GB2344287A - Controlled release pharmaceutical formulation - Google Patents

Abstract

A pharmaceutical formulation for the controlled release of a therapeutic peptide or a salt thereof, which peptide has the sequence<BR> <BR> pyroGlu-His-Trp-Ser-Xaa<SP>1</SP>-Gly-Xaa<SP>2</SP>-Xaa<SP>3</SP>-Pro-Gly-NH<SB>2</SB><BR> <BR> wherein Xaa<SP>1</SP> is His or Tyr,<BR> ```Xaa<SP>2</SP> is Trp or Leu, and<BR> ```Xaa<SP>3</SP> is Tyr or Arg,<BR> provided that when Xaa<SP>1</SP> is Tyr and Xaa<SP>2</SP> is Leu, then Xaa<SP>3</SP> is not Arg,<BR> and which formulation further comprises a pharmaceutically acceptable biodegradable polymer preferably a co-polymer of glycolic and lactic acids. The formulation can be used for treating bone and prostate disorders.

Description

CONTROLLED RELEASE FORMULATION FIELD OF INVENTION The present invention relates to a pharmaceutical preparation that releases a therapeutic agent over an extended period.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION Studies on the physiology of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis have resulted in the recognition of gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH, otherwise known as luteinizing hormone releasing hormone, LHRH) as a key regulatory hormone. GnRH is released by the hypothalamus and acts on the pituitary to stimulate the release of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). More recently, a peptide with homology to GnRH has been identified (White et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 95 305-309, 1998). This peptide has been called GnRH-II. The sequences of the two peptides are compared below.

GnRH pyroGlu-His-Trp-Ser-Tyr-Gly-Leu-Arg-Pro-Gly-NH2 GnRH-II pyroGlu-His-Trp-Ser-His-Gly-Trp-Tyr-Pro-Gly-NH2 The name"GnRH-II"is, to some extent, misleading. The new peptide is a separate gene product, and is clearly distinguishable from GnRH in its tissue distribution. It seems unlikely that GnRH-II acts as an endogenous releaser of LH and FSH. Since no clear evidence for a physiological role for GnRH-II has been presented, no attention has been paid to the practical aspects of using this peptide as a therapeutic agent.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION We have now found that GnRH-II has an important role in the function of a number of organs. For example, it influences osteogenesis and it modulates the proliferation of prostatic epithelial cells. Accordingly, we have considered the means by which this agent and its analogues might usefully be delivered in a clinical situation, and it is an objectof the present invention to provide suitable formulations for achieving this purpose. The formulations according to the present invention rely on the use of a biodegradable polymer to hold the peptide in a depot, from which it is released into the systemic circulation at a controlled rate.

These formulations comprise two key elements, the biologically active peptide and the biodegradable polymer. The biologically active peptide is a decapeptide according to the sequence pyroGlu-His-Trp-Ser-Xaa'-Gly-Xaa2-Xaa3-Pro-Gly-NH2 wherein Xaal is His or Tyr, Xaa2 is Trp or Leu, and Xaa3 is Tyr or Arg, provided that when Xaa'is Tyr and Xaa2 is Leu, then Xaa3 is not Arg. The polymer is any pharmaceutically acceptable biodegradable polymer, and preferably a co-polymer of glycolic and lactic acids. The invention further comprises the use of the formulations for the treament of human pathologies.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION As used herein, abbreviations referring to amino acids have their conventional meanings and indicate the natural L-isomer (except for the achiral amino acid glycine).

In a first aspect, the invention as disclosed herein comprises a pharmaceutical formulation that releases a therapeutic peptide at a controlled rate and for an extended period of time (i. e. for a period of at least one day, preferably several days, and more preferably at least one week), particularly for the treatment of diseases of the bone and prostate. The therapeutic peptide is a decapeptide according to the sequence pyroGlu-His-Trp-Ser-Xaa'-Gly-Xaa2-Xaa3-Pro-Gly-NH2 wherein Xaa'is either His or Tyr, Xaa2 is either Trp or Leu, and Xaa3 is either Tyr or Arg, provided that when Xaa'is Tyr and Xaa2 is Leu, then Xaa3 is not Arg. Preferably, Xaal is His, Xaa2 is Trp, and Xaa3 is Tyr. It will be recognised that such a peptide can form salts with acids (for example, acetic acid, trifluoroacetic acid, benzoic acid, hydrochloric acid, phosphoric acid and the like). To the extent that such salts are formed with pharmaceutically acceptable acids, they are included within the scope of the invention.

A second essential component of the formulation is a biodegradable, pharmaeutically acceptable polymer. Such polymers are known in the art. They can either be homopolymers (i. e. polymers of a single monomer) or copolymers (i. e. formed from two or more different monomers). Suitable monomers include amino and hydroxy dervatives of carboxylic acids. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the polymer is composed of hydroxyacyl monomeric units, and more preferably of a-hydroxyacyl units.

Most preferably, the polymer is a poly (glycolic acid), a poly (lactic acid) or a copolymer of glycolic and lactic acids. Such a polymer has the following chemical structure.

where R is hydrogen in poly (glycolic acid), methyl in poly (lactic acid), and randomly hydrogen or methyl in the copolymer.

Two complementary methods for making the formulation of the present invention can be distinguished. The peptide can either be incorporated into a matrix of the polymer, or, more preferably, it can be encapsulated by the polymer. In this second case, the peptide that is encapsulated may be either a solid or in solution. It is preferred for the peptide to be a solid.

This formulation is useful in the treatment of human pathologies, including disorders of bone and prostate growth.

In a second aspect, the invention as disclosed herein comprises a method for the treatment of an individual suffering from a disorder of bone or prostate growth, or considered to be at risk of so suffering. This method of treatment comprises the administration to said individual of a therapeutically effective amount of a formulation containing, as an active principal, a peptide according to the sequence pyroGlu-His-Trp-Ser-Xaa'-Gly-Xaaz-Xaa'-Pro-Gly-NH2 or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein Xaa', Xaa2 and Xaa3 are as defined above, and as a second component, a pharmaceutically acceptable biodegradable polymer, which formulation releases the peptide into the systemic circulation as the polymer is eroded.

The method of treatment may comprise a single administration of the formulation, but is more likely to comprise a course of repeated administrations. The frequency of the administrations may be from once per day to once per month. The amount of active peptide in each dose will depend on the dosing schedule and the route of administration. Generally, it will be between one milligram (1 mg) and one gram (100 g). The supervising physician will determine the precise dose depending on the parameters generally considered in the art to be relevant. The formulation is administered by intramuscular or subcutaneous injection. The peptides that comprise the active agents of the compositions of the present invention can be prepared by the methods generally known in the art. For example, the peptides may be prepared by solid-phase synthesis. This involves the sequential addition of amino acid residues to a resin-bound intermediate according to the following strategy.

1. Formation of resin-bound first intermediate PG-Aaa-OH + FG-Res- > PG-Aaa-L-Res Aaa = amino acid PG = protecting group FG = functional group Res = polymeric resin L = linker group (-O-or-NH-) 2. Deprotection PG-Aaa-L-Res H-Aaa-L-Res 3. Chain extension PG-Bbb-OH + H-Aaa-L-Res- PG-Bbb-Aaa-L-Res 4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 as necessary PG-Bbb-Aaa-L-Res PG-Nnn-...-Bbb-Aaa-L-Res 5. Cleave/deprotect PG-Nnn-...-Bbb-Aaa-L-Res- H-Nnn-...-Bbb-Aaa-OH (or-NH2) In step one, a protected amino acid is reacted with a functionalised resin. The protecting group (PG) is most commonly tert-butyloxycarbonyl (Boc) or 9-fluorenylmethyloxycarbonyl (Fmoc). The functional group on the resin (FG) is commonly a chloroalkyl group, a hydroxyl group or an amine group. When FG is a chloroalkyl or-hydroxyl group, the linker group (L) is an oxygen atom (-O-). When FG is an amine group, L is-NH-.

In step two, the protecting group (PG) is removed from the a-amino group. When PG is Boc, this can be accomplished by treating the resin with acids such as trifluoroacetic acid or hydrogen chloride in dichloromethane. When PG is Fmoc, the deprotection can be accomplished by treating the resin with bases such as piperidine.

In step three, the peptide chain is extended by one amino acid residue. A protected amino acid is coupled to the amine group liberated in step two. Many reagents are known in the art for achieving this conversion. One combination is dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCC) and hydroxybenzotriazole (HOBt). Generally, a base will also be necessary. Suitable bases include triethylamine and N, N-diisopropylethylamine. The solvent will generally be dichloromethane, dimethylformamide, or a mixture of these.

If the side chains of the amino acids (Aaa-Nnn) contain reactive groups (for example amino groups, carboxylic acid groups, hydroxyl groups) then these will need protecting. The protecting groups chosen for the side chains are generally those that are stable under the conditions required to remove the protecting group (PG) from the a-amino group. If PG is Fmoc, then the side chain protecting groups can conveniently be based on tert-butyl chemistry. On the other hand, if PG is Boc, then the side chain protecting groups can be based on fluorenylmethyl chemistry. Other protecting groups known in the art can also be used.

In step four, the deprotection/chain extension cycle is repeated until the desired peptide sequence has been constructed.

In step five, the completed peptide is liberated from the resin. Protecting groups are removed from the side chains either before or after the cleavage. When L is-NH-, the peptide liberated is in the form of the C-terminal amide. When L is-O-, the peptide liberated is often the C-terminal free acid and a second step is required to form the C-terminal amide.

The peptides may also be prepared by solution-phase synthesis, and this may be more convenient when large quantities of material are needed.

The polymers required for the formulation are generally well known in the art. As stated previously, the formulation may take the form of a simple dispersion of the peptide in a matrix of the polymer, or the peptide may be microencapsulated with the polymer. Dispersions can be prepared by mixing the peptide (as a solid) and the polymer to homogeneity, then compressing the mixture to form a solid mass. It may be necessary to add a binding agent to the mixture in order to achieve a suitably cohesive composition. The mass can then be ground up to give particles suitable for suspension in a biologically compatible liquid (such as water or isotonic saline) and injection.

Microencapsulated formulations can be prepared either from the solid peptide (as a powder) or from a solution, and particularly an aqueous solution, of the peptide. The polymer is first dissolved in a suitable organic solvent. The peptide is then added to this solution and the mixture is vigorously stirred to disperse the peptide in the organic phase. A second organic solvent is then added. This second solvent is chosen to reduce the solubility of the polymer in the organic phase. The polymer comes out of solution to form a coating around the particles of solid peptide (or around the droplets of dispersed aqueous solution). The resultant microcapsules are then hardened by washing to remove traces of the organic solvents. They are then ready to be suspended in an appropriate liquid for administration.

The above general description is further elaborated below in a number of examples. These are intended to illustrate certain aspects of the invention. They are not intended to be limiting in any way.

EXAMPLES Example 1-Synthesis of GnRH-II 1A. Preparation of resin-bound protected peptide. pyroGlu-His (Bom)-Trp (CHO)-Ser (Bzl)-His (Bom)-Gly-Trp (CHO)-Tyr (Bzl)-His (Bom)-Pro-Gly- ORes This peptide was prepared using standard solid-phase methods starting from Boc-Glyesterified Merrifield resin (60 g, 1 mmol/g). The synthesis was performed in a manual synthesizer, with a total solvent and reagent volume of 300 mL for each operation. The standard deprotection/vvash/coupling protocol is summarised in Table 1.

Table 1

Step Reagent Time (min) Number of operations Deprotection of Boc HCI/DCM* 60 1 Washing DCM 2-4 3 Neutralisation 10% DIPEA/DCM 4 2 Washing DCM 2-4 1 Coupling Activated ester 60-120**1-2 Washing DCM 12-4 3 gaseous hydrogen cntonae was duddied mrough a suspension or me resin in DCM ** Completeness of reaction was determined by a negative ninhydrin test Benzotriazolyl esters were used as the activated esters throughout the synthesis. These were prepared from the corresponding protected amino acids by reaction with 1 hydroxybenzotriazole (1 eq.) and dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (1 eq.). The quantities used (in relation to the resin substitution capacity) are listed in Table 2.

Table 2

Cycle no. Amino acid derivative Molar excess 1 Boc-Pro-OH 1. 8 2 Boc-Tyr (Bzl)-OH 1. 8 3 Boc-Trp (CHO)-OH 1. 8 Boc-Gly-OH 1. 8 5 Boc-His(Bom)-OH 1.8 6 Boc-Ser(Bzl)-OH 2.0 7 Boc-Trp (CHO)-OH 2. 0 8 Boc-His (Bom)-OH 2. 0 pyroGlu-OH 2. 0 Following the final coupling, the resin was washed with dichloromethane (3 x 3 L) and dried under reduced pressure at +40 C to constant weight.

Amino acid analysis : Consistent with proposed sequence 1B. Cleavage and deprotection pyroGlu-His-Trp-Ser-H is-Gly-Trp-Tyr-His-Pro-Gly-N H2 The peptidoresin prepared in Example 1A was placed in a linen bag in a pressure vessel. The vessel was then charged with gaseous ammonia to a final pressure of 4 atm. After 72h the excess ammonia was vented and the resin was extracted with acetic acid (3x100mL) and ethanol (3x100mL). The combined extracts were degassed with nitrogen, 10% palladium-oncarbon was added, and the mixture was stirred under an atmosphere of hydrogen. When the reaction was complete (as judged by HPLC), the mixture was filtered and the filtrate was evaporated. The residue was purified by reverse-phase HPLC to give the title compound.

Example 2-Microencapsulation of peptide Copoly (D, L-lactic acid, glycolic acid) with a lactic acid/glycolic acid ratio of 50/50 is used. To a solution of this polymer (3. 7g) in dichloromethane (100mL) in a reaction vessel equipped with a stirrer is added GnRH-II acetate (0. 15g, prepared by dissolving the peptide of example 1 in acetic acid and lyophilising the resultant solution). The mixture is stirred at 500revolutions/minute, then silicone oil (Dow Coming 360 Medical Fluid&commat;, 45g) is added over 10 minutes. The mixture is then introduced as a thin jet into caprylic-capric acid-triglyceride (MiglyolS) 812, 3. 3L) with continuous stirring at 1000revolutions/minute. When addition is complete, stirring is continued for 1 hour, then the microcapsules are collected by filtration, washed twice with isopropanol, and finally dried.

Example 3-Analysi$ of the effects of GnRH-II and analogues on Osteogenic cell populations in vitro.

(a) Human osteoblasts were isolated from cancerous bone from orthopaedic surgery (Nilsson et a/., 1995) according to standard procedures known in the art. The bone explants were minced into small bone chips and then washed extensively in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (DMEM)/F12 (1 : 1 Gibco, Paisley, U. K). These osteoblast like cells, Murine osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells and human clonal osteosarcoma cell lines MG-63 (non mineralising) and SaOS-2 (mineralising osteosarcoma) were cultured in DMEM : F12, 1 : 1 with the addition of 10% fetal calf serum (FCS, Gibco), fungizone (500mu/1), gentamycin sulphate (50ma), L-glutamine (2mM) and I-ascorbic acid (100ma) in a humidified CO2 chamber at 37 C.

(b) Human bone marrow stromal cells were isolated from bone fragments rinsed in phosphate buffered saline. Bone marrow cells were collected and spun through a column of Ficoll Hypaque (Kimble et al J. Clin. Invest. 93 1959-1967, 1994). Cells at the interface were pelleted, counted and seeded into 75cm2 flasks. The cells were incubated in a humidified CO2 chamber at 37C and the medium changed weekly. At confluence, the cells were harvested using trypsin EDTA and re-seeded in a-minimum essential medium (-MEM) supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum (FCS, Gibco), penicillin (100U/ml), streptomycin (100mg/ml), fungizone and L-glutamine (2mM).

(c) All cells were serum-starved for 48h before addition of GnRH-I and GnRH-II. Cells were placed in DMEM without phenol red (in order to avoid oestrogen-like effects of phenol red) containing 10% charcoal-stripped serum for 48 hours in 12 well plates. Dose dependent effects of GnRH-I and GnRH-ll and analogues of the peptides were studied following the addition of peptides at final concentrations ranging from 109 to 104M. 1mM dibutyryl cAMP was used as a control. The cells were incubated for 24, 48 and 96h with the peptide being replaced every 24 hours.

(d) To assess the effects of the peptides on cell proliferation, [3H] thymidine was added at 1 mC-Uml for an additional 24hours and [3H] thymidine incorporation was determined.

Radioisotope incorporation was determined using a scintillation counter and the results were calculated as cpm/mg of total protein.

(e) Expression of osteoblastic differentiation markers was also determined (Tintut Y et a/,. J Biol Chem 273 7547-53, 1998). Total RNAwas isolated at several stages ; before treatment, at 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours after addition of peptides. Type I procollagen, osteopontin and 28S RNA (used as an internal control) expression was determined by Northem blot analyses.

Alkaline phosphatase, matrix GLA protein, osteoclastin and GAPDH (as an intemal control) were determined by RT-PCR with specific primers designed for each gene.

The peptides of the invention caused significant effects at concentrations below 1 00pLM.

Example 4-Analysis of the effects of GnRH-II and analogues on Osteoclast populations in vitro.

(a) Human clonal cell lines of osteoclast precursors (FLG 29. 1) were used as an in vitro model of osteoclast differentiation (Gattei V et al., Cell Growth Differ 7 753-63, 1996). In addition, co cultures of FLG 29. 1 and osteoblastic cells (Saos-2) were evaluated for migratory, adhesive, cytochemical, morphological, and biochemical changes. Dose dependent effects of GnRH-I and GnRH-II and analogues of the peptides were studied following addition at final concentrations ranging from 10-9 to 10-ru to FLG 29. 1 cultures and to co-cultures.

Parathyroid hormone was added as a control. Potentiation (or inhibition) of the differentiation of the preosteoclasts (fusion into large multinucleated elements) and a number of other factors were measured (Orlandini et al,. Cell Tissue Res. 281 33-42, 1995).

These included : 1. Positive staining for tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase in FLG 29. 1 cells 2. A decrease of the alkaline phosphatase activity expressed by Saos-2 cells 3. The appearance of features ultrastructural features in mature osteoclasts in FLG 4. The release into the culture medium of granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor.

5. To assess the effects the peptides on cell proliferation, [3H] thymidine was added at 1 mCi/ml for an additional 24hours and [3H] thymidine incorporation was determined as described above.

(b) Bone marrow cells removed from human bone fragments were cultured in the presence of 10nM 1, 25-(OH) 2 vitamin D3 for seven days to generate multinucleated osteoclasts using standard techniques known in the art (Takahashi et a/., Endocrinol 122 1473-1482, 1988).

The culture medium (a-MEM) was removed and replaced by a fresh phenol red free medium supplemented with antibiotics and 10% charcoal-stripped heat-inactivated FCS containing GnRH-I, GnRH-II or analogues, and the cultures were maintained for a further 24 hours.

Floating cells were harvested and osteoclasts stained for tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) expression, a marker of osteoclast differentiation (Hughes et a/., Nat. Med. 2 1132 1135, 1996) 1. Cells were incubated in 0. 2M acetate buffer, pH 4. 7-5. 0, containing tartaric acid and 2% naphtol AS-BI phosphate (dissolve at 20mg/ml in ethylene glycol monomethyl ether) for 15min at 37 C. The cells were then transferred to a second solution consisting of the same buffer and concentration of tartaric acid with 0. 1% pararosanoiline chloride (hexazotised by mixing with an equal volume of 4% sodium nitrite for 5min at room temperature) for 10min at 37 C. This treatment causes a red cytoplasmic stain in cells expressingTRAP. Harris'hematoxylin was used as a nuclear counterstain.

2. Apoptotic multinulceated osteociasts were identified by strong expression of TRAP, larger size than accompanying viable TRAP-positive cells. Confirmation of apoptosis was carried out using acridine orange stain. Viable osteoclasts were counted after fixation in 95% ethanol and TRAP hematoxylin staining, and apoptotic osteoclasts were expressed as a percentage of the total number of multinucleated osteoclasts (viable and apoptotic) in each culture well.

The peptides of the invention caused significant effects at concentrations below 1 0011M.

Example 1 demonstrates the preparation of the peptides of the invention, which can then be formulated as illustrated in Example 2. Examples 3 and 4 demonstrate the biological activity of the peptides of interest. The scope of the invention is not intended to be limited in any way by these Examples. In particular, it will be realised that variety of controlled release formulations of these peptides can be prepared by varying the polymer and/or the physical nature of the combination of the peptide and polymer. However, these variations give formulations with equivalent biological properties, and are intended to be within the scope of the invention as defined in the following Claims.

Claims (5)

1. CLAIMS 1. A pharmaceutical formulation for the controlled release of a therapeutic peptide or a salt thereof, which peptide has the sequence pyroGiu-His-Trp-Ser-Xaa'-Gly-Xaa2-Xaa'-Pro-Gly-NH2 wherein Xaa'is His or Tyr, Xaa2 is Trp or Leu, and Xaa3 is Tyr or Arg, provided that when Xaa'is Tyr and Xaa2 is Leu, then Xaa3 is not Arg, and which formulation further comprises a pharmaceutically acceptable biodegradable polymer.
2. 2. The pharmaceutical composition according to Claim 1, wherein the peptide is pyroGlu-His-Trp-Ser-His-Gly-Trp-Tyr-Pro-Gly-NH2
3. 3. The formulation according to Claim 1, wherein the polymer is a polymer of a hydroxy derivative of a carboxylic acid, or a copolymer of such derivatives.

   4. The formulation according to Claim 3, wherein the polymer is a polymer of glycolic acid, a polymer of lactic acid, or a copolymer of lactic and glycolic acids.
4. 4. The formulation according to Claim 1 wherein the peptide is microencapsulated by the polymer.
5. 5. A method for the treatment of a human medical condition, which method comprises the administration to an individual in need of such treatment of a therapeutically effective amount of a controlled release formuiation of a peptide according to any of the preceding Claims.