Title of Invention

A MONOLITHIC SUSTAINED RELEASE COMPOSITION OF METFORMIN HYDROCHLORIDE

Abstract 1. A monolithic sustained release composition of metformin hydrochloride with a hydrophobic material, the composition being configured to exhibit in-vitro drug release characteristics of the metformin hydrochloride while in gastic fluid having apH of 1.2 for a first hour and then in phosphate buffer having a pH of 6.8, the in-vitro drug release characteristics after the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth hours being 38 -45% release by the first hour, 50 - 56% release by the second hour, 62 - 68% release by the third hour, 70 - 75% release by the fourth floor, 80 - 85% release by the sixth hour, 85 - 90% release by the seventh hour, 91 - 95% release by the eighth hour and 96 - 100% release by the eighth hour.
Full Text 209309
21/SEP/2007
FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT 1970
As amended by the Patents (Amendment) Act, 2002
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(See Section 10; Rule 13)
TITLE
A monolithic sustained release composition of metformin hydrochloride
APPLICANTS
USV Limited, BSD Marg, Govandi, Mumbai 400088, Maharashtra, India, an Indian Company
INVENTORS
Dr Gidwani Suresh Kumar, Singnurkar Purushottam and Tewari Prashant Kumar, USV Limited, BSD Marg, Govandi, Mumbai 400088, Maharashtra, India, all Indian Nationals
The following specification particularly describes the nature of this invention and the manner in which it is to be performed
GRANTED
ORIGINAL
127/MUMNP/2004
19/2/2004
21-4-2006

"FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a monolithic sustained release composition of metformin hydrochloride.
The composition of the invention provides sustained release of metformin hydrochloride over a prolong period of time.
Metformin hydrochloride is a well known biguanide derivative (1,1-dimethylbiguanide monohydrochloride) which is widely used as oral antihtperglycemic agent in the management of noninsulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM).
Metformin hydrochloride being a highly water soluble drug ( >300 mg/ml at 25° C) leads to the difficulty in making a sustained release dosage form.
Marketed preparations available earlier with 850 mg dose of metformin hydrochloride having label of retard tablets (Glucophase RTM retard) have not been able to demonstrate any advantage in a limited volunteer trials. This probably attributable to poor choice of polymers and low dosage, desired for sustained action.


US Patent No 5,955,106 by Moeckel, J. describes the process of making metformin hydrochloride 850 mg retard tablet containing hydrocolloid forming retarding agents and further control of release provided by film envelop. It however does not provide any justification for using 850 mg dose of metformin hydrochloride for delayed release preparation and the expected release rates from such compositions. This patent also does not give any invitro and in-vivo data to support its claims. Literature survey indicates metformin hydrochloride has only 40% to 60% bioavailability with high renal clearance. Hence the dose 850 mg may be insufficient to achieve therapeutic plasma concentration, around 1 |ig/ml for a sufficient period of time and might require to take such tablets twice or thrice a day.
PCT Publication No 99/47128 by Timmins et al describes a biphasic controlled release delivery system for metformin hydrochloride with inner solid particulate phase and outer solid continuous phase utilizing hydrophilic and hydrophobic polymers. These tablets are hydrodynamicaly balanced and swells upto approximately three times its dry size following hydration. However,


it is well documented that in supine position the tablet escapes through the pylorus of the stomach after administration, which may deteriorate the tablet's in-vivo performance. Also volume desired to maintain floating of the tablet is never enough in the stomach except in fed condition. Hence making such system is doubtful with reference to its performance . Another major limitation of this patent is about dosage of the metformin hydrochloride and formulation. For instance, examples cited provides formulation of 500 mg metformin hydrochloride with tablet weight of approximately 1.0 gm. Hence restricting to the use of low dose sustained release tablets of 500 mg or slightly more only and making it obligatory to take two tablets of 500 mg each time to provide sustained action.
The present invention is based on the scientific calculation of dose of metformin hydrochloride desired, based on the data available from in-vivo studies which are well documented in the scientific literature. The model used here is based on the mathematical equations provided byDobrinska and Welling (1975) which gives fairly accurate calculations about loading dose and maintenance dose for achieving sustained release effect.


The dose of metformin hydrochloride is calculated by considering the following pharmacokinetic values from the literature.
Plasma concentration Cmax = 1.02 ug/ml
Elimination half life t 1/2= 6.2 hours
Volume of distribution Vd = 275 litrs
Renal clearance = 552 ±139 Litrs / min
Total clearance = 1300 ml/min
Using Dobrinska and Welling model, the calculated loading dose is
283 mg and maintenance dose is 759 mg and the total dose is 1040 mg
of metformin hydrochloride for achieving sustained release effect for 24
hours.
The object of the present invention is to prepare palatable and swallowable pharmaceutical preparation containing as high as approximately 1.0 gm metformin by suitable technology showing demonstrable release rate and facilitated in-vivo absorption for the desired period. The emphasis is to develop simple monolithic system composed of hydrophobic polymers and other excipients with improved


kinetics of extended release dosage forms and with highest possible content of active substance and the simplest method of producing it.
According to the invention there is provided a monolithic sustained release composition of metformin hydrochloride with a hydrophobic material, the composition being configured to exhibit in-vitro drug release characteristics of the metformin hydrochloride while in gastic fluid having apH of 1.2 for a first hour and then in phosphate buffer having a pH of 6.8, the in-vitro drug release characteristics after the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth hours being 38 - 45% release by the first hour, 50 - 56% release by the second hour, 62 - 68% release by the third hour, 70 -75% release by the fourth floor, 80-85% release by the sixth hour, 85 - 90%) release by the seventh hour, 91 — 95% release by the eighth hour and 96 - 100% release by the eighth hour.
The monolithic (single phase) sustained release system
of the invention is a homogeneous system composed of active drug
in an amount within the range of 60 to 90% by weight, preferably
70 to 80% by weight, and one or more hydrophobic polymers or
one or more other type of hydrophobic materials. In an amount
within the range of about 15 to 40% by weight, preferably 20 to 30%
by weight based on the weight of the active substance.


Hydrophobic polymers which may be employed for the sustained release system in the present invention include, but not limited to stearic acid, glycerylmonostearate, glyceryl behenate, glyceryl monooleate, glyceryl palmitostearate, microcrystalline wax, stearyl alcohol, cetyl alcohol, cetostearyl alcohol, hydrogenated castor oil, tristearin, waxes, polyethylene powder, polyvinyl chloride, shellac, rosin, and the like. Where the mixtures of the hydrophobic polymer will be employed in weight ratio to other hydrophobic material within the range of about 1 : 0.1 to 1 : 5, preferably about 1 : 0.3.
The pharmaceutical compositions according to the present invention can be used to produce compressed tablets of any shape, preferably oval shape and can be additionally provided with film coat of commonly used hydrophilic coating polymers. The film envelop used cane a taste neutralizing film forming agent to which dies can optionally be added can be used for elegance. The proportion by weight of the film envelop relative to the final tablet is in the usual range of 0.5 to 4.0% by weight preferably 1.0 to 1.5% by weight. Film formers such as hydroxypropyl methylcelMose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, starch, cellulose derivatives and the like.


The composition according to the present invention can also be used to produce compressed slugs and filled into capsules.
Auxiliary substances which may be employed for sustained release system in the present invention include, binder, like polyvinyl pyrrolidone, gelatin, gum acacia, Klucel EF (hydroxypropyl cellulose), carboxymethyl cellulose sodium etc; Where as the glidants include, but not limited to colloidal siliconedioxide, talc, starch, and the like; lubricants include, but not limited to magnesium stearate, zinc stearate, and the like.
The pharmaceutical dosage form according to the present invention such as tablet, apart from active drug and hydrophobic polymers and or hydrophobic materials may contain 1.0 to 15% by weight of a binder, preferably 3.0 to 10% by weight; and upto2.0% by weight of glidant preferably 0.5 to 1.05 by weight; andupto 2.0% by weight of lubricants preferably 0.5 to 1.0% by weight; each in relation to the tablet weight.
In the present invention the pharmaceutical composition,
such as tablets are produced by dry mixing of active substance and
optionally further auxiliary substance and granulating this mixture
with hydrophobic polymers and or other hydrophobic materials by hot
melt granulation technique using jacketed rapid mixer granulator at


a temperature 40 to 120°C, preferably 60 to 80°C. This is followed by gradually cooling the granulate mass to the room temperature with continuous mixing. The resulting mass is further granulated with aqueous or organic solution of the binder followed by drying and converting it into 30 um to 2.0 mm granules, preferably 100 um to 1.0 mm by milling and sizing. Subsequently appropriate other pharmaceutical auxiliary substances are admixed with the sized granules.
In the present invention the pharmaceutical composition, such as tablets are also produced by dry mixing of active substance, optionally further auxiliary substances, hydrophobic polymers and or another hydrophobic materials and binder in extruder. This mixture is extruded at a temperature 40 to 120°C, preferably 60 to 90°C in a simple extruder used for injection molding of plastics, followed by extrusion of the melted homogeneous mass with gradual cooling to room temperature and converting into 30 to 2.0 urn to 2.0 mm granules, preferably 100 uM to 1.0 mm by milling and sizing. Subsequently appropriate other pharmaceutical auxiliary substances are admixed with the sized granules.
The composition produced in this manner is
subsequently processed in the usual manner to produce


pharmaceutical dosage forms, such as e.g. Compressed into tablets or filling of pressed slugs into capsule. The tablets can be coated with a film using the standard coating processes and methods such as conventional coating pan or fluid coating process.
The sustained release tablets according to the present invention release metformin hydrochloride in a controlled manner to provide an effect over a time period upto 24 hours, preferably over 18 hours as per the calculations.
This application is a divisional to our patent application No IN/PCT/2002/00190/MUM bearing the effective filing date of 2nd October 2000 and relating to a process for preparing the sustained release composition.
Useful metformin sustained release formulations as per the invention shows the following in-vitro drug release characteristics when tested in gastric fluid pH 1.2 for first hour and then in phosphate buffer pH 6.8 USP.


Time (Hrs_ % Release
1 38 -45%
2 50 - 55%
3 62 - 68 %
4 70 - 75%
5 80 - 85%
6 85 - 90%
7 91-95%
8 96-100%
Example 1:
225 gm of stearic acid was melted at 70°C temperature. 1000 gm metformin hydrochloride was heated to 70°C in a jacketed rapid mixer granulator and granulated with above melted stearic acid at 70°C temperature. After granulation the granulate mass was mixed continuously with gradual cooling to room temperature.
60 gm of shellac and 25 gm of polyvinyl pyrollidone were dissolved in 150 gm of isopropyl alcohol. This solution was gradually added to


above metformin stearic acid granulate and mixed till dough mass formed. The resulting dough mass was dried at 45°C for 2 hours and then sized through 2.4 mm screen to break the agglomerates. These sized granules (1310 gm) were blended with 4.0gm of colloidal silicone dioxide and S.O gm of magnesium stearate and compressed into capsule shape oval tablets of each containing 1000 mg of metformin hydrochloride.
The in-vitro release of metformin hydrochloride form these tablet was as follows:


Time (Hrs) % Release
1 40%
2 55%
3 65%
4 75%
5 82%
6 89%
7 95%
8 99.5%
Example 2:
225 gm of stearic acid, 1000 gm metformin hydrochloride, 60 gm of shellac and 25 gm of polyvinyl pyrollidone were mixed in the extruder at 70°C and extruded and then gradually cooled to room temperature. The resulting agglomerates were sized through 2.4 mm screen. These sized granules (1310 gm)were blended with 4.0gm of colloidal silicone dioxide and 8.0 gm of magnesium stearate and compressed into capsule shape oval tablets of each containing 1000 mg of metformin hydrochloride.


The in-vitro release of metformin hydrochloride form these tablet was as follows

Time (Hrs) % Release
1 42%
2 57%
3 68%
4 77%
5 84%
6 90%
7 96%
8 100%
Example 3:
250 gm of glyceryl mono stearate was melted at 70°C temperature. 1000 gm metforminhydrochloride was heated to 70°C in a jacketed rapid mixer granulator and granulated with above melted stearic acid at 80°C temperature. After granulation the granulate mass was mixed continuously with gradual cooling to room temperature.


60 gm of shellac and 25 gm of polyvinyl pyrollidone were dissolved in 150 gm of isopropyl alcohol. This solution was gradually added to above metformin stearic acid granulate and mixed till dough mass formed. The resulting dough mass was dried at 45°C for 2 hours and then sized through 2.4 mm screen to break the agglomerates. These sized granules (1335 gm) were blended with 4.0 gm of colloidal silicone dioxide and 8.0 gm of magnesium stearate and compressed into capsule shape oval tablets of each containing 1000 mg of metformin hydrochloride.
The in-vitro release of metformin hydrochloride form these tablet was as follows:


Time (Hrs) % Release
1 39%
2 52%
3 61%
4 72%
5 80%
6 88%
7 94%
8 98%
Example 4
175 gm of polyethylene powder, 1000 gm metformin hydrochloride and 25 gm of polyvinyl pyrollidone were mixed in the extruder at 70°C and extruded and then gradually cooled to room temperature. The resulting agglomerates were sized through 2.4 mm screen. These sized granules (1200 gm) were blended with 4.0 gm of colloidal silicone dioxide and 8.0 gm of magnesium stearate and compressed into capsule shape oval tablets of each containing 1000 mg of metformin hydrochloride.


The in-vitro release of metformin hydrochloride form these tablet was as follows

Time (Hrs) % Release
1 48%
2 54.2%
3 64%
4 73.4%
5 82%
6 90.3%
7 96%
8 99.7%
Example 5:
160 gm of polyvinyl chloride powder, 1000 gm metformin
hydrochloride and 25 gm of polyvinyl pyrollidone were mixed in the extruder at 70°C and extruded and then gradually cooled to room temperature. The resulting agglomerates were sized through 2.4 mm screen. These sized granules (1185 gm)were blended with 4.0gm of


colloidal silicone dioxide and 8.0 gm of magnesium stearate and compressed into capsule shape oval tablets of each containing 1000 mg of metformin hydrochloride.
The in-vitro release of metformin hydrochloride form these tablet was as follows

Time (Hrs) % Release
1 42%
2 53.1%
3 62.5 %
4 72%
5 80%
6 85%
7 94%
8 98.8%
Example 6:
230 gm of hydrogenated castor oil was melted at 70°C temperature.
1000 gm metformin hydrochloride was heated to 70°C in a jacketed


rapid mixer granulator and granulated with above melted stearic acid at 70°C temperature. After granulation the granulate mass was mixed continuously with gradual cooling to room temperature.
60 gm of shellac and 25 gm of polyvinyl pyrollidone were dissolved in 150 gm of isopropyl alcohol. This solution was gradually added to above metformin stearic acid granulate and mixed till dough mass formed. The resulting dough mass was dried at 45°C for 2 hours and then sized through 2.4 mm screen to break the agglomerates. These sized granules (1315 gm) were blended with 4.0gmof colloidal silicone dioxide and 8.0 gm of magnesium stearate and compressed into capsule shape oval tablets of each containing 1000 mg of metformin hydrochloride.
The in-vitro release of metformin hydrochloride form these tablet was as follows:


Time (Hrs) % Release
1 41%
2 53%
3 66 %
4 74.9%
5 83%
6 91%
7 96.2%
8 100%
References:
1. Moeckel, J., Gabel, R., Woog, H., [1997], US Patent 5,955,106.
2. Timmins, P., Vyas, K., [1999], World Patent WO 99/47128.
3. Noel, M., (1980), Journal of International Biomedical Information and Data (IBID), 1(1), 9-20.
4. Kenneth, C, Ralph, A.D., (1998), Diabetes Reviews, 6 (2), 89 -131.
5. Nancy C. Sambol, Jaine Chaing, Michael O'Conner, Chui Y Liu (1196), J Clin. Pharmacol., 36,1012-1021.


CLAIM:
1. A monolithic sustained release composition of metformin hydrochloride with a hydrophobic material, the composition being configured to exhibit in-vitro drug release characteristics of the metformin hydrochloride while in gastic fluid having apH of 1.2 for a first hour and then in phosphate buffer having a pH of 6.8, the in-vitro drug release characteristics after the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth hours being 38 -45% release by the first hour, 50 - 56% release by the second hour, 62 - 68% release by the third hour, 70 - 75% release by the fourth floor, 80 - 85% release by the sixth hour, 85 - 90% release by the seventh hour, 91 - 95% release by the eighth hour and 96 - 100% release by the eighth hour.
2. Composition of claim 1, which comprises at least 1000 mg of metformin hydrochloride.

3. Composition of claim 1, which comprises at least 74% by weight of metformin hydrochloride.
4. Composition of claim 1, wherein the hydrophobic material is selected from the group consisting of Fatty acids, Fatty alcohols, Fatty acid esters, Hydrogenated oils, waxes and natural resins.

5. Composition of claim 1, wherein the hydrophobic material comprises stearic acid, glyceryl monostearate, glyceryl behenate, glyceryl pamitostearate, glyceryl monooleate, microcrystalline wax, stearyl alcohol, cetyl alcohol, cetostearyl alcohol, hydrogenated castor oil, tristearin, shellac, rosin, polyvinyl chloride powder, polyethylene powder, and the like.
6. Composition of claim 1, further comprising 3 to 10% by weight binder, 0.5 to 1.5% by weight glidant and 0.5 to 1.0%) by weight lubricant.
Composition of claim 1, which is in tablet form. Dated this 16th day of February 2004
(Jose M A)
Agent for the Applicants
For Khaitan&Co

Documents:

127-mumnp-2004-cancelled pages(21-04-2006).pdf

127-mumnp-2004-claim(granted)-(21-4-2006).doc

127-mumnp-2004-claims(granted)-(21-04-2006).pdf

127-mumnp-2004-correspondence(18-07-2007).pdf

127-mumnp-2004-correspondence(ipo)-(24-08-2007).pdf

127-mumnp-2004-form 18(02-06-2005).pdf

127-mumnp-2004-form 1a(19-02-2004).pdf

127-mumnp-2004-form 1a(21-04-2006).pdf

127-mumnp-2004-form 2(granted)-(21-04-2006).pdf

127-mumnp-2004-form 2(granted)-(21-4-2006).doc

127-mumnp-2004-form 26(07-09-2003).pdf

127-mumnp-2004-form 3(19-02-2004).pdf

127-mumnp-2004-form 5(23-1-2006).pdf

127-mumnp-2004-form 8(23-02-2004).pdf


Patent Number 209309
Indian Patent Application Number 127/MUMNP/2004
PG Journal Number 42/2008
Publication Date 17-Oct-2008
Grant Date 24-Aug-2007
Date of Filing 19-Feb-2004
Name of Patentee USV LIMITED
Applicant Address BSD MARG, GOVANDI, MUMBAI 400088, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA.
Inventors:
# Inventor's Name Inventor's Address
1 DR GIDWANI SURESH KUMAR, USV LIMITED, BSD MARG, GOVANDI, MUMBAI 400088, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA.
2 SINGNURKAR PURUSHOTTAM USV LIMITED, BSD MARG, GOVANDI, MUMBAI 400088, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA.
3 TEWARI PRASHANT KUMAR USV LIMITED, BSD MARG, GOVANDI, MUMBAI 400088, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA.
PCT International Classification Number A01N 37/52
PCT International Application Number PCT/IB00/01404
PCT International Filing date 2000-10-02
PCT Conventions:
# PCT Application Number Date of Convention Priority Country
1 09/857077 2000-10-02 U.S.A.