Claims for Patent: 7,524,834

Summary for Patent: 7,524,834

Title:	Sterile powders, formulations, and methods for producing the same
Abstract:	The invention provides sterile glucocorticosteroids and sterile formulations containing glucocorticosteroid and use thereof in the treatment of an allergic and/or inflammatory condition of the nose or the lungs.
Inventor(s):	Karlsson; Ann-Kristin (Staffanstorp, SE), Larrivee-Elkins; Cheryl (Framingham, MA), Molin; Ove (Huddinge, SE)
Assignee:	AstraZeneca AB (Sodertalje, SE)
Application Number:	09/993,669
Patent Litigation and PTAB cases:	See patent lawsuits and PTAB cases for patent 7,524,834
Patent Claims:	1. A pharmaceutically acceptable, micronized powder composition at least 98.5% by weight of which is pure budesonide or an ester, acetal or salt thereof, wherein the composition meets the criteria of sterility according to the US Pharmacopoeia 23/NF18, 1995, pages 1686-1690 and 1963-1975. 2. The composition of claim 1, wherein at least 98.5% of the composition is pure budesonide. 3. The composition of claim 1, wherein at least 99% by weight of the composition is pure budesonide or an ester, acetal or salt thereof. 4. The composition of claim 1, wherein at least 99.2% by weight of the composition is pure budesonide or an ester, acetal or salt thereof. 5. The composition of claim 1, wherein the composition is in the form of particles having a mass median diameter (MMD) of less than 10 .mu.m. 6. The composition of claim 5, wherein the particles have a MMD of less than 5 .mu.m. 7. The composition of claim 5, wherein the particles have a MMD of less than 1 .mu.m. 8. The composition of claim 5, wherein at least 99% by weight of the composition is pure budesonide or an ester, acetal or salt thereof. 9. The composition of claim 5, wherein at least 99.2% by weight of the composition is pure budesonide or an ester, acetal or salt thereof. 10. The composition of claim 1, wherein the composition is in the form of particles at least 80% of which have a MMD of less than 10 .mu.m. 11. The composition of claim 10, wherein at least 99% by weight of the composition is pure budesonide or an ester, acetal or salt thereof. 12. The composition of claim 10, wherein at least 99.2% by weight of the composition is pure budesonide or an ester, acetal or salt thereof. 13. The composition of claim 10 wherein at least 70% of the particles have a MMD of less than 7 .mu.m. 14. The composition of claim 13, wherein at least 99% by weight of the composition is pure budesonide or an ester, acetal or salt thereof. 15. The composition of claim 13, wherein at least 99.2% by weight of the composition is pure budesonide or an ester, acetal or salt thereof. 16. The composition of claim 10 wherein at least 60% of the particles have a MMD of less than 4 .mu.m. 17. The composition of claim 16, wherein at least 99% by weight of the composition is pure budesonide or an ester, acetal or salt thereof. 18. The composition of claim 16, wherein at least 99.2% by weight of the composition is pure budesonide or an ester, acetal or salt thereof. 19. The composition of claim 1, wherein the budesonide is isomerically pure. 20. The composition of claim 19, wherein the budesonide is in the form of the (22R) diastereoisomer. 21. A method for the treatment of an inflammatory condition, the method comprising administering to a mammal suffering from such a condition a therapeutically effective amount of the composition of claim 1. 22. A method for the treatment of an inflammatory condition, the method comprising administering to a mammal suffering from such a condition a therapeutically effective amount of the composition of claim 2. 23. The method of claim 21, wherein the mammal is a human being. 24. A method for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the method comprising administering to a mammal suffering from COPD a therapeutically effective amount of the composition of claim 1. 25. A method for the treatment of COPD, the method comprising administering to a mammal suffering from COPD a therapeutically effective amount of the composition of claim 2. 26. The method of claim 24, wherein the mammal is a human being. 27. A method for the treatment of rhinitis, the method comprising administering to a mammal suffering from rhinitis a therapeutically effective amount of the composition of claim 1. 28. A method for the treatment of rhinitis, the method comprising administering to a mammal suffering from rhinitis a therapeutically effective amount of the composition of claim 2. 29. The method of claim 27, wherein the mammal is a human being. 30. A method for the treatment of asthma, the method comprising administering to a mammal suffering from asthma a therapeutically effective amount of the composition of claim 1. 31. A method for the treatment of asthma, the method comprising administering to a mammal suffering from asthma a therapeutically effective amount of the composition of claim 2. 32. The method of claim 30, wherein the mammal is a human being. 33. A method for the treatment of an allergic condition, the method comprising administering to a mammal suffering from an allergic condition a therapeutically effective amount of the composition of claim 1. 34. A method for the treatment of an allergic condition, the method comprising administering to a mammal suffering from an allergic condition a therapeutically effective amount of the composition of claim 2. 35. The method of claim 33, wherein the mammal is a human being. 36. The method of claim 21, wherein the budesonide is isomerically pure. 37. The method of claim 36, wherein the budesonide is in the form of the (22R) diastereoisomer. 38. A pharmaceutically acceptable, sterilized powder composition at least 98.5% by weight of which is pure budesonide or an ester, acetal or salt thereof, wherein the sterilized powder composition was produced by sterilization of viable-microorganism-containing particles of budesonide or an ester, acetal or salt thereof. 39. The composition of claim 38, wherein at least 98.5% by weight of the composition is pure budesonide. 40. The composition of claim 38, at least 99% by weight of which is pure budesonide or an ester, acetal or salt thereof. 41. The composition of claim 38, at least 99.2% by weight of which is pure budesonide or an ester, acetal or salt thereof. 42. The composition of claim 41, wherein the sterilization was accomplished by a method comprising heat sterilization. 43. The composition of claim 42, wherein the heat sterilization was carried out in air. 44. The composition of claim 42, wherein the heat sterilization was carried out under an inert gas atmosphere. 45. The composition of claim 42, wherein the heat sterilization was accomplished at a temperature of 100 to 130.degree. C. 46. The composition of claim 42, wherein the heat sterilization was accomplished at a temperature of 110 to 120.degree. C. 47. The composition of claim 42, wherein the heat sterilization was accomplished at a temperature of 110.degree. C. 48. The composition of claim 38, wherein the budesonide is isomerically pure. 49. The composition of claim 48, wherein the budesonide is in the form of the (22R) diastereoisomer. 50. A pharmaceutically acceptable suspension consisting of a micronized powder composition at least 98.5% by weight of which is pure budesonide or an ester, acetal or salt thereof, suspended in an aqueous solution, wherein the suspension meets the criteria of sterility according to the US Pharmacopoeia 23/NF18, 1995, pages 1686-1690 and 1963-1975. 51. The pharmaceutically acceptable suspension of claim 50, wherein at least 98.5% by weight of the micronized powder composition is pure budesonide. 52. The pharmaceutically acceptable suspension of claim 50, wherein at least 99% by weight of the micronized powder composition is pure budesonide or an ester, acetal or salt thereof. 53. The pharmaceutically acceptable suspension of claim 50, wherein at least 99.2% by weight of the micronized powder composition is pure budesonide or an ester, acetal or salt thereof. 54. The suspension of claim 50, wherein one or more pharmaceutically acceptable ingredients selected from the group consisting of surfactants, pH regulating agents, chelating agents, agents that make the suspension isotonic, and thickening agents are dissolved in the aqueous solution. 55. The suspension of claim 54 comprising a surfactant that is a non-ionic surfactant, a sorbitan derivative, a polyoxyethylene ether, a polyoxyethylene castor oil derivative, or polyoxyethylene glycol, dissolved in the aqueous solution. 56. The suspension of claim 55, wherein the surfactant is present at about 0.002 to 2% w/w of the suspension. 57. The suspension of claim 55, wherein the surfactant is tyloxapol; polysorbate 80; or polyethylene glycol 660 hydroxystearate. 58. The suspension of claim 54 comprising a pH regulating agent that is a weak organic acid, mineral acid, strong alkaline agent or buffer. 59. The suspension of claim 58, wherein the pH regulating agent is citric acid, hydrochloric acid, NaOH, or sodium citrate. 60. The suspension of claim 58, wherein the suspension has a pH of about 3.5 to 6.0. 61. The suspension of claim 58, wherein the suspension has a pH of about 4.0 to 6.0. 62. The suspension of claim 58, wherein the suspension has a pH of about 4.2 to 4.8. 63. The suspension of claim 54, wherein a chelating agent is present at about 0.005 to 0.1% w/w of the suspension. 64. The suspension of claim 63, wherein the chelating agent is disodium edetate (EDTA). 65. The suspension of claim 54 comprising dextrose, glycerol, mannitol, or sodium chloride in an amount to make the solution isotonic. 66. The suspension of claim 54, wherein the aqueous solution comprises a thickening agent constituting about 0.1 to 3.0% w/w of the suspension. 67. The suspension of claim 66, wherein the thickening agent is ethyl cellulose, ethylmethylcellulose, cyclodextrin, dextrin, xanthan gum, providone, polyvinyiprovidone (PVP) or polyethyleneglycol (PEG). 68. A method for the treatment of an inflammatory condition, the method comprising administering to a mammal suffering from such a condition a therapeutically effective amount of the suspension of claim 50. 69. A method for the treatment of an inflammatory condition, the method comprising administering to a mammal suffering from such a condition a therapeutically effective amount of the suspension of claim 51. 70. The method of claim 68, wherein the mammal is a human being. 71. A method for the treatment of COPD, the method comprising administering to a mammal suffering from COPD a therapeutically effective amount of the suspension of claim 50. 72. A method for the treatment of COPD, the method comprising administering to a mammal suffering from COPD a therapeutically effective amount of the suspension of claim 51. 73. The method of claim 71, wherein the mammal is a human being. 74. A method for the treatment of rhinitis, the method comprising administering to a mammal suffering from rhinitis a therapeutically effective amount of the suspension of claim 50. 75. A method for the treatment of rhinitis, the method comprising administering to a mammal suffering from rhinitis a therapeutically effective amount of the suspension of claim 51. 76. The method of claim 74, wherein the mammal is a human being. 77. A method for the treatment of asthma, the method comprising administering to a mammal suffering from asthma a therapeutically effective amount of the suspension of claim 50. 78. A method for the treatment of asthma, the method comprising administering to a mammal suffering from asthma a therapeutically effective amount of the suspension of claim 51. 79. The method of claim 77, wherein the mammal is a human being. 80. A method for the treatment of an allergic condition, the method comprising administering to a mammal suffering from an allergic condition a therapeutically effective amount of the suspension of claim 50. 81. A method for the treatment of an allergic condition, the method comprising administering to a mammal suffering from an allergic condition a therapeutically effective amount of the suspension of claim 51. 82. The method of claim 80, wherein the mammal is a human being. 83. A pharmaceutically acceptable suspension consisting of a sterilized powder composition at least 98.5% by weight of which is pure budesonide or an ester acetal or salt thereof, suspended in an aqueous solution, wherein the sterilized powder composition was produced by sterilization of viable-microorganism-containing particles of budesonide or an ester, acetal or salt thereof, wherein the suspension meets the criteria of sterility according to the US Pharmacopoeia 23/NF18, 1995, pages 1686-1690 and 1963-1975. 84. The pharmaceutically acceptable suspension of claim 83, wherein at least 98.5% by weight of the powder composition is pure budesonide. 85. The pharmaceutically acceptable suspension of claim 83 wherein at least 99% by weight of the powder composition is pure budesonide or an ester, acetal or salt thereof.