Claims for Patent: 6,403,616

Summary for Patent: 6,403,616

Title:	Chemical process and pharmaceutical formulation
Abstract:	Process for the manufacturing of slightly soluble or less soluble alkaline salts of substituted sulphinyl heterocycles containing an imidazole moiety with formula I ##STR1## preferably alkaline salts of a proton pump inhibitor compound, wherein the process comprises the step of reacting the substituted sulphinyl heterocycle of Formula I with a source of the cation in the presence of a base, characterized by a washing step in which the prepared alkaline salt of the substituted sulphinyl compound is washed with a basic aqueous solvent mixture. The obtained bulk drug substance resulting in a bulk product that in an aqueous suspension of the substituted sulphinyl heterocycle having a pH not significantly lower than that of a saturated water solution of the pure compound prepared. Alternatively, the process for manufacturing a pharmaceutical dosage form comprising the active substance could be adjusted. For instance the pH of an aqueous suspension of the active substance is adjusted to a pH not significantly lower than that of a saturated water solution of the pure compound. The processes are preferably useful in the manufacturing of omeprazole magnesium salt or magnesium salt of one of its single enantiomers used in pharmaceutical dosage forms.
Inventor(s):	Erickson; Magnus (Vastra Frolunda, SE), Gustavsson; Anders (Nykvarn, SE), Josefsson; Lars (Savedalen, SE)
Assignee:	AstraZeneca AB (Sodertalje, SE)
Application Number:	09/485,897
Patent Litigation and PTAB cases:	See patent lawsuits and PTAB cases for patent 6,403,616
Patent Claims:	1. A process for the manufacturing of slightly soluble or less soluble alkaline salts of substituted sulphinyl heterocycles containing an imidazole moiety with Formula I in the form of a racemate, one of the single enantiomers or an enantiomeric enriched form, ##STR3## wherein Ar is ##STR4## Z is ##STR5## and X is ##STR6## wherein N inside the benzene ring of the benzimidazole moiety means that one of the carbon atoms substituted by R.sub.7 -R.sub.10 optionally may be exchanged for a nitrogen atom without any substituents; R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are the same or different and selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, alkylthio, alkoxy, alkoxy substituted by fluorine, alkoxyalkoxy, dialkylamino, piperidino, morpholino, halogen, phenylalkyl and phenylalkoxy; R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 are the same or different and selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl and aralkyl; R.sub.6 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, trifluoromethyl, alkyl and alkoxy; R.sub.7 -R.sub.10 are the same or different and selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, alkoxy, halogen, haloalkoxy, alkylcarbonyl, alkoxycarbonyl, oxazolyl, and trifluoroalkyl, or adjacent groups R.sub.7 -R.sub.10 form ring structures which may be further substituted; R.sub.11 is hydrogen or forms an alkylene chain together with R.sub.3 and R.sub.12 and R.sub.13 are the same or different and selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen and alkyl, and wherein alkyl groups, alkoxy groups and moieties thereof may be branched and straight C.sub.1 -C.sub.9 -chains or comprise cyclic alkyl groups, which process comprises the step of reacting the substituted sulphinyl heterocycle of Formula I with a source of the cation in the presence of a base, and a washing step in which the prepared alkaline salt of the substituted sulphinyl compound is washed with a basic aqueous solvent mixture. 2. The process according to claim 1, wherein the slightly soluble or less soluble alkaline salt of Formula I is a magnesium salt of the substituted sulphinyl heterocycle containing an imidazole moiety with Formula I. 3. The process according to claim 1, wherein the pH of the basic aqueous solvent mixture is adjusted by addition of a base to a pH resulting in a bulk product, that in an aqueous suspension of the substituted sulphinyl heterocycle, having a pH of not more than 0.2 pH-units lower than that of a saturated water solution of the pure alkaline salt of the substituted sulphinyl compound. 4. The process according to claim 3, wherein the base is sodium hydroxide or ammonia. 5. The process according to claim 1, wherein a magnesium salt of omeprazole is prepared. 6. The process according to claim 5, wherein the base added to the wash solution is sodium hydroxide in an amount not exceeding 0.1% (w/w) of the solid omeprazole magnesium. 7. The process according to claim 5, wherein the base added to the wash solution is sodium hydroxide in an amount of not exceeding 0.02% (w/w) of the solid omeprazole magnesium. 8. The process according to claim 1, wherein a magnesium salt of the (S)-omeprazole is prepared. 9. A pharmaceutical dosage form comprising a drug substance prepared according to any of claims 1-8. 10. A method of treatment of gastrointestinal diseases comprising the administration to a patient in the need thereof of a pharmaceutical dosage form comprising a drug substance prepared according to any of claims 1-8. 11. A process for the manufacture of a pharmaceutical dosage form comprising as active substance a compound manufactured according to any of claims 1-8, the process comprising the step of spray layering the active substance in the form of a suspension of the substance in a water solution of a binding agent onto seeds, wherein the pH of the aqeuous suspension of the active substance is adjusted to a pH of not more than 0.2 pH-units lower than that of a saturated water solution of the pure alkaline salt of the substituted sulphinyl compound. 12. The process according to claim 11, wherein the suspension of the active substance is wet-milled to a micronised suspension. 13. The process according to claim 11, wherein the pH is adjusted by addition of a base. 14. the process according to claim 13, wherein the base is sodium hydroxide or ammonia. 15. The process according to claim 11, wherein the active substance is a magnesium salt of omeprazole. 16. The process according to claim 11, wherein the active substance is a magnesium salt of (S)-omeprazole. 17. A pharmaceutical dosage form prepared according to claim 11. 18. A method of treatment of gastrointestinal diseases comprising the administration to a patient in the need thereof of a pharmaceutical dosage according to claim 11.