Pharmaceutical Composition Nitrosamine Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing pharmaceutical compositions often contain nitrosamine impurities above the FDA acceptable intake limit, posing health risks due to potential carcinogenic, mutagenic, and teratogenic effects.

Innovation Solution

A stable pharmaceutical composition is developed, comprising a therapeutically active agent combined with stabilizing agents such as antioxidants (e.g., ascorbic acid, butylated hydroxytoluene) and pH modifiers, along with pharmaceutically acceptable excipients, to maintain nitrosamine impurities below the FDA limit during the shelf life.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional pharmaceutical compositions are used without stabilizing agents, then the manufacturing process is simple, but nitrosamine impurities form and exceed FDA acceptable intake limit during shelf life

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenitrosamine impurity controlVSAvoidcomposition formulation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Stabilizing agents (antioxidants like ascorbic acid, tocopherol, BHT, BHA; pH modifiers like citric acid, sodium bicarbonate) are introduced as intermediary substances to prevent the formation of nitrosamine impurities. These agents mediate between the therapeutically active agent and environmental factors (oxygen, moisture, pH changes) that would otherwise lead to nitrosamine formation, thereby ensuring compliance with FDA limits without complicating the core formulation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

Stabilizing agents are incorporated into the pharmaceutical composition during the manufacturing process to preemptively prevent nitrosamine formation throughout the shelf life. This preliminary protective action ensures that even when exposed to storage conditions (temperature, humidity, light), the composition maintains nitrosamine levels below FDA acceptable intake limit, eliminating the need for post-manufacturing intervention

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Stability of the object's composition

If stabilizing agents are added to prevent nitrosamine formation, then nitrosamine impurities remain below FDA limit, but the composition formulation becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepharmaceutical composition stabilityVSAvoidformulation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention modifies the chemical environment parameters of the pharmaceutical composition by incorporating stabilizing agents that alter pH, oxidative potential, and other chemical parameters. For example, pH modifiers adjust the acidity/basicity to prevent nitrosation reactions, while antioxidants reduce oxidative potential. These parameter changes create a chemical environment where nitrosamine formation is suppressed, ensuring stability without requiring complex structural modifications to the active ingredient

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The pharmaceutical composition is formulated as a composite system combining the therapeutically active agent with stabilizing agents (antioxidants and pH modifiers) and excipients. This composite formulation leverages the synergistic effects of multiple components: antioxidants prevent oxidation, pH modifiers maintain optimal pH, and excipients provide structural support. The composite nature allows each component to perform its specific function while collectively ensuring nitrosamine impurity control throughout shelf life

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

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 composition effectively reduces nitrosamine impurities to levels below the FDA acceptable intake limit, ensuring the stability and safety of the pharmaceutical product over its shelf life.

Implementation Method 1

one or more antioxidants selected from the group comprising ascorbic acid, tocopherol, gentisic acid (2,5-dihydroxy benzoic acid), butylated hydroxytoluene, butylated hydroxylanisole, propyl gallates

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOxidation: Oxidation

Implementation Method 2

one or more pH modifiers selected from the group comprising organic acid or inorganic acid selected from ascorbic acid, fumaric acid, citric acid, malic acid, succinic acid, adipic acid, maleic acid, lactic acid, hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, phosphoric acid, sulfuric acid; organic or inorganic base

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectpH modification:

Data Source

PatentUS20250127900A1Stable pharmaceutical compositions
Publication Date: 2025.04.24 MANKIND PHARMA LTD

AI summary

The present invention relates to a stable pharmaceutical composition of therapeutically active agent, wherein the amount of nitrosamine impurity is below the FDA acceptable intake limit for shelf life of the pharmaceutical composition and a process for preparing the same.