Claims for Patent: 6,960,561

Summary for Patent: 6,960,561

Title:	Zinc-free and low-zinc insulin preparations having improved stability
Abstract:	The invention relates to a formulation comprising a polypeptide selected from at least one of insulin, an insulin metabolite, an insulin analog, and an insulin derivative; at least one surfactant; optionally at least one preservative; and optionally at least one of an isotonicizing agent, a buffer or an excipient, wherein the formulation is free from or low in zinc. The invention also relates to the production of such insulin preparations and their use as pharmaceutical formulations.
Inventor(s):	Boderke; Peter (Frankfurt am Main, DE)
Assignee:	Aventis Pharma Deutschland GmbH (Frankfurt am Main, DE)
Application Number:	10/102,862
Patent Litigation and PTAB cases:	See patent lawsuits and PTAB cases for patent 6,960,561
Patent Claims:	1. A formulation comprising at least one insilin analog,; at least one surfactant; optionally at least one preservative; and optionally at leas one of an isotonicizing agent, a buffer, and an excipient, wherein the pharmaceutical formulation is free from or contains less than 0.4% by weight of zinc based on the insulin content of the formulation. 2. The formulation as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one surfactant is selected from at least one of alkali metal soaps, amine soaps, alkaline earth metal soaps, alkylsulfates, alkylsulfonates, natural surfactants, cationic surfactants, fall alcohols, fatty acids, esters of polyhydric alcohols, ethers of polyhydric alcohols, and polyols. 3. The formulation as claimed in claim 1, wherein the surfactant comprises a soap selected from at least one of a stearate, a palmitate, an oleate, and a ricinoleate. 4. The formulation as claimed in claim 2, wherein the alkylsulfates are selected from at least one of sodium laurylsulfate, sodium cetylsulfate, and sodium stearylsulfate. 5. The formulation as claimed in claim 2, wherein the natural surfactants are selected from at least one of bile acid salts, saponins, gum arabic, and lecithins. 6. The formulation as claimed in claim 2, wherein the cationic surfactants are selected from at least one of alkonium halides, cetylpyndinium chloride, and alkyltrimethylammonium bromide. 7. The formulation as claimed in claim 2, wherein the fatty alcohols are selected from at least one of cetyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, and cholesterol. 8. The formulation as claimed in claim 2, wherein the esters of polyhydric alcohols are selected from at least one of esters of sorbitol, glycerol, sucrose, and polyethylene glycol. 9. The formulation as claimed in claim 2, wherein the esters of polyhydric alcohols are fatty acid esters. 10. The formulation as claimed in claim 2, wherein the ethers of polyhydric alcohols are selected from at least one of ethers of sorbitol, glycerol, sucrose, and polyethylene glycol. 11. The formulation as claimed in claim 1, wherein the surfactant comprises at least one of a polysorbate, a sorbitan ester, a polyoxyethylene stearate, a polyoxyethylene ether, and a polyethylene glycol ether. 12. The formulation as claimed in claim 2, wherein the polyols are selected from at least one of polypropylene glycols, polyethylene glycols, poloxamers, Pluronics, and Tetronics. 13. The formulation as claimed in claim 1, wherein the preservative is selected from at least one of phenol, cresol, chlorocresol, benzyl alcohol, and parabens. 14. The formulation as claimed in claim 1, wherein the isotonicizing agent is selected from at least one of mannitol, sorbitol, lactose, dextrose, trehalose, sodium chloride, and glycerol. 15. The formulation as claimed in claim 1, wherein the excipient is selected from at least one of a buffer substance, an acid, an alkali, a salt, protamine, arginine, an amino quinurid. 16. The formulation as claimed in claim 15, wherein the buffer substance is selected from TRIS, phosphate, citrate, acetate, and glycylglycine. 17. The formulation as claimed in claim 1, wherein the insulin analog is selected from at least one of Gly(A21), Arg(B31), Arg(B32), human insulin; Lys(B3), Glu(B29), human insulin; Asp(B28) human insulin, Lys(B28) Pro(B29) human insulin; and des(B30) human insulin. 18. The formulation as claimed in claim 1, in which the polypeptide is present in a concentration of 60-6000 nmol/ml. 19. The formulation as claimed in claim 18, wherein the at least one polypeptide is present in a concentration of 240-3000 nmol/ml. 20. The formulation as claimed in claim 1, in which the at least one surfactant is present in a concentration of 0.1-10000 .mu.g/ml. 21. The formulation as claimed in claim 20, in which the surfactant is present in a concentration of 1-1000 .mu.g/ml. 22. The formulation as claimed in claim 1, in which the surfactant and/or isotonicizing agent comprises at least one of glycerol and mannitol in a concentration of 100-250 mM. 23. The formulation as claimed in claim 22, further comprising chloride as a buffer subtance and/or isotonicizing agent in a concentration of up to 150 mM. 24. The formulation as claimed in claim 1, in which a buffer substance is present in a concentration of 5-250 mM. 25. A process for the production of the formulation as claimed in claim 1, wherein the components are mixed together in the form of aqueous solutions, the pH is adjusted to a desired level, and the mixture is made up to the final volume with water. 26. The formulation of claim 1 in which the at least one insulin analog coprises Lys(B3), Glu(B29) human insulin, the surfactant comprises polysorbate 20, and the formulation further comprises cresol, trometamol, and NaCl. 27. A method of treating diabetes mellitus comprising administering the formulation as claimed in claim 1 to a patient in need thereof.