Details for Patent: 7,833,973

Title:	Pharmaceutical formulations for reducing pain
Abstract:	The present invention is direct to a method of producing analgesia in a mammalian subject. The method includes administering to the subject an omega conopeptide, preferably ziconotide, in combination with an analgesic selected from the group consisting of morphine, bupivacaine, clonidine, hydromorphone, baclofen, fentanyil, buprenorphine, and sufentanil, or its pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein the .omega.-conopeptide retains its potency and is physically and chemically compatible with the analgesic compound. A preferred route of administration is intrathecal administration, particularly continuous intrathecal infusion. The present invention is also directed to a pharmaceutical formulation comprising an omega conopeptide, preferably ziconotide, an antioxidant, in combination with an analgesic selected from the group consisting of morphine, bupivacaine, clonidine, hydromorphone, baclofen, fentanyl, buprenorphine, and sufentanil.
Inventor(s):	Ellis; David J. (Los Altos, CA), Miljanich; George P. (Redwood City, CA), Shields; David E. (San Lorenzo, CA)
Assignee:	Azur Pharma International Limited (Hamilton, BM)
Filing Date:	Jun 12, 2009
Application Number:	12/483,673
Claims:	1. A formulation comprising an .omega.-conopeptide, an antioxidant, and hydromorphone or the pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein the formulation is prepared by mixing 100 .mu.g/mL of the .omega.-conopeptide with 2 mg/mL of hydromorphone in a volume ratio between 1:8 and 8:1, and the .omega.-conopeptide retains its potency and is physically and chemically compatible with hydromorphone in the formulation. 2. The formulation according to claim 1, wherein said .omega.-conopeptide is ziconotide. 3. The formulation according to claim 1, wherein said antioxidant is methionine. 4. The formulation according to claim 1, which has pH between 4 to 4.5. 5. The formulation according to claim 1, wherein said .omega.-conopeptide retains at least 80% activity at 37.degree. C. for at least 7 days. 6. A formulation comprising an .omega.-conopeptide, an antioxidant, and morphine or the pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein the formulation is prepared by mixing 100 .mu.g/mL of the .omega.-conopeptide with 1 or 25 mg/mL of morphine in a volume ratio between 1:8 and 8:1, and the .omega.-conopeptide retains its potency and is physically and chemically compatible with morphine in the formulation. 7. The formulation according to claim 6, wherein said .omega.-conopeptide is ziconotide. 8. The formulation according to claim 6, wherein said antioxidant is methionine. 9. The formulation according to claim 6, which has pH between 4 to 4.5. 10. The formulation according to claim 6, wherein said .omega.-conopeptide retains at least 80% activity at 37.degree. C. for at least 7 days. 11. A formulation comprising an .omega.-conopeptide, an antioxidant, and fentanyl or the pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein the formulation is prepared by mixing 100 .mu.g/mL of the .omega.-conopeptide with 0.05 mg/mL of fentanyl in a volume ratio between 1:8 and 8:1, and the .omega.-conopeptide retains its potency and is physically and chemically compatible with fentanyl in the formulation. 12. The formulation according to claim 11, wherein said .omega.-conopeptide is ziconotide. 13. The formulation according to claim 11, wherein said antioxidant is methionine. 14. The formulation according to claim 11, which has pH between 4 to 4.5. 15. The formulation according to claim 11, wherein said .omega.-conopeptide retains at least 80% activity at 37.degree. C. for at least 7 days. 16. A formulation comprising an .omega.-conopeptide, an antioxidant, and sufentanil or the pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein the formulation is prepared by mixing 100 .mu.g/mL of the .omega.-conopeptide with 0.05 mg/mL of sufentanil in a volume ratio between 1:8 and 8:1, and the .omega.-conopeptide retains its potency and is physically and chemically compatible with sufentanil in the formulation. 17. The formulation according to claim 16, wherein said .omega.-conopeptide is ziconotide. 18. The formulation according to claim 16, wherein said antioxidant is methionine. 19. The formulation according to claim 16, which has pH between 4 to 4.5. 20. The formulation according to claim 16, wherein said .omega.-conopeptide retains at least 80% activity at 37.degree. C. for at least 7 days.