that would yield significantly high intraluminal concentrations of the drug than the thermodynamic equilibrium solubility, thus enhancing intestinal absorption and bioavailability. The same result was not found for actives with a much higher melting point. 
       EXAMPLE 3 
       [0096]    Bio-Study data Comparing 48 mg product of the invention with standard sized API versus Tricor 48 mg nanonised product 
         [0097]    A randomized, single dose, crossover study was conducted to compare the pharmacokinetic parameters (Tmax, Cmax, AUCO-t and AUC0-inf), for a 48 mg fenofibrate product manufactured in accordance with the invention using a standard sized (i.e. not micronized or nanonised) API, and for the commercially available Tricor 48 mg nanonised product. 21 healthy subjects participated in the study. Subjects received 2 separate drug administration treatments (Test and Reference) in assigned periods, one treatment per period, according to the randomization schedule. Dosing days were separated by a wash out period of at least 7 days. Blood samples were drawn prior to dosing (pre-dose) and at 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5, 5.0, 5.5, 6.0, 7.0, 8.0, 10.0, 12.0, 24.0, 48.0, 72.0 and 96.0 hours. 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                   
                 API 
                   
                   
                   
                 AUC0-t 
                   
               
               
                   
                 Particle 
                 Strength 
                 Tmax 
                 Cmax 
                 (ng · hr/ 
                 AUC0-inf 
               
               
                 Product 
                 Size 
                 (mg) 
                 (hr) 
                 (ng/mL) 
                 mL) 
                 (ng · hr/mL) 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 Invention 
                 Standard 
                 48 
                 1.71 
                 3,107 
                 70,478 
                 76,572 
               
               
                 Tricor 
                 Nano 
                 48 
                 2.19 
                 3,668 
                 79,909 
                 87,186 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 90% Confidence 
                 Cmax 
                 AUC0-t 
                 AUC0-inf 
               
               
                 Interval (Invention V&#39;s Tricor) 
                 (ng/mL) 
                 (ng · hr/mL) 
                 (ng · hr/mL) 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 1n-transformed Lower 
                 73.93 
                 80.25 
                 80.7 
               
               
                 1n-transformed Upper 
                 97.18 
                 96.81 
                 94.8 
               
               
                 Power (%) 
                 85.3 
                 98.7 
                 99.8 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0098]    Based on 1n-transformed fenofibric acid data, the 90% confidence intervals for AUC0-t and AUC0-inf are within the 80-125% range (for bioequivalence). Therefore when comparing the 48 mg product of the invention containing standard API versus the Tricor 48 mg product with nano sized API, the extent of absorption from both products is equivalent. The product of the invention also exhibited a shorter Tmax value than Tricor however the Cmax was not within the 80-125% range. Clearly a shorter Tmax value is desirable for certain drugs such as painkillers. 
         [0099]    Therefore it appears that the inventive 48 mg product delivered the same amount of fenofibric acid as Abbot&#39;s Tricor 48 mg product and shorter Tmax under single-dose and fasting conditions. 
         [0100]    While the pk parameters for the inventive dosage form indicate that it may not be bioequivalent to Tricor on Cmax the results from several individual subjects suggest that the inventive dosage form can be bioequivalent to Tricor on Cmax—see  FIGS. 7 a    to  d  from individual subject plots and a mean plot of a study leg with 14 subjects dosed with either the inventive product or Tricor (see  FIG. 8 ). 
       EXAMPLE 4 
       [0101]    Bio-Data 48 mg product of the invention with standard sized API versus Antara 43 mg micronized product 
         [0102]    When compared to published data for a micronised API product (Antara 43 mg) the product of the invention appears to have a significantly better AUC0-t, AUC0-inf and Cmax indicating that this product may denote a superior performance in terms of the amount and rate of fenofibric acid absorbed. 
         [0103]    The words “comprises/comprising” and the words “having/including” when used herein with reference to the present invention are used to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof. 
         [0104]    It is appreciated that certain features of the invention, which are, for clarity, described in the context of separate embodiments, may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features of the invention, which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any suitable sub-combination.