Claims for Patent: 6,992,218

Summary for Patent: 6,992,218

Title:	Method for obtaining aqueous formulations of oxidation-sensitive active principles
Abstract:	A method for obtaining aqueous formulations with easily oxidizable active principles, notably phenols, stable over a prolonged period, comprising subjecting them to extreme deoxygenation by bubbling with an inert gas and/or placing wider vaccum, protecting them against possible resorption of oxygen by keeping them under an inert gas atmosphere, by filling, under inert gas, into bottles previously cleared of air by insufflation with inert gas, then subjecting them, while stoppering, to low pressure as obtained in the bottle, of 65,000 Pa maximum, to obtain aqueous solutions having a residual oxygen concentration in the solution below 2 ppm, and preferably of the order of 1 ppm and even 0.5 ppm useful as injectable preparations having an oxygen concentration in the solution below 2 ppm.
Inventor(s):	Dietlin; Francois (La Vesinet, FR), Fredj; Daniele (Gif sur Yvette, FR)
Assignee:	Pharmatop SCR (FR)
Application Number:	10/332,060
Patent Litigation and PTAB cases:	See patent lawsuits and PTAB cases for patent 6,992,218
Patent Claims:	1. A method for preparing an aqueous solution with an active nature susceptible to oxidation, which is paracetamol, while preserving for a prolonged period, comprising deoxygenation of the solution by bubbling with at least one inert gas and/or placing under vacuum, until the oxygen content is below 2 ppm, and optionally the aforementioned aqueous solution with an active principle is topped with an inert gas atmosphere heavier than air and placed in a closed container in which the prevailing pressure is 65,000 Pa maximum, and the oxygen content of the aqueous solution is below 2 ppm, and optionally the deoxygenation of the solution is completed by addition of an antioxidant. 2. The method for preparing a formulation of claim 1 wherein deoxygenation of the solution is completed by addition of a hydroxypolycarboxylic acid. 3. The method for preparing a formulation of claim 1 wherein the residual oxygen content of the aqueous solution is below 1 ppm. 4. The method for preparing a formulation of claim 1 wherein the residual oxygen content in the aqueous solution is equal to 0.5 ppm or below. 5. The method for preparing a formulation of claim 2 wherein the hydroxypolycarboxylic acid is selected from the group consisting of citric acid, tartaric acid, gluconic acid, saccharic acid, citramalic acid and malic acid. 6. The method for preparing a formulation of claim 2 wherein the hydroxypolycarboxylic acid is an acid or a salt thereof. 7. The method for preparing a formulation of claim 2 wherein the concentration of hydroxypolycarboxylic acid and/or one of its salts is 5 to 200 mg/100 ml of aqueous solution. 8. The method for preparing a formulation of claim 1 wherein the antioxidant is selected from the group consisting of thiols, derivatives of ascorbic acid and reducing sugars. 9. The method for preparing a formulation of claim 1 wherein the antioxidant is ascorbic acid or isoascorbic acid. 10. The method for preparing a formulation of claim 1 wherein the antioxidant is a mixture of cysteine and sodium citrate. 11. The method for preparing a formulation according to claim 1 comprising subjecting an aqueous solution containing at least one phenolic active principle which is paracetamol, to which an antioxidant and a hydroxypolycarboxylic acid optionally have been added to extreme deoxygenation; introducing under an inert gas atmosphere, part or all of the deoxygenated aqueous solution into a container previously cleared of the air contained therein; then stoppering the container under an inert gas atmosphere, to create, in the closed container, a maximum pressure of 65,000 Pa to obtain an aqueous solution with a phenolic acid principle in a placed closed container, in which the oxygen content is below or equal to 2 ppm. 12. The method of claim 10 wherein the deoxygenation is achieved by bubbling with an inert gas. 13. The method of claim 10, wherein the deoxygenation is achieved by application of vacuum. 14. The method of claim 10 wherein after stoppering, the solution is subjected to sterilization. 15. The method of claim 10 wherein the aqueous solution with an oxidizable active principle is subjected to sterilizing filtration under inert gas. 16. The method of claim 10 wherein the inert gas used for bubbling is nitrogen. 17. The method of claim 10 wherein the inert topping gas is heavier than air. 18. The method of claim 10 wherein the container is cleared of the air contained therein, by insufflation with an inert gas. 19. An injectable aqueous solutions containing, as an active ingredient, a principle of phenolic nature susceptible to oxidation, preserved by the method of claim 1.