Claims for Patent: 5,817,338

Summary for Patent: 5,817,338

Title:	Multiple unit tableted dosage form of omeprazole
Abstract:	A new pharmaceutical multiple unit tableted dosage form containing omeprazole or one of its single enantiomers or an alkaline salt of omeprazole or one of its single enantiomers, a method for the manufacture of such a formulation, and the use of such a formulation in medicine.
Inventor(s):	Bergstrand; Pontus John Arvid (Goteborg, SE), Lovgren; Kurt Ingmar (Molndal, SE)
Assignee:	Astra Aktiebolag (Sodertalje, SE)
Application Number:	08/454,395
Patent Claims:	1. A pharmaceutical multiple unit tablet composition for oral treatment of gastrointestinal disorder comprising: at least one tablet excipient; and a multiple of a pellet or granule, the pellet or granule ranging between 0.1 mm and 2 mm in size and comprising an active ingredient selected from the group consisting of omeprazole, a single enantiomer of omeprazole, an alkaline salt of omeprazole, and an alkaline salt of a single enantiomer of omeprazole; and the pellet or granule being covered with at least one enteric coating layer comprising a plasticizing compound in the amount of more than about 20% to less than about 50% by weight of the enteric coating layer polymer so as to minimize the reduction of acid resistance of the enteric coating layered units upon compression into the tablet form. 2. The composition according to claim 1, wherein the acid resistance of the individually enteric coating layered units is in coherence with the requirements on enteric coated articles defined in the United States Pharmacopeia. 3. The composition according to claim 1, wherein the acid resistance of the individually enteric coating layered units does not decrease more than 10% during the compression of the individual units into the multiple unit tableted dosage form. 4. The tablet composition according to claim 1 wherein the enteric coating layer or a multiple thereof comprises a thickness of at least 10 .mu.m. 5. The tablet composition according to claim 1 wherein each enteric coating layered unit is covered with an over-coating layer comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient. 6. The tablet composition according to claim 1 wherein the pellet or granule further comprises at least one alkaline compound. 7. The composition according to claim 1, wherein the active ingredient is a magnesium salt of omeprazole having a degree of crystallinity which is higher than 70% as determined by X-ray powder diffraction. 8. The composition according to claim 1, wherein the active ingredient is an alkaline salt of (+)-omeprazole or (-)-omeprazole. 9. The composition according to claim 1, wherein the multiple unit form is divisible. 10. The composition according to claim 1, wherein the multiple unit form is dispersible to a suspension of individually enteric coating layered units in an aqueous liquid. 11. A process for the manufacture of the oral pharmaceutical composition according to claim 1 comprising the following steps: (a) Shaping a multiple of a pellet or granule comprising an active ingredient selected from the group consisting of omeprazole, a single enantiomer of omeprazole, an alkaline salt of omeprazole, and an alkaline salt of a single enantiomer of omeprazole; (b) covering the pellet or granule of step (a) with at least one enteric coating layer having advantageous mechanical properties; (c) mixing a multiple of the enteric coating layered pellet or granule of step (b) with at least one tablet excipient; and (d) compressing the mixture into, tablet form without significantly affecting the acid resistance of the enteric coating layered units due to the advantageous mechanical properties of the enteric coating. 12. The composition according to claim 11, wherein the pellet or granule comprises a seed layered with the active ingredient. 13. The composition according to claim 12, wherein the seeds have a size of 0.1-2 mm. 14. A process according to claim 11, wherein the individually enteric coating layered units are further coated with an over-coating layer. 15. A method for inhibiting gastric acid secretion in mammals and man comprising administering to a host in a need thereof a therapeutically effective dose of the composition according to claim 1. 16. A method for the treatment of gastrointestinal inflammatory diseases in mammals and man comprising administering to a host in a need thereof a therapeutically effective dose of the composition according to claim 1. 17. A press-through blister package comprising at least one press-through blister; comprising a pharmaceutical multiple unit tablet of the composition according to claim 1. 18. The composition according to claim 1 wherein the alkaline salt is a magnesium salt. 19. The composition according to claim 18 wherein the separating layer further comprises at least one alkaline compound. 20. The process according to claim 11, wherein the pellet or granule further comprises at least one alkaline compound. 21. The process according to claim 11, further comprising the step of covering the pellet or granule of step (a) with a separating layer or a multiple thereof. 22. The tablet composition according to claim 1, wherein the pellet or granule is further covered by at least one separating layer which comprises a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient which is soluble, or insoluble but disintegrating in water, the separating layer being located under the enteric coating layer. 23. The composition according to claim 1, wherein the enteric coating layer applied to a pellet or granule has a Vickers hardness value of less than 8. 24. The process according to claim 11, wherein the enteric coating layer covering the pellet or granule has a thickness of at least 10 .mu.m. 25. The process according to claim 11, wherein the pellet or granule of step (a) is shaped by layering the active ingredient on a seed ranging in size from about 0.1 to about 2.0 mm.