Ready-to-Inject Norepinephrine Compositions Without Antioxidants

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current norepinephrine formulations suffer from stability issues, including oxidative degradation and isomerization, and often contain antioxidants that can cause allergic reactions, necessitating the development of stable, antioxidant-free compositions with improved storage stability and reduced isomerization.

Innovation Solution

Aqueous acidic buffer formulations with a pH range of 3.7 to 4.3, containing a chelating agent and pharmaceutically acceptable salt, are used to prepare ready-to-inject norepinephrine compositions that are substantially free of antioxidants, ensuring less than 10% isomerization and less than 5% degradation over three months, even under elevated storage conditions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If norepinephrine is formulated with antioxidants to prevent oxidative degradation, then stability is improved, but allergic reactions and anaphylactic shock risk increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoxidative stabilityVSAvoidallergic reaction risk
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes antioxidants (sulfites, metabisulfites) from the norepinephrine formulation entirely, extracting the harmful protective agent while maintaining stability through alternative means (proper pH control at 3.0-4.5, oxygen-free environment, and nitrogen atmosphere during storage)

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent optimizes the pH parameter to 3.0-4.5 and controls oxygen concentration to create an environment that prevents oxidative degradation without requiring antioxidants, thereby eliminating the need for harmful substances while maintaining stability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Duration of action of stationary object

If norepinephrine is stored at room temperature for extended periods, then convenience is improved, but degradation and isomerization increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage durationVSAvoidchemical stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of stationary objectVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary stabilization by adjusting pH to 3.0-4.5 and removing oxygen before storage, creating conditions that prevent degradation and isomerization during extended room temperature storage without requiring refrigeration

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the pH parameter to 3.0-4.5 and controls oxygen concentration to create a stable environment that allows extended storage at room temperature while maintaining chemical stability and preventing isomerization

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If concentrated norepinephrine formulations are used to reduce volume, then administration efficiency is improved, but dilution errors and microbial contamination risk increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadministration efficiencyVSAvoidsafety against errors and contamination
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent provides ready-to-use stable formulations that can be stored for extended periods without degradation, eliminating the need for prolonged storage of concentrated solutions and reducing the risk of dilution errors and microbial contamination while maintaining administration efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

4Stability of the object's composition

If pH is reduced to prevent isomerization, then stability is improved, but patient comfort and safety worsen

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveisomerization resistanceVSAvoidpatient discomfort and safety issues
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the pH parameter to 3.0-4.5, which is sufficiently low to prevent isomerization but not so low as to cause patient discomfort or safety issues, achieving a balance between stability and tolerability

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

The formulations exhibit enhanced stability, with less than 8% degradation and less than 10% isomerization, allowing for prolonged storage without antioxidants, and can withstand autoclaving without significant isomerization or degradation, thus eliminating microbial contamination and calculation errors.

Implementation Method 1

containing a chelating agent and pharmaceutically acceptable salt

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectChelation:

Implementation Method 2

Aqueous acidic buffer formulations with a pH range of 3.7 to 4.3

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectBuffer action:

Implementation Method 3

can withstand autoclaving without significant isomerization or degradation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal sterilization: Heating

Data Source

PatentUS12440459B2Norepinephrine compositions and methods therefor
Publication Date: 2025.10.14 NEVAKAR PHARMACEUTICALS INC

AI summary

The inventive subject matter is directed to compositions and methods for ready-to-inject norepinephrine compositions with improved stability. Most preferably, compositions presented herein are substantially antioxidant free and exhibit less than 10% isomerization of R-norepinephrine and exhibit less than 5% degradation of total norepinephrine.