United States Patent:  5,976,573

Assignee:  Rorer Pharmaceutical Products Inc. (Greenville, DE)

Filed:  July 3, 1996

An aqueous pharmaceutical composition which is capable of being sprayed into the nasal cavity of an individual and which comprises: (A) a pharmaceutically effective amount of solid particles of medicament which is effective in treating a bodily condition by virtue of its being present on the mucosal surfaces of the nasal cavity; and (B) a suspending agent in an amount effective to maintain said particles dispersed uniformly in the composition and to impart to the composition the following thixotropic properties: (i) the viscosity of the position in unsheared form is relatively high, with the composition being in gel-like form; (ii) as the composition is subjected to shear (shaken) in preparation for spraying, the viscosity of the composition becomes relatively low and such that the composition in the form of a mist flows readily into the nasal passages for deposit on the mucosal surfaces of the nasal cavity; and (iii) in deposited form on the mucosal surfaces, the viscosity of the composition is relatively high and such that it resists being cleared from the mucosal surfaces by the inherent mucocillary forces which are present in the nasal cavity, a method of use of the composition and a method for preparation of the composition, including in preferred form the use of anti-inflammatory steroid, for example, triamcinolone acetonide, and an odorless form of the composition.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an aqueous pharmaceutical composition which is capable of being sprayed into the nasal cavity of an individual and which comprises: (A) a pharmaceutically effective amount of solid particles of medicament which is effective in treating a bodily condition by virtue of its being present on the mucosal surfaces of the nasal cavity; and (B) a suspending agent in an amount effective to maintain said particles dispersed uniformly in the composition and to impart to the composition the following thixotropic properties: (i) the viscosity of the position in unsheared form is relatively high, with the composition being in gel-like form; (ii) as the composition is subjected to shear (shaken) in preparation for spraying, the viscosity of the composition becomes relatively low and such that the composition in the form of a mist flows readily into the nasal passages for deposit on the mucosal surfaces of the nasal cavity; and (iii) in deposited form on the mucosal surfaces, the viscosity of the composition is relatively high and such that it resists being cleared from the mucosal surfaces by the inherent mucocillary forces which are present in the nasal cavity.

In preferred form, the medicament comprises an anti-inflammatory steroid, most preferably triamcinolone acetonide. Also in preferred form, the composition of the present invention is odorless and includes a quaternary ammonium compound, preferably benzalkonium chloride, and a chelating agent, preferably disodium ethylenediamine tetraacetate (EDTA).

Another aspect of the present invention comprises a method for applying solid particles of a medicament to the mucosal surfaces of the nasal cavities comprising spraying a dose of an aqueous pharmaceutical composition containing said medicament into each of the nasal cavities, said dose containing a pharmaceutically effective amount of said medicament, said composition including also a suspending agent in an amount which is effective in maintaining said particles dispersed uniformly in the composition and in imparting to the composition thixotropic properties such that pharmaceutically effective amounts of the medicament are deposited at least on each of the mucosal surfaces of the anterior regions of the nose, the frontal sinus and the maxillary sinuses and on each of the mucosal surfaces which overlie the turbinates covering the conchas and such that portions of said amounts are retained on each of said mucosal surfaces for at least about an hour.

In preferred form, the composition is applied to the nasal cavities by spraying utilizing a precompression pump.

Still another aspect of the present invention comprises a method for preparing an aqueous pharmaceutical composition comprising a medicament in the form of solid particles, a dispersing agent for wetting said particles, and a suspending agent for maintaining said particles substantially uniformly dispersed in the composition and for imparting to the composition thixotropic properties comprising: (A) forming an aqueous solution of the dispersing agent and combining the solution with the solid particles to form a suspension of the particles; (B) adding the suspending agent to an aqueous acidic solution to form a thixotropic suspension; and (C) combining each of the suspensions by introducing one of the suspensions into the bottom of the other suspension.

In preferred form, the suspension of solid particles of medicament is introduced into the bottom of the thixotropic suspension.

The present invention affords numerous and important advantages in the treatment of a condition that involves application of a medicament to the surface of the mucosa which line the nasal cavities. As will be understood from a reading of the example section of the application, the present invention provides means for delivering a medicament readily to the many portions of the nasal cavities where it can perform its pharmacological function. In accordance with the present invention, the medicament remains in contact with the target tissues for relatively long periods of time, for example, at least about an hour and for even two or more hours. Furthermore, the composition of the present invention is capable of being formulated in a manner such that ingredients which cause the user discomfort are absent, the composition has satisfactory stability and shelf-life properties, for example, one to two years, and it does not include constituents that are considered to be detrimental to the environment.

Claim 1 of 35 Claims

1. An aqueous pharmaceutical composition which is capable of being sprayed into the nasal cavity of an individual and which comprises: (A) a pharmaceutically effective amount of solid particles of triamcinolone acetonide which is effective in treating an abnormal bodily condition by virtue of its being present on the mucosal surfaces of the nasal cavity; and (B) a suspending agent in an amount effective to maintain said particles dispersed uniformly in the composition and to impart to the composition the following thixotropic properties: (i) the viscosity of the composition in unsheared form is relatively high, with the composition being a gel having said particles suspended therein; (ii) as the composition is subjected to shear (shaken) in preparation for spraying, the viscosity of the composition becomes relatively low and such that the composition in the form of a mist flows readily into the nasal passages for deposit on the mucosal surfaces of the nasal cavity; and (iii) in deposited form on the mucosal surfaces, the viscosity of the composition is relatively high and such that it resists being cleared from the mucosal surfaces by the inherent mucocillary forces which are present in the nasal cavity.

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