Eltrombopag Olamine Tablets With Stable Dissolution and Bioavailability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Formulating eltrombopag olamine into a solid oral pharmaceutical dosage form on a commercial scale is challenging due to its tendency to form insoluble metal complexes with coordinating metals and undergo a Maillard reaction with reducing sugars, affecting dissolution and stability.

Innovation Solution

A pharmaceutical tablet formulation of eltrombopag olamine with a defined particle size range (20-90 micrometers) using a wet granulation process, incorporating a high percentage of disintegrant (4-12%) and avoiding coordinating metals and reducing sugars, with a film coat containing minimal metal, ensuring improved stability and dissolution.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If eltrombopag olamine is formulated with coordinating metals or reducing sugars in conventional tablet formulations, then the manufacturing process is simplified, but the drug forms insoluble metal complexes or undergoes Maillard reaction, reducing dissolution and stability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveformulation simplicityVSAvoiddissolution and stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes coordinating metals and reducing sugars from the tablet formulation, extracting the harmful components that cause insoluble complex formation and Maillard reactions. This is achieved by selecting specific excipients that do not contain these problematic substances, thereby eliminating the chemical incompatibilities while maintaining formulation simplicity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a specific excipient combination as an intermediary between the drug and potential harmful substances. By using excipients with defined chemical properties that do not coordinate metals or reduce sugars, the formulation creates a protective chemical environment that prevents unwanted reactions while allowing straightforward manufacturing

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of manufacture

If eltrombopag olamine is formulated without controlling particle size, then the formulation process is simpler, but the dissolution rate and bioavailability are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveformulation process simplicityVSAvoidoral bioavailability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the physical parameter of particle size by specifying that eltrombopag olamine be milled to a particle size distribution with D10 of 5-20 µm, D50 of 20-40 µm, and D90 of 40-90 µm. This controlled particle size enhancement increases the surface area available for dissolution, thereby improving oral bioavailability while maintaining a relatively simple milling and formulation process

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If high disintegrant content (4-12%) is used to improve dissolution, then the dissolution rate increases, but the tablet structural integrity during manufacturing becomes more challenging

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedissolution rateVSAvoidtablet structural integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the functional parameter of disintegrant content by specifying a range of 4-12% in the formulation. This optimized disintegrant level provides sufficient tablet disintegration and dissolution enhancement while maintaining adequate structural integrity during manufacturing, achieving a balance between dissolution performance and manufacturability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses a composite excipient system combining specific disintegrants with binders and fillers in defined proportions. This composite approach creates a synergistic formulation where the disintegrant works effectively at moderate levels (4-12%) while the accompanying excipients provide structural support, resolving the contradiction between dissolution enhancement and tablet strength

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentEP4400104B1Tablets comprising eltrombopag olamine
Publication Date: 2026.04.22 NOVARTIS PHARMA AG
  • EP4400104B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4400104B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4400104B1 patent drawing

AI summary

Disclosed are novel pharmaceutical compositions containing 3'-[(2Z)-[1-(3,4-dimethylphenyl)-1,5-dihydro-3-methyl-5-oxo-4H-pyrazol-4-ylidene]hydrazino]-2'-hydroxy-[1,1'-biphenyl]-3-carboxylic acid bis-(monoethanolamine) (eltrombopag olamine) and processes for preparing the same.