Claims for Patent: 6,524,555

Summary for Patent: 6,524,555

Title:	Metered dose inhaler for salmeterol
Abstract:	A metered dose inhaler having part or all of its internal metallic surfaces coated with one or more fluorocarbon polymers, optionally in combination with one or more non-fluorocarbon polymers, for dispensing an inhalation drug formulation comprising salmeterol, or a salt thereof, and a fluorocarbon propellant, optionally in combination with one or more other pharmacologically active agents and one or more excipients.
Inventor(s):	Ashurst; Ian C. (Ware, GB), Britto; Ignatius Loy (Cary, NC), Herman; Craig Steven (Raleigh, NC), Li-Bovet; Li (Chapel Hill, NC), Riebe; Michael Thomas (Raleigh, NC)
Assignee:	SmithKline Beecham Corp. (Philadelphia, PA)
Application Number:	09/562,946
Patent Claims:	1. A metered dose inhaler, comprising: a can having part or all of its internal surfaces coated with a polymer composition, comprising: one or more fluorocarbon polymers, wherein said metered dose inhaler contains therein an inhalation formulation comprising salmeterol or physiological acceptable salt thereof and a fluorocarbon propellant, optionally in combination with one or more other pharmacologically active agents or one or more excipients. 2. The metered dose inhaler according to claim 1, wherein said inhalation formulation further comprises a surfactant. 3. The metered dose inhaler according to claim 1, wherein said inhalation formulation further comprises a polar solvent. 4. The metered dose inhaler according to claim 1, wherein said inhalation formulation comprises 0.01 to 5% w/w based on the weight of propellant of a polar cosolvent. 5. The metered dose inhaler according to claim 3, wherein the polar solvent is ethanol. 6. The metered dose inhaler according to claim 1, wherein the inhalation formulation comprises salmeterol formulated with a fluorocarbon propellant and 0.01 to 5% w/w based on the propellant of a polar cosolvent, which formulation is substantially free of surfactant. 7. The metered dose inhaler according to claim 1, wherein the fluorocarbon propellant is 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane or 1,1,1,2,3,3,3-heptafluoro-n-propane or a combination thereof. 8. The metered dose inhaler according to claim 1, wherein the fluorocarbon propellant is 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane. 9. The metered dose inhaler according to claim 1, wherein the can is made of a metal wherein part or all of the internal metallic surfaces are coated with said polymer composition. 10. The metered dose inhaler according to claim 9, wherein the metal is aluminum or an alloy thereof. 11. The metered dose inhaler according to claim 1, wherein said one or more fluorocarbon polymers is a perfluorocarbon polymer. 12. The metered dose inhaler according to claim 1, wherein said one or more fluorocarbon polymers is selected from the group consisting of polytetrafluoroethylene, perfluoroalkoxyalkylene, perfluorinated ethylene propylene copolymer and a combination thereof. 13. A metered dose inhaler according to claim 1, further comprising a suitable channeling device for oral or nasal inhalation of a formulated salmeterol in communication with said can. 14. The metered dose inhaler according to claim 1, wherein said one or more fluorocarbon polymers comprise monomeric units made from one or more monomers selected from the group consisting of tetrafluoroethylene, hexafluoropropylene, perfluoroalkoxyalkylene, and vinylidene fluoride. 15. The metered dose inhaler according to claim 12, wherein said one or more fluorocarbon polymers is polytetrafluoroethylene. 16. The metered dose inhaler according to claim 1, wherein said one or more fluorocarbon polymers comprise perfluorinated ethylene propylene and said can is made of aluminum. 17. The metered dose inhaler according to claim 1, wherein said coating of one or more fluorocarbon polymers has a thickness of 1 .mu.m to 1 mm. 18. The metered dose inhaler according to claim 17, wherein the thickness of said coating is 1 .mu.m to 100 .mu.m. 19. The metered dose inhaler according to claim 17, wherein the thickness of said coating is 1 .mu.m to 25 .mu.m. 20. The metered dose inhaler according to claim 1, wherein said coating is applied to said internal surface of a preformed can. 21. The metered dose inhaler according to claim 1, wherein said inhalation formulation comprises salmeterol xinafolate in combination with fluticasone propionate. 22. The metered dose inhaler according to claim 1, wherein said inhalation formulation comprises salmeterol or a physiologically acceptable salt thereof in combination with an anti-inflammatory steroid or antiallergic. 23. The metered dose inhaler of claim 1, further comprising one or more non-fluorocarbon polymers. 24. The metered dose inhaler of claim 1, wherein said polymer composition comprises polymers selected from the group consisting of one or more fluorocarbon polymers and one or more fluorocarbon polymers blended with one or more non-fluorocarbon polymers.