US20090233889A1

US20090233889A1 - Stabilized 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin d2 and method of making same

Info

Publication number: US20090233889A1
Application number: US12/403,271
Authority: US
Inventors: Uttam Saha
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Eirgen Pharma Ltd
Priority date: 2008-03-12
Filing date: 2009-03-12
Publication date: 2009-09-17
Also published as: CA2718238A1; JP2014062131A; EP2262765A1; US11926583B2; WO2009111873A1; HK1212320A1; CA2718238C; CN101998949A; US20140113886A1; ES2759874T3; CN104761480A; HK1149927A1; JP5882369B2; EP2262765B1; CN101998949B; JP2011513439A; ES2575003T3; EP2262765A4; EP3026042B1; EP3026042A1

Abstract

A stabilized 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₂composition which is particularly well suited for pharmaceutical formulations, pharmaceutical formulations of the 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₂composition, and a method of making the purified composition by purifying a crude 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₂from acetone/water, are disclosed.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/036,021 filed on Mar. 12, 2008 is hereby claimed.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Disclosure
The disclosure relates generally to active vitamin D hormones in purified form. More particularly, the disclosure relates to stabilized 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₂which is particularly well suited for pharmaceutical formulations.
2. Brief Description of Related Technology
Vitamin D compounds having a hydroxy group at the 1-α position, often considered to be activated vitamin D compounds, have had considerable attention in recent years because of their potent activities. These activated vitamin D compounds are, however, also known as being chemically unstable, particularly under exposure to light and to oxygen, and as having poor storage stability at higher temperatures. The compounding of activated vitamin D compounds into pharmaceutical formulations can exacerbate these stability problems.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,903,083 (Jun. 7, 2005) reported purifying 24-hydroxyvitamin D₂and cis-1α-hydroxyvitamin D₂by recrystallization from methyl formate, and results of stability testing thereof.

SUMMARY

One aspect of the disclosure provides a surprisingly stable 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₂, characterized by being free of methyl formate, preferably completely free of methyl formate.
Another aspect of the disclosure provides an efficient method for crystallizing 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₂to produce a stabilized 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₂at relatively high yield, the method including crystallization from an acetone/water mixture.
For the compositions and methods described herein, preferred features, such as components, compositional ranges thereof, functional properties, substituents, conditions, and steps, can be selected from the various examples provided herein.
Further aspects and advantages will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art from a review of the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the drawings. While the composition and method are susceptible of embodiments in various forms, the description hereafter includes specific embodiments with the understanding that the disclosure is illustrative, and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments described herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For further facilitating the understanding of the present invention, two drawing figures are appended hereto.

FIGS. 1 and 2 depict accelerated stability testing of stabilized 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₂according to the disclosure herein compared to 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₂containing methyl formate.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The stabilized 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₂is characterized by being free of methyl formate and having a high level of purity (e.g. at least 97%). The method for preparing the stabilized 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₂can include crystallization from an acetone/water mixture.
The stabilized 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₂is and method of crystallization are contemplated to encompass embodiments including any combination of one or more of the additional optional elements, features and steps further described below (including those shown in the figures) unless stated otherwise.
The stabilized 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₂is crystalline, storage stable and well suited for modern therapy formulations. Studies have demonstrated that stabilized 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₂according to the description herein is surprisingly stable. In particular, it is characterized by a reduced rate of degradation on heat challenge and during prolonged storage. The stabilized 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₂according to the description herein will exhibit excellent, unprecedented storage stability when formulated in a pharmaceutical dosage form, e.g., a soft gelatin capsule.
The stabilized 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₂has a purity equal to or greater than 97% (i.e., at least 97%) based on total area under the curve (AUC) by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), preferably at least 98% purity or at least 98.5% purity. It is also free of methyl formate. The stabilized 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₂substance optionally has a low concentration of 1,25-dihydroxyprevitamin D₂(e.g. preferably not more than 2.5%, not more than 1%, or not more than 0.5%).
Methyl formate is taught in the prior art as a suitable crystallization solvent for 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₂and many other active vitamin D compounds. It has now been found that residual methyl formate has a deleterious effect on stability of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₂and its previtamin, leading to marked degradation over time, even at very low levels of residual methyl formate concentration and under controlled storage conditions (e.g. −20° C. and inert atmosphere). Without intending to be bound by any particular theory, it is believed that methyl formate hydrolyzes (e.g., at elevated temperature, or over time), in the presence of even a very small amount of water, to produce formic acid and methanol. Further without intending to be bound by any particular theory, it is believed that formic acid promotes the formation of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₂by-products presumably by causing the formation of a conjugated diene via protonation of the 25-hydroxy group and subsequent removal of water.
Accordingly, in another aspect the stabilized 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₂will optionally be further free of or substantially free of residual solvents which can produce acids including, but not limited to, alcohol esters of organic acids and alcohol esters of inorganic esters. Nonlimiting examples include formate esters (e.g., methyl formate, ethyl formate); acetate esters (e.g., methyl acetate, butyl acetate, ethyl acetate, isoamyl acetate, 1,2-ethanediol diacetate, 1,2,3-propanetriol triacetate) and lactate esters (e.g., ethyl lactate, methyl lactate). For example, the level of such residual components is preferably less than 1%, 0.5%, 1000 ppm, 500 ppm, or 100 ppm. The stabilized 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₂is also optionally free of or substantially free of one or more of the following: halogenated solvents, dimethylsulfoxide, dimethylformamide, and acids. For example, the level of such residual halogenated solvents is preferably less than 1%, 0.5%, 1000 ppm, 500 ppm, or 100 ppm.
Further optionally, but preferably, the stabilized 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₂according to the description herein has a purity of at least 97% (or at least 98% or at least 98.5%), a residual solvents content of 0.5% or less, further optionally a total impurities content of 1.5% or less, and further optionally has no single impurity greater than 0.5% by HPLC.
The stabilized 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₂according to the description herein is stable under conditions of heat challenge. In one embodiment, the 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₂is at least about 98%, preferably at least 98.5%, for example at least 99% pure after storage at 60° C. for at least 24 hours, preferably for at least 72 hours. In another embodiment, the amount of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₂that remains after storage at 60° C. for at least 24 hours preferably is at least 97.5%, more preferably at least 99%, for example at least 99.9% of the initial amount. In another embodiment, the amount of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₂that remains after storage at 60° C. for at least 72 hours preferably is at least 97%, more preferably at least 98.5%, for example at least about 99.5% of the initial amount.
The stabilized 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₂according to the description herein is stable over a prolonged period of time at long term storage conditions. In one embodiment, the stabilized 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₂according to the description herein has a purity of at least 98%, preferably at least 98.5%, more preferably at least 99% after storage at −20° C. under argon for at least 3, 6, 9, 12, or 15 months. Embodiments and examples of the percentage of the initial amount of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₂that remains after storage at −20° C. under argon for at least 3, 6, 9, 12, or 15 months are shown in Table 1.

	TABLE 1

	Percentage of the initial amount of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₂that
	remains after a prolonged period of time

Period of Time	Preferably	More preferably	Example

At least 3 months	At least 99%	At least 99.5%	At least 99.9%
At least 6 months	At least 97%	At least 98.5%	At least 99.9%
At least 9 months	At least 94%	At least 97%	At least 99.9%
At least 12 months	At least 94%	At least 97%	At least 99.9%
At least 15 months	At least 94%	At least 97%	At least 99.9%

The stabilized 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₂is suitably used in pharmaceutical formulations, such as for oral use (e.g., soft or hard gelatin capsules, solutions, tablets) and for parenteral use. Thus, the pharmaceutical formulation made from or containing stabilized 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₂can be in the form of a non-aqueous solution or a non-aqueous suspension (e.g. contained in a vial or ampoule) or in solid form. In one preferred embodiment, the stabilized 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₂formulation is in an oil (e.g. fractionated coconut oil). In another preferred embodiment, the stabilized 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₂formulation is a solid in the form of a tablet, a capsule, a granule, or a powder. The pharmaceutical formulation can comprise, consist essentially of, or consist of stabilized 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₂together with one or more pharmaceutically acceptable excipients. Pharmaceutically acceptable excipients include functional and non-functional ingredients including carriers, diluents, processing aids, and release-modifying agents. Such pharmaceutical formulations can be made with the stabilized 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₂substance described herein, using any suitable technique including known techniques.
The dosage of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₂for oral or parenteral administration generally is about 0.1 μg per week to 100 μg per week, preferably about 0.7 μg per week to about 70 μg per week, which can be split into daily or other periodic doses, such as three times per week for administration concomitant with hemodialysis. In exemplary embodiments, a parenteral dosage equivalent to about 0.5 μg per day to about 7 μg per day is contemplated, while an oral dosage equivalent to about 0.1, 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10 μg per day is contemplated.
The stabilized 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₂can be dispensed by unit dosage form comprising about 0.1 μg to about 25 μg in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier per unit dosage, for example about 1 μg to about 10 μg or about 1 μg to about 5 μg. A sustained-release or delayed, sustained-release unit dosage form, including about 1 μg to about 10 μg, or more preferred about 3 μg to about 5 μg, for example, is also contemplated.
For example, in a soft gelatin formulation, the capsule fill suitably contains stabilized 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₂which preferably is dissolved in a pharmaceutically acceptable oil, e.g., fractionated coconut oil, and includes an antioxidant which may be, for example, butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) or vitamin E. The capsule shell preferably contains gelatin, glycerin, titanium dioxide and coloring agent. The fill is typically about 30-90% by weight of the whole capsule, preferably about 40-70% by weight.
The 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₂compound may be prepared by any of the known methods of synthesis. Crude 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₂can be column purified to remove the trans isomer according to known methods. A column-purified 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₂can be stabilized by recrystallization from a suitable organic solvent or mixture of organic solvent and water consistent with the disclosure herein, e.g., acetone and water. The recrystallized crystals are then preferably ground to a fine powder and dried in a vacuum oven (e.g. at 40° C. for 8-12 hours) to remove residual solvents. One or more successive (generally at least two) recrystallizations can be performed. Suitable solvents, in addition to acetone/water, include acetonitrile, butanol, diethyl ketone, ethanol, ether, ethylene glycol, heptane, methanol, methyl ethyl ketone, propanol, tetrahydrofuran, water, and combinations thereof. If recrystallizations are performed from acid-containing or acid-yielding solvents such as methyl formate, then one or more successive (generally at least two) recrystallizations will be performed with a preferred solvent according to the disclosure herein, to remove undesired residual components.
Partially pure 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₂preferably is crystallized from a solvent that is free of methyl formate, preferably further free of at least one of the following solvents selected from the group consisting of formate ester solvents, acetate ester solvents, lactate ester solvents, alcohol ester solvents, halogenated solvents, dimethylsulfoxide, dimethylformamide, and solvents capable of generating acid. The solvent system is preferably acetone/water, more preferably using a 1:1 ratio. While other solvents may be used, it was found that crystallization from acetone/water gave a very high yield of desired product and also beneficially provided very low levels of 1,25-dihydroxyprevitamin D₂. Each acetone/water crystallization step was found to give greater than 90% yield compared to methyl formate crystallization which was found to give yields in the range of 50% to 60%.
If a multi-stage crystallization method is performed to purify the 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₂, then preferably the preferred solvents identified herein (e.g., free of methyl formate, preferably further free of at least one of the following solvents selected from the group consisting of formate ester solvents, acetate ester solvents, lactate ester solvents, alcohol ester solvents, halogenated solvents, dimethylsulfoxide, dimethylformamide, and solvents capable of generating acid) are used in the final crystallization stage, with the goal of minimizing and preferably at least substantially eliminating non-desired species identified herein, such as residual solvents.
The crude material is first refluxed with acetone at a temperature in a range of 50° C. to 60° C. (15 ml/1 g) until a clear solution is obtained. The solution is then filtered through a sintered funnel and a volume of water (preferably an equal volume) is gradually added. Once the temperature is reduced to about 25° C. degrees and crystallization begins, the mixture is further chilled (e.g. flask placed at 4° C. freezer for 24 h). The solid is then filtered and washed, preferably with an acetone/water mixture (e.g. 1:1 ratio). Preferably, the acetone/water mixture is pre-chilled, e.g. to 4° C. The crystallization can be repeated until the product meets the desired purity specifications, preferably to a level of at least 97% purity, more preferably at least 98% or at least 98.5% purity by HPLC.
The HPLC analysis can suitably follow the parameters in Table 2 below.

TABLE 2

Column:	YMC-Pack Pro C18, 5 μm, 12 nm, 250 × 4.6 mm
Mobile phase:	70:30 acetonitrile: water isocratic
Flow rate:	1.5 ml per minute
Wave length:	265 nm
Run time:	20 min
Sample temp:	15° C. ± 5° C.
Column temp:	30° C. ± 5° C.
Sample concentration:	1 mg/ml
Injection volume:	10 μL

EXAMPLES

The following examples are provided for illustration and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

Example 1

Preparation of Stabilized 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D₂

1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₂is prepared following the procedure described in the Journal of Organic Chemistry 1988, 53, 3450-3457. The crude material is treated with maleic anhydride in tetrahydrofuran at room temperature, followed by column purification, to remove the trans isomer via a Diels Alder adduct.
Partially pure 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₂was crystallized from acetone/water (1:1). The crude material was first refluxed with HPLC grade acetone (15 ml/1 g) until a clear solution was obtained. It was then filtered and an equal volume of 18.2 megaohm water was gradually added. Once the temperature came down to about 25° C. degrees and crystal formation started, the flask was placed in a 4° C. freezer for 24 h. The solid was filtered and washed with pre-chilled 1:1 acetone/water at 4° C. The crystallization was repeated until the product met the desired purity specifications. In this example, the purity was 99.4% (HPLC); single known impurity not more than 0.5% (1β,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₂, 5,6-trans-1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₂, 22-cis-1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₂, and 1,25-dihydroxyprevitamin D₂); single unknown impurity not more than 0.1%. To dry, the solid material was ground via a mortar and pestle and placed at 40° C. under vacuum for 8-12 hours.
The parameters in Table 1 above were used for the HPLC analysis.

Example 2

Accelerated Stability Testing of Stabilized 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D₂

Samples of stabilized 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₂according to Example 1 and commercially-obtained 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₂(SAFC, Madison, Wis. USA) made by crystallization from methyl formate were placed in a 60° C. oven in several 2 ml amber vials with Teflon-lined caps. Samples were taken out at different time points and purity was checked by HPLC according to Example 1. The results are presented in Tables 3 and 4 below and in FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 1 shows the observed stability of the two preparations over the 24 hours, and FIG. 2 shows stability over 72 hours. From these studies it is clear that the purified material prepared according to Example 1 was surprisingly more stable compared to the commercially available material prepared using methyl formate and containing residual methyl formate. The stabilized material prepared according to the Example 1 will clearly have advantage when any heat is required during formulation.

TABLE 3

methyl
formate	At 60° C.	0 h	4 h	8 h	16 h	24 h	48 h	72 h

Commercial	500 ppm	Purity	96.80	95.18	94.98	94.69	93.98	93.86	93.82
Example 1	not detected	(absolute %)	99.40	99.38	99.42	99.33	99.42	99.31	98.89

TABLE 4

methyl
formate	At 60° C.	Initial %	4 h	8 h	16 h	24 h	48 h	72 h

Commercial	500 ppm	Purity		100	98.33	98.12	97.82	97.09	96.97	96.92
Example 1	not detected	(% of initial	100	99.98	100	99.93	100	99.90	99.50
		amount)

Example 3

Long-Term Stability Testing of Stabilized 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D₂

Additional samples of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₂(SAFC, Madison, Wis. USA) that were substantially free of 1,25-dihydroxyprevitamin D₂were made by crystallization from methyl formate and having varying levels of residual methyl formate. These samples were stored at −20° C. under argon and periodically tested for purity by HPLC. Other samples of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₂made according to the disclosure herein and without methyl formate were also made and tested under the same conditions. The results are shown in Tables 5 and 6 below.

	TABLE 5

	Batch	Purity of 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D₂(absolute %)

1,25-dihydroxyvitamin	0	3	6	9	12	15
D₂	months	months	months	months	months	months

A	10 ppm methyl formate,	99.48%	97.99%
	0.11% 1,25-		(3½ M)
	dihydroxyprevitamin D₂
B	16 ppm methyl formate,	99.8%				93.76%
	no 1,25-					(11 M)
	dihydroxyprevitamin D₂
C	78 ppm methyl formate,	97.54%		94.3%
	0.04% 1,25-			(7 M)
	dihydroxyprevitamin D₂
D	4061 ppm methyl	95.55%	94.36%		80.98%
	formate,
	0.21% 1,25-
	dihydroxyprevitamin D₂
E	no methyl formate,	97.7%		97.7%
	no 1,25-
	dihydroxyprevitamin
F	no methyl formate,	99.5%	99.5%			98.7%
	2% 1,25-
	dihydroxyprevitamin D₂
G	no methyl formate,	99.36%			99.42%		99.40%
	no 1,25-
	dihydroxyprevitamin
H	no methyl formate,	99.40%		99.4%		99.39%
	no 1,25-
	dihydroxyprevitamin

	TABLE 6

		Purity of 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D₂
	Batch	(% of the initial amount)

1,25-dihydroxyvitamin		3	6	9	12	15
D₂	Initial %	months	months	months	months	months

A	10 ppm methyl formate,	100%	98.50%
	0.11% 1,25-		(3½ M)
	dihydroxyprevitamin D₂
B	16 ppm methyl formate,	100%				93.95%
	no 1,25-					(11 M)
	dihydroxyprevitamin D₂
C	78 ppm methyl formate,	100%		96.68%
	0.04% 1,25-			(7 M)
	dihydroxyprevitamin D₂
D	4061 ppm methyl	100%	98.75%		84.75%
	formate,
	0.21% 1,25-
	dihydroxyprevitamin D₂
E	no methyl formate,	100%		100%
	no 1,25-
	dihydroxyprevitamin
F	no methyl formate,	100%	100%			99.2%
	2% 1,25-
	dihydroxyprevitamin D₂
G	no methyl formate,	100%			100%		100%
	no 1,25-
	dihydroxyprevitamin
H	no methyl formate,	100%		100%		100%
	no 1,25-
	dihydroxyprevitamin

Besides the exceptions noted at 3½ months, 7 months, and 11 months, the samples were tested at zero, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, 12 months, and 15 months after manufacture. Quite surprisingly, samples exceeding 99% purity at the time of manufacture, and even having low amounts of 1,25-dihydroxyprevitamin D₂(e.g., 0.11% or 0%) but containing even a small amount of residual methyl formate (e.g., 10 ppm or 16 ppm) were found to fall below 98% purity within 3½ months and below 94% purity by 11 months. In contrast, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₂prepared according to the invention crystallized from acetone/water and containing no methyl formate (batches G & H described above) showed absolutely no decrease in purity over at least fifteen months of storage.
The foregoing description is given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, as modifications within the scope of the invention may be apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art.
Throughout the specification, where compositions are described as including components or materials, it is contemplated that the compositions can also consist essentially of, or consist of, any combination of the recited components or materials, unless described otherwise.
The practice of a method disclosed herein, and individual steps thereof, can be performed manually and/or with the aid of electronic equipment. Although processes have been described with reference to particular embodiments, a person of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate that other ways of performing the acts associated with the methods may be used. For example, the order of various of the steps may be changed without departing from the scope or spirit of the method, unless described otherwise. In addition, some of the individual steps can be combined, omitted, or further subdivided into additional steps.
All patents, publications and references cited herein are hereby fully incorporated by reference. In case of conflict between the present disclosure and incorporated patents, publications and references, the present disclosure should control.

Claims

1. A stabilized 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₂composition, characterized by a purity of at least 97% based on total AUC by an HPLC assay and being free of methyl formate.

2. (canceled)

3. The stabilized 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₂composition according to claim 1, wherein the amount comprising 2.5% by weight or less of 1,25-dihydroxyprevitamin D₂based on the total weight of the 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₂.

4. (canceled)

5. The stabilized 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₂composition according to claim 1, wherein the amount of total residual solvent is 1.0% or less.

6. The stabilized 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₂composition according to claim 1, being free of acids and substantially free of at least one solvent selected from the group consisting of formate ester solvents, acetate ester solvents, lactate ester solvents, alcohol ester solvents, halogenated solvents, dimethylsulfoxide, dimethylformamide, and solvents capable of generating acid at elevated temperature or over time.

7. (canceled)

8. (canceled)

9. (canceled)

10. (canceled)

11. (canceled)

12. The stabilized 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₂composition according to claim 1, wherein the purity is at least 98% after the composition is stored at about 60° C. for a period of at least 24 hours.

13. The stabilized 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₂composition according to claim 1, wherein at least about 97.5% of the initial amount of the 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₂remains after the composition is stored at about 60° C. for a period of at least 24 hours.

14. The stabilized 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₂composition according to claim 1, wherein the purity is at least about 98% after the composition is stored at about −20° C. under argon for a period of at least 6 months.

15. The stabilized 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₂composition according to claim 1, wherein at least about 97% of the initial amount of the 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₂remains after the composition is stored at about −20° C. under argon for a period of at least 6 months.

16. (canceled)

17. (canceled)

18. The stabilized 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₂composition according to claim 1, wherein the purity is at least about 98% after the composition is stored at about −20° C. under argon for a period of at least 12 months.

19. (canceled)

20. A pharmaceutical composition comprising an active component which is the stabilized 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₂composition of claim 1 and a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient.

21. The composition of claim 20, which is selected from the group consisting of a tablet, a soft gelatin capsule, a non-aqueous solution, and a non-aqueous suspension.

22. (canceled)

23. (canceled)

24. (canceled)

25. (canceled)

26. The composition of claim 20, in unit dosage form, having a content of active component of 0.1 μg to 25 μg.

27. The composition of claim 21, comprising a solution of an effective amount of the stabilized 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₂in fractionated coconut oil, the solution contained in a soft gelatin capsule and further comprising an antioxidant selected from the group consisting of butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), vitamin E, and combinations thereof.

28. (canceled)

29. (canceled)

30. (canceled)

31. (canceled)

32. (canceled)

33. (canceled)

34. The composition of claim 20, comprising a solid pharmaceutical preparation of an effective amount of the stabilized 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₂composition, wherein the solid pharmaceutical preparation is in the form of a tablet, a capsule, a granule or a powder.

35. (canceled)

36. (canceled)

37. (canceled)

38. (canceled)

39. A method for purifying crude 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₂, comprising crystallizing 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₂from a solvent system free of methyl formate.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein the solvent system is further free of at least one of the following solvents selected from the group consisting of formate ester solvents, acetate ester solvents, lactate ester solvents, alcohol ester solvents, halogenated solvents, dimethylsulfoxide, dimethylformamide, and solvents capable of generating acid.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein the solvent system is free of formate ester solvents, acetate ester solvents, lactate ester solvents, alcohol ester solvents, halogenated solvents, dimethylsulfoxide, dimethylformamide, and solvents capable of generating acid.

42. The method of claim 39, comprising performing said crystallization as the final crystallization stage in a multi-stage crystallization purification.

43. The method of claim 39, wherein the solvent system is an acetone/water mixture.

44. (canceled)

45. (canceled)

46. (canceled)

47. The method according to claim 43, comprising

refluxing crude 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₂with HPLC grade acetone;

filtering off solids;

adding a volume of 18.2 megaohm water to the acetone solution; and

reducing the temperature of the solution to crystallize 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₂.

48. The method according to claim 43, further comprising washing the crystallized 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₂with an acetone/water solution and drying the crystallized 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₂to remove residual solvents.

49. (canceled)

50. (canceled)