Patent Description:
<NUM>'-{N'-[<NUM>-(<NUM>,<NUM>-dimethylphenyl)-<NUM>-methyl-<NUM>-oxo-<NUM>,<NUM>-dihydropyrazol-<NUM>-ylidene]hydrazino}-<NUM>'-hydroxybiphenyl-<NUM>-carboxylic acid (hereinafter Compound A) is a compound, along with pharmaceutically acceptable salts, hydrates, solvates and esters thereof, that is useful as an agonist of the TPO receptor, particularly in enhancing platelet production and particularly in the treatment of thrombocytopenia, in International Application No. <CIT>; International Publication Number <CIT>; which has United States Publication Number <CIT>; now <CIT>.

The bis-(monoethanolamine) salt of this compound is disclosed (disclosed as <NUM>'-[(2Z)-[<NUM>-(<NUM>,<NUM>-dimethylphenyl)-<NUM>,<NUM>-dihydro-<NUM>-methyl-<NUM>-oxo-<NUM>-pyrazol-<NUM>-ylidene]hydrazino]-<NUM>'-hydroxy-[<NUM>,<NUM>'-biphenyl]-<NUM>-carboxylic acid, which also describes Compound A) in International Application No. <CIT>; International Publication Number <CIT>; which has United States Publication Number <CIT>.

Compound A is disclosed for the treatment of degenerative diseases/injuries in International Application No. <CIT>; International Publication Number <CIT>; which has United States Publication Number <CIT>.

Compositions that may contain Compound A and/or Compound B are disclosed in International Application No. <CIT>, International Application No. <CIT> and International Application No. <CIT>.

<CIT> describes a tablet composition comprising eltrombopag olamine, microcrystalline cellulose, lactose, sodium starch glycolate and magnesium stearate.

Solid oral pharmaceutical dosage forms are popular and useful forms of medications for dispensing pharmaceutically active compounds. A variety of such forms are known, including tablets, capsules, pellets, lozenges, and powders.

However, the formulation of an acceptable solid oral pharmaceutical dosage form on a commercial scale is not always straightforward. The formula and process of manufacture must be such as to provide an integral solid dosage form that maintains its integrity until used. The solid dosage form must also possess acceptable dissolution and disintegration properties so as to provide the desired profile in use. Pharmaceutically active compounds with low solubility and/or that can react with commonly used excipients can present particular challenges in preparing high quality solid dosage forms, since the physical properties of the drug influence the properties of the solid dosage form. The formulator must balance the drug's unique properties with the properties of each excipient in order to prepare a safe, efficacious and easy to use solid dosage form.

Eltrombopag olamine presents the formulator with unique concerns when attempting to formulate this compound into a suitable solid oral pharmaceutical dosage form, suitably a tablet, suitably a capsule, with a desirable pharmacokinetic profile, particularly on a commercial scale. Such concerns include, but are not limited to; the tendency of the compound to form insoluble metal complexes when contacted with excipients that contain a coordinating metal, slow dissolution of the compound from solid dosage forms and the tendency of the compound to under go a Maillard reaction when contacted with excipients that contain reducing sugars. Significant realization of these concerns will have an adverse effect on the in vivo administration of eltrombopag olamine.

It would be desirable to provide eltrombopag olamine in a solid oral pharmaceutical dosage form on a commercial scale with a desirable pharmacokinetic profile.

The present invention relates to a pharmaceutical tablet containing eltrombopag olamine, suitably these pharmaceutical tablets are produced on a commercial scale.

The present invention relates to a pharmaceutical tablet consisting of:.

wherein said tablet is optionally coated with a film coat formed from an aqueous film coat composition.

The claimed pharmaceutical tablet is formulated using diluents that are free of reducing sugars and free of coordinating metals, namely microcrystalline cellulose and mannitol. Such coated pharmaceutical tablets exhibit improved properties. Such improved properties help to ensure safe and effective treatment.

Another aspect of this invention relates to film coated pharmaceutical tablets according to the claims that comprise eltrombopag olamine, wherein the film coat contains no coordinating metals, or only an amount of coordinating metal approximately equal to or less than <NUM> parts of Compound B. Such tablets exhibit improved properties. Such improved properties help to ensure safe and effective treatment.

Another aspect of this invention relates to a pharmaceutical tablet comprising eltrombopag olamine that is formulated with a defined drug particle size range where about <NUM>% of drug particle size is in the range of <NUM> to <NUM> microns. Such tablets exhibit improved properties. Such improved properties help to ensure safe and effective treatment.

This invention relates to a pharmaceutical tablet containing eltrombopag olamine comprising <NUM>% to <NUM>% by weight of disintegrant. Such tablets exhibit improved properties. Such improved properties help to ensure safe and effective treatment.

Another aspect of this invention relates to a pharmaceutical tablet for use in a method of treating thrombocytopenia, which method comprises administering to a subject in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of a coated tablet of the present invention.

Another aspect of this invention relates to a pharmaceutical tablet for use in a method of agonizing the TPO receptor, which method comprises administering to a subject in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of a pharmaceutical tablet of the present invention.

Also included in the present invention are a pharmaceutical tablet for use in methods of co-administering coated pharmaceutical tablet of the present invention with further active ingredients.

By the term "coordinating metal" and "coordinating metals" and derivatives thereof, as used herein is meant a metal or a metal containing excipient, suitably a diluent, or metal containing tablet coating material, which forms a complex, such as a chelate complex, in the presence of eltrombopag olamine. Examples of such metals include:
aluminum, calcium, copper, cobalt, gold, iron, magnesium, manganese and zinc.

By the term "reducing sugar" as used herein is meant a sugar or sugar containing excipient, suitably a diluent, which reacts with eltrombopag olamine to form a Maillard product when admixed together. Examples of such reducing sugars include: lactose, maltose, glucose, arabinose and fructose.

The term Maillard reaction is well known in the art and is utilized herein as to its standard meaning. Generally, the term Maillard reaction is used herein to mean the reaction of a reducing sugar, as defined herein, in a formulation, suitably granules or solid dosage forms, with eltrombopag olamine that produces a pigment or pigments, suitably a brown pigment. The pigments are referred to herein as Maillard products. The production of such Maillard products is an indication of chemical instability.

As used herein, the term "improved properties" and derivatives thereof, contemplates several advantages to the pharmacokinetic profile of the in vivo release of Compound B from a formulation, suitably granules or a solid oral pharmaceutical dosage form, that utilizes an aspect of the present invention when compared to a formulation that does not utilize that aspect of the present invention, suitably the formulation is produced on a commercial scale, and will vary depending on the particular aspect of the invention being utilized. Examples of improved properties include: increased oral bioavailability, reduced formation of insoluble metal complexes, improved chemical stability, a consistent pharmacokinetic profile and a consistent dissolution rate.

As used herein, the term "drug" or "active ingredient" and derivatives thereof, means Compound B or eltrombopag olamine.

By the term "commercial scale" and derivatives thereof, as used herein is meant, preparation of a batch scale greater than about <NUM> of granulation mix, suitably greater than <NUM>, suitably greater than <NUM> or a batch size suitable to prepare at least about <NUM>,<NUM> tablets, suitably at least <NUM>,<NUM> tablets, suitably at least <NUM>,<NUM> tablets.

The term "effective amount" and derivatives thereof, means that amount of a drug or active ingredient that will elicit the biological or medical response of a tissue, system, animal or human that is being sought, for instance, by a researcher or clinician. Furthermore, the term "therapeutically effective amount" means any amount which, as compared to a corresponding subject who has not received such amount, results in improved treatment, healing, prevention, or amelioration of a disease, disorder, or side effect, or a decrease in the rate of advancement of a disease or disorder. The term also includes within its scope amounts effective to enhance normal physiological function.

As used herein, the term "formulation" and derivatives thereof, unless otherwise defined refers to granules and/or solid oral pharmaceutical dosage forms of the invention that contain eltrombopag olamine.

By the term "co-administering" and derivatives thereof as used herein is meant either simultaneous administration or any manner of separate sequential administration of granules and/or a solid oral pharmaceutical dosage form of the present invention and a further active ingredient or ingredients, known to treat thrombocytopenia, including chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia and bone marrow transplantation and other conditions with depressed platelet production. The term further active ingredient or ingredients, as used herein, includes any compound or therapeutic agent known to or that demonstrates advantageous properties when administered with TPO or a TPO mimetic. Preferably, if the administration is not simultaneous, the compounds are administered in a close time proximity to each other. Furthermore, it does not matter if the compounds are administered in the same dosage form, e.g. one compound may be administered topically and another compound may be administered orally.

Examples of a further active ingredient or ingredients for use in combination with the presently invented formulations include but are not limited to: chemoprotective or myeloprotective agents such as G-CSF, BB10010 (<NPL>), amifostine (Ethyol) (<NPL>), SCF, IL-<NUM>, MCP-<NUM>, IL-<NUM>-beta, AcSDKP (<NPL>), TNF-a, TGF-b, MIP-1a (<NPL>), and other molecules identified as having anti-apoptotic, survival or proliferative properties.

By the term "granules" and derivatives thereof, as used herein refers to formulated particles that comprise eltrombopag olamine, diluents that are a combination of mannitol and microcrystalline cellulose, and suitably also binders and/or lubricants and/or disintegrants such that the particles are suitable for utilization in preparing solid oral pharmaceutical dosage forms. It is anticipated that the granules are most appropriately utilized in the preparation of coated pharmaceutical tablets as indicated above.

By the term "solid oral pharmaceutical dosage form" and "solid dosage form" and derivatives thereof, as used herein refers to a final pharmaceutical preparation that comprises eltrombopag olamine, such tablets, capsules, pellets, lozenges and powders (including coated versions of any of such preparations) that are suitable for in vivo administration.

The pharmaceutical tablet of the present invention comprises eltrombopag olamine, a diluent (also known as filler or bulking agent), and also a binder and a lubricant and a disintegrant, as defined in the claims. Those skilled in the art will recognize that a given material may provide one or more functions in the tablet formulation, although the material is usually included for a primary function. The percentages of diluent, binder, lubricant and disintegrant provided herein and in the claims are by weight of the tablet.

Diluents provide bulk, for example, in order to make the tablet a practical size for processing. Diluents may also aid processing, for example, by providing improved physical properties such as flow, compressibility, and tablet hardness. Because of the relatively high percentage of diluent and the amount of direct contact between the diluent and the active compound in the typical pharmaceutical formulation, the interaction of the diluent with the active compound is of particular concern to the formulator. In the present invention, the diluent is composed of both of mannitol and microcrystalline cellulose.

The pharmaceutical tablet of the present invention comprises from about <NUM>% to about <NUM>%, of the diluents mannitol and microcrystalline cellulose.

The granules in the tablet of the invention are formulated using mannitol and microcrystalline cellulose as diluents.

Binders impart cohesive properties to the powdered material. In the present invention, the binder is polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP).

The pharmaceutical tablets of the present invention comprise up to about <NUM>% binder. The formulations suitably comprise up to about <NUM>%, suitably up to about <NUM>% binder.

Lubricants are generally used to enhance processing, for example, to prevent adhesion of the formulation material to manufacturing equipment, reduce interparticle friction, improve rate of flow of the formulation, and/or assist ejection of the formulations from the manufacturing equipment. In the present invention, the lubricant is magnesium stearate.

The pharmaceutical tablets of the present invention comprise up to about <NUM>% lubricant. The formulations suitably comprise up to about <NUM>%, suitably up to about <NUM>% lubricant.

Disintegrants are employed to facilitate breakup or disintegration of the formulation after administration. In present invention, the disintegrant is sodium starch glycolate.

The pharmaceutical tablets of the present invention comprise an amount from <NUM>% to about <NUM>% disintegrant. The formulations suitably comprise from about <NUM>% to about <NUM>%, suitably from about <NUM>% to <NUM>% disintegrant.

The pharmaceutical tablets of the present invention will typically be sized up to <NUM> gram, e.g., from about <NUM> gram to about <NUM> gram. These solid dosage forms typically comprise from about <NUM> to about <NUM> of eltrombopag olamine per dosage form. In suitable embodiments, the solid dosage forms comprise from about <NUM> to about <NUM> eltrombopag olamine (e.g., in an about <NUM>-<NUM> dosage form). Tablet formulations of the invention may have a variety of shapes, including diamond, modified capsule, modified oval, and hexagonal, and may optionally have a tilt.

The choice of particular types and amounts of excipients, and tabletting technique employed depends on the further properties of eltrombopag olamine and the excipients, e.g., compressibility, flowability, particle size, compatibility, and density. The tablets may be prepared according to methods known in the art, including direct compression, dry granulation, fluid bed granulation, and wet granulation, and the type of excipients used will vary accordingly. It has been found that wet granulation is particularly suitable for providing high strength, low breakage tablets comprising relatively high concentrations of eltrombopag olamine (e.g., about <NUM> % or more), on a scale suitable for commercial production. Suitable wet granulated tablets of the invention comprise granules comprising eltrombopag olamine and one or more of fillers, binders and disintegrants, wherein the granules are mixed with additional filler, binder, disintegrant and/or lubricant to form a compression mixture that is compressed to form tablets.

Included in the present invention are pharmaceutical tablets, suitably prepared on a commercial scale, that comprise eltrombopag olamine, wherein the tablet is made by a wet granulation process using diluents that are a combination of mannitol and microcrystalline cellulose. Also included in the present invention are such pharmaceutical compositions that contain a film coat, wherein the film coat contains no coordinating metals, or only an amount of coordinating metal approximately equal to or less than <NUM> parts of Compound B.

Also included in the present invention are pharmaceutical tablets that comprise eltrombopag olamine, wherein the tablet is made by a wet granulation process, suitably on a commercial scale, using diluents that are a combination of mannitol and microcrystalline cellulose, and about <NUM>% of the eltrombopag olamine particles have a particle size greater than <NUM> micron but less than <NUM> micron.

Also included in the present invention are pharmaceutical tablets that comprise eltrombopag olamine, wherein the tablet is made by a wet granulation process, suitably on a commercial scale, using diluents that are a combination of mannitol and microcrystalline cellulose, and about <NUM>% of the eltrombopag olamine particles have a particle size greater than <NUM> micron but less than <NUM> micron, suitably greater than <NUM> micron but less than <NUM> micron.

The tablets of the present invention consist of:.

Suitable wet granulated tablets comprise, by weight of the tablet, from about <NUM>% to about <NUM>% of eltrombopag olamine active intragranules and from about <NUM>% to about <NUM>% of external excipients; wherein the eltrombopag olamine active intragranules comprise, by weight of the intragranules:.

According to the invention, as defined by the claims the diluent is a combination of mannitol and microcrystalline cellulose, the non-reducing sugar is mannitol, the binder is polyvinylpyrolidone, the lubricant is magnesium stearate, and the disintegrant is sodium starch glycolate. Suitably, the intragranule filler is a mixture of mannitol and microcrystalline cellulose and the external filler is microcrystalline cellulose.

In one embodiment of the current invention, tablets are coated with a film coat formed from an aqueous film coat composition. Aqueous film coat compositions suitable for use in the present invention comprise a film-forming polymer, water as a vehicle, and optionally one or more adjuvants such as are known in the film-coating art. When the film coat contains a coordinating metal, as used herein, the amount of coordinating metal is approximately equal to or less than <NUM> parts of Compound B.

The film-forming polymer is selected to form coatings with mechanical properties (e.g., mechanical strength, flexibility) suitable to meet performance requirements, such as those required by the intended use environment (e.g., dissolution profile in gastrointestinal fluids), and/or use (e.g. solution viscosity). Examples of suitable film-forming polymers include cellulosic polymers (e.g., cellulose ethers such as HPMC, HPC, MC, EC, HEC, CAP, sodium ethyl cellulose sulfate, carboxymethyl cellulose and the like); polyvinylpyrolidone; zein; and acrylic polymers (e.g., methacrylic acid/methacrylic acid ester copolymers such as methacrylic acid/methylmethacrylate copolymers and the like). Cellulosic polymers are preferred in the present invention, especially cellulosic ethers and more especially HPMC and HPC. The polymers are typically provided in either aqueous or organic solvent based solutions or aqueous dispersions. However, the polymers may be provided in dry form, alone or in a powdery mixture with other components (e.g., a plasticizer and/or colorant), which is made into a solution or dispersion by the user by admixing with the aqueous vehicle.

The aqueous film coat composition further comprises water as a vehicle for the other components, to facilitate their delivery to the tablet surface. The vehicle may optionally further comprise one or more water soluble solvents, e.g., alcohols (e.g., methanol, isopropanol, propanol) and ketones (e.g., acetone). The skilled artisan can select appropriate vehicle components to provide good interaction between the film-forming polymer and the vehicle to ensure good film properties. In general, polymer - vehicle interaction is designed to yield maximum polymer chain extension to produce films having the greatest cohesive strength and thus mechanical properties. The components are also selected to provide good deposition of the film-forming polymer onto the tablet surface, such that a coherent and adherent film is achieved.

The aqueous film coating composition may optionally comprise one or more adjuvants known in the art, such as plasticizers, colorants, detackifiers, secondary film-forming polymers, flow aids, surfactants (e.g., to assist spreading), maltodextrin, and polydextrose.

Plasticizers provide flexibility to the film, which may reduce film cracking and improve adhesion to the tablet. Suitable plasticizers will generally have a high degree of compatibility with the film-forming polymer and sufficient permanence such that the coating properties are generally stable. Examples of suitable plasticizers include glycerin, propylene glycol, polyethylene glycols (e.g., molecular weight from <NUM> to <NUM>,<NUM>, including Union Carbide's PEG <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>,<NUM>), glycerin triacetate (aka triacetin), acetylated monoglyceride, citrate esters (e.g., triethyl citrate, acetyl triethyl citrate, tributyl citrate, acetyl tributyl citrate), phthalate esters (e.g., diethyl phthalate), mineral oil and hydrogenated glucose syrup. In one embodiment of the present invention, the plasticizer is chosen from polyethylene glycols, triacetin, propylene glycol, glycerin, and mixtures thereof.

The aqueous film coat composition suitably comprises one or more colorants. In addition to enhancing esthetic appeal, the colorant provides product identification. Suitable colorants include those approved and certified by the FDA, including FD&C and D&C approved dyes, lakes, and pigments, and titanium dioxide, provided that the film coat contains no coordinating metals, or only an amount of coordinating metal approximately equal to or less than <NUM> parts of Compound B.

Suitably, the colorant comprises one or more coloring agents selected from the group consisting of red iron oxides, red dyes and lakes, yellow iron oxides, yellow dyes and lakes, titanium dioxide, and indigo carmine. For example, the colorant may be selected to provide a light beige shade, for example consisting essentially of a) red iron oxide, red dye, and/or red lake, b) yellow iron oxide, yellow dye, and/or yellow lake, and c) titanium dioxide. Alternatively, the colorant may be selected to provide a pink shade (e.g., consisting essentially of titanium dioxide and red iron oxide, red dye and/or red lake); a light green shade (e.g., consisting essentially of yellow iron oxide, yellow dye and/or yellow lake, indigo carmine, and titanium dioxide); a light blue shade (e.g., consisting essentially of titanium dioxide and indigo carmine); or an orange shade (e.g., consisting of essentially of titanium dioxide and sunset yellow).

The above mentioned colorants that contain a coordinating metal are acceptable at a level approximately equal to or less than <NUM> parts of Compound B.

In suitable alternative embodiments, the aqueous film coating composition for use in the current invention comprises:.

Suitably, such compositions further comprise a colorant. Such compositions may optionally further comprise one or more additional adjuvants such as a detackifier, flow aid, surfactant, and secondary film-forming polymer.

Examples of optional detackifiers include lecithin, stearic acid, mineral oil, modified derivatized starch, tapioca dextrin, and polyethylene glycol. Examples of optional secondary film-forming polymers include sodium alginate, propylene glycol alginate, and polyvinylpyrrolidone. Examples of optional surfactants include dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate and polysorbate <NUM>. Examples of optional flow aids include talc, fumed silica, bentonite, hydrogenated vegetable oils, stearines, and waxes.

The aqueous film coat composition will typically comprise from about <NUM>% to about <NUM>%, suitably about <NUM>% to about <NUM>%, coating solids in the vehicle. In suitable embodiments, the solids typically comprise from about <NUM>% to about <NUM>%, suitably about <NUM>% to about <NUM>% film-forming polymer, about <NUM>% to about <NUM>%, suitably about <NUM>% to about <NUM>%, plasticizer, and about <NUM>% to about <NUM>% colorant, by weight.

A number of suitable aqueous film coating compositions are commercially available. The aqueous film coat composition may be provided in the form of a solution or dispersion. Alternatively, the composition may be provided in a dry form that can be combined with the vehicle components according to supplier instructions prior to coating the tablet. Suitably, aqueous film coating compositions are those commercially available from Colorcon, Inc. of West Point, PA, under the trade name OPADRY and OPADRY II (nonlimiting examples include Opadry YS-<NUM>-<NUM>-G white, Opadry Yellow 03B92357, Opadry Blue 03B90842). These compositions are available as dry film coating compositions that can be diluted in water shortly before use. OPADRY and OPADRY II formulations comprise a cellulosic film forming polymer (e.g., HPMC and/or HPC), and may contain polydextrose, maltodextrin, a plasticizer (e.g., triacetin, polyethylene glycol), polysorbate <NUM>, a colorant (e.g., titanium dioxide, one or more dyes or lakes), and/or other suitable film-forming polymers (e.g., acrylate-methacrylate copolymers). Suitable OPADRY or OPADRY II formulations may comprise a plasticizer and one or more of maltodextrin, and polydextrose (including but not limited to a) triacetin and polydextrose or maltodextrin or lactose, or b) polyethylene glycol and polydextrose or maltodextrin).

The tablets are also suitably coated to provide a uniform coating without speckling. The tablets are typically coated to provide a dry tablet weight gain of from about <NUM> to about <NUM>%, suitably about <NUM> to <NUM>%.

The uncoated tablet cores are coated with the aqueous film coating composition by methods well known in the art using commercially available equipment (e.g., Thomas Accela-Cota, Vector Hi-Coater, Compu-Lab <NUM>). In general, the process usually involves rolling or tumbling the tablets in a pan, or suspending the tablets on a cushion of air (fluidized bed), and intermittently or continuously (preferably continuously) spraying a fine mist of atomized droplets of the coating composition onto the tablets, the droplets wetting, spreading and coalescing on the surface of the tablets to form an adherent and coherent film coating. The tablets are typically heated to about <NUM> to <NUM>, suitably about <NUM> to <NUM>, e.g., by air having a temperature of up to about <NUM>, suitably about <NUM> to <NUM>.

Pharmaceutical tablets of the invention that are wet-granulated and have a composition according to the appended claims can be prepared by a process comprising the steps of:.

Suitably, the tablets are further film-coated, especially aqueous film-coated.

In preparing wet-granulated granules, the dry materials may be mixed with suitable equipment such as known in the art (e.g., Niro-Fielder Blender/Granulator, Bear Varimixer, Key High Shear Mixer/Granulator) for a time sufficient to homogenize the materials, e.g., for about <NUM> minutes.

The granulating fluid is then added to the dry mixture, preferably while mixing. The granulating fluid is suitably water, although may alternatively be comprised of water in admixture with one or more of binders such as PVP and HPMC, from about <NUM> v/w% to about <NUM> v/w% of the granulating fluid, based on the total wet granulation mixture, is suitably used. The granulating fluid and dry materials may be mixed using suitable equipment such as known in the art (e.g., Niro-Fielder Blender/Granulator, Bear Varimixer, Key High Shear Mixer/Granulator) for a total time sufficient to generally uniformly wet the dry material so as to form wet granules, suitably for about <NUM> to about <NUM> minutes. Typically the fluid is added to the dry material with mixing over a period of about <NUM> to about <NUM> minutes, then the total batch is mixed for an additional time (post-granulating fluid-addition time), of about <NUM> minutes to about <NUM> minutes.

In a suitable embodiment, about <NUM> v/w% to about <NUM> v/w% granulating fluid and a post-granulating fluid-addition granulating time of about <NUM> minutes or less is used. Suitably, about <NUM> v/w % granulating fluid and a post-granulating fluid-addition granulating time of less than <NUM> minutes is used, e.g., about <NUM> minutes. Suitably, about <NUM> v/w% granulating fluid and a post-granulating fluid-addition granulating time of more than <NUM> minutes is used, e.g., about <NUM> minutes.

The wet granules are then wet-milled by methods such as are known in the art for providing a generally uniformly sized wet mass (such that the granules dry relatively evenly). Suitable wet-milling techniques may involve screening (e.g., manual screens), comminuting mills (such as a Co-mil, including but not limited to a <NUM>" screen), or extruders.

The wet-milled granules are dried by methods such as are known in the art for providing generally uniform drying, to a low residual amount of granulating fluid (preferably about <NUM>% to about <NUM>%). Fluid bed dryers are suitable drying equipment.

The dried granules are then dry-milled using known methods to provide generally uniformly sized granules (unimodal distribution), suitably having a mean particle diameter of less than <NUM> microns (found to provide improved content uniformity). Suitable dry-milling equipment includes Co-mils, including but not limited to having a <NUM>" screen.

Suitably the granules and the dry materials of the compression mix are generally unimodal in size distribution, in order to facilitate formation of a homogeneous mix and to mitigate possible segregation of the mix after blending. If necessary, the dry materials may be pre-screened to provide the desired particle size distribution. Screening of the lubricant may be particularly useful to deagglomerate the lubricant.

In preparing the compression mixture, the granules, filler, and disintegrant are mixed over a suitable period of time, about <NUM> to <NUM> minutes. Lubricant is then added and mixed for a suitable period of time, about <NUM> to <NUM> minutes. The mixture is then compressed into tablets using presses such as are known in the art (e.g., rotary tablet press).

It has been found that the above granulating fluid levels, granulating times, and excipients provide improved processing.

The invented pharmaceutical tablet may be administered in therapeutically effective amounts to treat or prevent a disease state, e.g., as described in the above referenced International Applications Nos. <CIT>, <CIT> and <CIT>. It will be recognized by one of skill in the art that the optimal quantity and spacing of individual dosages of eltrombopag olamine formulations of the invention will be determined by the nature and extent of the condition being treated and the particular patient being treated, and that such optimums can be determined by conventional techniques. It will also be appreciated by one of skill in the art that the optimal course of treatment, i.e., the number of doses of eltrombopag olamine given per day for a defined number of days, can be ascertained by those skilled in the art using conventional course of treatment determination tests.

Disclosed herein is a pharmaceutical tablet for use in a method of inducing TPO agonist activity in humans comprising administering to a subject in need of such activity a therapeutically effective amount of a coated pharmaceutical tablet of the present invention.

The invention also provides a pharmaceutical tablet of the present invention for use in enhancing platelet production.

The invention also provides a pharmaceutical tablet of the present invention for use in treating thrombocytopenia.

The invention also provides for a pharmaceutical tablet for use as a TPO mimetic which comprises eltrombopag olamine and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier of the present invention.

The invention also provides for a pharmaceutical tablet for use in the treatment of thrombocytopenia which comprises eltrombopag olamine and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier of the present invention.

The invention also provides for a pharmaceutical tablet for use in enhancing platelet production which comprises eltrombopag olamine and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier of the present invention.

A process is disclosed for preparing a pharmaceutical tablet containing a diluent, wherein the diluent is a combination of mannitol and microcrystalline cellulose, and a therapeutically effective amount of eltrombopag olamine, which process comprises bringing eltrombopag olamine into association with the diluent.

No unacceptable toxicological effects are expected when the compound of the invention is administered in accordance with the present invention.

Without further elaboration, it is believed that one skilled in the art can, using the preceding description, utilize the present invention to its fullest extent.

All the excipients utilized herein are standard pharmaceutical grade excipients available from numerous manufacturers well known to those in the art.

Wet granulated, tablets comprising eltrombopag olamine and the ingredients in Table <NUM> were prepared.

Granules were prepared by separately weighing and screening mannitol, microcrystalline cellulose and povidone.

As a general procedure, the ingredients were blended with the active ingredient and then wet-granulated (in a high-shear wet-granulator) with purified water. The wet-granule mass was wet-milled, then dried in a fluid-bed dryer and the dried granules were milled.

Then extragranular ingredients (microcrystalline cellulose, if needed, and sodium starch glycolate) were separately weighed, screened and blended with the granules. Magnesium stearate was added and blended with the mixture. The blend was compressed and the tablet cores were then film coated. The tablets were film coated with an aqueous suspension of OPADRY film coating preparation.

Eltrombopag olamine tablets containing diluents with the coordinating metal calcium phosphate dibasic anhydrous were manufactured in a similar manner as described above. Tablet composition for the tablet coordinating metal diluent is provided in table <NUM>.

In <FIG>, the tablet prepared with no coordinating metal diluent (indicated as "with non-coordinating metal diluent") is a eltrombopag <NUM> tablet generally prepared as described in Table <NUM> above and the tablet prepared with the coordinating metal diluent - Calcium Phopshate dibasic anhydrous - (indicated as "with coordinating metal diluent") is a eltrombopag <NUM> tablet generally prepared as described in Table <NUM> above. Dissolution comparison was performed using USP Apparatus II, <NUM> rpm, in phosphate buffer pH <NUM> containing <NUM>% Tween <NUM>.

<FIG> depicts the effect of API particle size distribution on eltrombopag olamine dissolution. Eltrombopag olamine <NUM> tablets were generally prepared in the manner described in Example <NUM>, using different particle sizes. The particle size refers to the particle size of the drug granules used in the formulation.

Claim 1:
A pharmaceutical tablet consisting of:
(i) <NUM>'-[(2Z)-[<NUM>-(<NUM>,<NUM>-dimethylphenyl)-<NUM>,<NUM>-dihydro-<NUM>-methyl-<NUM>-oxo-<NUM>-pyrazol-<NUM>-ylidene]hydrazino]-<NUM>'hydroxy-[<NUM>,<NUM>'-biphenyl]-<NUM>-carboxylic acid bis-(monoethanolamine) (eltrombopag olamine), in an amount of from <NUM>% to <NUM>% by weight of the tablet;
(ii) diluent, wherein the diluent is a combination of mannitol and microcrystalline cellulose, in an amount of from <NUM>% to <NUM>% by weight of the tablet;
(iii) binder, wherein the binder is polyvinylpyrrolidone, in an amount of up to <NUM>% by weight of the tablet;
(iv) lubricant, wherein the lubricant is magnesium stearate, in an amount of up to <NUM>% by weight of the tablet; and
(v) disintegrant, wherein the disintegrant is sodium starch glycolate, in an amount of from <NUM>% to <NUM>% by weight of the tablet;
wherein said tablet is optionally coated with a film coat formed from an aqueous film coat composition.