Controlled release simvastatin delivery device

• US 5,882,682 A
• Filed: 08/01/1997
• Issued: 03/16/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Merck Sharp & Dohme Corporation (Merck & Co., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Merck & Co., Inc.
• Inventors: Pipkin, James D., Rork, Gerald S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Brouillette, D. Gabrielle
• Application Number:
  US08/817,129
• Time in Patent Office: 592 Days
• Field of Search: 424/473, 424/479, 424/480, 424/489
• US Class Current: 424/473
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/4422 1,4-Dihydropyridines, e.g. nifedipine, nicardipine
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/0004 Osmotic delivery systems; Sustained release driven by osmosis, thermal energy or gas
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/2027 obtained by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds, e.g. polyvinyl pyrrolidone, poly(meth)acrylates
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/2072 characterised by shape, structure or size; Tablets with holes, special break lines or identification marks; Partially coated tablets; Disintegrating flat shaped forms A61K9/0004, A61K9/0056, A61K9/0065 take precedence

Abstract

Controlled delivery of a beneficial agent in a dispersion is provided using (i) a compressed core which contains the beneficial agent, a polymer which forms gelatinous microscopic particles upon hydration, and if desired, an agent to modulate the hydration; and (ii) a water insoluble coating which adheres to and surrounds the core and contains apertures which provide an area for the hydration and release of the dispersion. The release rate of the beneficial agent is a function of the number and size of the apertures in the coating.

Claims

1. A drug delivery device for the controlled in situ production and release of a dispersion containing simvastatin, which is:

(A) a compressed core prepared from an admixture comprising;

(i) a therapeutically effective amount of simvastatin; and

(ii) a polymer which upon hydration forms gelatinous microscopic particles, wherein the polymer is selected from the group consisting of sodium polyacrylate, carboxypolymethylenes, and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, and wherein the carboxypolymethylenes are prepared from acrylic acid crosslinked with allylethers of sucrose or pentaerythritol; and

(B) a water insoluble, water impermeable polymeric coating comprising a polymer and a plasticizer, which surrounds and adheres to the core, wherein the polymer is selected from the group consisting of cellulose acetate, cellulose acetate butyrate, ethylcellulose, polyvinylacetate, polyvinyl chloride, polymers of acrylic and methacrylic acid esters, and combinations of these polymers, and the plasticizer is selected from the group consisting of dibutylsebacate, diethylphthalate, triethylcitrate and polyethylene glycol, the coating having a plurality of formed apertures exposing between about 1 and about 75% of the core surface;

and wherein the release rate of the beneficial agent from the device is a function of the number and size of the apertures.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the amount of simvastatin in the core comprises from 0.01% to 75% by weight of the core mixture.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the amount of polymer which upon hydration produces gelatinous microscopic particles in dry form comprises from about 5% to about 75% by weight of the core mixture.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the water insoluble, water impermeable polymeric coating is comprised of a polymer selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl chloride, cellulose acetate, cellulose acetate butyrate, ethylcellulose and combinations of these polymers;

and a plasticizer selected from the group consisting of diethylphthalate, dibutylsebacate and triethylcitrate.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the polymer in the water insoluble, water impermeable polymeric coating is cellulose acetate butyrate.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the plasticizer in the water insoluble, water impermeable polymeric coating is triethylcitrate.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein the polymer which upon hydration forms gelatinous microscopic particles is selected from the group consisting of carboxypolymethylenes prepared from acrylic acid crosslinked with allylethers of sucrose or pentaerythritol, and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein the compressed core further comprises at least one polymer hydration modulating agent selected from the group consisting of acids, bases, salts, sugars, surfactants, and soluble polymers.

9. The device of claim 8 wherein the polymer hydration modulating agent or agents are selected from the group consisting of sodium phosphates and microcrystalline cellulose.

10. The device of claim 1 wherein the compressed core is further comprised of one or more compressing aids and diluents.

11. The device of claim 1 wherein the compressed core is further comprised of lactose.

12. The device of claim 1 wherein the apertures in the coating range from 0.1 mm to 20 mm at their widest point.

13. The device of claim 1 wherein the number of apertures ranges from 2 to 1000.

14. The device of claim 13 wherein the number of apertures ranges from 5 to 100.

15. The device of claim 1 wherein the apertures are positioned in a regular pattern on both faces of the device.

16. The device of claim 1 further comprised of at least one material for enhancing at least one of the characteristics of the water impermeable polymeric coating, wherein the characteristics are selected from the group consisting of stability, color, elasticity, ease of application, and opacity.

17. The device of claim 16 comprised of at least one material for enhancing the elasticity of the water impermeable polymeric coating.

18. The device of claim 16 comprised of at least one material for enhancing the opacity of the water impermeable polymeric coating.

19. The device of claim 16 comprised of at least one material for enhancing the ease of application of the water impermeable polymeric coating.

20. A drug delivery device for the controlled in situ production and release of a dispersion containing simvastatin, which is:

(A) a compressed core prepared from an admixture comprising;

(i) from 0.01% to 75% by weight of the core mixture of a therapeutically effective amount of simvastatin; and

(ii) from about 5% to about 75% by weight of the core mixture of a polymer which upon hydration forms gelatinous microscopic particles, wherein the polymer is selected from the group consisting of sodium polyacrylate, carboxypolymethylenes and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, and wherein the carboxypolymethylenes are prepared from acrylic acid crosslinked with allylethers of sucrose or pentaerythritol; and

(B) a water insoluble, water impermeable polymeric coating comprising a polymer and a plasticizer, which surrounds and adheres to the core, wherein the polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl chloride, cellulose acetate, cellulose acetate butyrate, ethylcellulose and combinations of these polymers, and the plasticizer is selected from the group consisting of diethylphthalate, dibutylsebacate and triethylcitrate, the coating having a plurality of formed apertures exposing between about 1 and about 75% of the core surface;

and wherein the release rate of drug from the device is a function of the number and size of the apertures.

21. The device of claim 20 wherein:

the polymer which upon hydration forms gelatinous microscopic particles is selected from the group consisting of carboxypolymethylenes prepared from acrylic acid crosslinked with allylethers of sucrose or pentaerythritol and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof;

the polymer in the water insoluble, water impermeable polymeric coating is cellulose acetate butyrate; and

the plasticizer in the water insoluble, water impermeable polymeric coating is triethylcitrate.

22. The device of claim 21 wherein the compressed core is further comprised of at least one polymer hydration modulating agent selected from the group consisting of sodium phosphates and microcrystalline cellulose.

23. A process for the preparation of a drug delivery device for the controlled in situ production and release of a dispersion containing a beneficial agent characterized by having a compressed core surrounded by a water insoluble, water impermeable polymeric coating, comprising the steps of:

(A) preparing a uniform mixture by either dry mixing or wet granulating a polymer which upon hydration produces gelatinous microscopic particles, the beneficial agent and other excipients used in the preparation of the core, wherein the polymer is selected from the group consisting of sodium polyacrylate, carboxypolymethylenes, and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, and wherein the carboxypolymethylenes are prepared from acrylic acid crosslinked with allylethers of sucrose or pentaerythritol;

(B) compressing the uniform mixture into cores;

(C) coating the entire core with the water insoluble, water impermeable polymeric coating comprised of a polymer and a plasticizer, wherein the polymer is selected from the group consisting of cellulose acetate, cellulose acetate butyrate, ethylcellulose, polyvinylacetate, polyvinyl chloride, polymers of acrylic and methacrylic acid esters, and combinations of these polymers, and the plasticizer is selected from the group consisting of dibutylsebacate, diethylphthalate, triethylcitrate and polyethylene glycol; and

(D) forming apertures through the coating.

24. The process of claim 23 wherein the beneficial agent is simvastatin.

25. The process of claim 23 wherein the uniform mixture of step (A) is prepared by either dry mixing or wet granulating a polymer hydration modulating agent with the polymer, the beneficial agent and the other excipients.

26. The process of claim 25 wherein at least one material for enhancing at least one of the characteristics of the water impermeable coating is added either before or after, or before and after, application of the water impermeable polymeric coating, wherein the characteristics are selected from the group consisting of stability, color, elasticity, ease of application, and opacity.

27. The process of claim 26 wherein the beneficial agent is simvastatin.

28. A drug delivery device for the controlled in situ production and release of a dispersion containing simvastatin, which is:

(A) a compressed core prepared from an admixture comprising;

(i) a therapeutically effective amount of simvastatin; and

(ii) a polymer which upon hydration forms gelatinous microscopic particles, wherein the polymer is selected from the group consisting of sodium polyacrylate, carboxypolymethylenes, and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, and wherein the carboxypolymethylenes are prepared from acrylic acid crosslinked with allylethers of sucrose or pentaerythritol; and

(B) a water insoluble polymeric coating comprising a polymer and a plasticizer, which surrounds and adheres to the core, wherein the polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl chloride, cellulose acetate, cellulose acetate butyrate, ethylcellulose and combinations of these polymers, and the plasticizer is selected from the group consisting of diethylphthalate, dibutylsebacate, and triethylcitrate, the coating having a plurality of formed apertures exposing between about 1 and about 75% of the core surface; and

wherein the release rate of the beneficial agent from the device is a function of the number and size of the apertures.