United States Patent:  5,942,251

Appl. No.:  062633

The invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions for the intranasal administration of dihydroergotamine, apomorphine and morphine comprising one these pharmacologically active ingredients in combination with a cyclodextrin and/or a disaccharide and/or a polysaccharide and/or a sugar alcohol.

Abstract of Description of the Invention

"..... it is an object of the invention to provide a highly stable pharmaceutical composition, suitable for nasal administration, capable of introducing efficiently a therapeutical amount of DHE into the human body. It has surprisingly been found that a pharmaceutically acceptable DHE composition can be formulated, suitable for nasal administration, without the presence of a special caffeine-glucose vehicle and without the necessity of presenting the formulation in a separate glass ampoule.

According to the invention, the nasal pharmaceutical composition contains DHE and/or a salt of DHE (mesylate or tartrate) and a cyclodextrin and/or other saccharides and/or sugar alcohols. Such compositions appear to result in a surprisingly high bioavailability and a superior stability of DHE.

The term "cyclodextrins" refers to cyclic oligosaccharides, like .alpha.-, .beta.- and .gamma.-cyclodextrin and their derivatives, preferably .beta.-cyclodextrin and its derivatives, preferably methylated .beta.-cyclodextrin, with a degree of CH.sub.3 -substitution between 0.5 and 3.0, more preferably between 1.7 and 2.1. The term "saccharides" refers to disaccharides, like lactose, maltose, saccharose and also refers to polysaccharides, like dextrans, with an average molecular weight between 10.000 and 100.000, preferably 40.000 and 70.000. The term "sugar alcohols" refers to mannitol and sorbitol.

The nasal composition, according to the invention, can be administered as a nasal spray, nasal drop, suspension, gel, ointment, cream or powder. The administration of the nasal composition may also take place using a nasal tampon or nasal sponge, containing the invention composition.

In particular, powder formulations show a surprisingly high bioavailability and superior stability of the DHE. In addition, powder formulations have the advantage that no preservatives are necessary. Preservatives are known to decrease the ciliary movement, which may be harmful in chronic nasal medication (Hermens W. A. J. J. and Merkus F. W. H. M., Pharm. Res. 1987; 4: 445-449).

Nasal powder compositions can be made by mixing the active agent and the excipient, both possessing the desired particle size. Other methods to make a suitable powder formulation can be selected. Firstly, a solution of the active agent and the cyclodextrin and/or the other saccharide and/or sugar alcohol is made, followed by precipitation, filtration and pulverization. It is also possible to remove the solvent by freeze drying, followed by pulverization of the powder in the desired particle size by using conventional techniques, known from the pharmaceutical literature. The final step is size classification for instance by sieving, to get particles that are less than 100 microns in diameter, preferably between 50 and 100 microns in diameter. Powders can be administered using a nasal insufflator. Powders may also be administered in such a manner that they are placed in a capsule. The capsule is set in an inhalation or insufflation device. A needle is penetrated through the capsule to make pores at the top and the bottom of the capsule and air is sent to blow out the powder particles. Powder formulation can also be administered in a jet-spray of an inert gas or suspended in liquid organic fluids.

Also the active agent can be brought into a viscous basis, using vehicles, conventionally used, for example natural gums, methylcellulose and derivatives, acrylic polymers (carbopol) and vinyl polymers (polyvinylpyrrolidone). In the invention compositions many other excipients, known from the pharmaceutical literature, can be added, such as preservatives, surfactants, co-solvents, adhesives, anti-oxidants, buffers, viscosity enhancing agents, and agents to adjust the pH or the osmolarity.

The required amount for a nasal administration of a liquid or semi-solid nasal administration form is generally between 0.05 ml and 0.2 ml, preferably about 0.1 ml per nostril. The amount of a powder nasal formulation is generally between 1 and 15 mg, preferably about 5 to 10 mg per nostril. Doses of DHE in the nasal pharmaceutical composition of the invention, suitable in the treatment of migraine attacks, are preferably in the range from 0.25 to 0.5 mg per nostril."

Claim 1 of 36 Claims

1. A pharmaceutical composition for nasal administration of a pharmacologically active ingredient to be absorbed through the nasal mucosa, wherein the pharmacologically active ingredient is selected from the group consisting of dihydroergotamine, dihydroergotamine salts and mixtures thereof, and the composition further comprises an ingredient selected from the group consisting of cyclodextrins, sugar alcohols, dextrans, and mixtures thereof, said pharmaceutical composition being essentially free of any toxic penetration or absorption promoter.

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