AU2002334522A1

AU2002334522A1 - New formulations and use thereof

Info

Publication number: AU2002334522A1
Application number: AU2002334522A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Nils-Olof Lindberg
Original assignee: McNeil AB
Current assignee: McNeil AB
Priority date: 2001-09-27
Filing date: 2002-09-10
Publication date: 2003-06-26
Anticipated expiration: 2022-09-10

Description

NEW FORMULATIONS AND USE THEREOF

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to novel pharmaceutical compositions of nicotine and use thereof. More particularly, the present invention relates to compositions comprising nicotine and cocoa powder, methods to prepare said compositions, and to methods for using said compositions in nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), including tobacco substitution and smoking cessation.

Background and Prior Art

Nicotine replacement therapy as a smoking cessation strategy has been successful in the past. Previous nicotine-containing compositions aiming towards the purpose of reducing nicotine craving for subjects wishing to stop their use of tobacco products include e g US 3,845,217 disclosing chewable compositions, US 4,579,858 disclosing high- viscous nicotine nose-drop compositions, US 5,525,351 disclosing nicotine-containing saliva-soluble gels, US 5,656,255 disclosing low-viscous nicotine-containing compositions suitable for nasal spray administration, US 4,920,989, US 4,953,572 and US 5,167,242 disclosing the use of inhalation aerosol, BP 1,528,391 and BP 2,030,862 disclosing liquid aerosol formulations adapted as mouth-sprays, and devices for trans- dermal delivery of nicotine.

A well-known side effect of nicotine is related to its concentration dependent local irritation. This adverse effect is particularly noticeable when nicotine formulations are applied topically, including the transmucosal, comprising buccal and nasal, and transdermal administration routes. UK Patent application GB 2230 439 A describes nicotine lozenges with a shell or coating containing an oral-acting local analgesic, preferably eugenol. Though not stated explicitly to be the cause of the so included local analgesic, the aforesaid disclosure is said to substantially ameliorate the sensation of burning in the mouth experienced with conventional nicotine lozenges. Similarly, nicotine-compositions formulated in lozenges containing local analgesic have been disclosed in AU 662877 in which the latter agent is said to temporarily interfere with taste receptors which is said to reduce the desire to eat. The concentration of nicotine in several of the above-mentioned inventions, and product designs thereof, is hence limited by adverse effects caused by or related to its local irritation.

Prior art describes other capsules, tablets, and lozenges for oral delivery of nico- tine. For example, WO 88/03803 discloses a chewable capsule filled with a liquid containing 0.1 - 10.0 mg of nicotine, together with additives for improving flavor and dispersion. The capsules are provided in a variety of pH values to allow the patient a choice of nicotine absorption rates, and are especially intended as an aid to quit smoking. Another nicotine capsule formulation is disclosed by Jarvik et al. (Clinical

Pharmacology and Therapeutics 1970; 11: 574) for ingestion as a smoking cessation aid. The subjects, according to the theory that intestinal absorption of nicotine could produce significant blood levels, however, apparently swallowed these capsules whole. The study showed a small but significant decrease in the number of cigarettes smoked by subjects, but no quantitative measurements of nicotine blood levels were obtained.

BE 899037 discloses a tablet containing 0.1 to 5 mg nicotine as a base or water- soluble acid salt as an aid for quitting smoking.

Shaw (for example in GB 2 142 822 and US 4,806,356) describes a nicotine lozenge prepared from a mixture of inert filler material, a binder, and either pure nico- tine or a nicotine-containing substance by cold compression.

US 5,512,306 discloses a nicotine product for oral delivery in the form of an inclusion complex of nicotine and a cyclodextr n compound. It also discusses the use of various excipients and direct compression for manufacture of the product.

WO 97/42941 discloses a slowly erodible nicotine lozenge that allows delivery to the buccal mucosa over an extended period of time.

US 5,662,920 discloses a nicotine lozenge that may contain candy taste flavo- rants, such as chocolate, orange, vanilla, as well as other flavorants. No amount sufficient for taste-masking is though suggested. Further, cocoa powder is not disclosed.

The literature also describes different designs of tablets for delivering nicotine to the mouth and digestive system.

Wesnes and Warburton (Psychopharmacology 1984; 82:147; ibid. 1986; 89:55) discuss the use of nicotine containing dextrose and magnesium hydroxide tablets. The subjects were instructed to keep the tablets in the mouth for some minutes before swallowing, in order to maximize contact with the buccal mucosa. Several products based on the above mentioned patents are now marketed on an international scale. In addition, several nicotine lozenges are available as over-the- counter products in the UK Resolution lozenges, manufactured by Phoenix Pharmaceuticals and distributed by Ernest Jackson, contain 0.5 mg nicotine, together with the anti- oxidant vitamins A, C and E. Stoppers lozenges, distributed by Charwell Pharmaceuticals Ltd., contain 0.5 mg nicotine and are available in chocolate, orange and peppermint flavors.

There are, however, subjects who may have cravings for higher doses of nicotine than those acceptable in applications of prior art and subjects that may not experience a decrease in other withdrawal symptoms because of unsatisfactory nicotine absorption. Furthermore, it has to date been difficult to deliver nicotine in a profile mimicking the nicotine blood levels achieved by consistent smoking, to satisfy cravings for nicotine in people who are attempting to quit smoking, and thus, to provide greater protection against relapse than nicotine replacement therapies is possible with hitherto known. Thus, absoφtion of nicotine in the use of currently marketed products and as disclosed in prior art of nicotine replacement therapies does not satisfactorily resemble the use of tobacco products, in particular smoking. With chewing gum nicotine replacement therapy for smoking cessation blood peak levels of nicotine is reached after 30 minutes with venous blood nicotine levels about 1/3 to 2/3 of the levels attained when smoking (British Medical Journal 1976;1:1043). A smoker will usually reach peak blood levels of nicotine 5 - 10 minutes after starting smoking. It is therefore desirable to provide improved compositions and methods which avoid the disadvantages of these conventional nicotine delivery devices and methods while providing an effective means for delivering nicotine for smoking cessation treatment, for reducing nicotine craving, and for treating other conditions responsive to nicotine therapy.

An attempt to solve the captioned problems is made with a nicotine-containing composition, preferably for buccal uptake, according to WO 00/30641. Herein is disclosed a composition comprising nicotine, at least one apolar component, at least one polar component and at least one surface-active component. Many apolar components are suggested, including lipids such as cocoa butter and cocoa butter alternatives, including cocoa butter equivalents (CBE), cocoa butter substitutes (CBS), cocoa butter replacers (CBR) and cocoa butter improvers (CBI). Anyhow, the composition according to WO 00/30641 has the disadvantage of insufficient taste-masking of nicotine and buffering agents, and the drawback of causing nausea with some users. Cocoa powder is mentioned in one example, where the percentage though is so low that the cocoa powder may serve only as flavorant, not as taste-masking agent.

It has now suφrisingly been found that a rapid buccal absoφtion of nicotine concomitanfly with sufficient soothening of the burning sensation of nicotine and suffi- cient taste-masking of badly tasting ingredients, such as buffering agents, is achieved through the use of nicotine-containing formulations comprising cocoa powder as taste- masking agent, also serving as filler/diluent and smoothening/flavoring agent. No similar formulations have been disclosed hitherto.

A few patent applications disclose cocoa powder as an excipient in different formulations, for example WO 00/51570 disclosing a drug-containing soft capsule comprising cocoa powder, primarily intended for swallowing and drug uptake in the stomach. JP 200095710 discloses compacted tablets comprising cocoa powder and vitamins or iron compounds. WO 00/13523 discloses an encapsulated matrix composition comprising caffeine and a fairly low percentage of cocoa powder. ES 21059710 and WO 95/24890 disclose formulations with certain antibiotics and cocoa powder. JP 93010326 discloses an oily formulation wherein cocoa powder er se is the active ingredient.

Anyhow, no publication discloses using cocoa powder for formulating nicotine or similar compounds. Chocolate, which is very different from cocoa powder as such, is very rarely used as an ingredient in pharmaceutical products, hitherto only in laxatives. One example is Ex-Lax^® being chocolated laxative pieces marketed by Novartis comprising sennosides. In the 1950s was marketed Purex, a laxative wherein phenolphthalein was formulated with chocolate. The Stoppers lozenges mentioned above do not comprise chocolate, or cocoa, but only chocolate flavors. Such chocolate flavors are not useful for the objectives of the present invention.

Summary of the invention

Compositions for the therapeutic delivery of nicotine are provided. Said compo- sitions comprising nicotine provide rapid transmucosal absoφtion of nicotine. The compositions are preferably used for therapeutic administration of nicotine.

The meaning of "disintegration" as used in the description and in the claims denotes melting, solubilization, erosion or a combinatorial effect of these physical changes of the invention. In the absence of explicit statements to the contrary, as used herein expressions like "comprising", "including", "having", "with" and similar terminology shall not be understood to be exclusively restricted to the recited element(s), but shall be understood to allow for the presence of further elements as well, and shall be understood to cover any element(s) in integral, sub-divided or aggregate forms, as well to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps, but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.

An object of the invention is to provide new pharmaceutical compositions of nicotine for uptake buccaly or by other mucosa in the oral cavity, comprising a large percentage of cocoa powder.

A second object of the invention is to provide methods for preparing said compositions.

A third object of the invention is methods for using said formulations in nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), including tobacco substitution and smoking cessation. Further objects of the invention will become apparent to one skilled in the art, and still other objects will become apparent hereinafter from the specification and claims.

Detailed Description of the Invention It is the primary object of the present invention to provide a tobacco supplement or a tobacco substitute, for use in e g smoking cessation and nicotine replacement therapies which provide the user with a satisfactory dose of nicotine so as to reduce tobacco withdrawal symptoms without causing unacceptable adverse effects. More specifically it is the object of the invention to provide such a nicotine containing tablet, for transmucosal, preferably buccal, delivery, which disintegrates and/or melts at body temperature with or without the aid of salivary fluid or mechanical erosion, or a combination thereof after which the formulation preferably shows adhesiveness towards the tissues in the oral cavity.

In the present invention cocoa powder primarily serves as taste-masking agent, but also serves as diluent, as filler, as agent for providing a smooth texture and as flavorant.

The preferred formulation is a tablet, weighing around 400 mg, having the following preferred composition:

Nicotine (as base or hydrogen tartrate) 1 - 6 mg measured as base Cocoa powder around 50% Fatty components around 44% Aspartame around 0.6% Sodium carbonate around 15 mg Lecithin around 1%

The percentages are w/w.

Cocoa nib is defined as cocoa beans with the shell removed. Cocoa mass is defined as cocoa nib ground to give a substance being a liquid above 35°C. Cocoa liquor is another name for cocoa mass. Cocoa powder is defined as cocoa nib with some fat removed and ground into a powder. Cocoa butter is defined as fat expelled from the center (kernels or nib) of cocoa beans.

Cocoa powder is prepared from roasted cocoa beans. It is a complex compound, which consists of starch, cocoa butter, amino acids, proteins, xanthines, amines, mono- and polysaccharides, phospholipids, flavonoids, pyrazines, etc. Preferred fatty components are fats/lipids chosen from tempering fats, including cocoa butter equivalents (CBE) and cocoa butter improvers (CBI), and non-tempering fats, including cocoa butter replacers (CBR) and cocoa butter substitutes (CBS).

It is important to note that there is an essential difference between chocolate and cocoa powder as such. According to Industrial Chocolate Manufacture and Use, S. T. Beckett, ed., 2^nd edition, Blackier Academic & Professional, London, 1994, p 382, chocolate is defined as a product obtained from cocoa nib, cocoa mass powder and sucrose with or without added cocoa butter, having a minimum dry cocoa solids content of 35%, at least 14% of dry non-fat cocoa solids and 18% cocoa butter. Chocolate has two major distinguishing characteristics: its flavor and its texture. A primary feature of the texture is that the chocolate must be solid at a temperature of 20 - 25°C and yet melt rapidly in the mouth at 37°C thereby being transferred to a liquid, which appears smooth to the tongue. The processing of chocolate is related to obtaining these two criteria (ibid, p 2). Chocolate as such according to the definition above is not suitable in the formulation according to the present invention. Neither milk chocolate nor light cooking chocolate or dark cooking chocolate may mask the disagreeable taste of most buffering agents. The cocoa content of milk chocolate is comparatively low (a cocoa mass content of 10 - 16%, corresponding to approximately 5 - 8% cocoa powder). The beans'/cocoa mass' content of dark, bittersweet chocolate is 55 - 70% (Beckett, pp. 276 - 277), corresponding to approximately 28 - 35% cocoa powder. By making a vehicle with a high proportion of cocoa powder (30 - 50%) and fatty components (40 - 45%), as per the present invention, an effective masking is though obtained. The higher the cocoa powder concentration the better the taste-masking.

Example 1: Preparation of a preferred embodiment A tablet, weighing around 400 mg, having the following preferred composition (w/w):

Active: nicotine (as base or salt, preferably hydrogen tartrate) 1 - 6 mg measured as base

The nicotine may also be present in a complex, e g with a cation exchange resin or with cyclodextrin. Diluent/filler, taste-masking, smoothening and flavoring agent: cocoa powder around 50%

Lipid ingredient: fatty components around 44%

Buffering agent: sodium carbonate around 15 mg

Sweetener: aspartame around 0,6% Emulsifier/solubilizer: lecithin around 1%

Optional flavoring agent: peppermint or vanilla flavor 0,5% is prepared in the following way:

A part of the fatty components is melted. The solid components, i e nicotine, if in salt form, cocoa powder, aspartame, sodium carbonate and the optional flavoring agent if solid are added and mixed. A reduction of particle size of the solid components is performed by milling in a roll-refiner. If the solid components have already got the required particle size, e g by milling before the mixing with the fatty components, roll refining is dispensed with. After treatment in the roll-refiner the mixture is mixed with the rest of the melted fatty components or remelted (if solidified) and mixed with the rest of the melted fatty components. A mixing of the melt is performed in a suitable mixer. The liquid components, i e lecithin, nicotine, if in the liquid base form, and the optional flavoring agent if liquid, are added. Tablets or other solid dosage forms are subsequently made using suitable techniques, such as molding, extrusion or congealing, including pastillation, when necessary after suitable preconditioning. Also other suitable manufacturing methods may be used.

Example 2: Further embodiments Useful embodiments are obtained by exchanging some of the above-mentioned excipients for equivalently functioning alternative compounds.

A small part of the cocoa powder, acting as diluent/filler and taste-masking/ smoothening/flavoring agent, may be exchanged for one or more of the compounds sucrose, fructose, glucose, galactose, lactose, maltose, invert sugar, a pharmaceutically acceptable polyol such as xylitol, sorbitol, maltitol, maimitol, isomalt and glycerol, or polydextrose, or any mixture thereof, but only to such an extent that the taste-masking effect of the cocoa-powder remains sufficient.

The lipid ingredient, being fatty components, may be chosen from one or more of the following compounds: - cocoa butter and cocoa butter alternatives, including cocoa butter equivalents

(CBE), cocoa butter substitutes (CBS), cocoa butter replacers (CBR) and cocoa butter improvers (CBI),

- coconut, palmkernel oil and other similar oils characterized by being predominantly based on lauric and myristic acids, - palm oil, shea butter, karite butter, illipe butter, mango kernel oil, sal fat and other similar fats characterized by being predominantly based on palmitic, oleic and stearic acids,

- corn oil, sunflower oil, hybrid sunflower oil, soybean oil, rapeseed oil, canola oil, olive oil, rice bran oil, cottonseed oil, arachis (peanut, groundnut) oil and other oils characterized by being predominantly based on oleic, linoleic and linolenic acids and hydrogenated to a suitable melting point,

- fish oil, tallow, lard, butterfat and other animal derived fats, and

- synthetic fats, reesterified fats, hard fats obtained by a chemical reaction of fatty acids with glycerol using no, acidic, alkaline or enzymatic catalysis, whereby said compound(s) is/are used as a single component or mixed with each other, being either crude or refined using physical or alkaline refining, or being subjected to further processing including catalytic hydrogenation, interesterification, transesterification and fractionation. The buffer sodium carbonate may be exchanged for carbonates, bicarbonates, acetates, gluconates, glycerophosphates, phosphates, glycinates, citrates, malates and/or tartrates of sodium, potassium or ammonium, or mixtures thereof. Most phosphates are though less suitable because their taste usually is disagreeable and difficult to mask. The sweetener aspartame may entirely or in part be exchanged for one or more other artificial sweeteners, such as acesulfame potassium, saccharine, cyclamate, glycyrrhizine, dihydrochalcones, stevioside, thaumatin, monellin and/or neohesperidine.

The emulsifier lecithin is preferably soy lecithin and/or egg lecithin, but may be exchanged for - a nonionic surfactant, such as poloxamer, polyoxyethylene alkyl ether, polyoxyethylene castor oil derivative, polyoxyethylene sorbitan fatty acid ester, monoglyce- ride, diglyceride and esther thereof, polyoxyethylene stearate, polyglycerolester of fatty acids (including polyglycerolpolyricinoleic acid (PGPR)), sorbitan fatty acid ester,

- an anionic surfactant, such as fatty acid, soap of fatty acid, lactylate, especially sodium and/or calcium stearoyllactylate, sodium lauryl sulfate and latanol,

- a zwitterionic surfactant, such as zwitterionic phospholipid, such as phosphati- dylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine, or mixtures, fractions or derivatives thereof or with lecithin. Optionally liquid or solid flavoring agents may be added. Non-limiting examples of flavoring agents are peppermint, coffee, orange and vanilla.

Example 3: Useful concentrations ranges

In Example 1 is disclosed a preferred embodiment and in Example 2 are disclosed embodiments with alternative excipients. Useful embodiments are obtainable within concentration ranges for the respective components of the formulation per unit dose as follows

Nicotine in any form: from around 0.5 mg around 10 mg as base

Diluent/filler and taste-masking, smoothening and flavoring agent: from around 17% to around 70% (w/w)

Lipid ingredient: from around 20% to around 50% (w/w)

Sweetener: from around 0.3% to around 3% (w/w)

Buffering agent: from 0 to around 10 % (w/w)

Emulsifier/solubilizer: from around 0.3% to around 5% (w/w) Flavoring agent: from 0% to around 4% (w/w).

If cocoa mass comprising phospholipids is used instead of part of the cocoa powder the emulsifier/solubilizer may be dispensed with.

The present nicotine-containing composition may be administered in combi- nation with a second formulation for nicotine replacement therapy. This second formulation may be a device for transdermal administration of nicotine, a spray for nasal, buccal or pulmonary uptake, a chewing gum, or a dosage form for oral or peroral use or any device for administration of tobacco.

The present invention may also be used in cessation, reduction and temporary abstinence of tobacco, and for treatment of Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, ulcerative colitis and Tourette's syndrome; and weight control therapy.

Claims

1. A nicotine-containing pharmaceutical composition, characterized in that it comprises cocoa powder.

2. A nicotine-containing pharmaceutical composition according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises at least a taste-masking effective amount of cocoa powder.

3. A nicotine-containing pharmaceutical composition, characterized in that it comprises cocoa powder and a small amount of a substance/substances chosen from one or more of the compounds sucrose, fructose, glucose, galactose, lactose, maltose, invert sugar, a pharmaceutically acceptable polyol such as xylitol, sorbitol, maltitol, mannitol, isomalt and glycerol, or polydextrose, or any mixture thereof.

4. A nicotine-containing pharmaceutical composition according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that it further comprises one or more lipid ingredients.

5. A nicotine-containing pharmaceutical composition according to claim 4, characterized in that the one or more lipid ingredients is/are chosen from

- cocoa butter and cocoa butter alternatives, including cocoa butter equivalents (CBE), cocoa butter substitutes (CBS), cocoa butter replacers (CBR) and cocoa butter improvers (CBI), - coconut, palmkernel oil and other similar oils characterized by being predominantly based on lauric and myristic acids,

- palm oil, shea butter, karite butter, illipe butter, mango kernel oil, sal fat and other similar fats characterized by being predominantly based on palmitic, oleic and stearic acids, - corn oil, sunflower oil, hybrid sunflower oil, soybean oil, rapeseed oil, canola oil, olive oil, rice bran oil, cottonseed oil, arachis (peanut, groundnut) oil and other oils characterized by being predominantly based on oleic, linoleic and linolenic acids and hydrogenated to a suitable melting point,

- fish oil, tallow, lard, butterfat and other animal derived fats, and - synthetic fats, reesterified fats, hard fats obtained by a chemical reaction of fatty acids with glycerol using no, acidic, alkaline or enzymatic catalysis, whereby said compound(s) is/are used as a single component or mixed with each other, being either crude or refined using physical or alkaline refining, or being subjected to further processing including catalytic hydrogenation, interesterification, transesterification and fractionation.

6. A nicotine-containing pharmaceutical composition according to claim 5, characterized in that the one or more lipid ingredients is/are chosen from cocoa butter equivalents (CBE), cocoa butter substitutes (CBS) and cocoa butter replacers (CBR).

7. A nicotine-containing pharmaceutical composition according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that it further comprises one or more buffering agents.

8. A nicotine-containing pharmaceutical composition according to claim 7, characterized in that the one or more buffering agents is/are chosen from carbonates, bicarbonates, acetates, gluconates, glycerophosphates, phosphates, glycinates, citrates, malates and/or tartrates of sodium, potassium or ammonium, or mixtures thereof.

9. A nicotine-containing pharmaceutical composition according to claim 7or 8, characterized in that it further comprises one or more emulsifiers/solubilisers.

10. A nicotine-containing pharmaceutical composition according to claim 9, characterized in that the one or more emulsifiers/solubilisers is/are chosen from

- lecithin, preferably soy lecithin and/or egg lecithin,

- a nonionic surfactant, such as poloxamer, polyoxyethylene alkyl ether, poly- oxyethylene castor oil derivative, polyoxyethylene sorbitan fatty acid ester, monoglyce- ride, diglyceride and esther thereof, polyoxyethylene stearate, polyglycerolester of fatty acids (including polyglycerolpolyricinoleic acid (PGPR)), sorbitan fatty acid ester,

- an anionic surfactant, such as fatty acid, soap of fatty acid, lactylate, especially sodium and/or calcium stearoyllactylate, sodium lauryl sulfate and latanol, - a zwitterionic surfactant, such as zwitterionic phospholipid, such as phosphati- dylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine, or mixtures, fractions or derivatives thereof or with lecithin.

11. A nicotine-containing pharmaceutical composition according to claim 10, characterized in that the one or more emulsifiers/solubilisers is/are chosen from lecithin, preferably soy lecithin and/or egg lecithin.

12. A nicotine-containing pharmaceutical composition according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that it further comprises one or more sweeteners and optionally flavoring agents, such as peppermint, coffee, orange and vanilla.

13. A nicotine-containing pharmaceutical composition according to claim 12, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the one or more sweeteners is aspartame, acesulfame potassium, saccharine, cyclamate, glycyrrhizine, dihydrochalcones, stevisoide, thaumatin, monellin and/or neohesperidine.

14. A nicotine-containing pharmaceutical composition according to anyone of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that a unit dose thereof comprises Nicotine in any form: from around 0.5 mg around 10 mg, measured as base, Diluent/filler and taste-masking, smoo- thening and flavoring agent: Cocoa powder and optionally a small amount of a substance/substances chosen from one or more of the compounds sucrose, fructose, glucose, galactose, invert sugar, a pharmaceutically acceptable polyol such as xylitol, sorbitol, maltitol, mannitol, isomalt and glycerol, or polydextrose, or any mixture thereof, from around 17% to around 70% (w/w), Lipid ingredient: from around 20% to around 50% (w/w),

Sweetener: from around 0.3% to around 3% (w/w), Buffering agent: from 0 to around 10% (w/w),

Emulsifier/solubilizer: from around 0.3% to around 5% (w/w), Flavoring agent: from 0 to around 4% (w/w).

15. A nicotine-containing pharmaceutical composition according to claim 14, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that a unit dose thereof comprises 1 - 6 mg nicotine, in any form, measured as base, around 50% (w/w) cocoa powder, around 44% (w/w) fatty components, around 15 mg sodium carbonate, around 0,6% (w/w) aspartame and/or acesulfame potassium, and around 1% (w/w) lecithin.

16. A nicotine-containing pharmaceutical composition according to anyone of the preceding claims which is formulated as an oral dosage form and which provides for delivery of nicotine essentially through the buccal mucosa and/or other mucosa of the oral cavity.

17. Use of a nicotine-containing pharmaceutical composition according to anyone of the preceding claims for the manufacture of a medicament for nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), cessation, reduction and temporary abstinence of tobacco, and for treatment of Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, ulcerative colitis and/or Tourette's syndrome; and/or for weight control therapy.

18. Method for nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), cessation, reduction and temporary abstinence of tobacco, and for treatment of Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, ulcerative colitis and/or Tourette's syndrome; and/or weight control therapy whereby to a person in need of such therapy is administered a composition according to anyone of claims 1 - 16.

19. Method for nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), cessation, reduction and temporary abstinence of tobacco, and for treatment of Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, ulcerative colitis and/or Tourette's syndrome; and/or weight control therapy whereby to a person in need of such therapy is administered a composition according to anyone of claims 1 - 16 in combination with a second formulation for nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), cessation, reduction and temporary abstinence of tobacco, and for treatment of Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, ulcerative colitis and/or Tourette's syndrome; and/or weight control therapy.

20. Method for nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), cessation, reduction and temporary abstinence of tobacco, and for treatment of Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, ulcerative colitis and/or Tourette's syndrome; and/or weight control therapy according to claim 19 wherein said second formulation is a device for transdermal administration of nicotine, a spray for nasal, buccal or pulmonary uptake, a chewing gum, or a dosage form for oral or peroral use or any device for administration of tobacco.

21. Method for treating dependence of tobacco, cessation, reduction and temporary abstinence of tobacco, and for treatment of Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, ulcerative colitis and/or Tourette's syndrome; and/or weight control therapy whereby to a person in need of such treatment is administered a composition according to anyone of claims 1 - 16.

22. Method for treating dependence of tobacco, cessation, reduction and temporary abstinence of tobacco, and for treatment of Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, ulcerative colitis and/or Tourette's syndrome; and/or weight control therapy whereby to a person in need of such treatment is administered a composition according to anyone of claims 1 - 16 in combination with a second formulation for nicotine replacement therapy.

23. Method for treating dependence of tobacco, cessation, reduction and temporary abstinence of tobacco, and for treatment of Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, ulcerative colitis and/or Tourette's syndrome; and/or weight control therapy according to claim 22 wherein said second formulation is a device for transdermal administration of nicotine.