Method of producing active agent coated chewing gum products

• US 6,627,234 B1
• Filed: 07/21/2000
• Issued: 09/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: WM Wrigley Jr Company (Mars Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: WM Wrigley Jr Company (Mars Incorporated)
• Inventors: Reed, Michael A., Seielstad, Donald A., Gudas, Victor V., Wokas, William J., Ream, Ronald L., Greenberg, Michael J., Song, Joo H., Russell, Michael P., Townsend, Donald J., Yatka, Robert J., Johnson, Sonya S., Tyrpin, Henry T., Witkewitz, David L., Record, David W., Corriveau, Christine L., Schnell, Philip G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Corbin, Arthur L.
• Application Number:
  US09/621,643
• Time in Patent Office: 1,166 Days
• Field of Search: 426/3, 426/5, 424/48, 424/440
• US Class Current: 426/5
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 4/06 characterised by the composition containing organic or inorganic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 4/20 Composite products, e.g. centre-filled , multi-layer, laminated
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/0058 Chewing gums non-medicinal aspects, preparing chewing gum A23G4/00; chewing gum for care of the teeth or oral cavity, e.g. with breath freshener A61Q11/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/006 Oral mucosa, e.g. mucoadhesive forms, sublingual droplets; Buccal patches or films; Buccal sprays
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/209 containing drug in at least two layers or in the core and in at least one outer layer
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/2826 Sugars or sugar alcohols, e.g. sucrose; Derivatives thereof

Abstract

A method for producing a chewing gum with an improved release of active agent, as well as the chewing gum so produced, is obtained by adding an active agent to a chewing gum coating. The active agent is added to the coating in a coating solution or premixed with a flavor or solvent. The coating solution may contain sweetener or other transdermal enhancing agents to obtain increased transmucosal absorption. An active agent may also be used in the gum core.

Claims

1. A method of producing coated chewing gum products containing at least one active agent in the coating so as to modify the release of the active agent in the mouth comprising the steps of:

a) providing chewing gum product cores;

b) providing a coating solution containing a bulk sweetener;

c) providing a powder material comprising an active agent; and

d) coating the chewing gum product cores with the coating solution and powder material, with the powder material being applied as a dry charge between two or more applications of the coating solution, to provide coated chewing gum products, the coating including the active agent, and the active agent being present at a level of from about 2% to about 5% in the gum products.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the active agent is present in the coating at a level of from about 0.01% to about 2.5% of the coating.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein a high-potency sweetener selected from the group consisting of aspartame, alitame, salts of acesulfame, cyclamate and its salts, saccharine and its salts, neotame, thaumatin, monellin, dihydrochalcones, sucralose and combinations thereof is mixed in the coating solution.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said active agent is selected from the group consisting of vitamins, analgesics, antacids, antihistamines, antitussives, antibacterial agents, decongestants and anesthetics.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said active agent is selected from the group consisting of asprin, acetaminophen, ketoprofen, naproxen, and ibuprofen.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said active agent is an antacid selected from the group consisting of cimetidine, rantidine, omeprazole and famotidine.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said active agent is an antihistamine selected form the group consisting of cimetidine, rantidine, famotidine and chlorpheniramine maleate.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said active agent is selected from the group consisting of dextromethorphan hydrobromide and pseudoephedrine hydrochloride.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the active agent is a nutraceutical.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein said active agent is selected from the group consisting of nicotine and nicotine substitutes.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein active agent is included in both the coating solution and the powder material.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein an active agent is also included in the chewing gum cores.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the active agents in the gum cores and coating are the same;

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the active agent in the gum cores is different than the active agent in the coating.