Claims for Patent: 8,551,942

Summary for Patent: 8,551,942

Title:	Lyophilized anti-fungal compositions
Abstract:	A lyophilized anti-fungal composition comprises (A) caspofungin, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, in an effective amount; (B) one or more non-reducing sugars having a glass transition temperature T.sub.g(s) of at least about 90.degree. C.; and (C) an acetate buffer in an amount effective to provide a pH in a range of from about 5 to about 7; wherein the weight ratio of the one or more non-reducing sugars to caspofungin is in a range of from about 1.1:1 to about 10:1; the composition has a moisture content of about 0.8 wt. % or less; and the composition has a glass transition temperature T.sub.g(c) of at least about 55.degree. C. The lyophilized composition has good storage stability at temperatures up to and including room temperature. The composition can be reconstituted for use in preventing or treating fungal infections.
Inventor(s):	Mittal; Sachin (Bridgewater, NJ), Jahansouz; Hossain (Burlingame, CA), Sottivirat; Sutthilug (Lansdale, PA)
Assignee:	Merck Sharp & Dohme, Corp. (Rahway, NJ)
Application Number:	13/628,592
Patent Claims:	1. A lyophilized anti-fungal composition which comprises: (A) caspofungin, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, in an effective amount; (B) one or more non-reducing sugars having a glass transition temperature T.sub.g(s) of at least about 90.degree. C.; and (C) an acetate buffer in an amount effective to provide a pH in a range of from about 5 to about 7; wherein: the weight ratio of the one or more non-reducing sugars to caspofungin is in a range of from about 1.1:1 to about 10:1; trehalose is the non-reducing sugar; the composition has a moisture content of about 0.8 wt. % or less; and the composition has a glass transition temperature T.sub.g(c) of at least about 55.degree. C. 2. The lyophilized composition according to claim 1, wherein the moisture content of the composition is about 0.5 wt. % or less and the glass transition temperature T.sub.g(c) of the composition is at least about 90.degree. C. 3. The lyophilized composition according to claim 1, which is prepared by lyophilizing an aqueous solution comprising the caspofungin or its salt, the acetate buffer, and the one or more non-reducing sugars, wherein in the solution: (A) the caspofungin or its salt has a concentration in a range of from about 5 mg/mL to about 200 mg/mL; (B) the one or more non-reducing sugars has a concentration ratio on a mg/mL basis with respect to caspofungin in a range of from about 2:1 to about 10:1; and (C) the acetate buffer has a concentration in a range of from about 12.5 mM to about 200 mM. 4. The lyophilized composition according to claim 3, wherein trehalose is the non-reducing sugar, the moisture content of the lyophilized composition is about 0.5 wt. % or less, and the glass transition temperature T.sub.g(c) of the lyophilized composition is at least about 90.degree. C. 5. The lyophilized composition according to claim 4, wherein in the aqueous solution from which the lyophilized composition is prepared: (A) the concentration of caspofungin or its salt is in a range of from about 30 mg/mL to about 50 mg/mL; (B) the concentration ratio of trehalose to caspofungin is in a range of from about 4:1 to about 8:1; and (C) the concentration of the acetate buffer is in a range of from about 20 mM to about 60 mM. 6. The lyophilized composition according to claim 5, wherein in the aqueous solution from which the lyophilized composition is prepared: (A) the concentration of caspofungin or its salt is in a range of from about 30 mg/mL to about 50 mg/mL; (B) the concentration of trehalose is in a range of from about 180 mg/mL to about 300 mg/mL; and (C) the acetate buffer has a concentration in a range of from about 20 mM to about 60 mM. 7. A process for preparing a lyophilized anti-fungal composition with a moisture content of less than about 0.8 wt. %, which process comprises (A) preparing an aqueous solution with a pH in a range of from about 5 to about 7 and comprising an effective amount of caspofungin or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, one or more non-reducing sugars having a glass transition temperature T.sub.g(s) of at least about 90.degree. C., and an acetate buffer, wherein the concentration ratio, on a weight per unit volume basis, of the one or more non-reducing sugars to caspofungin is in a range of from about 1.1:1 to about 10:1 and wherein trehalose is the non-reducing sugar; and (B) freeze-drying the aqueous solution to provide the lyophilized anti-fungal composition; wherein the lyophilized anti-fungal composition with a moisture content of less than about 0.8 wt. % comprises: (A) caspofungin, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, in an effective amount; (B) one or more non-reducing sugars having a glass transition temperature T.sub.g(s) of at least about 90.degree. C.; and (C) an acetate buffer in an amount effective to provide a pH in a range of from about 5 to about 7; and wherein: the weight ratio of the one or more non-reducing sugars to caspofungin is in a range of from about 1.1:1 to about 10:1; and the composition has a glass transition temperature T.sub.g(c) of at least about 55.degree. C. 8. The process according to claim 7, wherein Step A further comprises: (a1) dissolving the one or more non-reducing sugars in water; (a2) adding acetic acid and then adjusting the pH to be in a range of from about 4.5 to about 5.5 by addition of base; (a3) adding caspofungin or its salt and adjusting the pH to a value in a range of from about 5 to about 7 by addition of more base; and (a4) optionally filtering the resulting aqueous solution. 9. The process according to claim 8, wherein in the aqueous solution resulting from Step A the caspofungin or its salt has a concentration in a range of from about 5 mg/mL to about 200 mg/mL, and the concentration ratio of trehalose to caspofungin is in a range of from about 2:1 to about 10:1. 10. The process according to claim 9, wherein in the aqueous solution resulting from Step A the concentration of caspofungin or its salt is in a range of from about 30 mg/mL to about 50 mg/mL, and the concentration ratio of trehalose to caspofungin is in a range of from about 4:1 to about 8:1. 11. The process according to claim 7, wherein the moisture content of the resulting lyophilized composition is about 0.5 wt. % or less. 12. A lyophilized anti-fungal composition prepared by the process set forth in claim 7. 13. A kit comprising a first container having the lyophilized anti-fungal composition according to claim 1 and a second container having a parenterally acceptable solvent for reconstitution thereof. 14. A method of preparing an anti-fungal liquid formulation for parenteral administration, which comprises reconstituting the lyophilized anti-fungal composition according to claim 1 with a parenterally acceptable solvent to form an anti-fungal solution concentrate and then mixing the concentrate with a diluent comprising water to provide the formulation. 15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the parenterally acceptable solvent comprises water. 16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the parenterally acceptable solvent is selected from the group consisting of 0.9% Sodium Chloride Injection, Sterile Water for Injection, Bacteriostatic Water for Injection with methylparaben and propylparaben, and Bacteriostatic Water for Injection with 0.9% benzyl alcohol. 17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the diluent is 0.9%, 0.45% or 0.225% Sodium Chloride Injection or Lactated Ringer's Injection. 18. The method according to claim 17 wherein the concentrate contains from about 5 mg/mL to about 8 mg/mL of caspofungin, and the liquid formulation resulting from dilution of the concentrate contains from about 0.2 mg/mL to about 0.5 mg/mL of caspofungin. 19. An anti-fungal liquid dosage formulation for parenteral administration prepared by the method set forth in claim 14. 20. A method for the treatment or prophylaxis of a fungal infection which comprises parenterally administering to a subject in need thereof an anti-fungal liquid dosage formulation prepared by the method set forth in claim 14. 21. A kit comprising a first container having the lyophilized anti-fungal composition according to claim 12 and a second container having a parenterally acceptable solvent for reconstitution thereof. 22. A method of preparing an anti-fungal liquid formulation for parenteral administration, which comprises reconstituting the lyophilized anti-fungal composition according to claim 12 with a parenterally acceptable solvent to form an anti-fungal solution concentrate and then mixing the concentrate with a diluent comprising water to provide the formulation. 23. The method according to claim 22, wherein the parenterally acceptable solvent comprises water. 24. The method according to claim 23, wherein the parenterally acceptable solvent is selected from the group consisting of 0.9% Sodium Chloride Injection, Sterile Water for Injection, Bacteriostatic Water for Injection with methylparaben and propylparaben, and Bacteriostatic Water for Injection with 0.9% benzyl alcohol. 25. The method according to claim 24, wherein the diluent is 0.9%, 0.45% or 0.225% Sodium Chloride Injection or Lactated Ringer's Injection. 26. The method according to claim 25 wherein the concentrate contains from about 5 mg/mL to about 8 mg/mL of caspofungin, and the liquid formulation resulting from dilution of the concentrate contains from about 0.2 mg/mL to about 0.5 mg/mL of caspofungin. 27. An anti-fungal liquid dosage formulation for parenteral administration prepared by the method set forth in claim 22.

Details for Patent 8,551,942

Applicant	Tradename	Biologic Ingredient	Dosage Form	BLA	Approval Date	Patent No.	Expiredate
Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.	ZOSTAVAX	zoster vaccine live	For Injection	125123	05/25/2006		2027-06-26