Methods for administering aripiprazole

• US 20050032811A1
• Filed: 08/06/2003
• Published: 02/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Alkermes Pharma Ireland Limited (Alkermes plc)
• Original Assignee: Alkermes Pharma Ireland Limited (Alkermes plc)
• Inventors: Brown, Josiah
• Application Number:
  US10/635,221
• Publication Number:
  US 20050032811A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 514/253.70
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/496 Non-condensed piperazines containing further heterocyclic rings, e.g. rifampin, thiothixene or sparfloxacin
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 47/02 Inorganic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 47/10 Alcohols; Phenols; Salts thereof, e.g. glycerol; Polyethylene glycols [PEG]; Poloxamers; PEG/POE alkyl ethers
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 47/26 Carbohydrates, e.g. sugar alcohols, amino sugars, nucleic acids, mono-, di- or oligo-saccharides; Derivatives thereof, e.g. polysorbates, sorbitan fatty acid esters or glycyrrhizin
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 47/38 Cellulose; Derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/0019 Injectable compositions; Intramuscular, intravenous, arterial, subcutaneous administration; Compositions to be administered through the skin in an invasive manner non-active ingredients are additionally classified in A61K47/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/10 Dispersions; Emulsions A61K9/06 takes precedence; composition of dispersions, emulsions A61K47/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 25/00 Drugs for disorders of the nervous system
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 25/18 Antipsychotics, i.e. neuroleptics; Drugs for mania or schizophrenia
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 43/00 Drugs for specific purposes, not provided for in groups A61P1/00-A61P41/00

Abstract

The present invention relates, in part, to the discovery that a pharmaceutical composition comprising aripiprazole and a carrier administered in a bolus injection resulted in an extended release profile similar to that obtained by the injection of a poly lactide-co-glycolide microsphere formulation containing the active agent. This surprising result suggests that pharmacologically beneficial extended release formulations without the complexities and expense associated with the manufacture microspheres.

Claims

1. An injectable composition for the extended release of aripiprazole comprising a mixture of at least about 10 mg/ml aripiprazole in an injection vehicle comprising An optional viscosity enhancing agent.

2. The composition of claim 1 wherein the aripiprazole release is for at least 7 days.

3. The composition of claim 2 wherein the viscosity enhancing agent comprises carboxymethyl cellulose.

4. The composition of claim 3, wherein said injection vehicle comprises at least about 1% by volume sodium carboxymethyl cellulose.

5. The composition of claim 4, wherein said injection vehicle comprises about 3% by volume carboxymethyl cellulose.

6. The composition of claim 2 wherein the injection vehicle further comprises a wetting agent.

7. The composition of claim 6 wherein the surfactant is selected from the group consisting of polysorbate 20, polysorbate 40, and polysorbate 80.

8. The composition of claim 7 wherein the wetting agent is polysorbate 20.

9. The composition of claim 8 wherein the injection vehicle comprises about 0.1% by weight of polysorbate 20.

10. The composition of claim 2, wherein said injection vehicle comprises a density enhancing agent.

11. The composition of claim 10, wherein said density enhancing agent comprises sorbitol.

12. The composition of claim 2, wherein said injection vehicle comprises a tonicity adjusting agent.

13. The composition of claim 12, wherein said tonicity adjusting agent comprises sodium chloride.

14. The composition of claim 1, wherein said injection vehicle comprises about 1% by weight of sodium chloride.

15. A composition comprising at least about 10 mg of aripiprazole and an aqueous injection vehicle comprising water, a viscosity enhancing agent, a wetting agent and a tonicity agent.

16. A composition comprising at least about 10 mg of aripiprazole and an aqueous injection vehicle comprising water, about 3% by volume carboxymethylcellulose, about 0.1% polysorbate 20 and about 1% by weight sodium chloride.

17. A composition comprising at least about 10 mg of aripiprazole and an aqueous injection vehicle consisting essentially of water, about 3% by volume carboxymethylcellulose, about 0.1% by weight polysorbate 20 and about 0.9% by weight sodium chloride.

18. A method for providing aripiprazole to an individual in an extended release injectable composition comprising administering a mixture of at least about 10 mg/ml aripiprazole in an injection vehicle comprising an optional viscosity enhancing agent.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the aripiprazole is present in an amount of at least about 20 mg/ml.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein a therapeutically effective amount of the aripiprazole is present in the plasma of the individual for at least about 7 days.

21. The method of claim 19 wherein a therapeutically effective amount of the aripiprazole is present in the plasma of the individual for at least about 14 days.

22. The method of claim 19 wherein a therapeutically effective amount of the aripiprazole is present in the plasma of the individual for at least about 21 days.

23. The method of claim 19 wherein the viscosity enhancing agent comprises carboxymethyl cellulose.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein said injection vehicle comprises at least about 1% by volume sodium carboxymethyl cellulose.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein said injection vehicle comprises about 3% by volume carboxymethyl cellulose.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein the injection vehicle further comprises a wetting agent.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein the surfactant is selected from the group consisting of polysorbate 20, polysorbate 40, and polysorbate 80.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein the wetting agent is polysorbate 20.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein the injection vehicle comprises about 0.1% by weight of polysorbate 20.

30. The method of claim 22, wherein said injection vehicle comprises a density enhancing agent.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein said density enhancing agent comprises sorbitol.

32. The method of claim 22, wherein said injection vehicle comprises a tonicity adjusting agent.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein said tonicity adjusting agent comprises sodium chloride.

34. The method of claim 21, wherein said injection vehicle comprises about 1% by weight of sodium chloride.

35. The method of claim 18 wherein the composition is administered by injection.

36. The method of claim 18 wherein the composition is administered intramuscularly or subcutaneously.

37. The method of claim 18 further comprising a second administration of the composition at least about 7 days after the first administration.

38. The method of claim 18 further comprising a second administration of the composition at least about 14 days after the first administration.