Caspofungin Acetate Salt Succinate Buffer Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Caspofungin compositions are highly unstable, leading to the formation of degradation products and impurities during storage, with existing buffer systems contributing to this instability, necessitating a more effective stabilizing solution.

Innovation Solution

A composition comprising an acetate salt of caspofungin with succinate as a buffering agent, along with pharmaceutically acceptable excipients like sucrose and mannitol, is developed to enhance stability and reduce impurity formation during storage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If acetate buffer is used in caspofungin composition, then pH stability is improved, but degradation product formation increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovepH stabilityVSAvoiddegradation product formation
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the buffer system parameter from acetate to succinate, which fundamentally alters the chemical environment. Succinate buffer maintains pH stability while having different chemical interaction properties with caspofungin, thereby reducing degradation product formation compared to acetate buffer

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

Succinate buffer acts as an intermediary substance that mediates between the requirement for pH stability and the need to minimize degradation. It provides the necessary buffering capacity without promoting the hydrolysis or dimerization reactions that acetate buffer facilitates

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-generated harmful factors

If no buffering agent is used in caspofungin composition, then degradation product formation is reduced, but pH stability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedegradation product formationVSAvoidpH stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces succinate buffer at optimized concentration levels, changing the buffering parameter from zero or low (in prior art) to a specific range that provides sufficient pH stability without excessive buffer capacity that could promote degradation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Stability of the object's composition

If traditional buffer systems are used in caspofungin composition, then pH control is improved, but impurity formation increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovepH controlVSAvoidimpurity formation
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the buffer system parameter from traditional acetate or tartrate buffers to succinate buffer, which has different chemical properties that reduce impurity formation during manufacturing and storage while maintaining adequate pH control

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the potential harm of having any buffer (which can promote degradation) into a benefit by selecting succinate buffer that provides necessary pH control while minimizing degradation and impurity formation compared to traditional buffer systems

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The use of succinate as a buffering agent in the caspofungin composition significantly reduces the formation of degradation products and impurities, providing improved stability compared to traditional acetate buffer systems and compositions without buffering agents.

Implementation Method 1

A composition comprising a) a pharmaceutically effective amount of an acetate salt of caspofungin; b) a pharmaceutically acceptable amount of one or more pharmaceutically acceptable excipients effective to form a lyophilized cake; and c) a pharmaceutically effective amount of a buffering agent, wherein said buffering agent is succinate

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectBuffering:

Data Source

PatentEP2618814B1Caspofungin composition
Publication Date: 2016.07.27 AXELLIA PHARMA APS
  • EP2618814B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2618814B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2618814B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to a composition comprising caspofungin or a pharmaceutical acceptable salt thereof and succinate or lactate as a buffering agent.