Pulmonary pharmaceutical formulations

Abstract

The present invention provides improved pharmaceutical formulations for pulmonary delivery having improved chemical and physical stability of the therapeutic, prophylactic or diagnostic agent as compared to formulations known in the art. The improved pharmaceutical formulations of the invention for administration to the respiratory system of a patient for the treatment of a variety of disease conditions comprise a mass of biocompatible particles comprising an active agent, and a hydrogenated starch hydrosylate (HSH). The improvement over the prior art comprises the presence of HSH in the pharmaceutical formulation. The invention further relates to a method of treating diseases comprising administering the pharmaceutical formulations of the present invention to the respiratory system of a patient in need of treatment.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A dry powder composition for administration to the respiratory system of a patient comprising biocompatible particles wherein the biocompatible particles comprise a therapeutic agent, or any combination thereof; and a hydrogenated starch hydrolysate (HSH). 
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein HSH is present in the particles in an amount from about 50% by weight to 95% by weight. 
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 1 , further comprising a buffering agent. 
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 3 , wherein the buffering agent is sodium phosphate, sodium acetate, sodium carbonate, glycylglycine, histidine, HEPES, arginine, TRIS, glycine or a hydroxytricarboxylic acid or salt thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 4 , wherein the hydroxytricarboxylic acid is citric acid. 
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 3 , wherein the buffering agent is a citrate salt. 
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the particles have a tap density about 0.4 g/cm 3  or less. 
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the particles have a fine particle fraction of about 20% or more by weight. 
     
     
         9 . A method for treating a disease condition in a patient comprising the step of administering to the respiratory tract of the patient, an effective amount of the composition of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the dry powder composition is inhaled using a dry powder inhaler comprising a receptacle containing the composition. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the particles have a tap density of about 0.4 g/cm 3  or less. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the particles have a fine particle fraction of about 20% or more by weight. 
     
     
         13 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the therapeutic-agent is budesonide. 
     
     
         14 . A method of treating a patient suffering from an inflammatory disorder, comprising the step of administering by inhalation to the respiratory tract of the patient, an effective amount of the composition of  claim 13 . 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the inflammatory disorder is asthma, allergic rhinitis, infectious rhinitis, inflammatory bowel disease or nasal polypsis. 
     
     
         16 . A kit for administration of a composition of  claim 1 , comprising at least one receptacle, wherein said receptacle comprises at least one unit dosage of the composition and wherein the receptacle is suitable for use with a dry powder inhaler.