Claims for Patent: 6,440,458

Summary for Patent: 6,440,458

Title:	Sustained release preparations
Abstract:	Providing an oral formulation of a macrolide compound where the dissolution of the macrolide compound is under sustained release; and a sustained-release formulation containing a composition in solid solution, where the macrolide compound is present at an amorphous state in a solid base.
Inventor(s):	Yamashita; Kazunari (Muko, JP), Hashimoto; Eiji (Hashimoto, JP), Nomura; Yukihiro (Osaka, JP), Shimojo; Fumio (Kawanishi, JP), Tamura; Shigeki (Osaka, JP), Hirose; Takeo (Kyoto, JP), Ueda; Satoshi (Kawanishi, JP), Saitoh; Takashi (Osaka, JP), Ibuki; Rinta (Kyoto, JP), Ideno; Toshio (Takatsuki, JP)
Assignee:	Fujisawa Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (Osaka, JP)
Application Number:	09/403,787
Patent Claims:	1. A sustained-release formulation comprising tacrolimus or its hydrate wherein the time (T63.2%) required for 63.2% of the maximum amount of tacrolimus or its hydrate to be dissolved is 0.7 to 15 hours, as measured according to the Japanese Pharmacopoeia, the 13-th edition, Dissolution Test, No. 2 (Puddle method, 50 rpm) using a test solution which is an aqueous 0.005% hydroxypropyl cellulose solution adjusted to pH 4.5, which comprises a solid dispersion composition, wherein tacrolimus or its hydrate is present as an amorphous state in water-insoluble polymer. 2. The sustained-release formulation in claim 1, wherein the weight ratio of tacrolimus to water-insoluble polymer is 1 to 0.1-5. 3. The sustained-release formulation in claim 1, wherein the water-insoluble polymer is ethylcellulose or methacrylate copolymers. 4. The sustained-release formulation in claim 1, wherein the solid dispersion composition is characterized by (1) lactose or calcium hydrogen phosphate is contained as an excipient and/or lubricant, and (2) the particle size of the said solid dispersion composition is equal to or smaller than 350 .mu.m. 5. The sustained-release formulation in claim 4, wherein the solid dispersion composition is characterized by (1) tacrolimus or its hydrate is present as an amorphous state in ethylcellulose, (2) lactose is contained as an excipient, and (3) the particle size of the said solid dispersion composition is equal to or smaller than 250 .mu.m. 6. The sustained-release formulation in claim 1, wherein water-soluble polymer is mixed with the water-insoluble polymer. 7. The sustained-release formulation in claim 6, wherein the water-soluble polymer is hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose. 8. The sustained-release formulation in claim 7, wherein the weight ratio of tacrolimus to hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose is 1 to 0.2-0.4. 9. The sustained-release formulation in claim 6, wherein the solid dispersion composition is characterized by (1) tacrolimus or its hydrate is present as an amorphous state in a mixture of ethylcellulose and hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose, (2) lactose is contained as an excipient, (3) the particle size of the said solid dispersion composition is equal to or smaller than 250 .mu.m. 10. The sustained-release formulation in claim 1, in which the time (T63.2%) is 1.3 to 8.2 hours. 11. The sustained-release formulation in claim 1, in which the time (T63.2%) is 2 to 5 hours. 12. The sustained-release formulation in claim 1, which is in a form of powder, fine powder, granule, tablet or capsule.