Production of pellets composed of an ephedrine derivative

US5453280A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Nordmark Arzneimittel GmbH · DE

Inventors

• Thomas Moest · Moorrege, DE
• Uwe Loeffler · Tornesch, DE
• Hans Waiblinger · Bad Oeynhausen, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 7, 1993
• Grant date: Sep 26, 1995
• Expiry date: Sep 7, 2013

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61K9/1688
• WIPO field: Pharmaceuticals
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

A process for producing pellets which are markedly spherical and have a particle size in the range from 0.1 to 4 mm and an apparent density above 0.5 g/cm.sup.3, and which are composed of 90-100% by weight of an ephedrine derivative and 0-10% by weight of a pharmaceutical aid, entails suspending ephedrine derivative powder with an average particle size of from 0.5 to 50 .mu.m at 0.degree.-90.degree. C. with stirring in a water-immiscible non solvent with a boiling point in the range from 60.degree. to 160.degree. C., adding 5-60% by weight, based on the ephedrine derivative, of an agglomerating liquid while continuing stirring, and, if there has been previous heating, cooling to from -5 to 25.degree. C. at 5-40K per hour, with the stirring speed being adjusted after the agglomeration of the powder particles to a value which is necessary for the required average particle size, and removing and drying the resulting pellets. A drug which contains the active ingredient in the form of such pellets, with or without slowing of release, is also described.