Manufacturing process for the production of linaclotide

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for producing Linaclotide do not achieve high purity levels of 99.9% with low impurity content of IMD-Linaclotide and Cys-1-α-ketone-Linaclotide below 100 ppm, preferably below 50 ppm, and lack efficient analytical methods for detecting and quantifying these impurities.

Innovation Solution

A liquid-phase peptide synthesis process without intermediate purification, involving non-oxidative cyclization and a combination of RP-HPSD and RP-HPLC for purification, followed by lyophilization, to produce amorphous Linaclotide with high purity and low impurity content, using Ion-Pairing Chromatography for analysis.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If conventional SPPS methods with oxidative cyclization are used, then disulfide bridge formation is achieved, but impurity content (IMD-Linaclotide and Cys-1-α-ketone-Linaclotide) exceeds 100 ppm

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepurity levelVSAvoidimpurity content
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical parameters of the cyclization process by using non-oxidative conditions with specific catalysts (such as Pd(0) complexes) and controlling pH, temperature, and solvent composition to achieve high purity Linaclotide with impurity content below 100 ppm, while maintaining disulfide bridge formation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the potentially harmful oxidative cyclization process into a beneficial non-oxidative process that selectively forms disulfide bridges without generating the harmful IMD-Linaclotide and Cys-1-α-ketone-Linaclotide impurities, turning a harmful chemical pathway into a clean synthesis route

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

2Manufacturing precision

If multiple purification steps are implemented, then impurity content is reduced, but process complexity and time increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepurity levelVSAvoidprocess complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary purification actions during the synthesis process itself through in-process controls and selective precipitation, achieving high purity Linaclotide with impurity content below 100 ppm while reducing the number of subsequent purification steps required

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts and removes harmful impurities (IMD-Linaclotide and Cys-1-α-ketone-Linaclotide) selectively during the synthesis process through controlled precipitation and filtration, achieving high purity without requiring multiple complex purification steps

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Measurement precision

If conventional analytical methods are used, then general purity can be assessed, but detection of impurities at 40-50 ppm level is not possible

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection capabilityVSAvoidimpurity detection difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces conventional analytical methods with advanced analytical techniques such as high-resolution mass spectrometry and HPLC with improved detection systems, enabling detection and quantification of impurities at 40-50 ppm level with the required measurement precision

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 process achieves amorphous Linaclotide with chromatographic purity of 99.9% and impurity levels below 50 ppm, efficiently producing high-purity Linaclotide and its acetate salt with low multimer content, while providing a robust analytical method for impurity detection and quantification.

Implementation Method 1

a phase of formation of the disulfide bridges to produce crude Linaclotide

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectNon-oxidative cyclization:

Implementation Method 2

a combination of 2 techniques, consisting of preparative Reverse Phase High Performance Sample Displacement (RP-HPSD) and preparative Reverse Phase High Performance Liquid Chromatography (RP-HPLC)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectReverse Phase Chromatography: Chromatography

Implementation Method 3

the optional final phase of isolation of High-Purity Linaclotide is performed by lyophilization

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLyophilization: Freeze Drying

Implementation Method 4

an analytical lon-Pairing Chromatography (IPC) method to analyze Linaclotide or its acetate salt, which is able to detect (with a LOD 40 ppm) and quantify (with a LOQ 50 ppm) trace quantities of the impurities

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectIon-Pairing Chromatography: Chromatography

Data Source

PatentEP4448545B1Manufacturing process for the production of linaclotide
Publication Date: 2025.08.20 CHEMI SPA
  • EP4448545B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4448545B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4448545B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to a manufacturing process to produce Linaclotide and its acetate salt, more particularly, to obtain amorphous High-Purity Linaclotide or its acetate salt with a chromatographic purity equal to or higher than 99.9% and a content of IMD-Linaclotide and Cys-1-a-ketone-Linaclotide impurities each one lower than 100 ppm, preferably lower than 50 ppm, more preferably lower than 40 ppm. The invention further relates to an analytical method able to detect IMD-Linaclotide and Cys-1-a-ketone Linaclotide even at 40 ppm level (LOD) and quantify IMD- Linaclotide and Cys-1-o-ketone Linaclotide even at 50 ppm level (LOQ), by Ion- Pairing Chromatography (IPC).