Meloxicam Co-crystals for Faster Dissolution

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Solution Overview

Problem

Meloxicam's low aqueous solubility and prolonged absorption rate lead to delayed pain relief, necessitating the development of novel forms with improved physico-chemical properties for enhanced bioavailability and faster onset of action.

Innovation Solution

The creation of new co-crystalline forms of meloxicam, including salts, solvates, and hydrates, such as cocrystals with acids like fumaric, benzoic, and salicylic acid, which enhance aqueous solubility and dissolution rate, allowing for quicker plasma concentration achievement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If pure meloxicam is used, then chemical stability is maintained, but aqueous solubility is low and absorption rate is prolonged

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechemical stabilityVSAvoidabsorption rate
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the physical-chemical parameters of meloxicam by creating co-crystalline forms with different stoichiometric ratios (1:1, 1:2, 2:1) and different crystal structures. This alters the dissolution characteristics and absorption rate while maintaining chemical stability, directly resolving the contradiction between stability and absorption speed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates composite crystalline structures by combining meloxicam with various co-formers (acids, bases, neutral compounds) to form co-crystals. These composite materials exhibit improved dissolution rates and absorption characteristics compared to pure meloxicam, while maintaining chemical stability through the stable co-crystalline lattice structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Device complexity

If pure meloxicam is used, then formulation simplicity is maintained, but bioavailability is limited and onset of action is delayed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveformulation simplicityVSAvoidbioavailability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the physical parameters of meloxicam through co-crystallization, creating forms with different lattice energies, surface areas, and dissolution characteristics. This enhances bioavailability and onset of action while maintaining relative formulation simplicity, as the co-crystals are still solid oral dosage forms that require standard manufacturing processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If co-crystalline forms are created, then aqueous solubility and dissolution rate are improved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedissolution rateVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the co-crystal formation process into distinct stages: selection of co-formers, mixing ratios, crystallization conditions, and characterization. This segmentation allows for systematic optimization of dissolution rate while managing manufacturing complexity through standardized protocols for each stage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent optimizes manufacturing by controlling crystallization parameters such as temperature, pH, solvent selection, and mixing rates. By adjusting these parameters, the patent achieves high dissolution rates while maintaining manufacturability through conventional solid-state processing techniques, reducing the perceived complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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

These new forms demonstrate improved bioavailability and faster onset of pain relief, achieving peak plasma concentration in a shorter time compared to pure meloxicam, as evidenced by in-vivo rat studies.

Implementation Method 1

The disclosure pertains to new co-crystalline forms of meloxicam... novel molecular complexes of meloxicam that includes salts, and solvates (e.g. hydrates and mixed solvates as well as solvates of salts)... cocrystals of meloxicam with adipic, benzoic, fumaric, glutaric, 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, malic, maleic, succinic, salicylic, acetylsalicylic, 1-hydroxy 2-naphthoic, malonic, glycolic, 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic, camphoric and hydrocinnamic acid

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCo-crystallization: Crystallisation

Data Source

PatentEP2244712B1In vivo studies of crystalline forms of meloxicam
Publication Date: 2015.08.05 THAR PHARMA INC
  • EP2244712B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2244712B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2244712B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention is directed to novel crystalline forms of meloxicam. These novel crystalline forms of meloxicam have improved bioavailability, an enhanced rate of dissolution and shorter time to Cmax in blood, as compared to pure meloxicam.