Abstract:
A device and a method for determining a suitability of an active ingredient to be applied transdermally or transmucosally. In particular, a system that includes:
       at least one input device for inputting at least one designation of an active ingredient;   a database for storing a plurality of data at least relating to the active ingredient;   a computing unit for assessing a suitability of the active ingredient to be applied transdermally and/or transmucosally while taking into consideration data entered via the input device and/or data stored in the database; and   an output device for displaying the assessed suitability.

Description:
[0001]    The present application claims priority from International patent application Ser. No. PCT/EP2015/053851 filed on Feb. 24, 2015, which claims priority from European Patent Application No. 14 156 479.9 filed on Feb. 25, 2014, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    It is noted that citation or identification of any document in this application is not an admission that such document is available as prior art to the present invention. 
         [0003]    The invention relates to a system for determining a suitability of an active ingredient for transdermal and/or transmucosal application. 
         [0004]    The transdermal application of active ingredients is known. The best known example is the nicotine patch. This is stuck onto the skin where it releases the active ingredient in a controlled manner which is then resorbed via the skin. The active ingredient passes into the blood vessel system without being prematurely broken down in the gastrointestinal tract or in the liver. The concept of the transdermal therapeutic system is also used synonymously 
         [0005]    Likewise, the application or administration of active ingredients via the mucous membranes (mucosae) is known. An example of transmucosal application is a lozenge which is taken orally, but is not swallowed but left in the mouth to dissolve. Transmucosal therapeutic systems are preferably used when the area of action of the active ingredient is in the oropharynx (for example local anaesthetics and anti-inflammatory drugs), or when the active ingredient is to pass directly into the bloodstream via the mucous membrane. The latter has two advantages. Firstly, the medication passes very quickly into the bloodstream and secondly, the portal system of the liver can be bypassed in this manner. 
         [0006]    In research, a particular problem lies in predicting whether a specific active ingredient can be applied transdermally and/or transmucosally. Expensive clinical studies are often required to establish that a transdermal or a transmucosal application is not indicated for a particular case of use. A further problem is seen in the generation of known models which allow a prediction. The machine processing of corresponding models is computationally intensive and requires a large number of records. The results are inaccurate and difficult to classify. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    Based on this prior art, the aim of the present invention is to provide an improved system for determining a suitability of an active ingredient for transdermal or transmucosal application. 
         [0008]    Especially, the aim is addressed by a system for determining a suitability of an active ingredient for transdermal or transmucosal application, the system comprising: 
         [0009]    at least one input device for inputting at least a name of an active ingredient; 
         [0010]    a database for storing a wide range of data at least relating to the active ingredient; 
         [0011]    a computing unit for assessing a suitability of the active ingredient for transdermal or transmucosal application, while considering data input via the input device and/or the data stored in the database; 
         [0012]    an output device for displaying the assessed suitability. 
         [0013]    An especial advantage of this system is that the suitability can be simply assessed by means of a data processing device, namely by the computing unit. Naturally, a prediction of the suitability of a particular active ingredient for transdermal or transmucosal application cannot replace clinical studies. However, an advantage of the system according to the invention is seen in recognising, at an early stage, candidates who are completely unsuitable for a respective application. 
         [0014]    In an embodiment, the computing unit is configured to form a weighted average via a plurality of characteristic numbers in order to assess the suitability. The stated and/or stored data preferably lead to characteristic numbers which indicate the suitability of the active ingredient for transdermal or transmucosal application in individual subject areas. According to the invention, an especially weighted averaging is to be carried out via the plurality of characteristic numbers. For example, it is possible for at least four or six or eight or ten characteristic numbers to be averaged to produce an overall result to indicate the suitability of a particular active ingredient for transdermal or transmucosal application. This plurality of parameters leads to a robust and informative result. 
         [0015]    The computing unit can be configured to determine the/a characteristic number, while considering in each case one of the following items of information: 
         [0016]    at least one item of information concerning the structural formula of the active ingredient, especially the molecular weight; 
         [0017]    at least one item of information concerning the acid strength of the active ingredient, especially the pk A  value or pk S  value; 
         [0018]    at least one item of information concerning the melting point of the active ingredient; 
         [0019]    at least one item of information concerning the half-life period; 
         [0020]    at least one item of information concerning the water solubility and/or fat solubility of the active ingredient, especially the log P value; 
         [0021]    at least one item of information concerning the skin permeability and/or the in vitro permeability (for example permeability rate); 
         [0022]    at least one item of information concerning the (oral) bioavailability; 
         [0023]    at least one item of information concerning the (oral) dose, especially the (oral) daily dose; 
         [0024]    at least one item of information concerning the metabolism; 
         [0025]    at least one item of information concerning the skin irritation potential; 
         [0026]    at least one item of information concerning the indication; and/or 
         [0027]    at least one item of information concerning the dose-response relationship. 
         [0028]    These items of information are especially significant for transdermal application, but essentially also for transmucosal application and can be simply and efficiently processed by the computing unit. 
         [0029]    At least some of the characteristic numbers can be a selection of numbers from the set of whole numbers. Ultimately, it is possible to map the provided items of information, for example concerning the structural formula, onto an index value or a characteristic number. This characteristic number can preferably be a whole number, thereby producing simple and informative results. In a further preferred embodiment, the characteristic numbers are a selection of integral numbers within a predetermined interval. This set preferably has a relatively low cardinality. For example, this set can contain less than 15 elements or less than 10 elements or less than 7 elements. In one embodiment, the set comprises the following (characteristic) numbers {−3, −2, −1, 0, 1, 2, 3}, in another embodiment it comprises the (characteristic) numbers {−5, −4, −3, −, −1, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5} or also {0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10}. Likewise, decimal numbers can be used as characteristic numbers, for example with an accuracy of one decimal place. 
         [0030]    The computing unit can be configured, in assessing the suitability of the active ingredient, to consider 
         [0031]    the at least one item of information or characteristic number concerning the structural formula of the active ingredient; and/or 
         [0032]    the at least one item of information or characteristic number concerning the bioavailability; and/or 
         [0033]    the at least one item of information or characteristic number concerning the dose in each case with at least 5% and at most 40%, especially in each case with at least 10% and at most 30%. 
         [0034]    As already stated, a weighted averaging is preferably carried out via the characteristic numbers. The structural formula and/or the bioavailability and the dose can be taken into especial consideration in the result concerning the transdermal and/or transmucosal suitability. In one embodiment, the associated characteristic numbers can influence up to a maximum of 30% of the result. The structural formula and the bioavailability and dose preferably find their way into the overall result with at least 5%. 
         [0035]    The computing unit can be configured, in assessing the suitability of the active ingredient, to consider 
         [0036]    the at least one item of information or characteristic number concerning the acid strength of the active ingredient; and/or 
         [0037]    the at least one item of information or characteristic number concerning the melting point of the active ingredient; and/or 
         [0038]    the at least one item of information or characteristic number concerning the water solubility and/or fat solubility of the active ingredient; and/or 
         [0039]    the at least one item of information or characteristic number concerning the skin permeability; and/or 
         [0040]    the at least one item of information concerning the skin irritation potential in each case with at least 2% and at most 20%, especially in each case with at 
         [0041]    least 5% and at most 15%. 
         [0042]    The mentioned items of information are important for the overall result. However, it can be advantageous to consider them with a lower weighting. In a preferred embodiment, this weighting is within a range of 3 to 10% per characteristic number. This weighting can result in an especially efficient assessment. 
         [0043]    In an embodiment, the database can comprise mapping tables for mapping individual items of information onto characteristic numbers. For example, the mapping tables can state intervals when a particular item of information is assigned to a particular characteristic number. Mapping tables for mapping the 
         [0044]    at least one item of information concerning the structural formula of the active ingredient, especially the molecular weight; 
         [0045]    at least one item of information concerning the acid strength of the active ingredient, especially the pk A  value or pk S  value; 
         [0046]    at least one item of information concerning the melting point of the active ingredient; and/or 
         [0047]    at least one item of information concerning the biological half-life period; and/or 
         [0048]    at least one item of information concerning the water solubility and/or fat solubility of the active ingredient, especially the log P value; and/or 
         [0049]    at least one item of information concerning the dose 
         [0000]    onto characteristic numbers can be stored in the database. 
         [0050]    In a further embodiment, there is a single mapping table which provides mappings onto corresponding characteristic numbers for a plurality of items of information. 
         [0051]    The system can comprise at least one measuring device for determining the molecular weight and/or the acid strength and/or the water solubility and/or the melting point. Thus, the system can preferably determine some of the parameters independently and take these into consideration when assessing the suitability of the active ingredient for transdermal or transmucosal application. 
         [0052]    Furthermore, the mentioned object is achieved by a method for determining a suitability of an active ingredient according to claim  9 . 
         [0053]    Especially, the aim is achieved by a method for determining a suitability of an active ingredient for transdermal or transmucosal application, the method comprising the following steps: 
         [0054]    acquiring characteristics of the active ingredient; 
         [0055]    establishing characteristic numbers in each case for the characteristics of the active ingredient; 
         [0056]    calculating a weighted average via the characteristic numbers; 
         [0057]    displaying an assessed suitability of the active ingredient using the weighted average. 
         [0058]    These steps are preferably carried out by the system which has already been described. Advantages similar to those which have already been described in connection with the device are obtained. 
         [0059]    The data which are taken into consideration in the method can comprise: 
         [0060]    at least one item of information concerning the structural formula of the active ingredient, especially the molecular weight; 
         [0061]    at least one item of information concerning the acid strength of the active ingredient, especially the pk A  value or pk S  value; 
         [0062]    at least one item of information concerning the melting point of the active ingredient; 
         [0063]    at least one item of information concerning the half-life period; 
         [0064]    at least one item of information concerning the water solubility and/or fat solubility of the active ingredient, especially the log P value; 
         [0065]    at least one item of information concerning the skin permeability; 
         [0066]    at least one item of information concerning the bioavailability; 
         [0067]    at least one item of information concerning the dose, especially the daily dose; 
         [0068]    at least one item of information concerning the metabolism; 
         [0069]    at least one item of information concerning the skin irritation potential; 
         [0070]    at least one item of information concerning the indication; and/or 
         [0071]    at least one item of information concerning the dose-response relationship. 
         [0072]    The method preferably comprises a step for reading out at least one characteristic number from a/the database. This characteristic number can be determined while considering the mentioned items of information. The database provides intervals in order to map the items of information onto specific characteristic numbers. 
         [0073]    The method can comprise a step for comparing the weighted average with a threshold value. This comparison preferably results in a particular active ingredient being considered suitable or unsuitable for transdermal or transmucosal application. In one embodiment, a particular active ingredient is considered as being suitable for transdermal or transmucosal application if the weighted average is greater than a threshold value, especially if it is greater than 0 or 1. 
         [0074]    Furthermore, the aim can be addressed by a computer-readable medium with instructions for implementing one of the described methods. The instructions are intended to be carried out on a computer. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0075]      FIG. 1  shows a system for determining a suitability of an active ingredient for transdermal application. 
           [0076]      FIG. 2  shows a mapping table for mapping a parameter of the active ingredient onto a respective characteristic number. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
       [0077]    It is to be understood that the figures and descriptions of the present invention have been simplified to illustrate elements that are relevant for a clear understanding of the present invention, while eliminating, for purposes of clarity, many other elements which are conventional in this art. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that other elements are desirable for implementing the present invention. However, because such elements are well known in the art, and because they do not facilitate a better understanding of the present invention, a discussion of such elements is not provided herein. 
         [0078]    The present invention will now be described in detail on the basis of exemplary embodiments. 
         [0079]      FIG. 1  shows a system  100  for determining a suitability of an active ingredient for transdermal application. The system comprises an input device  101  for inputting at least a name of an active ingredient. The input device  101  can also be capable of receiving items of information concerning the structural formula of the active ingredient, the acid strength, the melting point, the half-life period, the water solubility, the fat solubility, the bioavailability, the dose, especially the daily dose, the metabolism, the item of information concerning the skin irritation potential and/or the dose-response relationship. The system  100  also has a computing unit  102  which processes the input data and further data which, for example, are stored in a database  110  to determine the suitability of the active ingredient for transdermal application. 
         [0080]    An output device  103  of the system  100  can display the results or can request a user to input data. For example, the user can be requested to provide information concerning the above-mentioned parameters. 
         [0081]    In an embodiment, some of these items of information have already been stored in the database  110  and can be retrieved, for example, by entering the name of the active ingredient. 
         [0082]    The system  100  optionally has a measuring device  104  which records at least some of the items of information which have already been mentioned and can provide them to be further processed by the computing unit  102 . For example, this can be a device for determining the melting point, a spectral analysis device and similar devices. 
         [0083]    In an embodiment, after the items of information have been acquired by the computing unit  102 , they are mapped onto characteristic numbers. A corresponding mapping can be carried out by a calculation specification. 
         [0084]    In an embodiment, the computing unit  102  uses the database  110  to carry out a suitable mapping. For example, an item of information concerning the half-life period can be used in order to establish an associated characteristic number from a half-life period mapping table  111  which is stored in the database  110 . 
         [0085]    Structurally, the half-life period mapping table  111  is generated so that it has two columns, the first column stating the parameter value of the half-life period “T1/2” and the second column stating the “characteristic number”. Apart from the header line, the half-life period mapping table  111  comprises seven further lines which are suitable for defining intervals for parameters and for allocating a particular characteristic number thereto. In the illustrated embodiment, the half-life period mapping table  111  is to be interpreted such that characteristic number 3 is assigned to the interval: 0 to less than 10 h (=hours), characteristic number 2 is assigned to the interval: 10 to less than 15 h, characteristic number 1 is assigned to the interval: 15 to less than 20 h, characteristic number 0 is assigned to the interval: 20 to less than 25 h, characteristic number −1 is assigned to the interval: 25 to less than 30 h, characteristic number −2 is assigned to the interval: 30 to less than 35 and characteristic number −3 is assigned to the interval: greater than 35 h. 
         [0086]    For example, if an active ingredient has a half-life period of 9 h, the computing unit  102  would assign it characteristic number 3 by means of the half-life period mapping table  111 . 
         [0087]    The computing unit is configured to establish a characteristic number for each predetermined parameter or for each item of information concerning the active ingredient and to average these characteristic numbers according to a weighting specification. For example, the characteristic number for the structural formula with approximately 20% and the daily dose with approximately 15% can assume a prominent role in assessing the overall result. With a slightly lower weighting (for example approximately 10%), a characteristic number concerning the acid strength of the active ingredient, a melting point, a water solubility and a risk of forming skin irritations (skin irritation potential) can be considered. With an even lower weighting (for example 5%), characteristic numbers which indicate the half-life period, the water solubility and the metabolism can be considered. 
         [0088]    For example, if the method according to the invention is applied to the active ingredient nicotine, the following results are obtained. Nicotine has a molecular weight of 62 g/mol, its melting point is −79° C. and its pKA value is 8.9. The half-life period of nicotine is between 1 and 6 h, a log P value of 1.17 being calculated. The required daily dose is usually between 7 and 21 mg and an efficiency of 20-45% is assumed for oral administration. 
         [0089]    The following characteristic numbers are obtained for nicotine according to the method of the invention: 
         [0090]    structural formula=4; 
         [0091]    pKA value=2; 
         [0092]    melting point, half-life period, log P value=6; 
         [0093]    skin permeability=4; 
         [0094]    daily dose, water solubility=2; 
         [0095]    PD data=2; 
         [0096]    metabolism and likelihood of skin irritation=0. 
         [0097]    Therefore, overall a weighted average of approximately 2.4 is obtained. The weighted average is thus positive, which indicates that a particular active ingredient, in this example nicotine, is suitable for transdermal application. In this embodiment, a weighted average greater than the threshold value of 2 shows that this is a very suitable active ingredient. 
         [0098]    In contrast thereto, when the active ingredient Enalapril is assessed, the method according to the invention produces a weighted average of approximately −1. The negative result indicates that this active ingredient is rather unsuitable for transdermal application. 
         [0099]    The described method is implemented partly or fully by the computing unit  102 . 
         [0100]    The described system can likewise be used to establish the suitability of a particular active ingredient for transmucosal application. 
         [0101]    While this invention has been described in conjunction with the specific embodiments outlined above, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the preferred embodiments of the invention as set forth above are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the inventions as defined in the following claims. 
       LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 
       [0000]    
       
           100  system 
           101  input device 
           102  computing unit 
           103  output device 
           104  measuring device 
           110  database 
           111  half-life period mapping table