Pharmaceutical compositions for otic use

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application, U.S. Ser. No. 60/395,958, filed Jul. 15, 2002.

This invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions. In particular, this invention relates to the use of carriers containing low molecular weight compounds that reversibly change from solid to liquid at approximately 32-37° C. in compositions for otic use.

Otic compositions designed for topical application to the external ear are typically aqueous compositions. Such compositions can be formulated as simple aqueous solutions or suspensions. Alternatively, such compositions may be formulated as an oil-in-water emulsion, such as those described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,753,269. Still another possibility for use in topical otic compositions is a polymeric ingredient. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,747,061, which describes suspension formulations of the steroid loteprednol etabonate for treating the ear, eye or nose. Gel-forming compositions and gel compositions are also used for delivering otic drugs. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,316,011, which describes certain thermal responsive hydrogels suitable for administering a pharmaceutical agent across otic membranes. See also U.S. Pat. No. 6,346,272, which describes thermo-irreversible gel vehicles that may be used to deliver otic drugs, wherein the vehicle contains a polyoxyalkylene polymer and an ionic polysaccharide and the vehicle is a liquid before administration to the body and transform, upon contact with the body, into “a semi-solid gel having a very high viscosity” (Col. 2, line 64-Col. 3, line 1). The compositions of the '272 patent may be formulated as homogeneous, polyphase systems and, in addition to the polyoxyalkylene polymer and the ionic polysaccharide, optionally contain “such additives as water insoluble high molecular weight fatty acids and alcohols, fixed oils, volatile oils and waxes, mono-, di-, and triglycerides, and synthetic, water insoluble polymers without altering the functionality of the system” (Col. 3, lines 16-21).

The present invention provides otic compositions comprising a pharmaceutical drug and a carrier containing one or more low molecular weight compounds. The carrier is a solid or semi-solid at temperatures ≦32° C., but liquid at temperatures ≧37° C. The compositions reversibly change from solid to liquid at a temperature of 32-37° C.

Unless indicated otherwise, all ingredient amounts expressed in percentage terms are presented as % w/w.

The compositions of the present invention comprise an optically acceptable pharmaceutical drug and a carrier comprising one or more compounds having a molecular weight of 150-4000, wherein the compounds are of the formula:

wherein R 1 is —H, —OH, —COOH, —C n H 2n+1-2m , —COOC n H 2n+1-2m , —COO(CH 2 CH 2 O) n CH 2 CH 2 OH, —CH 2 R 3 , or

R 2 , R 3 and R 4 are independently —H, —OH, —COOH, —C n H 2n+1-2m , —OOCC n H 2n+1-2m , —COOC n H 2n+1-2m , —COO(CH 2 CH 2 O) n CH 2 CH 2 OH, —C n H 2n+1-2m COO(CH 2 CH 2 O) n CH 2 CH 2 OH, —OOCC n H 2n+1-2m COOC n′ H 2n′+1-2m′ , —COO − Na + , —COO − K + , —SO 3 H, —SO 3 − Na + , —SO 3 − K + , —NH 2 , —Cl,

n, n′ and n″ are independently 0-50; and

m, m′ and m″ are independently 0-10.

In a preferred embodiment, the compositions do not contain any polymeric ingredient and the carrier consists essentially of one or more compounds of formula (I). Preferably, the molecular weight of the low molecular weight compounds of formula (I) used in the compositions present invention is ≦2000, and most preferably ≦1000. If the carrier of the present invention contains only one compound of formula (I), then the compound must have a melting point in the range of 32-37° C. If the carrier contains two or more compounds of formula (I), it is only necessary that the mixture of the two or more compounds of formula (I) has a melting point in the range of 32-37° C.

Preferred are the compounds of formula (I) wherein

R 1 is, —C n H 2n+1-2m , —COOC n H 2n+1-2m , —COO(CH 2 CH 2 O) n CH 2 CH 2 OH, —CH 2 R 3 , or

R 2 , R 3 and R 4 are independently —H, —OH, —COOH, —C n H 2n+1-2m , —OOCC n H 2n+1-2m , —COOC n H 2n+1-2m , —COO(CH 2 CH 2 O) n CH 2 CH 2 OH, —C n H 2n+1-2m COO(CH 2 CH 2 O) n CH 2 CH 2 OH, or —OOCC n H 2n+1-2m COOC n′ H 2n′+1-2m′ ;

n, n′ and n″ are independently 0-40; and

m, m′ and m″ are independently 0-5.

Most preferred are the compounds of formula (I) wherein

R 1 is

R 2 , R 3 and R 4 are independently —H, —OH, —COOH, —C n H 2n+1-2m , or —OOCC n H 2n+1-2m ;

n, n′ and n″ are independently 0-30; and m, m′ and m″ are independently 0-3.

The compounds of the present invention can be made by methods known in the art and many such compounds are commercially available. For example, commercial suppliers include NuChek Prep (Elysian, Minn.), Quest International (Hoffman Estates, Ill.), which produces such compounds under the Myvace® brand, and Gattefossa (Saint-Priest, France), which produces such compounds under the Gelucire®, Suppocire™, Ovucire™, and Monosteol® brands. Suitable compounds include, but are not limited to, the following commercially available products.

propylene glycol mono- and diesters of stearic and palmitic acid (Monosteol®); glyceryl esters of saturated C 8 -C 18 saturated fatty acid esters (Gelucire® 33/01); Suppocire AIM; Suppocire AM; Suppocire BM; Suppocire NAI 25; and Suppocire NAL

The compositions of the present invention comprise one or more of the compounds of formula (I) in a total concentration of at least 10%, preferably at least 30%, and most preferably at least 50%.

The compositions of the present invention comprise a pharmaceutically effective amount of an otic drug. If necessary or desired, more than one drug can be included in the composition of the present invention. Many types of otic drugs are known, including but not limited to: anti-infective agents including quinolones such as ciprofloxacin, and aminoglycosides such as tobramycin and gentamicin; and non-steroidal and steroidal anti-inflammatory agents, such as suprofen, diclofenac, ketorolac, rimexolone, dexamethasone, hydrocortisone and tetrahydrocortisol. Anti-pain otic drugs are also known, such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,174,878. The otic drug may be present in the form of a pharmaceutically acceptable salt. Compositions of the present invention may also include combinations of otic drugs. The total amount of drug contained in the implant compositions of the present invention is preferably not greater than 50%.

In addition to the compound of formula (I) and an otic drug, the compositions of the present invention optionally comprise one or more excipients. Many excipients for pharmaceutical compositions are known. Examples of suitable excipients include, but are not limited to surfactants and other solubilizing agents, preservatives, and stabilizers.

Suitable surfactants include tyloxapol, polysorbate 20, polysorbate 60, and polysorbate 80 surfactants. A preferred surfactant is polysorbate 80.

Suitable stabilizers include chelating agents, such as edetate disodium, and antioxidants, such as ascorbic acid and citric acid.

The compositions may be fashioned into a shape suitable for insertion into the ear. For example, such shapes include, but are not limited to cylindrical, conical and spherical shapes. Alternatively, the compositions may be dropped, injected, deposited, or sprayed into the ear. The compositions of the present invention are administered to the external ear, including the ear canal. In one embodiment, the compositions of the present invention are warmed to a temperature above 35° C. and administered topically into the ear canal as ear drops or injected through a cannula into the ear canal.

The present invention is also directed toward a method of delivering an otic drug to the ear of a patient wherein the method comprises administering to the ear a composition containing the otic drug and a carrier comprising one or more low molecular weight compounds of formula (I). According to this method, the compositions do not drain out of the ear because they are solid or semi-solid at the temperature of the external ear. On the other hand, the compositions easily allow the drug to diffuse or escape the carrier because the carrier is liquid at 37° C., the average temperature of the inner ear and it is generally easier for a drug to escape a liquid than a solid.

The following examples are intended to illustrate, but not limit, the present invention.