FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The field of the invention relates to stable dosage forms comprising spiro or dispiro 1,2,4-trioxolane antimalarials, or their pharmaceutically acceptable salts, prodrugs and analogues, and processes for their preparation.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Malaria, the most common parasitic disease of humans, remains a major health and economic burden in most tropical countries. Large areas of Central and South America, Hispaniola (Haiti and the Dominican Republic), Africa, the Middle East, the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, and Oceania are considered as malaria-risk areas. It leads to a heavy toll of illness and death especially amongst children and pregnant women. According to the World Health Organization, it is estimated that the disease infects about 400 million people each year, and around two to three million people die from malaria every year. There are four kinds of malaria parasites that infect human: Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium vivax, Plasmodium ovale and Plasmodium malariae.

Malaria spreads from one person to another by the bite of mosquito, Anopheles gambiaewhich serves as vector. When a mosquito sucks the blood of human, sporozoites are transfused into the human body together with saliva of the mosquito. The sporozoites enter into the hepatocytes, reproduce asexually and finally enter into the blood stream. The parasites continue to multiply inside the red blood cells, until they burst and release large number of merozoites. This process continues, destroying a significant number of blood cells and causing the characteristic paroxysm (â€œchills and feverâ€ ) associated with the disease. In the red blood cells, some of the merozoites become male or female gametocytes. These gametocytes are ingested by the mosquito when it feeds on blood. The gametocytes fuse in the vector's gut; sporozoites are produced and are migrated to the vector's salivary glands.

The clinical symptoms of malaria are generally associated with the bursting of red blood cells causing an intense fever associated with chills that can leave the infected individual exhausted and bedridden. More severe symptoms associated with repeat infections and/or infection by Plasmodium falciparum include anaemia, severe headaches, convulsions, delirium and, in some instances, death.

Quinine, an antimalarial compound that is extracted from the bark of cinchona tree, is one of the oldest and most effective drugs in existence. Chloroquine and mefloquine are the synthetic analogs of quinine developed in 1940's, which due to their effectiveness, ease of manufacture, and general lack of side effects, became the drugs of choice. The downside to quinine and its derivatives is that they are short-acting and have bitter taste. Further, they fail to prevent disease relapses and are also associated with side effects commonly known as â€˜Chinchonism syndromeâ€™ characterized by nausea, vomiting, dizziness, vertigo and deafness. However, in recent years, with the emergence of drug-resistant strains of parasite and insecticide-resistant strains of vector, the treatment and/or control of malaria is becoming difficult with these conventional drugs.

Malarial treatment further progressed with the discovery of Artemisinin (qinghaosu), a naturally occurring endoperoxide sesquiterpene lactone isolated from the plant Artemisia annua (Meshnick, S. R. et al., Microbiol. Rev. 1996, 60, 301-315; Vroman J. A. et al., Curr. Pharm. Design, 1999, 5, 101-138; Dhingra V. K. et al., 2000, 66, 279-300), and a number of its precursors, metabolites and semi synthetic derivatives which have shown to possess antimalarial properties. The antimalarial action of artemisinin is due to its reaction with iron in free heme molecules of the malaria parasite, with the generation of free radicals leading to cellular destruction. This initiated a substantial effort to elucidate its molecular mechanism of action (Jefford, C., dv. Drug Res. 1997, 29, 271-325; Cumming, J. N. et al., Adv. Pharmacol. 1997, 37, 254-297) and to identify novel antimalarial peroxides (Dong, Y. and Vennerstrom, J. L., Expert Opin. Ther. Patents 2001, 11, 1753-1760).

Although the clinically useful semi synthetic artemisinin derivatives are rapid acting and potent antimalarial drugs, they have several disadvantages including recrudescence, neurotoxicity, (Wesche, D. L. et al., Antimicrob. Agents. Chemother. 1994, 38, 1813-1819) and metabolic instability (White, N. J., Trans. R. Soc. Trop. Med. Hyg., 1994, 88, 41-43). A fair number of these compounds are quite active in vitro, but most suffer from low oral activity (White, N. J., Trans. R. Soc. Trop. Med. Hyg., 1994, 88, 41-43 and van Agtmael et al., Trends Pharmacol. Sci., 1999, 20, 199-205).

Thus there exists a need in the art to identify new peroxide antimalarial agents, especially those which are easily synthesized, are devoid of neurotoxicity, and which possess improved solubility, stability and pharmacokinetic properties. Following that, many synthetic antimalarial 1,2,4-trioxanes (Jefford, C., Adv. Drug Res. 1997, 29, 271-325; Cumming, J. N. et al., Adv. Pharmacol. 1997, 37, 254-297), 1,2,4,5-tetraoxanes (Vennerstrom, J. L. et al., J. Med. Chem., 2000, 43, 2753-2758), and other endoperoxides have been prepared. Various patents/applications disclose means and method for treating malaria using Spiro or dispiro 1,2,4-trioxolanes for example, in U.S. Patent Application No. 2004/0186168; U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,486,199 and 6,825,230. The present invention relates to solid dosage forms of the various spiro or dispiro 1,2,4-trioxolanes antimalarial compounds disclosed in these patents/ applications and are incorporated herein by reference.

Active compounds representing various Spiro and dispiro 1,2,4-trioxolane derivatives possess excellent potency, efficacy against Plasmodium parasites, and a lower degree of neurotoxicity, in addition to their structural simplicity and ease of synthesis. Furthermore, these compounds have half lives which are believed to permit short-term treatment regimens comparing favorably to other artemisinin-like drugs. In general, the therapeutic dose of trioxolane derivative may range between about 0.1-1000 mg/kg/day, in particular between about 1-100 mg/kg/day. The foregoing dose may be administered as a single dose or may be divided into multiple doses. For malaria prevention, a typical dosing schedule could be, for example, 2.0-1000 mg/kg weekly beginning 1-2 weeks prior to malaria exposure continued up to 1-2 weeks post-exposure.

However, in spite of many advantages of trioxolanes, there are certain limitations for formulators developing formulations with trioxolones, the first being their susceptibility to degradation in presence of moisture that results in reduced shelf lives. Another is their bitter taste, which can result in poor compliance of the regimen or selection of another, possibly less effective, therapeutic agent.

We have now discovered that a stable antimalarial oral solid dosage form comprising Spiro or dispiro 1,2,4-trioxolanes can be prepared by controlling the water content below a certain critical limit. Further the bitter taste can be masked by applying a film coating layer to the solid dosage form.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one general aspect there is provided a stable oral solid dosage form that includes a therapeutically effective amount of a compound having the structure of Formula I,

and its enantiomers, diastereomers, polymorphs, pharmaceutically acceptable salts and pharmaceutically acceptable solvates, wherein:

R₁and R₂are same or different and are selected from hydrogen, substituted or unsubstituted linear or branched alkyl, aryl, and alkaryl groups and substituted or unsubstituted alicyclic groups that are optionally interrupted by one or more oxygen, sulfur or nitrogen atoms, substituted or unsubstituted aromatic or heterocyclic groups that may be interrupted by one or more oxygen, sulfur or nitrogen atoms, a hydroxy group, and a halogen, and further providing that the spirocyclohexyl ring attaching R₁and R₂are optionally interrupted by one or more oxygen, sulfur, or nitrogen atoms; and one or more pharmaceutically acceptable excipients, wherein not more than 5% w/w total related substances are formed on storage at 40Â±2Â° C. and 75Â±5% relative humidity over a period of 6 months.

Embodiments of the oral solid dosage form may include one or more of the following features. For example, the dosage form may include one or more of other antimalarial drugs. The other antimalarial drugs may include quinine, mefloquine, lumefantrine, sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine, dihydroartimisinin, piperaquine, chloroquine, amodiaquine, proguanil, atovaquone, chloroproguanil, dapsone, fosmidomycin, tetracycline, DB 289 (pafuramidine maleate), clindamycin, their salts and derivatives thereof. In particular, piperaquine, lumefantrine and DB 289 may be used.

The pharmaceutically acceptable excipients may include one or more of binders, diluents, glidants/lubricants, disintegrants, surfactants and coloring agents.

In another aspect there is provided a stable oral solid dosage form of a therapeutically effective amount of a compound having the structure of Formula I, which is formulated using a dry or non-aqueous process.

The solid dosage form may be in the form of a tablet and the tablet may be coated.

In another general aspect there is provided a process for the preparation of a stable oral solid dosage form. The process includes blending a compound having the structure of Formula I and one or more intragranular excipients; granulating the blend to form granules; blending the granules with one or more extragranular excipients; and compressing the blend into tablet or filling into capsule.

Embodiments of the process may include one or more of the following features. For example, the granulation may be wet granulation and the wet granulation may include a non-aqueous granulating liquid selected from ethanol, isopropyl alcohol, acetone, dichloromethane, and a binder solution. The granulation may be dry granulation and the dry granulation may be compaction or slugging. In particular, the dry granulation may be compaction for example, dry roller compaction.

The tablet may be coated with one or more film coating layers.

In another general aspect there is provided a process for the preparation of a stable oral solid dosage form. The process includes blending a compound having the structure of Formula I, and one or more pharmaceutically acceptable excipients; directly compressing the blend into tablet or filling into capsule; and optionally applying one or more film coating layers to the tablet.

In another general aspect there is provided a process for the preparation of a stable oral solid dosage form. The process includes granulating a blend of one or more excipients; drying the excipient granules; blending excipient granules with a compound having the structure of Formula I, or with granules comprising a compound having the structure of Formula I; compressing the blend into tablet or filling into capsule; and optionally applying one or more film coating layers to the tablet.

Embodiments of the process may include one or more of the following features. For example, the granulation may be wet granulation and the wet granulation may include a granulating liquid selected from water, ethanol, isopropyl alcohol, acetone, dichloromethane, and a binder solution. The granulation may be dry granulation and the dry granulation may be compaction or slugging. In particular, the dry granulation may be compaction for example, dry roller compaction.

In another general aspect there is provided a method of prophylaxis or treatment of malaria. The method includes administering a solid dosage form that includes a therapeutically effective amount of a compound having the structure of Formula I; and one or more pharmaceutically acceptable excipients, wherein not more than 5% w/w total related substances are formed on storage at 40Â±2Â° C. and 75Â±5% relative humidity over a period of 6 months.

Embodiments of the oral solid dosage form may include one or more of the following features. For example, the dosage form may include one or more other antimalarial drugs. The other antimalarial drugs may include quinine, mefloquine, lumefantrine, sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine, dihydroartimisinin, piperaquine, chloroquine, amodiaquine, proguanil, atovaquone, chloroproguanil, dapsone, fosmidomycin, tetracycline, DB 289 (pafuramidine maleate), clindamycin, their salts and derivatives thereof. In particular, piperaquine, lumefantrine and DB 289 may be used.

In another aspect there is provided a method of prophylaxis or treatment of malaria. The method includes administering a solid dosage form that includes a therapeutically effective amount of a compound having the structure of Formula I, which is formulated using a dry or non-aqueous process.

In another aspect there is provided a stable oral solid dosage form. The dosage form includes a therapeutically effective amount of a compound having the structure of Formula I; at least one other antimalarial drug selected from lumefantrine, piperaquine, or DB 289; and one or more pharmaceutically acceptable excipients.

Embodiments of the oral dosage form may include one or more of the following features. For example, the water content of the dosage form may not be more than 6.5% w/w.

In another general aspect there is provided a stable oral solid dosage form. The dosage form includes cis-adamantane-2-spiro-3â€²-8â€²-[[[(2â€²-amino-2â€²-methylpropyl)amino]carbonyl]methyl] -1â€²,2â€²,4â€²-trioxaspiro[4.5]decane hydrogen maleate; piperaquine; and one or more pharmaceutically acceptable excipients.

The details of one or more embodiments are set forth in the description below. Other features, objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description and claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

We have now discovered that stable solid oral dosage forms of Spiro or dispiro 1,2,4-trioxolane antimalarials can be prepared which do not degrade significantly and provide acceptable shelf life.

The term â€œstableâ€ as used herein refers to chemical stability of active compound in solid dosage forms against decomposition occurring during shelf life due to hydrolysis, wherein not more than 5% w/w total related substances are formed on storage at 40Â±2Â° C. and 75Â±5% relative humidity over a period of 6 months.

The term â€œsolid dosage formâ€ as used herein includes tablets or coated tablets, capsules, pellets, pills, granules, powders, and the like. A particularly suitable solid dosage form is that of tablets.

The present invention provides stable oral solid dosage forms of active compound, by using excipients having low water content and manufactured using dry or non-aqueous formulation processes.

The term â€œactive compoundâ€ as used herein includes spiro or dispiro 1,2,4-trioxolane compound of Formula I

wherein R₁and R₂are same or different and are selected from hydrogen, substituted or unsubstituted linear or branched alkyl, aryl, and alkaryl groups and substituted or unsubstituted alicyclic groups that are optionally interrupted by one or more oxygen, sulfur or nitrogen atoms, substituted or unsubstituted aromatic or heterocyclic groups that may be interrupted by one or more oxygen, sulfur or nitrogen atoms, a hydroxy group, and a halogen, and further providing that the spirocyclohexyl ring attaching R₁and R₂are optionally interrupted by one or more oxygen, sulfur, or nitrogen atoms. In particular, it includes compounds of Formula I, wherein R₁is hydrogen, for example, compounds having the structure of Formula II.

Active compound includes one or more of the various spiro and dispiro trioxolane derivatives disclosed in U.S. Application No. 2004/0186168; U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,486,199 and 6,825,230 and are incorporated herein by reference. These trioxolanes are relatively sterically hindered on at least one side of the trioxolane heterocycle which provides better in vivo activity, especially with respect to oral administration. Particularly, spiro and dispiro 1,2,4-trioxolanes derivatives possess excellent potency and efficacy against Plasmodium parasites, and a lower degree of neurotoxicity.

Active compound includes free form of the compounds referred to herein as well as their pharmaceutically acceptable salts, solvates, esters, enantiomers, diastereomers, polymorphs, metabolites, prodrugs and analogues. In particular, active compound is cis-adamantane-2-spiro-3â€²-8â€²-[[[(2â€²-amino-2â€²-methylpropyl)amino]carbonyl]methyl]-1â€²,2â€²,4â€²-trioxaspiro[4.5]decane hydrogen maleate.

It has been observed through exhaustive experimentation that when active compound is formulated into dosage forms, including liquid as well as solid dosage forms, it gets degraded by hydrolysis. The degradation may be due to water associated with the excipients or added during the course of processing. Thus, liquid oral dosages forms such as aqueous syrups, suspensions or solutions having desired shelf life could not be successfully prepared. Further, preparation of solid oral dosage forms of active compound, using techniques involving use of water such as wet granulation, spray drying, or extrusion-spheronization processes resulted in dosage forms with wavering stability results. However, acceptable stability results were obtained when the solid dosage forms were formulated using appropriate excipients with low water content and a process in which water was absent such as dry granulation, direct compression or non-aqueous granulation. In case where excipients were granulated using water, the excipient granules were dried appropriately before blending with active compound as such or with active compound containing granules, and processed into solid dosage forms of acceptable stability.

The role of excipients and water content was evaluated by conducting compatibility studies of active compound with various excipients, in different proportions and evaluating the extent of degradation by forced degradation at 60Â° C. over the period of 2 weeks and at 50Â° C. for 4 weeks. The water content was analyzed using Karl Fischer method and the total related substances (% w/w) were determined by HPLC method. The results of the study are represented below in Table 1.

TABLE 1Compatibility studies of active compound with various excipientsTotal Related Substance (% w/w)After 4After 2Drug:Waterweeks/weeks/ExcipientExcipient(% w/w)Initial50Â° C.60Â° C.Croscarmellose sodium1:0.50.590.090.340.35Cross povidone1:0.53.490.130.400.68Sodium starch glycolate1:0.51.430.130.430.89Hydroxypropyl1:0.51.220.170.701.05methylcellulose 5 cpsPolyvinyl pyrrolidone K1:0.53.020.000.330.7930Sodium lauryl sodium1:0.50.790.150.921.59Opadryâ€‰Â®1:0.50.460.171.850.96Titanium dioxide1:0.50.180.160.570.93Talc1:0.10.120.150.630.90Mg. Stearate1:0.10.460.130.650.86Aerosol1:0.10.270.140.660.86Polyethylene glycol 4001:0.10.880.140.660.68Microcrystalline cellulose1:23.690.190.700.74Starch1:24.730.080.600.74Dicalcium phosphate1:22.010.070.771.32Pearlitol1:20.020.140.720.77Micro crystalline cellulose1:104.940.390.781.02Starch1:10â€”0.070.604.13Dicalcium phosphate1:102.140.170.616.07Pearlitol1:100.520.140.460.70

The study clearly indicates the importance of use of excipients having low water or moisture content in stabilizing solid dosage forms of active compound. In the present invention, we have discovered that the use of excipients having water content less than 6.5% w/w surprisingly increases the stability of the active compound, and thus provides reasonably long shelf lives. Starch was found to be incompatible with active compound when used in higher amounts. Further, lactose was also found to be incompatible due to degradation by other mechanisms such as Maillard reaction, and dicalcium phosphate was not preferred due to increase in related substances at 60Â° C. Microcrystalline cellulose, however, gave the most satisfactory results.

The stable oral solid dosage forms of the present invention may further comprise one or more pharmaceutically acceptable excipients, which include all physiologically inert excipients used in the art for the preparation of solid dosage forms. Examples include binders, diluents, glidants/ lubricants disintegrants, surfactants, coloring agents, and the like. The excipients may be used either intragranularly or extragranularly, or both. The weight ratio of active compound and excipients in the dosage forms may vary from about 1.5:1 to about 1:30.

Examples of â€˜bindersâ€™ include methyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, polyvinylpyrrolidone, gelatin, gum arabic, ethyl cellulose, polyvinyl alcohol, pullulan, agar, tragacanth, sodium alginate, and the like.

Examples of â€˜diluentsâ€™ include cellulose powdered, microcrystalline cellulose, dextrates, dextrins, dextrose excipients, fructose, kaolin, lactitol, mannitol, sorbitol, sucrose, sugar compressible, sugar confectioners, and the like.

Examples of â€˜disintegrantsâ€™ include clays, celluloses, alginates, gums, cross-linked polymers (such as cross-linked polyvinylpyrrolidone and cross-linked sodium carboxymethylcellulose), sodium starch glycolate, low-substituted hydroxypropyl cellulose, soy polysaccharides, and the like.

Examples of â€˜lubricantsâ€™ or â€˜glidantsâ€™ include talc, magnesium stearate, calcium stearate, stearic acid, colloidal silicon dioxide, magnesium carbonate, magnesium oxide, calcium silicate, microcrystalline cellulose, mineral oil, waxes, glyceryl behenate, polyethylene glycol, sodium benzoate, sodium acetate, sodium chloride, sodium laurylsulfate, sodium stearyl fumarate, and hydrogenated vegetable oils, sucrose esters of fatty acid, microcrystalline wax, yellow beeswax, white beeswax, and the like.

Examples of â€˜surfactantsâ€™ include both non-ionic and ionic (cationic, anionic and zwitterionic) surfactants suitable for use in sweetener compositions. These include polyethoxylated fatty acids and its derivatives, for example polyethylene glycol 400 distearate, polyethylene glycolâ€”20 dioleate, polyethylene glycol 4-150 mono dilaurate, polyethylene glycolâ€”20 glyceryl stearate; alcoholâ€”oil transesterification products, for example polyethylene glycolâ€”6 corn oil; polyglycerized fatty acids, for example polyglycerylâ€”6 pentaoleate; propylene glycol fatty acid esters, for example propylene glycol monocaprylate; mono and diglycerides for example glyceryl ricinoleate; sterol and sterol derivatives; sorbitan fatty acid esters and its derivatives, for example polyethylene glycolâ€”20 sorbitan monooleate, sorbitan monolaurate; polyethylene glycol alkyl ether or phenols, for example polyethylene glycolâ€”20 cetyl ether, polyethylene glycolâ€”10-100 nonyl phenol; sugar esters, for example sucrose monopalmitate; polyoxyethyleneâ€”polyoxypropylene block copolymers known as â€œpoloxamerâ€ ; ionic surfactants, for example sodium caproate, sodium glycocholate, soy lecithin, sodium stearyl fumarate, propylene glycol alginate, octyl sulfosuccinate disodium, and palmitoyl carnitine.

The â€˜coloring agentsâ€™ include any FDA approved colors for oral use.

The solid dosage forms may further be coated with one or more functional and/or non-functional layers comprising film-forming polymers, and other coating additives.

Examples of â€˜film-forming polymersâ€™ include cellulose derivatives such as ethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose, methylcellulose, carboxymethylcellulose, hydroxymethylcellulose, hydroxyethylcellulose, partially hydrolyzed polyvinyl alcohol, cellulose acetate, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose phthalate, cellulose acetate phthalate, cellulose acetate trimellitate; waxes such as polyethylene glycol; methacrylic acid polymers such as EudragitÂ® RL and RS; and the like. Alternatively, commercially available coating compositions comprising film-forming polymers marketed under various trade names, such as OpadryÂ® may also be used for coating.

The â€˜coating additivesâ€™ include plasticizers, glidants or flow regulators, opacifiers and lubricants.

The pharmaceutical acceptable excipients and/or film forming polymers and coating additives may be selected to provide immediate release profile or modified release profile.

Solid dosage forms of active compound may be prepared by densifying active compound and one or more excipients, and processing into solid dosage forms. Densification may be carried out using any conventional method known in the art. In particular, granulation or extrusion-spheronization may be used.

In one of the embodiments, stable oral tablet of active compound may be prepared by a process comprising the steps of blending active compound and intragranular portion of a diluent, lubricant, and disintegrant; passing the blend through a roller compactor to form a compact mass; reducing the compact into granules of suitable size; blending the granules with extragranular portion of a lubricant, disintegrant, and diluent in a double cone blender; and finally compressing into tablets using suitable tooling.

In another embodiment, stable oral tablet of active compound may be prepared by a process comprising the steps of blending active compound, intragranular portion of a diluent, lubricant, and disintegrant; compressing the blend in a heavy tabletting press to form slugs; reducing the slugs into granules of suitable size; blending the granules with extragranular portion of a lubricant, disintegrant, and diluent in a double cone blender; and finally compressing into tablets using suitable tooling.

In another embodiment, stable oral capsule of active compound may be prepared by a process comprising the steps of blending active compound, intragranular portion of a diluent, lubricant, and disintegrant; passing the blend through a roller compactor to form a compact mass; reducing the compact into granules of a suitable size; blending the granules with extragranular portion of a lubricant in a double cone blender; and finally filling into capsules of a suitable size.

In another embodiment, stable oral capsule of active compound may be prepared by a process comprising the steps of blending active compound, intragranular portion of a diluent, lubricant, and disintegrant; compressing the blend in a heavy tabletting press to form slugs; reducing the slugs into granules of a suitable size; blending the granules with extragranular portion of lubricant in a double cone blender; and finally filling into capsules of a suitable size.

In another embodiment, stable oral tablet of active compound may be prepared by a process comprising the steps of blending active compound, a diluent, a lubricant and a disintegrant; and directly compressing into tablets using suitable tooling.

In another embodiment, stable oral capsule of active compound may be prepared by a process comprising the steps of blending active compound, a diluent, and a lubricant; and filling into capsules of a suitable size.

In another embodiment, stable oral tablet of active compound may be prepared by a process comprising the steps of blending active compound, intragranular portion of a diluent, and disintegrant; wet granulating the blend with a non aqueous granulating fluid or a solution/dispersion of pharmaceutically acceptable excipients in the non-aqueous granulating fluid; drying and reducing the granules to a suitable size, blending the granules with extragranular portion of a lubricant, disintegrant and diluent in a double cone blender; and finally compressing into tablets using suitable tooling.

In yet another embodiment, stable oral capsule of active compound may be prepared by a process comprising the steps of blending active compound, intragranular portion of diluent, and disintegrant; wet granulating the blend with a non aqueous granulating fluid or a solution/dispersion of pharmaceutically acceptable excipients in the non-aqueous granulating fluid; drying and reducing the granules to a suitable size, blending the granules with extragranular portion of lubricant, in a double cone blender; and finally filling into capsules of a suitable size.

Examples of â€˜non-aqueous granulating fluidâ€™ include organic solvents such as methanol, ethanol, isopropyl alcohol, dichloromethane, acetone, and the like.

In yet another embodiment, tablets prepared by any of the above described processes may further be coated with film forming polymers and one or more coating additives, using techniques well known in the art such as spray coating in a conventional coating pan or a fluidized bed processor; or dip coating. Alternatively, coating can also be performed using a hot melt technique.

The coating layers over the tablet may be applied as a solution/dispersion of coating components in a suitable solvent. Examples of solvents used for preparing a solution/dispersion of the coating ingredients include methyl alcohol, ethyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, n-butyl alcohol, acetone, acetonitrile, chloroform, methylene chloride, water and the like, and mixtures thereof.

In still another embodiment, one or more of another antimalarial drug selected from piperaquine, lumefantrine, and DB 289 (pafuramidine maleate) may be added in the blend comprising active compound, in any of the embodiments above.

The invention described herein is further illustrated by the following examples, which should not be construed as limitation the scope of the invention.

EXAMPLE 1

Ingredients% w/wIntragranularMaleate salt of a compound of Formula II (active43.2compound)Microcrystalline Cellulose46.67Magnesium stearate0.75ExtragranularMicrocrystalline Cellulose5.63Croscarmellose sodium3.0Magnesium stearate0.75CoatingOpadryâ€‰Â® OY SS 58910 white2.5Waterq.sTotal weight615Water content<6.55% w/w

Procedure:

1. Active compound and intragranular portion of microcrystalline cellulose were sieved through sieve BSS# 44 and mixed together in a double cone blender to form a uniform blend.

2. To the blend of step 1, intragranular portion of sifted magnesium stearate was added and blended for about 5 minutes.

3. The blend of step 2 was compacted in a roller compactor and was sifted through sieve BSS # 22 to form granules.

4. Extragranular portion of microcrystalline cellulose, croscarmellose sodium and magnesium stearate were sieved through sieve BSS # 44 and blended with the granules of step 3.

5. The blend of step 4 was compressed using suitable size punches to obtain compressed tablets.

6. The tablets as obtained from step 5 were coated with OpadryÂ® using conventional coating techniques.

The tablets prepared as per Example 1 were subjected to stability studies at 25Â° C./RH 60%, 30Â° C./RH 65% and 40Â° C./RH 75% over a period of 6 months. The results are summarized in Table 2. The results of in vitro drug release analyzed at predetermined time periods are given in Table 3.

TABLE 2Total related substances (% w/w)1236Storage ConditionInitialmonthsmonthsmonthsmonths25Â° C. and 60% relative0.11â€”â€”0.270.28humidity30Â° C. and 65% relative0.110.370.270.290.34humidity40Â° C. and 75% relative0.110.550.671.401.82humidity* % Total Related Substance should not be more than 5%

TABLE 3Percentage (%) of In vitro drug release in USP II apparatus(media: 2% tween 80 in water, 900 ml 75, rpm, in 45 min)1236Storage ConditionInitialmonthsmonthsmonthsmonths25Â° C. and 60% relative93â€”â€”10195humidity30Â° C. and 65% relative9398939496humidityTemperature 40Â° C. and939896929475% relative humidity*The in vitro drug release (% w/w) should not be less than 70% (Q) of the labeled amount dissolved in 45 minutes.

As evident from the above studies, the tablets prepared by the process of the present invention in which water is absent shows acceptable shelf stability.

EXAMPLE 2

Ingredients% w/w1Maleate salt of a44.33compound of Formula II(active compound)2Microcrystalline Cellulose51.173Magnesium stearate1.54Croscarmellose sodium3.0Total weight600 mgWater content<6.5%

Procedure:

1. Active compound, microcrystalline cellulose, croscarmellose sodium and magnesium stearate were sifted through sieve BSS# 44.

2. Sifted active compound, microcrystalline cellulose, and croscarmellose sodium were mixed in a double cone blender for about 15 minutes to form a uniform blend.

3. To the blend of step 2, sifted magnesium stearate was added and mixed for about 5 minutes.

4. The blend obtained in step 3 was directly compressed using suitable size capsule shape punches to obtain compressed tablets.

EXAMPLES 3 AND 4

IngredientsExample 3 % w/wExample 4 % w/wIntragranularMaleate salt of a compound of7.6813.8Formula II (active compound)Piperquine phosphate61.8055.5Microcrystalline Cellulose20.3921.05Magnesium stearate0.440.39Crospovidone2.211.99ExtragranularMicrocrystalline Cellulose4.423.99Crospovidone2.211.99Magnesium stearate1.051.09CoatingOpadryâ€‰Â® O2B53782 orange2.52.5Waterq.sq.sTotal weight (mg)1332.5738Water content<6.55% w/w<6.55% w/w

Procedure:

1. Active compound, piperaquine phosphate and intragranular portion of microcrystalline cellulose and crospovidone were sieved through sieve BSS # 44 and mixed together in a double cone blender to form a uniform blend.

2. To the blend of step 1, intragranular portion of sifted magnesium stearate was added and blended for about 5 minutes.

3. The blend of step 2 was compacted in a roller compactor and was sifted through sieve BSS # 18 to form granules.

4. Extragranular portion of microcrystalline cellulose and crospovidone were sieved through sieve BSS # 44 and blended with the granules of step 3.

5. Extragranular portion of magnesium stearate were sieved through sieve BSS # 44 and blended with the blend of step 4, in a double cone blender for about 5 minutes.

6. The blend of step 5 was compressed using suitable size punches to obtain compressed tablets.

7. The tablets as obtained from step 6 were coated with OpadryÂ® using conventional coating techniques and weight built of up to 2.5% w/w.

The tablets prepared as per the Example 3 & 4 were subjected to stability studies at 40Â° C./RH 75% over a period of 3 months, as represented in Table 4.

TABLE 4% total related substances (% w/w)123IngredientInitialmonthmonthsmonthsMaleate salt of aExample 30.190.270.440.54compound of Formula IIExample 40.250.320.450.54Piperaquine phosphateExample 31.161.11.111.16Example 41.151.031.131.16* % Total related substance should not be more than 5%

While several particular formulations have been described, it will be apparent that various modifications and combinations of the formulations detailed in the text can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example although the tablet dosage form has been prepared, other conventional solid dosage forms like capsule can also be prepared using the similar compositions. Accordingly, it is not intended that the inventions be limited, except as by the appended claims.