Abstract:
Pharmaceutical solution aerosol formulations comprising beclomethasone 17,21 dipropionate, ethanol, and a propellant selected from the group consisting of 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane, 1,1,1,2,3,3,3-heptafluoropropane, and a mixture thereof.

Description:
This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09/110,800 filed Jul. 6, 1998, now abandoned, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/455,872, filed May 31, 1995, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,776,432, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 07/769,547, filed Oct. 1, 1991, now abandoned, which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 07/599,694, filed Oct. 18, 1990, now abandoned. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention pertains to solution aerosol formulations suitable for use in administering drugs. In another aspect this invention pertains to formulations comprising beclomethasone 17,21 dipropionate. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Pharmaceutical suspension aerosol formulations currently use a mixture of liquid chlorofluorocarbons as the propellant. Fluorotrichloromethane, dichlorodifluoromethane and dichlorotetrafluoroethane are the most commonly used propellants in aerosol formulations for administration by inhalation. 
     Chlorofluorocarbons have been implicated in the destruction of the ozone layer and their production is being phased out. Hydrofluorocarbon 134a (HFC-134a, 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane) and hydrofluorocarbon 227 (HFC-227, 1,1,1,2,3,3,3-heptafluoropropane) are viewed as being less destructive to ozone than many chlorofluorocarbon propellants; furthermore, they have low toxicity and vapor pressure suitable for use in aerosols. 
     Beclomethasone 17,21 dipropionate is commercially available as an aerosol product comprising a suspension of a chlorofluorohydrocarbon solvate of beclomethasone 17,21 dipropionate in chlorofluorohydrocarbon propellants. Preparation of the solvate requires several processing steps and is required in order to obtain a stable aerosol formulation, i.e., one in which the micronized particles of active ingredient remain in the desired respirable particle size range. A solution formulation of beclomethasone 17,21 dipropionate could simplify formulation manufacture and increase the respirable fraction (i.e., the percentage of active ingredient able to reach the airways of the lung where the pharmaceutical effect is exerted). 
     U.S. Pat. No. 2,868,691 discloses a self-propelling pharmaceutical aerosol formulation comprising i) a medicament; ii) a propellant represented generally by the formula C m H n Cl y F z , wherein m is an integer less than 3, n is an integer or zero, y is an integer or zero, and z is an integer, such that n+y+z=2m+2; and iii) a cosolvent which assists in the dissolution of the medicament in the propellant. Ethanol is an example of a cosolvent disclosed in this patent. The above formula representing the propellant component generically embraces HFC-134a. This patent does not, however, disclose beclomethasone 17,21 dipropionate or suggest how stable solution aerosol formulations (i.e., formulations that are chemically stable and exhibit desirable respirable fraction) containing any propellant and beclomethasone 17,21 dipropionate can be prepared. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides an aerosol formulation comprising a therapeutically effective amount of beclomethasone 17,21 dipropionate, a propellant comprising a hydrofluorocarbon selected from the group consisting of 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane, 1,1,1,2,3,3,3-heptafluoropropane, and a mixture thereof, and ethanol in an amount effective to solubilize the beclomethasone 17,21 dipropionate in the propellant, the formulation being further characterized in that substantially all of the beclomethasone 17,21 dipropionate is dissolved in the formulation, and the formulation is substantially free of any surfactant. 
     Certain of the preferred formulations of the invention exhibit very desirable chemical stability and provide respirable fractions significantly greater than commercially available beclomethasone 17,21 dipropionate products. Moreover, the formulations of the invention are convenient to manufacture since no solvate of the active ingredient need be prepared. 
     The pharmaceutical solution aerosol formulations of the invention are suitable for pulmonary, buccal, or nasal administration. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     All weight percentages recited herein are based on the total weight of the formulation unless otherwise indicated. 
     The medicament beclomethasone 17,21 dipropionate is generally present in a formulation of the invention in a therapeutically effective amount, i.e., an amount such that one or more metered volumes of the formulation contains an amount of drug effective to exert the intended therapeutic action. Preferably the medicament will constitute about 0.02 to about 0.6 percent by weight, more preferably about 0.05 to about 0.5 percent by weight of the total weight of the formulation. 
     Ethanol is generally present in an amount effective to solubilize the beclomethasone 17,21 dipropionate in the propellant. Preferably, ethanol constitutes about 1 to about 20 percent by weight of the total weight of the aerosol formulation. More preferably, ethanol constitutes about 2 to about 12 percent by weight and even more preferably about 2 to about 10 percent by weight of the aerosol formulation. Most preferably, ethanol will be present in an amount sufficient to dissolve substantially all of the medicament present in the formulation and to maintain the medicament dissolved over the time period and conditions experienced by commercial aerosol products, but not substantially in excess of said amount. Particularly desirable formulations of the invention, while not containing amounts of ethanol substantially in excess of that required (during manufacture of the formulation) to dissolve the amount of active ingredient employed, may be subjected to a temperature of −20° C. without precipitation of the active ingredient. 
     The hydrofluorocarbon propellant can be HFC-134a, HFC-227, or a mixture thereof. The propellant preferably constitutes from about 80 to about 99 percent by weight, preferably from about 88 to about 98 percent by weight, and more preferably about 90 to about 98 percent by weight of the total weight of the aerosol formulation. The hydrofluorocarbon propellant is preferably the only propellant present in the formulations of the invention. However, one or more other propellants (e.g., 1-chloro-1,1-difluoroethane) can also be present. 
     The formulations of the invention are substantially free of any surfactant. By “substantially free” as used in the instant specification and claims is meant that the formulations contain no more than 0.0005 percent by weight of a surfactant based on the total weight of the formulation. Preferred formulations contain no surfactant. Presence of a significant amount of a surfactant is believed to be undesirable in the case of solution formulations of beclomethasone 17,21 dipropionate because surfactants such as oleic acid and lecithin seem to promote chemical degradation of the active ingredient when the latter is dissolved in the mixture of HFC-134a and ethanol. 
     Preferred formulations according to the invention consist essentially of beclomethasone 17,21 dipropionate in an amount of about 0.05 to about 0.35 percent by weight based on the weight of the total formulation, ethanol in an amount of about 2 to about 8 percent by weight based on the total weight of the formulation, and 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane. 
     The solution formulations of the invention can be prepared by dissolving the desired amount of beclomethasone 17,21 dipropionate in the desired amount of anhydrous ethanol accompanied by stirring or sonication. The aerosol vial may then be filled using conventional cold-fill or pressure-fill methods. 
     The following examples are provided to illustrate the invention but should not be construed as limiting the invention. 
     EXAMPLES 1-7 
     Formulations containing the following ingredients (TABLE I) in the indicated amounts were prepared with the percentages being expressed in parts by weight based upon the total weight of the particular formulation. The active ingredient employed in preparing the formulations of Examples 2, 3, and 5-7 was beclomethasone dipropionate, USP while that employed in preparing the formulations of Examples 1 and 4 was a conventional trichloromonofluoromethane solvate of beclomethasone dipropionate. The formulations of Examples 1, 4, 5 and 6 were prepared by i) dissolving the active ingredient in the ethanol; ii) metering the solution obtained above into an aluminum vial and crimping a continuous valve onto the vial; iii) pressure-filling the vial with 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane; iv) chilling the vial to −60° C.; and v) replacing the continuous valve with a 50 microliter valve which is available under the trade designation “W303-98” from 3M. The formulations of Examples 2, 3 and 7 were prepared by i) dissolving the active ingredient in the ethanol; ii) metering the solution obtained above into an aluminum vial and crimping a 50 microliter pressure-fill valve which is available under the trade designation Spraymiser™ M3652 from 3M onto the vial; and iii) pressure-filling the vial with 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane. 
     The actuator employed in the case of all the formulations was a solution actuator available under the trade designation “M3756” from 3M. The elastomer employed in the valves in the case of all formulations was that available under the trade designation “DB-218” from American Gasket and Rubber Co. (Chicago, Ill.) 
     
       
         
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                 TABLE I 
               
             
             
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Example 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Ingredient 
                 1 
                 2 
                 3 
                 4 
                 5 
                 6 
                 7 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Beclomethasone 
                  0.1% 
                  0.1% 
                  0.25% 
                  0.3% 
                  0.4% 
                  0.44% 
                  0.5% 
               
               
                 17, 21 
               
               
                 Dipropionate 
               
               
                 Ethanol 
                  3%   
                  5%   
                 10%   
                  5%   
                 10%   
                 10%   
                 15%   
               
               
                 (anhydrous) 
               
               
                 1,1,1,2- 
                 96.9% 
                 94.9% 
                 89.75% 
                 94.7% 
                 89.6% 
                 89.56% 
                 84.5% 
               
               
                 Tetra- 
               
               
                 fluoroethane 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     
       
         
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE II 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Storage Time 
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                 (Weeks) 
                 0 
                 2 
                 4 
                 7 
                 12 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 % Recovery 
                  101.4, 
                  101.9, 
                  100.8, 
                  99.3, 
                 100.6 
               
               
                   
                  98.7 
                 101.6 
                  99.6 
                 95.5 
                 102.6 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     The formulation of Example 1 did not exhibit precipitation of the active ingredient on freezing to −60° C. 
     The respirable fraction provided by the formulations of Examples 1-7 was determined using an Anderson MK II Cascade Impactor with the average respirable fraction obtained from each being in excess of 40%. In the case of the formulations of Examples 1 and 4, the respirable fraction was about 76% and about 70%, respectively. 
     From the above data, it is believed that the optimum amount of active ingredient for low and high strength products would be about 0.08 and 0.34 percent by weight, respectively, based on the total weight of the formulations. 
     EXAMPLE 8 
     A mixture containing 1.67 g of beclomethasone 17,21 dipropionate and 160 g of cold (−65° C.) ethanol was homogenized using a Virtis 45 homogenizer. The resulting suspension was placed in a one gallon stainless steel filling vessel equipped with a stir bar. A 1839 g portion of cold (−65° C.) 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane was added to the filling vessel. After about 5 minutes of stirring, a solution was obtained. The resulting formulation contained 0.08 percent by weight of beclomethasone 17,21 dipropionate, 8.0 percent by weight of ethanol and 91.92 percent by weight of 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane. The formulation was cold filled into aerosol vials and then 50 μL cold fill valves were crimped onto the vials. 
     EXAMPLE 9 
     Using the general method of Example. 8, a formulation containing 0.34 percent by weight of beclomethasone 17,21 dipropionate, 8.0 percent by weight of ethanol and 91.66 percent by weight of 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane was prepared. The formulation was cold filled as a suspension into aerosol vials which were then equipped with 50 μL cold fill valves. The formulation changed from a suspension to a solution as the vials warmed to room temperature. 
     EXAMPLE 10 
     A formulation containing 0.3 percent by weight of beclomethasone 17,21 dipropionate, 10 percent by weight of ethanol and 89.7 percent by weight of 1,1,1,2,3,3,3-heptafluoropropane was prepared by i) weighing a 30 mg portion of beclomethasone 17,21 dipropionate into an aerosol vial ii) crimping a continuous valve onto the vial and iii) pressure filling with a solution containing 10 percent ethanol in 1,1,1,2,3,3,3-heptafluoropropane.