U.S. patent application number 10/538837 was filed with the patent office on 2007-03-22 for novel dry powder inhalation system for transpulmonary administration.
This patent application is currently assigned to Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Akitsuna AKAGI, Yuichiro FUKUNAGA, Chikamasa YAMASHITA.
Application Number | 20070065371 10/538837 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32931499 |
Filed Date | 2007-03-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070065371 |
Kind Code |
A2 |
YAMASHITA; Chikamasa ; et
al. |
March 22, 2007 |
Novel Dry Powder Inhalation System For Transpulmonary
Administration
Abstract
The present invention provides a novel dry powder inhalation
system suitable for transpulmonary administration. The dry powder
inhalation system of the present invention characterized by using a
combination of: (1) a vessel housing a freeze-dried composition
prepared by freeze-drying a composition liquid containing
ingredients in a non-dissolved form, and has: (i) a non-powder
cake-like form, (ii) a disintegration index of 0.05 or more, and
(iii) a property of becoming fine particles having a mean particle
diameter (mass median aerodynamic diameter) of 10 microns or less
or a fine particle fraction of 10% or more upon receipt of an air
impact having an air speed of at least 1 m/sec and an air flow rate
of at least 17 ml/sec; and (2) a device comprising a member capable
of applying said air impact to the freeze-dried composition in said
vessel, and a member for discharging the powder-form freeze-dried
composition that has been made into fine particles.
Inventors: |
YAMASHITA; Chikamasa;
(Tokushima, JP) ; AKAGI; Akitsuna; (Tokushima,
JP) ; FUKUNAGA; Yuichiro; (Tokushima, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FINNEGAN, HENDERSON, FARABOW, GARRETT & DUNNER LLP
901 NEW YORK AVENUE, NW
WASHINGTON
DC
20001-4413
US
|
Assignee: |
Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co.,
Ltd.
9, Kandatsukasa-cho 2 chome, Chiyoda-ku
Tokyo
JP
101-8535
|
Prior
Publication: |
|
Document Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20060073105 A1 |
April 6, 2006 |
|
|
Family ID: |
32931499 |
Appl. No.: |
10/538837 |
Filed: |
June 13, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
424/46 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61K 47/40 20130101;
A61P 43/00 20180101; A61K 9/0073 20130101; A61M 11/02 20130101;
A61P 11/00 20180101; A61K 47/20 20130101; A61K 9/0075 20130101;
A61P 5/50 20180101; A61K 9/19 20130101; A61M 2205/075 20130101;
A61K 47/26 20130101; A61M 15/004 20140204; A61M 15/0028 20130101;
A61M 11/001 20140204; A61K 47/12 20130101; A61K 47/183 20130101;
A61M 2202/064 20130101; A61K 47/10 20130101; A61M 2205/071
20130101; A61M 15/0036 20140204 |
Class at
Publication: |
424/046 |
International
Class: |
A61K 9/14 20060101
A61K009/14; A61L 9/04 20060101 A61L009/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 13, 2002 |
JP |
2002-363158 |
Claims
1. A freeze-dried composition for transpulmonary administration
prepared by freeze-drying a composition liquid containing
ingredients in a non-dissolved form which has the following
properties (i) to (iii): (i) a non-powder cake-like form, (ii) a
disintegration index of 0.05 or more, and (iii) becoming fine
particles having a mean particle diameter (mass median aerodynamic
diameter) of 10 microns or less or a fine particle fraction of 10%
or more upon receipt of an air impact having an air speed of at
least 1 m/sec and an air flow rate of at least 17 ml/sec.
2. The freeze-dried composition according to claim 1, wherein a
high-molecular-weight drug is contained as an active
ingredient.
3. A method of manufacturing a dry powdered preparation for
transpulmonary administration, comprising: introducing air into a
vessel to apply to a freeze-dried composition an air impact having
an air speed of at least 1 m/sec and an air flow rate of at least
17 ml/sec using a device capable of applying said air impact to the
freeze-dried composition in the vessel, thereby making said
freeze-dried composition into fine particles having a mean particle
diameter (mass median aerodynamic diameter) of 10 microns or less
or a fine particle fraction of 10.1 or more; the freeze-dried
composition prepared by freeze-drying a composition liquid
containing ingredients in a non-dissolved form and having the
following properties: (i) a non-powder cake-like form, (ii) a
disintegration index of 0.05 or more, and (iii) becoming fine
particles having a mean particle diameter of 10 microns or less or
a fine particle fraction of 10% or more upon receipt of the air
impact.
4. The method of manufacturing a dry powdered preparation for
transpulmonary administration according to claim 3, wherein the
freeze-dried composition contains a high-molecular-weight drug as
an active ingredient.
5. The method of manufacturing a dry powdered preparation for
transpulmonary administration according to claim 3 comprising
pulverizing a freeze-dried composition into fine particles using a
dry powder inhaler described under item (A) or (B) as a device; (A)
a dry powder inhaler for transpulmonary administration, being a
device used for making a freeze-dried composition that has been
housed in non-powder form in a vessel into fine particles, and
administering the resulting fine particles to a user by inhalation,
comprising a needle part having an air jet flow path, a needle part
having a discharge flow path, air pressure-feeding member for
feeding air into the air jet flow path of said needle part, and an
inhalation port that communicates with the discharge flow path of
said needle part, and characterized by being constituted such that
a stopper that seals up said vessel is pierced by said needle
parts, thus communicating the air jet flow path and the discharge
flow path with the inside of said vessel, and air is jetted into
said vessel through said air jet flow path using said air
pressure-feeding member, thus pulverizing said freeze-dried
composition into fine particles by the impact of the jetted air,
and discharging the fine particles obtained from the inhalation
port via said discharge flow path, or (B) a dry powder inhaler for
transpulmonary administration, being a device used for making a
freeze-dried composition that has been housed in non-powder form in
a vessel into fine particles, and administering the resulting fine
particles to a user by inhalation, comprising a needle part having
a suction flow path, a needle part having an air introduction flow
path, and an inhalation port that communicates with said suction
flow path, and characterized by being constituted such that, in a
state in which a stopper sealing up said vessel has been pierced by
said needle parts, through the inhalation pressure of the user, air
in said vessel is inhaled from said inhalation port, and at the
same time outside air flows into said vessel, at a negative
pressure, through said air introduction flow path, and as a result
said freeze-dried composition is pulverized into fine particles by
the impact of the air flowing in, and the fine particles obtained
are discharged from the inhalation port through said suction flow
path.
6. A dry powder inhalation system for transpulmonary
administration, using a combination of: (1) a vessel housing a
freeze-dried composition prepared by freeze-drying a composition
liquid containing ingredients in a non-dissolved form, and has: (i)
a non-powder cake-like form, (ii) a disintegration index of 0.05 or
more, and (iii) a property of becoming fine particles having a mean
particle diameter (mass median aerodynamic diameter) of 10 microns
or less or a fine particle fraction of 10% or more upon receiving
an air impact having an air speed of at least 1 m/sec and an air
flow rate of at least 17 ml/sec; and (2) a device comprising a
member capable of applying said air impact to the freeze-dried
composition in said vessel, and a member for discharging the
powder-form freeze-dried composition that has been made into fine
particles.
7. The dry powder inhalation system for transpulmonary
administration according to claim 6, wherein the vessel and the
device are used in combination at the time of inhalation.
8. The dry powder inhalation system for transpulmonary
administration according to claim 6, wherein the freeze-dried
composition contains a high-molecular-weight drug as an active
ingredient.
9. The dry powder inhalation system for transpulmonary
administration according to claim 6, wherein the device is: A) a
dry powder inhaler for transpulmonary administration, being a
device used for making a freeze-dried composition that has been
housed in non-powder form in a vessel into fine particles, and
administering the resulting fine particles to a user by inhalation,
comprising a needle part having an air jet flow path, a needle part
having a discharge flow path, air pressure-feeding member for
feeding air into the air jet flow path of said needle part, and an
inhalation port that communicates with the discharge flow path of
said needle part, and characterized by being constituted such that
a stopper that seals up said vessel is pierced by said needle
parts, thus communicating the air jet flow path and the discharge
flow path with the inside of said vessel, and air is jetted into
said vessel through said air jet flow path using said air
pressure-feeding member, thus pulverizing said freeze-dried
composition into fine particles by the impact of the jetted air,
and discharging the fine particles obtained from the inhalation
port via said discharge flow path, or B) a dry powder inhaler for
transpulmonary administration, being a device used for making a
freeze-dried composition that has been housed in non-powder form in
a vessel into fine particles, and administering the resulting fine
particles to a user by inhalation, comprising a needle part having
a suction flow path, a needle part having an air introduction flow
path, and an inhalation port that communicates with said suction
flow path, and characterized by being constituted such that, in a
state in which a stopper sealing up said vessel has been pierced by
said needle parts, through the inhalation pressure of the user, air
in said vessel is inhaled from said inhalation port, and at the
same time outside air flows into said vessel, at a negative
pressure, through said air introduction flow path, and as a result
said freeze-dried composition is pulverized into fine particles by
the impact of the air flowing in, and the fine particles obtained
are discharged from the inhalation port through said suction flow
path.
10. A transpulmonary administration method comprising: making a
freeze-dried composition into fine particles having a mean particle
diameter of 10 microns or less or a fine particle fraction of 10%
or more by applying an air impact having an air speed of at least 1
m/sec and an air flow rate of at least 17 ml/sec to the
freeze-dried composition at the time of use, and administering the
resulting fine particle powder to a user by inhalation; the
freeze-dried composition being prepared by freeze-drying a
composition liquid containing ingredients in a non-dissolved form
and having the following properties: (i) a non-powder cake-like
form, (ii) a disintegration index of 0.05 or more, and (iii)
becoming fine particles having a mean particle diameter of 10
microns or less or a fine particle fraction of 10% or more upon
receipt of the air impact.
11. The transpulmonary administration method according to claim 10,
wherein the freeze-dried composition is housed in a vessel, and the
fine particle powder are prepared using a device comprising a
member capable of applying the air impact to the freeze-dried
composition in the vessel and a member for discharging the
resulting fine particle powder-form freeze-dried composition out of
the vessel.
12. The transpulmonary administration method according to claim 10,
wherein the freeze-dried composition contains a
high-molecular-weight drug as an active ingredient.
13. The transpulmonary administration method according to claim 11,
using a dry powder inhaler described under item (A) or (B) as the
device: (A) a dry powder inhaler for transpulmonary administration,
being a device used for making a freeze-dried composition that has
been housed in non-powder form in a vessel into fine particles, and
administering the resulting fine particles to a user by inhalation,
comprising a needle part having an air jet flow path, a needle part
having a discharge flow path, air pressure-feeding member for
feeding air into the air jet flow path of said needle part, and an
inhalation port that communicates with the discharge flow path of
said needle part, and characterized by being constituted such that
a stopper that seals up said vessel is pierced by said needle
parts, thus communicating the air jet flow path and the discharge
flow path with the inside of said vessel, and air is jetted into
said vessel through said air jet flow path using said air
pressure-feeding member, thus pulverizing said freeze-dried
composition into fine particles by the impact of the jetted air,
and discharging the fine particles obtained from the inhalation
port via said discharge flow path, or (B) a dry powder inhaler for
transpulmonary administration, being a device used for making a
freeze-dried composition that has been housed in non-powder form in
a vessel into fine particles, and administering the resulting fine
particles to a user by inhalation, comprising a needle part having
a suction flow path, a needle part having an air introduction flow
path, and an inhalation port that communicates with said suction
flow path, and characterized by being constituted such that, in a
state in which a stopper sealing up said vessel has been pierced by
said needle parts, through the inhalation pressure of the user, air
in said vessel is inhaled from said inhalation port, and at the
same time outside air flows into said vessel, at a negative
pressure, through said air introduction flow path, and as a result
said freeze-dried composition is pulverized into fine particles by
the impact of the air flowing in, and the fine particles obtained
are discharged from the inhalation port through said suction flow
path.
14. Use of a freeze-dried composition for transpulmonary
administration by inhalation, the freeze-dried composition prepared
by freeze-drying a composition liquid containing ingredients in a
non-dissolved form and having the following properties: (i) a
non-powder cake-like form, (ii) a disintegration index of 0.05 or
more, and (iii) becoming fine particles having a mean particle
diameter of 10 microns or less or a fine particle fraction of 10%
or more upon receipt of an air impact having an air speed of at
least 1 m/sec and an air flow rate of at least 17 ml/sec, and being
used by forming into fine particles having said mean particle
diameter or said fine particle fraction.
15. The use of a freeze-dried composition for transpulmonary
administration according to claim 14, wherein the freeze-dried
composition is housed in a vessel, and the fine particles are
prepared using a device comprising a member capable of applying the
air impact to the freeze-dried composition in the vessel and a
member for discharging the resulting fine particle powder-form
freeze-dried composition out of the vessel.
16. The use of a freeze-dried composition for transpulmonary
administration according to claim 14, wherein the freeze-dried
composition contains a high-molecular-weight drug as an active
ingredient.
17. Use of a freeze-dried composition for manufacture of a dry
powdered preparation for transpulmonary administration by
inhalation, the freeze-dried composition having the following
properties: (i) being prepared by freeze drying a composition
liquid containing ingredients in the non-dissolved form, (ii) a
non-powder cake-like form, (iii) a disintegration index of 0.05 or
more, and (iv) becoming fine particles having a mean particle
diameter of 10 microns or less or a fine particle fraction of 10%
or more upon receipt of an air impact having an air speed of at
least 1 m/sec and an air flow rate of at least 17 ml/sec, and being
used by forming into fine particles having said mean particle
diameter or said fine particle fraction at the time of use.
18. The use of a freeze-dried composition for manufacture of a dry
powdered preparation for transpulmonary administration by
inhalation according to claim 17, wherein the freeze-dried
composition contains a high-molecular-weight drug as an active
ingredient.
19. The use of a freeze-dried composition for manufacture of a dry
powdered preparation for transpulmonary administration according to
claim 17, wherein the freeze-dried composition is housed in a
vessel, and the fine particles are prepared by using a device
comprising a member for applying a prescribed air impact to the
freeze-dried composition housed in the vessel and a member for
discharging the resulting fine particle powder form freeze-dried
composition out of the vessel.
20. Use of a composition liquid containing ingredients in the
non-dissolved form for manufacture of a freeze-dried composition
having the following properties, which is used for manufacture of
dry powdered preparation for transpulmonary administration: (i) a
non-powder cake-like form, (ii) a disintegration index of 0.05 or
more, and (iii) becoming fine particles having a mean particle
diameter of 10 microns or less or a fine particle fraction of 10%
or more upon receipt of an air impact having an air speed of at
least 1 m/sec and an air flow rate of at least 17 ml/sec, and being
used by forming into fine particles having said mean particle
diameter or said fine particle fraction at the time of use.
21. The use of a composition liquid containing ingredients in the
non-dissolved form according to claim 20, wherein the freeze-dried
composition contains a high-molecular-weight drug as an active
ingredient
22. The use of a composition liquid containing ingredients in the
non-dissolved form according to claim 20, wherein the freeze-dried
composition is housed in a vessel, and the fine particles are
prepared by using a device comprising a member for applying a
prescribed air impact to the freeze-dried composition housed in the
vessel and a member for discharging the resulting fine particle
powder form freeze-dried composition out of the vessel.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a novel dry powder
inhalation system suitable for transpulmonary administration. More
specifically, the present invention relates to a dry powder
inhalation system for transpulmonary administration according to
which a freeze-dried composition provided housed in a vessel can be
prepared into a form suitable for transpulmonary administration by
being made into fine particles at the time of use, and administered
by inhalation as is.
[0002] Furthermore, the present invention encompasses the following
inventions related to the dry powder inhalation system for
transpulmonary administration. Specific examples of these
inventions include a freeze-dried composition which can be made
into fine particle powder suitable for transpulmonary
administration (dry powdered preparation for transpulmonary
administration) at the time of use, a method for producing the dry
powdered preparation for transpulmonary administration, a method
for transpulmonary administration by inhalation using the
freeze-dried composition and use of a freeze-dried composition for
preparing a dry powdered preparation for transpulmonary
administration at the time of use.
[0003] Hereinafter, in this specification, the term "fine
particles" includes substances having a fine structure regardless
of a form such as a powder (particle powder) form, a needle-like
form, a plate-like form and a fibrous form.
BACKGROUND ART
[0004] In general, with regard to transpulmonary administration, it
is known that the active ingredient contained in a medicine can be
delivered into the lungs efficiently by making the mean particle
diameter of the active ingredient be 10 microns or less, preferably
5 microns or less. The current situation with conventional
inhalations for transpulmonary administration is thus that, to make
the medicine have a particle diameter suitable for transpulmonary
administration in advance, fine particles are prepared by a spray
drying method, a jet milling method or the like, and possibly
further processing is carried out, and then the fine particles are
provided filled into a dry powder inhaler.
[0005] Specifically, previously employed preparations include three
types of dry powder inhalation, namely (1) a preparation comprising
a powder-form composition comprising only medicinal fine particles
filled into a suitable vessel, (2) a preparation comprising a
powder-form composition in which medicinal fine particles have been
granulated gently to form a relatively large particle diameter
filled into a suitable vessel, and (3) a preparation comprising a
powder-form composition comprising mixed particles in which
medicinal fine particles and vehicle particles (lactose etc.)
having a particle diameter larger than the medicinal fine particles
are mixed together uniformly filled into a suitable vessel (refer
to, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No.
1999-171760). Moreover, it is disclosed that if these powdered
inhalations are administered into the respiratory tract, then the
behavior shown is that with (1) the medicinal fine particles in the
composition reach the lower respiratory tract, for example the
trachea and the bronchi, and are deposited here, with (2) the
granulated medicine separates into fine particles in flight in the
respiratory tract, and the medicinal fine particles produced reach
the lower respiratory tract, for example the trachea and the
bronchi, and are deposited here, and with (3) the vehicle is
deposited in the oral cavity, on the pharynx or on the larynx, and
the medicinal fine particles only reach the lower respiratory
tract, for example the trachea and the bronchi, and are deposited
here.
[0006] In this way, with a conventional powdered inhalation for
transpulmonary administration, the ingredient to be inhaled is made
into desirable fine particles in advance, and then these fine
particles, or else these fine particles further processed by some
methods, are filled into a dry powder inhaler, and transpulmonary
administration is carried out using this.
[0007] To make a low-molecular-weight drug into fine particles, a
spray drying method (for example, disclosed in Japanese Unexamined
Patent Publication No. 1999-171760), a jet milling method (for
example, disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No.
2001-151673) or the like is usually used. The jet milling method
comprises applying an air impact having an air flow rate of at
least 1000 L/min and an air speed not less than the sonic speed to
a low-molecular-weight drug to make the drug into fine particles.
No method is known which makes the drug into fine particles by a
low air impact.
[0008] For a high-molecular-weight drug such as a peptide or
protein, on the other hand, for example a method in which a spray
solution of a medicinal stock liquid containing additives is
subjected to spray drying, thus making the stock liquid into fine
particles having a mean particle diameter of 5 microns or less in
one step, and then these fine particles are filled into a dry
powder inhaler (spray drying method: WO 95/31479), and a method in
which a peptide or protein is freeze-dried along with additives,
and then the freeze-dried composition is made into fine particles
by jet milling or the like, and these fine particles are filled
into a dry powder inhaler (freeze drying-jet milling method: WO
91/16038) are known.
[0009] However, conventional powdered inhalations for
transpulmonary administration prepared by the above-mentioned spray
drying method or freeze drying-jet milling method are not
necessarily ideal preparations for high-molecular-weight drugs such
as peptides and proteins in particular. For example, as shown by
the disclosure in WO 95/31479 that about 25% deactivation of
Interferon occurs during the spray drying process, it is
anticipated that if the spray drying method is used, then proteins
and the like will be deactivated in the manufacturing process and
the activity of the drug will thus decrease. No method is known
which makes a high-molecular-weight drug into fine particles by a
low air impact, the same as a low-molecular-weight drug.
[0010] Moreover, with both the spray drying method and the freeze
drying-jet milling method, an operation is required in which the
fine powder prepared is collected from the spray drying apparatus
or jet milling apparatus and is subdivided and filled into vessels.
It is thus inevitable that, accompanying this operation, problems
will arise such as the yield of the preparation decreasing due to
collection or filling loss and the cost rising correspondingly, and
the preparation being contaminated with impurities. Moreover, in
general it is difficult to subdivide and fill the powder in small
amounts with good accuracy. If the spray drying method or the
freeze drying-jet milling method, for which such subdividing and
filling of small amounts in powder form is essential, is used, then
it is thus necessary to establish a method of filling with small
amounts and good accurancy of powder. In actual fact, details of a
system, apparatus and method for filing with a fine powder are
disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,826,633.
DISCLOSURE OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[0011] It is an object of the present invention to solve the
various problems of the above-mentioned conventional powdered
inhalations for transpulmonary administration. Specifically, it is
an object of the present invention to provide a novel preparation
system and administration system that enables a freeze-dried
composition that has been housed in vessels to be made into fine
particles down to a particle diameter suitable for transpulmonary
administration in the vessel, and then be used for transpulmonary
administration by inhalation as is.
[0012] The present inventors carried out assiduous studies to
attain the above object, and as a result discovered that if a
pharmacologically active substance as active ingredients is filled
as a liquid into vessels and then freeze-dried, then the
non-powder-form freeze-dried composition thus prepared can
unexpectedly be made into fine particles by a relatively low air
impact while still housed in the vessel. Based on this knowledge,
the present inventors carried out further studies, and as a result
discovered that by using a freeze-dried composition, which has been
housed in a non-powder form in a vessel, combined with a device
comprising member for introducing air at a prescribed speed and
flow rate into the vessel so as to be capable of applying a
prescribed air impact to the composition, and member for
discharging from the vessel the powdered composition that has been
made into fine particles, then the freeze-dried preparation can be
prepared into a fine particle powder form suitable for
transpulmonary administration easily by a user at the time of use
(specifically, at the time of inhalation), and thus, transpulmonary
administration can be carried out by administering the fine
particle powder as is by inhalation. Moreover, the present
inventors discovered that a composition liquid containing
pharmacologically active substances to be filled as a liquid into
vessels can be prepared as a freeze-dried composition capable of
being made into fine particles suitable for transpulmonary
administration through a predetermined air impact, and further
discovered that this is not limited to the case where the
ingredients in particular to be the pharmacologically active
substance as an active ingredient are clearly dissolved or mixed in
a solvent, and moreover, the ingredients may be not dissolved or
only partially dissolved (which state is called as "the
non-dissolved form") in the solvent.
[0013] It was verified that, according to this transpulmonary
administration system, all of the previously mentioned problems of
conventional powdered inhalations for transpulmonary administration
can be solved.
[0014] That is, the above-mentioned transpulmonary administration
system of the present invention can be used for transpulmonary
administration without the problem of contamination, since it is
not necessary to subdivide and fill the powder form freeze-dried
composition which was made into fine particles in another device,
into vessels.
[0015] Moreover, according to the above-mentioned administration
system, active ingredients such as proteins or peptides are not
exposed to high temperature in the manufacturing process as is the
case with the spray drying method and the like, and hence there is
no problem of the pharmacological activity dropping due to exposure
to high temperature. This member that the administration system of
the present invention is an extremely useful system in particular
with pharmacologically active substances such as peptides and
proteins that are expensive drugs, since the manufacturing cost can
be reduced. More specifically, the administration system of the
present invention is economically useful. Moreover, according to
the dry powder inhalation system of the present invention, an
extremely high fine particle fraction (the amount of the drug
reaching the lungs: fine particle fraction, respirable fraction) is
obtained, and hence the drug can be delivered into the lungs
efficiently.
[0016] The dry powder inhalation system of the present invention is
characterized by using a freeze-dried composition in a non-powder
cake-like form prepared by subjecting active ingredients-containing
composition liquid in the non-dissolved form to freeze-dry as a
preparation for transpulmonary administration. The dry powder
inhalation system of the present invention in which the
freeze-dried composition in a cake-like form thus prepared is
applied to a dry powder inhaler is capable of achieving a
significantly higher fine particle fraction compared to the case
where a preparation made into fine particle powder having a size
suitable for transpulmonary administration using a method employed
for powder inhalants heretofore known, such as a jet milling method
or a spray drying method, is applied to a dry powder inhaler of the
present invention. For such reasons, the dry powder inhalation
system of the present invention can be ranked as a high-performance
transpulmonary administration system.
[0017] The present invention was developed based on this knowledge,
and includes the following items. [0018] Item 1. A freeze-dried
composition for transpulmonary administration prepared by
freeze-drying a composition liquid containing ingredients in a
non-dissolved form which has the following properties (i) to (iii):
[0019] (i) a non-powder cake-like form, [0020] (ii) a
disintegration index of 0.05 or more, and [0021] (iii) becoming
fine particles having a mean particle diameter (mass median
aerodynamic diameter) of 10 microns or less or a fine particle
fraction of 10% or more upon receipt of an air impact having an air
speed of at least 1 m/sec and an air flow rate of at least 17
ml/sec. [0022] Item 2. The freeze-dried composition according to
Item 1, wherein a high-molecular-weight drug is contained as an
active ingredient. [0023] Item 3. A method of manufacturing a dry
powdered preparation for transpulmonary administration,
comprising:
[0024] introducing air into a vessel to apply to a freeze-dried
composition an air impact having an air speed of at least 1 m/sec
and an air flow rate of at least 17 ml/sec using a device capable
of applying said air impact to the freeze-dried composition in the
vessel,
[0025] thereby making said freeze-dried composition into fine
particles having a mean particle diameter (mass median aerodynamic
diameter) of 10 microns or less or a fine particle fraction of 10%
or more;
[0026] the freeze-dried composition prepared by freeze-drying a
composition liquid containing ingredients in a non-dissolved form
and having the following properties: [0027] (i) a non-powder
cake-like form, [0028] (ii) a disintegration index of 0.05 or more,
and [0029] (iii) becoming fine particles having a mean particle
diameter of 10 microns or less or a fine particle fraction of 10%
or more upon receipt of the air impact. [0030] Item 4. The method
of manufacturing a dry powdered preparation for transpulmonary
administration according to Item 3, wherein the freeze-dried
composition contains a high-molecular-weight drug as an active
ingredient. [0031] Item 5. The method of manufacturing a dry
powdered preparation for transpulmonary administration according to
Item 3 comprising pulverizing a freeze-dried composition into fine
particles using a dry powder inhaler described under item (A) or
(B) as a device:
[0032] (A) a dry powder inhaler for transpulmonary administration,
being a device used for making a freeze-dried composition that has
been housed in non-powder form in a vessel into fine particles, and
administering the resulting fine particles to a user by
inhalation,
[0033] comprising a needle part having an air jet flow path, a
needle part having a discharge flow path, air pressure-feeding
member for feeding air into the air jet flow path of said needle
part, and an inhalation port that communicates with the discharge
flow path of said needle part,
[0034] and characterized by being constituted such that a stopper
that seals up said vessel is pierced by said needle parts, thus
communicating the air jet flow path and the discharge flow path
with the inside of said vessel, and air is jetted into said vessel
through said air jet flow path using said air pressure-feeding
member, thus pulverizing said freeze-dried composition into fine
particles by the impact of the jetted air, and discharging the fine
particles obtained from the inhalation port via said discharge flow
path, or
[0035] (B) a dry powder inhaler for transpulmonary administration,
being a device used for making a freeze-dried composition that has
been housed in non-powder form in a vessel into fine particles, and
administering the resulting fine particles to a user by
inhalation,
[0036] comprising a needle part having a suction flow path, a
needle part having an air introduction flow path, and an inhalation
port that communicates with said suction flow path,
[0037] and characterized by being constituted such that, in a state
in which a stopper sealing up said vessel has been pierced by said
needle parts, through the inhalation pressure of the user, air in
said vessel is inhaled from said inhalation port, and at the same
time outside air flows into said vessel, at a negative pressure,
through said air introduction flow path, and as a result said
freeze-dried composition is pulverized into fine particles by the
impact of the air flowing in, and the fine particles obtained are
discharged from the inhalation port through said suction flow path.
[0038] Item 6. A dry powder inhalation system for transpulmonary
administration, using a combination of:
[0039] (1) a vessel housing a freeze-dried composition prepared by
freeze-drying a composition liquid containing ingredients in a
non-dissolved form, and has: [0040] (i) a non-powder cake-like
form, [0041] (ii) a disintegration index of 0.05 or more, and
[0042] (iii) a property of becoming fine particles having a mean
particle diameter (mass median aerodynamic diameter) of 10 microns
or less or a fine particle fraction of 10% or more upon receiving
an air impact having an air speed of at least 1 m/sec and an air
flow rate of at least 17 ml/sec; and
[0043] (2) a device comprising a member capable of applying said
air impact to the freeze-dried composition in said vessel, and a
member for discharging the powder-form freeze-dried composition
that has been made into fine particles. [0044] Item 7. The dry
powder inhalation system for transpulmonary administration
according to Item 6, wherein the vessel and the device are used in
combination at the time of inhalation. [0045] Item 8. The dry
powder inhalation system for transpulmonary administration
according to Item 6, wherein the freeze-dried composition contains
a high-molecular-weight drug as an active ingredient. [0046] Item
9. The dry powder inhalation system for transpulmonary
administration according to Item 6, wherein the device is:
[0047] A) a dry powder inhaler for transpulmonary administration,
being a device used for making a freeze-dried composition that has
been housed in non-powder form in a vessel into fine particles, and
administering the resulting fine particles to a user by
inhalation,
[0048] comprising a needle part having an air jet flow path, a
needle part having a discharge flow path, air pressure-feeding
member for feeding air into the air jet flow path of said needle
part, and an inhalation port that communicates with the discharge
flow path of said needle part,
[0049] and characterized by being constituted such that a stopper
that seals up said vessel is pierced by said needle parts, thus
communicating the air jet flow path and the discharge flow path
with the inside of said vessel, and air is jetted into said vessel
through said air jet flow path using said air pressure-feeding
member, thus pulverizing said freeze-dried composition into fine
particles by the impact of the jetted air, and discharging the fine
particles obtained from the inhalation port via said discharge flow
path, or
[0050] B) a dry powder inhaler for transpulmonary administration,
being a device used for making a freeze-dried composition that has
been housed in non-powder form in a vessel into fine particles, and
administering the resulting fine particles to a user by
inhalation,
[0051] comprising a needle part having a suction flow path, a
needle part having an air introduction flow path, and an inhalation
port that communicates with said suction flow path,
[0052] and characterized by being constituted such that, in a state
in which a stopper sealing up said vessel has been pierced by said
needle parts, through the inhalation pressure of the user, air in
said vessel is inhaled from said inhalation port, and at the same
time outside air flows into said vessel, at a negative pressure,
through said air introduction flow path, and as a result said
freeze-dried composition is pulverized into fine particles by the
impact of the air flowing in, and the fine particles obtained are
discharged from the inhalation port through said suction flow path.
[0053] Item 10. A transpulmonary administration method
comprising:
[0054] making a freeze-dried composition into fine particles having
a mean particle diameter of 10 microns or less or a fine particle
fraction of 10% or more by applying an air impact having an air
speed of at least 1 m/sec and an air flow rate of at least 17
ml/sec to the freeze-dried composition at the time of use, and
[0055] administering the resulting fine particle powder to a user
by inhalation;
[0056] the freeze-dried composition being prepared by freeze-drying
a composition liquid containing ingredients in a non-dissolved form
and having the following properties: [0057] (i) a non-powder
cake-like form, [0058] (ii) a disintegration index of 0.05 or more,
and [0059] (iii) becoming fine particles having a mean particle
diameter of 10 microns or less or a fine particle fraction of 10%
or more upon receipt of the air impact. [0060] Item 11. The
transpulmonary administration method according to Item 10, wherein
the freeze-dried composition is housed in a vessel, and the fine
particle powder are prepared using a device comprising a member
capable of applying the air impact to the freeze-dried composition
in the vessel and a member for discharging the resulting fine
particle powder-form freeze-dried composition out of the vessel.
[0061] Item 12. The transpulmonary administration method according
to Item 10, wherein the freeze-dried composition contains a
high-molecular-weight drug as an active ingredient. [0062] Item 13.
The transpulmonary administration method according to Item 11,
using a dry powder inhaler described under item (A) or (B) as the
device:
[0063] (A) a dry powder inhaler for transpulmonary administration,
being a device used for making a freeze-dried composition that has
been housed in non-powder form in a vessel into fine particles, and
administering the resulting fine particles to a user by
inhalation,
[0064] comprising a needle part having an air jet flow path, a
needle part having a discharge flow path, air pressure-feeding
member for feeding air into the air jet flow path of said needle
part, and an inhalation port that communicates with the discharge
flow path of said needle part,
[0065] and characterized by being constituted such that a stopper
that seals up said vessel is pierced by said needle parts, thus
communicating the air jet flow path and the discharge flow path
with the inside of said vessel, and air is jetted into said vessel
through said air jet flow path using said air pressure-feeding
member, thus pulverizing said freeze-dried composition into fine
particles by the impact of the jetted air, and discharging the fine
particles obtained from the inhalation port via said discharge flow
path, or
[0066] (B) a dry powder inhaler for transpulmonary administration,
being a device used for making a freeze-dried composition that has
been housed in non-powder form in a vessel into fine particles, and
administering the resulting fine particles to a user by
inhalation,
[0067] comprising a needle part having a suction flow path, a
needle part having an air introduction flow path, and an inhalation
port that communicates with said suction flow path,
[0068] and characterized by being constituted such that, in a state
in which a stopper sealing up said vessel has been pierced by said
needle parts, through the inhalation pressure of the user, air in
said vessel is inhaled from said inhalation port, and at the same
time outside air flows into said vessel, at a negative pressure,
through said air introduction flow path, and as a result said
freeze-dried composition is pulverized into fine particles by the
impact of the air flowing in, and the fine particles obtained are
discharged from the inhalation port through said suction flow path.
[0069] Item 14. Use of a freeze-dried composition for
transpulmonary administration by inhalation,
[0070] the freeze-dried composition prepared by freeze-drying a
composition liquid containing ingredients in a non-dissolved form
and having the following properties: [0071] (i) a non-powder
cake-like form, [0072] (ii) a disintegration index of 0.05 or more,
and [0073] (iii) becoming fine particles having a mean particle
diameter of 10 microns or less or a fine particle fraction of 10%
or more upon receipt of an air impact having an air speed of at
least 1 m/sec and an air flow rate of at least 17 ml/sec, and being
used by forming into fine particles having said mean particle
diameter or said fine particle fraction. [0074] Item 15. The use of
a freeze-dried composition for transpulmonary administration
according to Item 14, wherein the freeze-dried composition is
housed in a vessel, and the fine particles are prepared using a
device comprising a member capable of applying the air impact to
the freeze-dried composition in the vessel and a member for
discharging the resulting fine particle powder-form freeze-dried
composition out of the vessel. [0075] Item 16. The use of a
freeze-dried composition for transpulmonary administration
according to Item 14, wherein the freeze-dried composition contains
a high-molecular-weight drug as an active ingredient.
[0076] Item 17. Use of a freeze-dried composition for manufacture
of a dry powdered preparation for transpulmonary administration by
inhalation,
[0077] the freeze-dried composition having the following
properties: [0078] (i) being prepared by freeze drying a
composition liquid containing ingredients in the non-dissolved
form, [0079] (ii) a non-powder cake-like form, [0080] (iii) a
disintegration index of 0.05 or more, and [0081] (iv) becoming fine
particles having a mean particle diameter of 10 microns or less or
a fine particle fraction of 10% or more upon receipt of an air
impact having an air speed of at least 1 m/sec and an air flow rate
of at least 17 ml/sec,
[0082] and being used by forming into fine particles having said
mean particle diameter or said fine particle fraction at the time
of use. [0083] Item 18. The use of a freeze-dried composition for
manufacture of a dry powdered preparation for transpulmonary
administration by inhalation according to Item 17, wherein the
freeze-dried composition contains a high-molecular-weight drug as
an active ingredient. [0084] Item 19. The use of a freeze-dried
composition for manufacture of a dry powdered preparation for
transpulmonary administration according to Item 17, wherein the
freeze-dried composition is housed in a vessel, and the fine
particles are prepared by using a device comprising a member for
applying a prescribed air impact to the freeze-dried composition
housed in the vessel and a member for discharging the resulting
fine particle powder form freeze-dried composition out of the
vessel. [0085] Item 20. Use of a composition liquid containing
ingredients in the non-dissolved form for manufacture of a
freeze-dried composition having the following properties, which is
used for manufacture of dry powdered preparation for transpulmonary
administration: [0086] (i) a non-powder cake-like form, [0087] (ii)
a disintegration index of 0.05 or more, and [0088] (iii) becoming
fine particles having a mean particle diameter of 10 microns or
less or a fine particle fraction of 10% or more upon receipt of an
air impact having an air speed of at least 1 m/sec and an air flow
rate of at least 17 ml/sec, and being used by forming into fine
particles having said mean particle diameter or said fine particle
fraction at the time of use. [0089] Item 21. The use of a
composition liquid containing ingredients in the non-dissolved form
according to Item 20, wherein the freeze-dried composition contains
a high-molecular-weight drug as an active ingredient [0090] Item
22. The use of a composition liquid containing ingredients in the
non-dissolved form according to Item 20, wherein the freeze-dried
composition is housed in a vessel, and the fine particles are
prepared by using a device comprising a member for applying a
prescribed air impact to the freeze-dried composition housed in the
vessel and a member for discharging the resulting fine particle
powder form freeze-dried composition out of the vessel.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0091] FIG. 1 is a cross section showing a dry powder inhaler (jet
type 1) of the present invention disclosed as Embodiment 1. Note
that, in the drawing, the arrows indicate the flow of external air
(likewise in FIGS. 2 and 3 below).
[0092] Moreover, the meanings of the various reference numerals are
as follows: 1. vessel, 1a. stopper, 2. freeze-dried composition, 3.
air jet flow path, 4. discharge flow path, 5. needle part, 6.
inhalation port, 7. air intake member, 8. tubular safety cover, 9.
air pressure-feeding member, 10. bellows body, 11. intake valve,
12. intake port, 13. discharge valve, 14. discharge port, 15.
connecting port (likewise in FIGS. 2 to 11 below).
[0093] FIG. 2 is a cross section showing a dry powder inhaler
(self-inhaling type 1) of the present invention disclosed as
Embodiment 2. Moreover, the meanings of the various reference
numerals are as follows: 16. suction flow path, 17. air
introduction flow path, 18. inhalation port, 19. air intake member
(likewise in FIG. 3 below).
[0094] FIG. 3 is a cross section showing a dry powder inhaler
(self-inhaling type 2) of the present invention disclosed as
Embodiment 3.
[0095] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a dry powder inhaler
(self inhaling type 3) of the present invention disclosed as
Embodiment 4. Moreover, the meanings of the reference numerals
areas follows: 21. housing, 22. holder part, 27. lid, 28. window,
32. mouthpiece, 32a. mouthpiece cap, 39. connector (likewise in
FIGS. 5 to 13 below).
[0096] FIG. 5 is across section of the above-mentioned dry powder
inhaler (self-inhaling type 3). Moreover, the meanings of the
reference numerals are as follows: 20. housing chamber, 21A. hinge,
23. guide part, 24. holder operating part, 26. housing main body,
29. introduction port, 30. check valve, 31. suction port, 33.
partition part, 35. remover, 36. lever, 37. mechanism part, 39.
connector, 40. hinge, 41. hinge (likewise in FIGS. 6 to 13
below).
[0097] FIG. 6(a) is a cross section of part of the above-mentioned
dry powder inhaler (self-inhaling type 3). FIG. 6 (b) is a side
view of the needle part of this dry powder inhaler. Moreover, the
meanings of the reference numerals are as follows: 16a. tip opening
of suction flow path 16, 17a. tip opening of air introduction flow
path 17, 34. peripheral wall part, 42. second introduction path,
42a. introduction groove in partition part 33, 42b. introduction
groove in peripheral wall part 34, 43. gap, 44. one end of second
introduction path 42, 45. other end of second introduction path 42,
46. vent hole, 47. wall (likewise in FIGS. 7 to 13 below).
[0098] FIGS. 7 to 10 are sectional view for explaining the
operation of the above-mentioned dry powder inhaler (self-inhaling
type 3). Reference numeral 25 indicates a removal/insertion
port.
[0099] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a dry powder inhaler
(self-inhaling type 4), which is another embodiment of the present
invention. Reference numeral 48 indicates an operator.
[0100] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a dry powder inhaler
(self-inhaling type 5) of another embodiment of the present
invention. Reference numeral 49 indicates an operator.
[0101] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a dry powder inhaler
(self-inhaling type 5) of another embodiment of the present
invention. Reference numeral 49 indicates an operator.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
(1) Freeze-dried Composition
[0102] The freeze-dried composition of the present invention is a
composition that is prepared in a non-powder dry form by filling
composition liquid containing ingredients in the non-dissolved form
into a vessel and then freeze-drying the same as is. The
freeze-dried composition is prepared by freeze-drying composition
liquid in the non-dissolved form containing preferably a single or
a plurality of effective doses of active ingredients, and in
particular, preferably a single dose of effective dose of active
ingredients.
[0103] The freeze-dried composition of the present invention is
prepared by selecting a composition (types and amounts of active
ingredient and carrier used together with the active ingredient) of
the composition liquid such that the disintegration index of the
freeze-dried composition prepared is 0.05 or more, and thus the
freeze-dried composition can be made into fine particles down to a
particle diameter suitable for transpulmonary administration in an
instant by receiving an impact of external air (air impact, jet
pressure) introduced into (flowing into) the vessel.
[0104] Note that the disintegration index in the present invention
is a value characteristic of the freeze-dried composition that can
be obtained by measuring following the undermentioned method.
<Disintegration Index>
[0105] 0.2 to 0.5 ml of a mixture containing target components that
will constitute the freeze-dried composition is filled into a
vessel having a trunk diameter of 18 mm or 23 mm, and freeze-drying
is carried out. Next, 1.0 ml of n-hexane is instilled gently down
the wall of the vessel onto the non-powder-form freeze-dried
composition obtained. Agitation is carried out for about 10 seconds
at 3000 rpm, and then the mixture is put into a UV cell of optical
path length 1 mm and optical path width 10 mm, and the turbidity is
measured immediately at a measurement wavelength of 500 nm using a
spectrophotometer. The turbidity obtained is divided by the total
amount (weight) of the components constituting the freeze-dried
composition, and the value obtained is defined as the
disintegration index.
[0106] Here, an example of the lower limit of the disintegration
index of the freeze-dried composition of the present invention can
be given as the above-mentioned 0.05, preferably 0.08, more
preferably 0.09, yet more preferably 0.1, still more preferably
0.11, still further preferably 0.12, and in particular 0.13 is
preferable.
[0107] Moreover, there is no particular limitation on the upper
limit of the disintegration index of the freeze-dried composition
of the present invention, but an example can be given as 1.5,
preferably 1, more preferably 0.9, yet more preferably 0.8, and
still more preferably 0.7. In particular, 0.6 is preferable, and
0.5 is more preferable. The freeze-dried composition of the present
invention preferably has a disintegration index in a range
constituted from a lower limit and an upper limit selected as
appropriate from the above, with the proviso that the
disintegration index is at least 0.05. Specific examples of the
range of the disintegration index are 0.05 to 1.5, 0.08 to 1.5,
0.09 to 1.0, 0.1 to 0.9, 0.10 to 0.8, 0.1 to 0.7, 0.1 to 0.6 and
0.1 to 0.5.
[0108] Moreover, it is preferable to prepare the freeze-dried
composition of the present invention in a non-powder cake-like form
by freeze-drying. In the present Invention, `non-powder-form
freeze-dried composition` member a dry solid obtained by
freeze-drying a composition liquid containing active ingredients,
and is generally called a `freeze-dried cake`. However, even if
cracks appear in the cake, the cake breaks into a plurality of
large lumps, or part of the cake breaks into a powder during the
freeze-drying process or during subsequent handling, this cake is
still included as a non-powder-form freeze-dried composition that
is the subject of the present invention, more specifically, as a
freeze-dried composition having a non-powder cake like form,
provided the effects of the present invention are not impaired.
[0109] As described above, the freeze-dried composition of the
present invention is prepared by freeze-drying a composition liquid
containing ingredients in the non-dissolved form and has a
disintegration index of 0.05 or more and a non-powder cake-like
form and becomes fine particles having a mean particle diameter of
10 microns or less or a fine particle fraction of 10% or more upon
receipt of an air impact having an air speed of at least 1 m/sec
and an air flow rate of at least 17 ml/sec, on the basis of
properties peculiar to the freeze-dried composition represented by
the disintegration index.
[0110] A preferable freeze-dried composition is such that, upon
receiving the above air impact, the mean particle diameter becomes
10 microns or less and preferably 5 microns or less or a fine
particle fraction of 10% or more, preferably 20% or more, more
preferably 25% or more, still more preferably 30% or more, and
especially more preferably 35% or more.
[0111] As described above, the air impact applied to a freeze-dried
composition Is not limited, as long as it is generated by air
having an air speed of at least 1 m/sec and an air flow rate of at
least 17 ml/sec. Specific examples of an air impact include an
impact generated by an air having a speed of 1 m/sec or more,
preferably 2 m/sec or more, more preferably 5 m/sec or more and a
still more preferably 10 m/sec or more, Here, there is no
limitation on the upper limit of the air speed, but it is generally
300 m/sec, preferably 250 m/sec, more preferably 200 m/sec and yet
more preferably 150 m/sec. The air speed is not limited as long as
it is arbitrary selected from the range extending from a lower
limit to an upper limit; however, the ranges of 1 to 300 m/sec, 1
to 250 m/sec, 2 to 250 m/sec, 5 to 250 m/sec, 5 to 200 m/sec, 10 to
200 m/sec or 10 to 150 m/sec can be given as examples.
[0112] Examples of the air impact include those generated by air
having an air flow rate of generally 17 ml/sec or more, preferably
20 ml/sec or more and more preferably 25 ml/sec or more. There is
no limitation on the upper limit of the air flow rate; however, the
air flow rate is generally 900 L/min, preferably 15 L/sec, more
preferably 5 L/sec and yet more preferably 4 L/sec. Especially, 3
L/sec is very preferable. More specifically, the air flow rate is
not limited as long as it is selected from the range extending from
a lower limit to an upper limit; however, examples of such a range
include 17 ml/sec to 15 L/sec, 20 ml/sec to 10 L/sec, 20 ml/sec to
5 L/sec, 20 ml/sec to 4 L/sec, 20 ml/sec to 3 L/sec and 25 ml/sec
to 3 L/sec.
[0113] In principle, there is no particular limitation on the
active ingredients used in the present invention, provided it is a
substance having some pharmacological activities (pharmacologically
active substance: hereinafter, simply referred to as a drug) that
can be used as ingredients for a powdered inhalation for
transpulmonary administration; nevertheless, low-molecular-weight
drugs and high-molecular-weight drugs can be given as specific
examples. Such high-molecular weight drugs include physiologically
active substances such as proteins (including peptides or
polypeptides), for example, enzymes, hormones, antibodies, etc.,
nucleic acids (including genes and cDNA), RNA, and the like.
[0114] Moreover, regarding the disease targeted by the drug, both
whole body treatment and local treatment can be envisaged,
depending on the case.
[0115] Examples of low-molecular-weight drugs include, for example,
hydrocortisone, prednisolone, triamcinolone, dexamethasone,
betamethasone, beclometasone, fluticasone, mometasone, budesonide,
salbutamol, salmeterol, procaterol, buprenorphine hydrochloride,
apomorphine, taxol, and antibiotics such as tobramycin.
[0116] Examples of high-molecular-weight drugs (physiologically
active substances such as proteins and nucleic acids) include, for
example, interferons (.alpha., .beta., .gamma.), interleukins (for
example, interleukin-1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14,
15, 16, 17, 18, etc.), anti-interleukin-1.alpha. antibody,
interleukin-1 receptor, interleukin receptor antagonist,
interleukin-4 receptor, anti-interleukin-2 antibody,
anti-interleukin-6 receptor antibody, interleukin-4 antagonist,
interleukin-6 antagonist, anti-interleukin-8 antibody, chemokine
receptor antagonist, anti-interleukin-7 receptor,
anti-interleukin-7 antibody, anti-interleukin-5 antibody,
interleukin-5 receptor, anti-interleukin-9antibody, interleukin-9
receptor, anti-interleukin-10 antibody, interleukin-10 receptor,
anti-interleukin-14 antibody, interleukin-14 receptor,
anti-interleukin-15 antibody, interleukin-15 receptor,
interleukin-18 receptor, anti-interleukin-18 antibody,
erithropoietin (EPO), erithropoletin derivatives, granulocyte
colony stimulating factor (G-CSF), granulocyte macrophage colony
stimulating factor (GM-CSF), macrophage colony stimulating factor
(M-CSF), calcitonin, insulin, insulin derivatives (LisPro,
NovoRapid, HOE901, NN-304, etc.), insulintropin, insulin-like
growth factor, glucagon, somatostatin and analogs thereof,
vasopressin and analogs thereof, amylin, human growth hormone,
lutenizing hormone releasing hormone, follicle stimulating hormone,
growth hormone releasing factor, parathyroid hormone, endothelial
cell growth factor, platelet derived growth factor, keratinocyte
growth factor, epidermal growth factor, fibroblast growth factor,
brain-derived neurotrophic factor, ciliary neurotrophic factor,
tumor necrosis factor (TNF), TNF receptor, TNF inhibitor,
transforming growth factor (TGF), hepatocyte growth factor (HGF),
nerve growth factor (NGF), blood stem cell growth factor, platelet
growth simulator, naturiuretic peptide, blood coagulation factor,
blood hepatocyte growth factor (S-CSF), FLT3 ligand, anti-platelet
aggregation inhibiting monoclonal antibody, tissue plasminogen
activator and derivatives thereof, superoxide dismutase, antisense
drugs, immunosuppression agents (for example, cyclosporin,
tacrolimus hydrate, etc.), cancer repressor gene p53, cystic
fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene, RNA
interferance (RNAi), Bridged Nucleic Acid (BNA), .alpha.-1
antitrypsin, thrombopoietin (TPO), metastatin, deoxyribonuclease
(Dnase), prolactin, oxytocin, thyrotopin releasing hormone (TRH),
bactericidal permeability increasing (BPI) protein, and vaccine
preparations, for example influenza vaccines, AIDS vaccines,
rotavirus vaccines, malaria vaccines and tuberculosis vaccines such
as Mtb72f.
[0117] One of these active ingredients can be used alone, or two or
more can be used in combination. Note that the various peptides
above encompass natural polypeptides, gene recombinant
polypeptides, chemically synthesized polypeptides and so on.
[0118] These active ingredients can be used in free form or in salt
form, alternatively, they can be used in a form such that they are
bound by various types of hosts. Such hosts are not particularly
limited insofar as active ingredients (for example,
high-molecular-weight drugs such as proteins and nucleic acids,
etc., low-molecular weight drugs) can be bound by various forms of
adhesion/presence (adsorption, absorption, clathration, ionic
interactions, etc.). Specific examples of hosts include
lipid-membrane structures, microcapsules, cyclodextrins,
dendrimers, microsperes, nanocapsules, nanosperes, etc.
Lipid-membrane structures include liposomes such as single membrane
liposomes, multilayer lipospmes, etc.; emulsions such as the
O/W-type or W/O/W-type etc., spherical micelles, corded micelles,
layer structural substance, etc.
[0119] In general, dendrimers are molecules with a
three-dimensional form such that molecule chains regularly branch
outwardly from a core regularly based on a predetermined rule.
Dendrimers generally have a spherical structure with voids for
encapsulting drugs therein, and thus can serve as nanocapsules. The
following methods are known for encapsulting drugs in dendrimers:
(1) utilizing interactions between the dendrimer interior and drugs
(hydrophobic interactions, electrostatic interactions, etc.) or (2)
forming a dense shell structure at the dendrimer surface to
physically entrap drugs (Kenji Kawano: Drug Delivery System, 17-6,
462-470(2002)). SuperFect employed in Examples is composed of
activated dendrimer molecules of a predetermined form (Tang. M. X,
Redemann, C. T. and Szoka, Jr. F. C: In vitro gene delivery by
degraded polyamidoamine dendrimers. Bioconjugate Chem. 7,
703(1996)). These molecules have a structure branching from the
center, and have positively charged amines at the branch terminals
so as to interact with the (negatively charged) phosphoric acid
groups of nucleic acids. SuperFect is endowed with the property of
compacting DNA or RNA so that DNA or RNA can be readily introduced
into cells.
[0120] Preferably, hosts include liposomes, dendrimers, retrovirus
vectors, adenovirus vectors, adeno-associated virus vectors,
lentivirus, herpes simplex virus vector, HVJ (Sendai
Virus)-liposome (for example, HVJ Envelope VECTOR KIT) etc.
[0121] Hosts such as lipid-membrane structures or dendrimers, etc.
have been widely used for introducing foreign genes into cells.
Liposomes for gene transfer and dendrimers for gene transfer can
also be used in the present invention in the same manner, and are
available commercially.
[0122] Particle diameter (geometric mean particle diameter: Dynamic
light scattering or Laser diffraction/scattering) of the hosts is
not particularly limited insofar as it is 10 .mu.m or less, and 5
.mu.m or less is preferred. In general, liposomes or emulsions,
have for example, a particle diameter (geometric mean particle
diameter: Dynamic light scattering or Laser diffraction/scattering)
of 50 nm to a few micrometers, and spherical micelles have a
particle diameter of 5 to 50 nm.
[0123] For measuring the geometric mean particle diameter, in
general, dynamic light scattering is used for distribution of
particles with the size range of several tens of nanometers and
laser diffraction/scattering is used for ten or more microns. For
distribution of particles with the size in the range of hundreds of
nanometers to several microns, either method may be used.
[0124] The manner of binding active ingredients (for example,
nucleic acids such as genes, etc.) into the hosts is not
particularly limited. For example, when a lipid membrane structure
is used, active ingredients are adhered to/present in the membrane,
the membrane surface, the membrane interior, the lipid layer inside
or the lipid layer surface of the membrane structure.
[0125] Examples of methods for obtaining the bound forms include
the method of adding aqueous solvent to a dried mixture of the host
such as a lipid membrane structure, etc., and the active
ingredients (genes, etc.), and then emulsifying them with an
emulsifier such as a homogenizer or the like; the method of
dissolving a host such as a membrane structure with an organic
solvent, and evaporating the solvent to obtain a dried substance,
and further adding aqueous solvent including genes to the dried
substance obtained and emulsifying the mixture; the method of
adding aqueous solvent including active ingredients (genes, etc.)
to hosts such as membrane structure substances dispersed in the
aqueous solvent; and a method for adding aqueous solvent including
active ingredients (genes, etc.) to a dried substance obtained by
dispersing hosts such as a membrane structural substance into
aqueous solvent and then drying them (Japanese Unexamined Published
Patent No. 2001-02592).
[0126] The size (particle diameter) can be controlled by a method
for carrying out extrusion (extrusion-filtration) under high
pressure with a membrane filter having the uniform pore diameter,
or by a method using an Extruder (Japanese Unexamined Patent
Publication No. 1994-238142).
[0127] The freeze-dried composition of the present invention is
prepared by freeze-drying a composition liquid containing
ingredients (including the above-mentioned active ingredients) in
the non-dissolved form. In this specification, `the non-dissolved
form` indicates a state where ingredients are neither clearly
dissolved nor mixed in a solvent constituting a composition liquid.
Such `non-dissolved form` includes a state where solids in the
solvent can be detected by various methods. More specifically, as
an example, the case can be mentioned where solids having the
geometric mean particle diameter (Dynamic light scattering or Laser
diffraction/scattering) of 0.01 .mu.m or more, preferably 0.05
.mu.m or more, more preferably 0.1 .mu.m or more, still more
preferably 0.2 .mu.m or more, still further preferably 0.5 .mu.m or
more can be detected. According to the object of the present
invention, the geometric mean particle diameter (Dynamic light
scattering or Laser diffraction/scattering) of these solids are
determined so that the upper limit thereof is 20 .mu.m or less,
preferably 15 .mu.m or less, more preferably 10 .mu.m or less. More
specifically, the `non-dissolved form` of the present invention
includes a state where solids having the geometric mean particle
diameter (Dynamic light scattering or Laser diffraction/scattering)
having 0.01 to 20 .mu.m, 0.05 to 15 .mu.m, 0.1 to 15 .mu.m, 0.2 to
15 .mu.m, 0.5 to 15 .mu.m, 0.05 to 10 .mu.m, 0.1 to 10 .mu.m, or
0.2 to 10 .mu.n are present in the solvent and can be detected by
various methods. The `non-dissolved form` includes the following
examples: a state where ingredients are not completely dissolved
into the solvent, and are supersaturated; and a state where
ingredients are not dissolved in the solvent, and more
specifically, active ingredients which are not dissolved or are
hard to dissolve into the solvent are suspended or mudded in the
solvent. The non-dissolved form can be typically evaluated by
measuring the turbidity of the sample, but can also be evaluated by
methods for measuring the particle size distribution of the
non-dissolved substances in the solvent with an apparatus for
particle size distribution measurement.
[0128] In the specification, ingredients in the non-dissolved form
specifies not only the case where the active ingredients or the
carrier, which will be described later, themselves are not
dissolved in the solvent, but also the case where the active
ingredients are dissolved in the solvent and bound by a host such
as the above-mentioned liposomes, microcapsules, cyclodextrins,
dendrimers, etc., while the host such as liposome, etc., is not
dissolved in the solvent. The type of ingredients is not
particularly limited insofar as the ingredients are in the
dissolved form, and may be active ingredients, hosts which are
mixed in the composition liquid with active ingredients or another
ingredient (which will be described later).
[0129] The solvent constituting the composition liquid with the
ingredients are not particularly limited, and can include isotonic
solutions such as water, physical saline, etc., culture medium,
buffer solutions, etc. Organic solvents may be contained in the
solvent provided that the end product (freeze-dried composition for
transpulmonary administration) adversely affects human body. Such
organic solvents include methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, acetone,
ethylene glycol, and the like.
[0130] The freeze-dried composition of the present invention may
comprise the active ingredient alone or the active ingredient and
the host, as long as the end products satisfy the above-mentioned
disintegration index, or a suitable carrier may be admixed. In the
case of using a carrier in addition to the active ingredient, there
are no particular limitations on the type and amount of carrier
used, so long as the final freeze-dried composition containing the
carrier with active ingredients which is prepared by freeze-drying
the composition liquid in the non-dissolved form satisfies the
following properties (i) to (iii);
[0131] (i) has a non-powder cake-like form,
[0132] (ii) has a disintegration index of 0.05 or more, and
[0133] (iii) becomes fine particles having a mean particle diameter
of 10 microns or less or a fine particle fraction of 10% or more
upon receipt of an air impact having an air speed of at least 1
m/sec and an air flow rate of at least 17 ml/sec and the effects of
the present invention (making into a fine particle) are attained.
Those carriers commonly used for freeze-drying may be used
arbitrarily and at desired amounts.
[0134] Specific examples of the carrier include hydrophobic amino
acids such as valine, leucine, isoleucine and phenylalanine, and
salts and amides thereof; hydrophilic amino acids such as glycine,
proline, alanine, arginine and glutamic acid, and salts and amides
thereof; derivatives of amino acids; and dipeptides, tripeptides or
the like having two or more of the same one or different ones of
the above-mentioned amino acids, and salts and amides thereof. One
of these can be used alone, or two or more can be used in
combination. Here, examples of salts of the amino acid or peptide
include salts with an alkali metal such as sodium or potassium or
an alkaline earth metal such as calcium, and addition salts with an
inorganic acid such as phosphoric acid or hydrochloric acid or an
organic acid such as sulfonic acid, while examples of amides
include L-leucine amide hydrochloride. Moreover, an amino acid
other than an .alpha.-amino acid can be used in as a carrier.
Examples of such an amino acid include .beta.-alanine,
.gamma.-aminobutyric acid, homoserine and taurine.
[0135] Other examples of carriers include monosaccharides such as
glucose; disaccharides such as saccharose, maltose, lactose and
trehalose; sugar alcohols such as mannitol; oligosaccharides such
as cyclodextrin; polysaccharides such as dextran 40 and pullulan;
polyhydric alcohols such as polyethylene glycol; and fatty acid
sodium salts such as sodium caprate. One of these carriers may be
used alone, or two or more may be used in combination.
[0136] Of the above carriers, specific examples of carriers that
are preferable for delivering the active ingredient efficiently
into the lungs include hydrophobic amino acids such as isoleucine,
valine, leucine and phenylalanine, and salts and amides thereof;
hydrophobic dipeptides such as leucyl-valine, leucyl-phenylalanine
and phenylalanyl-isoleucine; and hydrophobic tripeptides such as
leucyl-leucyl-leucine and leucyl-leucyl-valine. Again, one of these
may be used alone, or two or more may be used in combination.
[0137] In the case of interferon .gamma., it is preferable to use
basic amino acids, and salts and amides thereof, basic dipeptides
and basic tripeptides in combination of hydrophobic amino acids,
and salts and amides thereof, hydrophobic dipeptides, and
hydrophobic tripeptides in view of making into fine particles and
preparation stability. The basic amino acids include arginine,
lysine, histidine and salts thereof. The combination of
phenylalanine and arginine hydrochloride or the combination of
phenylalanine, leucine and arginine hydrochloride is
preferable.
[0138] There are no particular limitations on the proportion of the
active ingredients (drug(s)) mixed into the freeze-dried
composition; nevertheless, examples of the content are 20 mg or
less, preferably 10 mg or less, more preferably 5 mg or less, yet
more preferably 2 mg or less, particularly preferably 1 mg or
less.
[0139] Moreover, there are no particular limitations on the mixing
proportion of the carrier(s), provided the final freeze-dried
composition satisfies the above-mentioned properties (i) to (iii);
nevertheless, as a guideline, per 100 wt % of the freeze-dried
composition, the range is generally from 0.1 to less than 100 wt %,
preferably from 1 to less than 100 wt %, more preferably from 10 to
less than 100 wt %, particularly preferably from 20 to less than
100 wt %.
[0140] Note that, in addition to the above-mentioned components,
the freeze-dried composition that is the subject of the present
invention may have mixed therein various additives, for example for
stabilizing the active ingredient(s) in solution before drying, for
stabilizing the active ingredient(s) after drying, or for
preventing the active ingredient(s) from sticking to the vessel,
provided that the above-mentioned properties (i) to (iii) is
satisfied and the effects of the present invention are not
impaired. For example, the freeze-dried composition may contain
human serum albumin, inorganic salts, surfactants, buffering agents
and so on. A wide range of surfactants can be used, regardless of
whether they are anionic surfactants, cationic surfactants or
nonionic surfactants, provided that they are surfactants that are
generally used in medicines. Preferable examples are nonionic
surfactants such as polyoxyethylene sorbitan fatty acid esters (for
example Tween type surfactants) and sorbitan trioleate.
[0141] The method of freeze-drying a composition liquid which
contains such active ingredients and other ingredients is not
particularly limited, and a freeze-drying method commonly used in
preparing a usual freeze-dried preparation (freeze-dried
composition), such as an injection which is dissolved at the time
of usage can be employed. There is no limitation, and a quick
freeze-drying method, if required, may be carried out by
appropriately varying freeze-drying conditions.
[0142] The freeze-dried composition of the present invention can be
pulverized into fine particles suitable for transpulmonary
administration by applying an air impact of a predetermined value.
Thus, the freeze-dried composition of the present invention can be
served as a so-called pre-preparation for a powder preparation for
transpulmonary administration, which is suitable for providing a
powder preparation for transpulmonary administration (a
freeze-dried composition for providing a powder preparation for
transpulmonary administration).
[0143] The freeze-dried composition for use in the present
invention encompasses the specific embodiments defined in the
following items:
[0144] 101. A freeze-dried composition for transpulmonary
administration having the following properties (i) to (iii):
[0145] (i) has a non-powder cake-like form,
[0146] (ii) has a disintegration index of 0.05 or more, and
[0147] (ii) becomes fine particles having a mean particle diameter
of 10 microns or less or a fine particle fraction of 10% or more
upon receipt of an air impact having an air speed of at least 1
m/sec and an air flow rate of at least 17 ml/sec.
[0148] 102. The freeze-dried composition according to item 101,
wherein the disintegration index is 0.05 to 1.5.
[0149] 103. The freeze-dried composition according to item 101
becoming fine particles having a mean particle diameter of 10
microns or less or a fine particle fraction of 10% or more upon
receipt of an air impact having an air speed of at least 2 m/sec
and an air flow rate of at least 17 ml/sec.
[0150] 104. The freeze-dried composition according to item 101
becoming fine particles having a mean particle diameter of 10
microns or less or a fine particle fraction of 10% or more upon
receiving an air impact having an air speed in a range of 1 to 300
m/sec and an air flow rate of at least 17 ml/sec.
[0151] 105. The freeze-dried composition according to item 101,
becoming fine particles having a mean particle diameter of 10
microns or less or a fine particle fraction of 10% or more upon
receipt of an air impact having an air speed of at least 1 m/sec
and an air flow rate of at least 20 ml/sec.
[0152] 106. The freeze-dried composition according to item 101,
becoming fine particles having a mean particle diameter of 10
microns or less or a fine particle fraction of 10% or more upon
receiving an air impact having an air speed of at least 1 m/sec and
an air flow rate in a range of 17 ml/sec to 15 L/sec.
[0153] 107. The freeze-dried composition according to item 101,
becoming fine particles having a mean particle diameter of 5
microns or less or a fine particle fraction of 20% or more upon
receiving an air impact.
[0154] 108. The freeze-dried composition according to item 101,
containing a low-molecular-weight drug as an active ingredient.
[0155] 109. The freeze-dried composition according to item 101,
containing a high-molecular-weight drug such as a protein, a
peptide or the like as an active ingredient.
[0156] 110. The freeze-dried composition according to item 109,
containing a nucleic acid as an active ingredient with held in a
holder.
[0157] 111. The freeze-dried composition according to item 108,
containing a low-molecular-weight drug as the active ingredient,
and at least one selected from the group consisting of amino acids,
dipeptides, tripeptides, and saccharides as a carrier.
[0158] 112. The freeze-dried composition according to item 109,
containing a high-molecular-weight drug such as a protein, a
peptide or the like as the active ingredient, and at least one
selected from the group consisting of amino acids, dipeptides,
tripeptides, and saccharides as a carrier.
[0159] 113. The freeze-dried composition according to item 111,
containing a low-molecular-weight drug as the active ingredient,
and at least one selected from the group consisting of hydrophobic
amino acids, hydrophobic dipeptides, and hydrophobic tripeptides as
the carrier.
[0160] 114. The freeze-dried composition according to item 112,
characterized by containing a high-molecular-weight drug such as a
protein, a peptide or the like as the active ingredient, and at
least one selected from the group consisting of hydrophobic amino
acids, hydrophobic dipeptides, and hydrophobic tripeptides as the
carrier.
[0161] 115. The freeze-dried composition according to item 101,
being a water-soluble composition.
[0162] 116. The freeze-dried composition according to item 101,
containing a single dose of an active ingredient.
[0163] 117. The freeze-dried composition according to item 101,
being a freeze-dried composition for transpulmonary administration
prepared by freeze-drying a composition liquid containing
ingredients in the non-dissolved form and has the following
properties (i) to (iii):
[0164] (i) has a non-powder cake-like form,
[0165] (ii) has a disintegration index in a range of 0.05 to 1.5,
and
[0166] (iii) becomes fine particles having a mean particle diameter
of 10 microns or less or a fine particle fraction of 10% or more
upon receiving an air impact having an air speed in a range of 1 to
300 m/sec and an air flow rate in a range of 17 ml/sec to 15
L/sec.
[0167] 118. The freeze-dried composition according to item 117,
wherein the air speed is 1 to 250 m/sec.
[0168] 119. The freeze-dried composition according to item 117,
wherein the air flow rate is 20 ml/sec to 10 L/sec.
(2) Method of Manufacturing a Dry Powdered Preparation
[0169] Moreover, the present invention relates to a method of
manufacturing a dry powdered preparation comprising fine particles
with a particle diameter suitable for transpulmonary administration
(dry powdered preparation for transpulmonary administration) by
inhalation, by making a freeze-dried composition that has been
housed in a non-powder form in a vessel into fine particles. The
manufacturing method can be implemented in the vessel housing the
non-powder form freeze-dried composition by applying a
predetermined air impact.
[0170] Specifically, the method of manufacturing the dry powder
preparation of the present invention can be carried out by applying
an air impact having an air speed of at least 1 m/sec and an air
flow rate of at least 17 ml/sec to the non-powder form freeze-dried
composition of the present invention having a disintegration index
of at lest 0.05 which is prepared by freeze-drying the composition
liquid containing ingredients in the non-dissolved form as
described in detail in the above section (1). Thereby, the
non-powder form freeze-dried composition can be made into a dry
powdered preparation having a mean particle diameter of 10 microns
or less, preferably 5 microns or less or a fine particle fraction
of 10% or more, preferably 20% or more, more preferably 25% or
more, still more preferably 30% or more, and in particular 35% or
more.
[0171] As used herein, the mean particle diameter of fine particles
indicates a mean particle diameter usually adopted in the industry
relating to inhalants. Specifically, the mean particle diameter is
not a geometric mean particle diameter, but an aerodynamic mean
particle diameter (mass median aerodynamic diameter, MMAD) unless
otherwise specified. The aerodynamic mean particle diameter can be
measured by a conventional method. For example, the mass median
aerodynamic diameter can be measured using a dry particle size
distribution meter fitted with an Aerobreather, which is an
artificial lung model (manufactured by Amherst Process Instrument,
Inc., USA), a twin impinger (G. W. Hallworth and D. G.
Westmoreland: J. Pharm. Pharmacol., 39, 966-972 (1987), U.S. Pat.
No. 6,153,224), a multi-stage liquid impinger, a Marple-Miller
impactor, an Andersen cascade impactor or the like. Moreover, B.
Olsson et al. have reported that delivery of the particles into the
lungs increases at the proportion of particles having a mass median
aerodynamic diameter of 5 .mu.m or less increases (B. Olsson et
al.: Respiratory Drug Delivery V. 273-281(1996)). The fine particle
fraction, fine particle dose or the like as measured by a twin
impinger, a multi-stage liquid impinger, a Marple-Miller impactor,
an Andersen cascade impactor or the like acts as a method of
estimating the amount that can be delivered into the lungs.
[0172] The manufacturing method of the present invention can be
implemented by filling into a vessel the composition liquid
containing ingredients in the non-dissolved form, generating the
non-powder form freeze-dried composition by freeze-drying the
composition liquid in the non-dissolved form, and applying the air
impact defined in the above to the generated freeze-dried
composition by introducing air into the vessel housing the
generated composition. In this case, freeze-drying process and a
process for making a powder into a preparation can be carried out
using the same vessel, which can avoid a loss or contamination
resulting from subdividing.
[0173] The method of applying the air impact to the freeze-dried
composition is not limited; however, a dry powder inhaler which
will be described in the section (3) below is preferably used.
[0174] The method of manufacturing the dry powdered preparation for
transpulmonary administration of the present invention is also
characterized in that a patient administering the dry powdered
preparation can prepare by him/herself the powdered preparation for
transpulmonary administration at the time of use (inhalation) by
making the freeze-dried composition housed in a vessel into fine
particles having a particle diameter suitable for transpulmonary
administration.
[0175] The method of manufacturing a dry powdered preparation of
the present invention encompasses the specific embodiments defined
in the following items:
[0176] 201. A method of manufacturing a dry powdered preparation
for transpulmonary administration, comprising:
[0177] introducing air into a vessel to apply to a freeze-dried
composition an air impact having an air speed of at least 1 m/sec
and an air flow rate of at least 17 ml/sec using a device capable
of applying said air impact to the freeze-dried composition in the
vessel,
[0178] thereby making said freeze-dried composition into fine
particles having a mean particle diameter of 10 microns or less or
a fine particle fraction of 10% or more;
[0179] the freeze-dried composition prepared by freeze-drying the
composition liquid containing Ingredients in the non-dissolved form
and having the following properties:
[0180] (i) has a non-powder cake-like form,
[0181] (ii) has a disintegration index of 0.05 or more, and
[0182] (iii) becomes fine particles having a mean particle diameter
of 10 microns or less or a fine particle fraction of 10% or more
upon receipt of the air impact.
[0183] 202. The method of manufacturing a dry powdered preparation
for transpulmonary administration according to item 201, wherein
the freeze-dried composition housed in the vessel containing a
single dose of an active ingredient.
[0184] 203. The method of manufacturing a dry powdered preparation
for transpulmonary administration according to item 201, wherein
the fine particles prepared have a mean particle diameter of 5
microns or less or a fine particle fraction of 20% or more.
[0185] 204. The method of manufacturing a dry powdered preparation
for transpulmonary administration according to item 201, wherein
the disintegration index of the freeze-dried composition is in a
range of 0.05 to 1.5.
[0186] 205. The method of manufacturing a dry powdered preparation
for transpulmonary administration according to item 201, wherein
the freeze-dried composition contains a low-molecular-weight drug
as the active ingredient.
[0187] 206. The method of manufacturing a dry powdered preparation
for transpulmonary administration according to item 201, wherein
the freeze-dried composition contains a high-molecular-weight drug
such as a protein, a nucleic acid or the like as the active
ingredient.
[0188] 207. The method of manufacturing a dry powdered preparation
for transpulmonary administration according to item 201, wherein
the freeze-dried composition contains a nucleic acid with held in
the holder.
[0189] 208 The method of manufacturing a dry powdered preparation
for transpulmonary administration according to item 205, wherein
the freeze-dried composition contains a low-molecular-weight drug
as the active ingredient, and at least one selected from the group
consisting of amino acids, dipeptides, tripeptides, and saccharides
as a carrier.
[0190] 209. The method of manufacturing a dry powdered preparation
for transpulmonary administration according to item 206, wherein
the freeze-dried composition contains a high-molecular-weight drug
such as proteins, a nucleic acid or the like as the active
ingredient, and at least one selected from the group consisting of
amino acids, dipeptides, tripeptides, and saccharides as a
carrier.
[0191] 210. The method of manufacturing a dry powdered preparation
for transpulmonary administration according to item 208, wherein
the freeze-dried composition contains a low-molecular-weight drug
as the active ingredient, and at least one selected from the group
consisting of hydrophobic amino acids, hydrophobic dipeptides, and
hydrophobic tripeptides as the carrier.
[0192] 211. The method of manufacturing a dry powdered preparation
for transpulmonary administration according to item 209, wherein
the freeze-dried composition contains a high-molecular-weight drug
such as proteins, a nucleic acid or the like as the active
ingredient, and at least one selected from the group consisting of
hydrophobic amino acids, hydrophobic dipeptides, and hydrophobic
tripeptides as the carrier.
[0193] 212. The method of manufacturing a dry powdered preparation
for transpulmonary administration according to item 201, wherein
the freeze-dried composition is a water-soluble composition.
[0194] 213. The method of manufacturing a dry powdered preparation
for transpulmonary administration according to item 201, being a
method of making the freeze-dried composition into fine particles
in a vessel having a volume of 0.2 to 50 ml.
[0195] 214. The method of manufacturing a dry powdered preparation
for transpulmonary administration according to item 201, carried
out by using a device having a member capable of applying an air
impact having an air speed of at least 2 m/sec and an air flow rate
of at least 17 ml/sec to the freeze-dried composition in the
vessel, and introducing air having the air impact into the vessel
housing the freeze-dried composition.
[0196] 215. The method of manufacturing a dry powdered preparation
for transpulmonary administration according to item 201, carried
out by using a device having a member capable of applying an air
impact having an air speed in a range of 1 to 300 m/sec and an air
flow rate of at least 17 ml/sec to the freeze-dried composition in
the vessel, and introducing air having the air impact into the
vessel housing the freeze-dried composition.
[0197] 216. The method of manufacturing a dry powdered preparation
for transpulmonary administration according to item 201, carried
out by using a device having a member capable of applying an air
impact having an air speed of at least 1 m/sec and an air flow rate
of at least 20 ml/sec to the freeze-dried composition in the
vessel, and introducing air having the air impact into the vessel
housing the freeze-dried composition.
[0198] 217. The method of manufacturing a dry powdered preparation
for transpulmonary administration according to item 201, carried
out by using a device having a member capable of applying an air
impact having an air speed of at least 1 m/sec and an air flow rate
in a range of 17 ml/sec to 15 L/sec to the freeze-dried composition
in the vessel, and introducing air having the air impact into the
vessel housing the freeze-dried composition.
[0199] 218. The method of manufacturing a dry powdered preparation
for transpulmonary administration according to item 201,
characterized by making the freeze-dried composition into fine
particles using the dry powder Inhaler of item 301 or 302 shown in
the section of (3) Dry powder inhaler as the device.
[0200] 219. The method of manufacturing a powdered preparation for
transpulmonary administration according to Item 218, characterized
by making the freeze-dried composition into fine particles using
the dry powder inhaler according to item 309 shown in the section
of (3) Dry powder inhaler as the device.
[0201] 220. The method of manufacturing a powdered preparation for
transpulmonary administration according to item 218, being a method
of manufacturing a dry powdered preparation in which the
freeze-dried composition is made into fine particles using the dry
powder inhaler according to item 301 shown in the section of (3)
Dry powder inhaler, wherein the amount of air jetted into said
vessel each time using the dry powder inhaler is 5 to 100 ml.
[0202] 221. The method of manufacturing a powdered preparation for
transpulmonary administration according to item 417, being a method
of manufacturing a dry powdered preparation in which the
freeze-dried composition is made into fine particles using the dry
powder inhaler of item 302 shown in the section of (3) Dry powder
inhaler, wherein the flow rate of air inhalation from the
inhalation port using the dry powder inhaler is 5 to 300 L/min.
[0203] 222. The method of manufacturing a dry powdered preparation
for transpulmonary administration according to item 201,
comprising:
[0204] introducing air into a vessel to apply to a freeze-dried
composition an air impact having an air speed in a range of 1 to
300 m/sec and an air flow rate in a range of 17 ml/sec to 15 L/sec
using a device capable of applying said air impact to the
freeze-dried composition in the vessel,
[0205] thereby making said freeze-dried composition into fine
particles having a mean particle diameter of 10 microns or less or
a fine particle fraction of 10% or more;
[0206] the freeze-dried composition prepared by freeze-drying the
composition liquid containing ingredients in the non-dissolved form
and having the following properties:
[0207] (i) has a non-powder cake-like form,
[0208] (ii) has a disintegration index in a range of 0.05 to 1.5,
and
[0209] (iii) becomes fine particles having a mean particle diameter
of 10 microns or less or a fine particle fraction of 10% or more
upon receipt of the air impact.
[0210] 223. The method of manufacturing a dry powdered preparation
for transpulmonary administration according to item 222, wherein
the freeze-dried composition housed in the vessel contains a single
dose of an active ingredient.
[0211] 224. The method of manufacturing a dry powdered preparation
for transpulmonary administration according to item 222, wherein
the air speed is 1 to 250 m/sec.
[0212] 225. The method of manufacturing a dry powdered preparation
for transpulmonary administration according to item 222, wherein
the air flow rate is 20 ml/sec to 10 L/sec.
(3) Dry Powder Inhaler
[0213] The dry powder inhaler used suitably for manufacturing a dry
powdered preparation for transpulmonary administration of the
present invention is a device used for breaking down a freeze-dried
preparation (freeze-dried composition) that has been housed in a
non-powder form in a vessel Into fine particles in the vessel, and
further allowing a user to inhale the dry powdered preparation.
[0214] By comprising {circle around (1)} a member capable of
applying an air impact to the non-powder form freeze-dried
composition in a degree such that the freeze-dried composition can
be pulverized into fine particles, and {circle around (2)} a member
capable of administering to a user by inhalation the powder-form
freeze-dried composition that has been made into fine particles,
the device can carry out both breaking down of the freeze-dried
composition into fine particles and administration of the powdered
composition to a user by inhalation. Note that the member {circle
around (1)} can also appreciated as a member for introducing air
having the above-mentioned air impact into the vessel housing the
freeze-dried composition. Moreover, the member {circle around (2)}
can also appreciated as a member for discharging out of the vessel
the powdered preparation that has been made into fine particles in
the vessel. In a dry powder inhalation system of the present
invention, as long as the device comprises these members, either a
conventional publicly-known device or a device which will be
developed in the future can also be used.
[0215] Specifically, the member {circle around (1)} can be realized
by introducing air capable of applying an air impact as above into
the vessel housing the freeze-dried composition. Note that the
member {circle around (1)} can be altered into a member capable of
applying an air impact having an air speed of at least 1 m/sec and
an air flow rate of at least 17 ml/sec to the freeze-dried
composition in the vessel. By using the member {circle around (2)}
or via this member, the dry powdered preparation, which has been
prepared into a form suitable for transpulmonary administration,
can be administered by inhalation to the user such as patient. Note
that, for example a chamber or a flow path such that the
composition is made into fine particles or scattered may be further
provided in the member {circle around (2)}.
[0216] The device in question encompasses jet type dry powder
inhalers as in (a) below and self-inhaling type dry powder inhalers
as in (b) below.
[0217] (a) Jet type dry powder inhaler: Active powder inhaler
[0218] (a-1) A dry powder inhaler used in the making into fine
particles and inhalation of a freeze-dried composition that has
been housed in a non-powder form in a vessel,
[0219] comprising a needle part having an air jet flow path, a
needle part having a discharge flow path, air pressure-feeding
member for feeding air into the air jet flow path of the needle
part, and an inhalation port that communicates with the discharge
flow path, and
[0220] being constituted such that a stopper that seals up the
vessel is pierced by the needle parts, thus communicating the air
jet flow path and the discharge flow path with the inside of the
vessel, and air is jetted into the vessel from the air jet flow
path using the air pressure-feeding member, thus breaking down the
freeze-dried composition into fine particles by the impact of the
jetted air, and discharging the fine particles obtained out from
the inhalation port via the discharge flow path.
[0221] (a-2) The dry powder inhaler described in (a-1) above, being
constituted such that the air pressure-feeding member is manually
operated and comprises a bellows body having an intake port
equipped with an intake valve and a discharge port equipped with a
discharge valve, and by contracting the bellows body and thus
opening the discharge valve in a state in which the intake valve is
closed, air in the bellows body is pressure-fed into the vessel
through the air jet flow path of the needle part which communicates
with the discharge port, and by expanding the bellows body through
an elastic restoring force in a state in which the discharge valve
is closed and the intake valve is open, air is introduced into the
bellows body.
[0222] (a-3) The dry powder inhaler described in (a-1) or (a-2)
above, in which the air jet flow path and the discharge flow path
are formed in a single needle part.
[0223] (b) Self-inhaling type dry powder inhaler: Passive powder
inhaler
[0224] (b-1) A dry powder inhaler used for inhaling fine particles
obtained by breaking down a freeze-dried composition that has been
housed in a non-powder form in a vessel,
[0225] comprising a needle part having a suction flow path, a
needle part having an air introduction flow path, and an inhalation
port that communicates with the suction flow path,
[0226] and being constituted such that, in a state in which a
stopper that seals up the vessel has been pierced by the needle
parts, through the inhalation pressure of a user, air in the vessel
is inhaled from the inhalation port, and at the same time outside
air flows into the vessel, which is now at a negative pressure,
through the air introduction flow path, and as a result the
freeze-dried composition is broken down into fine particles by the
impact of the air flowing in, and the fine particles obtained are
discharged from the inhalation port through the suction flow
path.
[0227] (b-2) The dry powder inhaler described in (b-1) above, being
constituted such that most part of the freeze-dried composition is
made into fine particles and discharged from the inhalation port
through one inhalation of the user.
[0228] (b-3) The dry powder inhaler described in (b-1) or (b-2)
above, in which the suction flow path and the air introduction flow
path are formed in a single needle part.
[0229] The member for introducing air into the vessel (member
{circle around (1)} mentioned above) may be a member for
introducing air from the outside at normal pressure. It is not
necessary to use compressed air from a jet mill or the like. There
are no limitations on the member for introducing air from the
outside. For example, in the case where the jet type dry powder
inhaler (active powder inhaler) described above is used, a member
for artificially introducing external air into the vessel by
jetting can be employed. In the case where the self-inhaling type
dry powder inhaler is used, a member for naturally introducing
outside air into the vessel by suction through negative pressure
formed in the vessel when the user inhales can be employed.
Moreover, in the former case, i.e. in the jet type dry powder
inhaler, the method of introducing external air into the vessel by
jetting artificially may be manual or may be a method that is
carried out automatically using a machine.
[0230] The dry powder inhaler of the present invention, regardless
of the type of the inhaler, whether it is an active powder inhaler
or a passive powder inhaler, is capable of breaking down the
freeze-dried composition that has been stored in non-powder form in
the vessel into fine particles using an impact (jet pressure) of
external air introduced into (flowing into) the vessel by the air
introduction member.
[0231] For example, a vessel, used for freeze-drying can be used
here, with no limitations on the material, shape etc. As the
material, a plastic mainly including a polyolefin such as
polyethylene, polypropylene or polystyrene, glass, aluminum and the
like can be given as examples. Moreover, as the shape, a circular
cylinder, a cup shape, and a polygonal prism (polygonal pyramid)
such as a triangular prism (triangular pyramid), a square prism
(square pyramid), a hexagonal prism (hexagonal pyramid) or an
octagonal prism (octagonal pyramid) can be given as examples.
[0232] To obtain the effects efficiently, the volume of the vessel
housing the freeze-dried composition is in a range of 0.2 to 50 ml,
preferably 0.2 to 25 ml and more preferably 1 to 15 ml. Moreover,
it is desirable to be used the trunk inside diameter of the vessel
be 2 to 100 mm, preferably 2 to 75 mm, more preferably 2 to 50
mm.
[0233] Moreover, the amount of the freeze-dried composition housed
in the vessel is preferably an amount containing a unit dose
(single dose) or a plurality of doses, specifically 2 to 3 doses,
of the active ingredient. More preferably, it is an amount
containing a unit dose (single dose) of the active ingredient.
Moreover, the specific amount of the freeze-dried composition will
vary according to the type and content of the active ingredient
contained in the freeze-dried composition, and is selected as
appropriate from amounts that can be inhaled, with there being no
particular limitation; nevertheless, the amount is generally 30 mg
or less, preferably 20 mg or less, more preferable 10 mg or less,
particularly preferably 5 mg or less.
[0234] Moreover, the air impact generated by the outside air
introduced into the vessel is stipulated through the air flow rate
at which air flows into the vessel through at least one or a
plurality of inhalations of a person or the air speed thus
generated. There is no particular limitation on introducing
external air with an air flow rate or air speed greater than this,
except of course that the durability of the vessel is a limitation.
Generally the air flow rate for one inhalation of a person is 5 to
300 L/min, more specifically 10 to 200 L/min. Moreover, in the case
of an dry powder inhaler, a device can be used such that the amount
of air jetted each time is 5 to 100 ml, preferably 10 to 50 ml.
Preferably, adjustment can be carried out such that an air impact
generated through an air speed of at least 1 m/sec is applied to
the surface of the freeze-dried composition filled in the vessel. A
more preferable air impact is an impact generated by an air speed
of at least 2 m/sec, a yet more preferable one is an impact
generated by an air speed of at least 5 m/sec, and a still more
preferable one is an impact generated by an air speed of at least
10 m/sec. Here, there is no particular limitation on the upper
limit of the air impact, but an impact generated by an air speed of
300 m/sec can be given as an example. The upper limit is preferably
an impact generated through an air speed 250 m/sec, more preferably
an impact generated through an air speed 200 m/sec, yet more
preferably an impact generated through an air speed 150 m/sec.
[0235] There is no particular limitation on the air impact as long
as it is generated by air having an air speed arbitrarily selected
from the range extending from a lower limit to an upper limit.
Specific examples are impacts generated through an air speed in a
range of 1 to 300 m/sec, 1 to 250 m/sec, 2 to 250 m/sec, 5 to 250
m/sec, 5 to 200 m/sec, 10 to 200 m/sec or 10 to 150 m/sec.
[0236] Here, the speed of the air applied to the freeze-dried
composition can be measured as follows. That is, with the jet type
dry powder inhaler shown later as Embodiment 1, a mechanism is
adopted in which air stored in a bellows body 10 is forcibly
introduced onto the freeze-dried composition (cake-like
freeze-dried composition: hereinafter also referred to as
`freeze-dried cake`) that has been filled into the vessel from an
air jet flow path 3, thus applying an air impact, and discharging
the resulting fine particles from a discharge flow path 4. In this
case, the flow rate of the air flowing through the air jet flow
path 3 can be calculated by dividing the amount of air stored in
the bellows body 10 by the time over which the air is fed into the
vessel. Next, by dividing this air flow rate by the cross-sectional
area of a path to introduce air into the vessel such as the air jet
flow path 3, the air speed at which the impact is applied to the
freeze-dried composition (freeze-dried cake) can be calculated. Air
speed(cm/sec)=air flow rate (ml=cm.sup.3/sec)+cross-sectional area
of air introduction flow path (cm.sup.2)
[0237] Specifically, in the case for example of a jet type dry
powder inhaler designed such that the bore of the air jet flow path
3 is 1.2 mm, the bore of the discharge flow path is 1.8 mm, and the
amount of air stored in the bellows body 10 is about 20 ml, in the
case that the amount of air of about 20 ml stored in the bellows
body 10 is forcibly introduced onto the freeze-dried composition in
the vessel from the air jet flow path 3 in about 0.5 seconds, the
air flow rate becomes about 40 ml/sec. Dividing this value by the
cross-sectional area of the air introduction flow path (the air jet
flow path) (0.06.times.0.06.times.3.14=0.0113cm.sup.2), gives 3,540
cm/sec. The air speed is thus about 35 m/sec.
[0238] Moreover, with the self-inhaling type dry powder inhalers
shown later as Embodiments 2, 3 and 4, a mechanism is adopted in
which air flowing in from an air introduction flow path 17 applies
an impact to the freeze-dried cake, and then the resulting fine
particles are discharged from a suction flow path 16; the bores of
the air introduction flow path 17 and the suction flow path 16 thus
stipulate the flow rate of the air flowing through the paths. The
air speed applied to the freeze-dried composition in the vessel can
thus be calculated by measuring the flow rate of the air flowing
through the air introduction flow path 17 and dividing this by the
cross-sectional area of the air introduction flow path 17. Air
speed (cm/sec)=air flow rate (ml=cm.sup.3/sec)+cross-sectional area
of air introduction flow path 17 (cm.sup.2)
[0239] Specifically, the flow rate of the air flowing through the
air introduction flow path 17 can be measured by installing the dry
powder inhaler including the vessel in the slot part of apparatus A
(a twin impinger: manufactured by Copley, UK) as mentioned in the
European Pharmacopoeia (Third Edition Supplement 2001, p 113-115),
and using a flow meter (KOFLOC DPM-3).
[0240] For example, with a self-inhaling type dry powder inhaler
designed such that the bore of the air introduction flow path 17 is
1.99 mm and the bore of the suction flow path is 1.99 mm, in the
case that the air flow rate flowing through the air introduction
flow path 17 measured using the flow meter (KOFLOC DPM-3) was 17.7
L/min, i.e. 295 ml/sec, the air speed can be obtained by dividing
this value by the cross-sectional area of the air introduction flow
path 17 (0.0995.times.0.0995.times.3.14=0.0311 cm.sup.2) (9,486
cm/sec, i.e. 95 m/sec).
[0241] Moreover, at least 17 ml/sec can be given as an example of
the flow rate of the air applied to the freeze-dried composition
filled in the vessel. The air flow rate is preferably at least 20
ml/sec, more preferably at least 25 ml/sec. Here there is no
particular limitation on the upper limit of the air flow rate, but
an example of 900 L/min can be given. This upper limit is
preferably 15 L/sec, more preferably 10 L/sec, yet more preferably
5 L/sec, still more preferably 4 L/sec, particularly preferably 3
L/sec. Specifically, the flow rate should be in a range constituted
from a lower limit and an upper limit selected as appropriate from
the above, with there being no particular limitation; nevertheless,
17 ml/sec to 15 L/sec, 20 ml/sec to 10 L/sec, 20 ml/sec to 5 L/sec,
20 ml/sec to 4 L/sec, 20 ml/sec to 3 L/sec, and 25 ml/sec to 3
L/sec, can be given as examples of the range.
[0242] Moreover, as a member for raising the impact pressure of the
air introduced from the outside, the dry powder inhaler used in the
present invention can have a mamber for discharging air from a
discharge port, as explained in detail below, preferably with a
small bore, of a flow path close to the freeze-dried composition
housed at the bottom of the vessel, for example a needle part
having an air introduction flow path or an air jet flow path as
described later in the embodiments. Regarding the bore of the
discharge port of the flow path, the preferable range varies
according to the size of the vessel and so on, with there being no
particular limitations; nevertheless, the bore can be in a range of
0.3 to 10 mm, preferably 0.5 to 5 mm, more preferably 0.8 to 5 mm,
much more preferably 1 to 4 mm.
[0243] The freeze-dried composition housed in a non-powder form in
the vessel can be made into fine particles by introducing air into
the vessel. Here, the extent of making into fine particles should
be such that the particle diameter is suitable for transpulmonary
administration; a particle diameter of 10 .mu.m or less, preferably
5 .mu.m or less, can be given as an example.
[0244] The dry powder inhaler for use in the present invention
encompasses the specific embodiments defined in the following
items:
[0245] 300. A dry powder inhaler for transpulmonary administration
used for making a freeze-dried composition that has been housed in
non-powder form in a vessel into fine particles by an air impact,
and administering the resulting fine particles to a user by
inhalation.
[0246] 301. The dry powder inhaler for transpulmonary
administration according to item 300, being a device used for
making a freeze-dried composition that has been housed in
non-powder form in a vessel into fine particles, and administering
the resulting fine particles to a user by inhalation,
[0247] comprising a needle part having an air jet flow path, a
needle part having a discharge flow path, air pressure-feeding
member for feeding air into the air jet flow path of said needle
part, and an inhalation port that communicates with the discharge
flow path of said needle part,
[0248] and characterized by being constituted such that a stopper
that seals up said vessel is pierced by said needle parts, thus
communicating the air jet flow path and the discharge flow path
with the inside of said vessel, and air is jetted into said vessel
through said air jet flow path using said air pressure-feeding
member, thus pulverizing said freeze-dried composition into fine
particles by the impact of the jetted air, and discharging the fine
particles obtained from the inhalation port via said discharge flow
path.
[0249] 302. The dry powder inhaler for transpulmonary
administration according to item 300, being a device used for
pulverizing a freeze-dried composition that has been housed in
non-powder form in a vessel into fine particles, and administering
the resulting fine particles to a user by inhalation,
[0250] comprising a needle part having a suction flow path, a
needle part having an air introduction flow path, and an inhalation
port that communicates with said suction flow path,
[0251] and characterized by being constituted such that, in a state
in which a stopper sealing up said vessel has been pierced by said
needle parts, through the inhalation pressure of the user, air in
said vessel is inhaled from said inhalation port, and at the same
time outside air flows into said vessel, at a negative pressure,
through said air introduction flow path, and as a result said
freeze-dried composition is pulverized into fine particles by the
impact of the air flowing in, and the fine particles obtained are
discharged from the inhalation port through said suction flow
path.
[0252] 303. The dry powder inhaler for transpulmonary
administration according to item 301, characterized by being
constituted such that said freeze-dried composition is pulverized
into fine particles and discharged from said inhalation port
through jetting air into said vessel once.
[0253] 304. The dry powder inhaler for transpulmonary
administration according to item 301, characterized by being
constituted such that said freeze-dried composition is pulverized
into fine particles, such that the mean particle diameter is 10
microns or less or the fine particle fraction is 10% or more, and
discharged from said inhalation port through jetting air into said
vessel.
[0254] 305. The dry powder inhaler for transpulmonary
administration according to item 301, wherein said air jet flow
path and said discharge flow path are formed in a single needle
part.
[0255] 306. The dry powder inhaler for transpulmonary
administration according to item 302, characterized by being
constituted such that said freeze-dried composition is pulverized
into fine particles and discharged from said inhalation port
through one inhalation of the user.
[0256] 307. The dry powder inhaler for transpulmonary
administration according to item 302, characterized by being
constituted such that said freeze-dried composition is pulverized
into fine particles, such that the mean particle diameter is 10
microns or less or the fine particle fraction is 10% or more, and
discharged from said inhalation port through inhalation of the
user.
[0257] 308. The dry powder inhaler for transpulmonary
administration according to item 302, wherein said suction flow
path and said air introduction flow path are formed in a single
needle part.
[0258] 309. The dry powder inhaler for transpulmonary
administration according to item 308 comprising:
[0259] a holder part for holding a vessel that is sealed up with a
stopper and houses a freeze-dried composition in a non-powder
cake-like form that will be made into fine particles upon receiving
an air impact,
[0260] a member for applying an air impact to said freeze-dried
composition in said vessel, and sucking said freeze-dried
composition in a powder-form that has been made into fine particles
by the air impact out from said vessel,
[0261] a needle part having a suction flow path for sucking said
freeze-dried composition out from said vessel, and an air
introduction flow path for introducing outside air into said
vessel,
[0262] a suction port that communicates with said suction flow path
of said needle part,
[0263] a guide part for guiding said holder part in the axial
direction of said needle part,
[0264] a holder operating part that has a mechanism part for, when
said vessel is held by said holder part, advancing the vessel
towards a needle tip of said needle part to pierce the stopper of
the vessel with said needle tip, and retreating the vessel from
said needle tip to separate the stopper of the vessel from said
needle tip, and an operator that operates the mechanism part, and
is constituted such that said operating member can be operated with
a force smaller than the force necessary for the mechanism part to
pierce the stopper of the vessel with said needle part,
[0265] and a housing that supports said needle part and is for
providing said suction port, said guide part and said holder
operating part,
[0266] and constituted such that, in a state in which said stopper
has been pierced by said needle part to communicate the suction
flow path and the air introduction flow path of said needle part
with the inside of said vessel and position the tip of the air
introduction flow path at said freeze-dried composition, through
the inhalation pressure of a user, air in said vessel is inhaled
from said suction port, and air is made to flow into said vessel
through the air introduction flow path, thus applying an air impact
to the freeze-dried composition in said vessel.
[0267] 310. The dry powder inhaler for transpulmonary
administration according to Item 309, characterized in that said
housing is formed in a tubular shape, said suction port is formed
at a tip part of the housing, a housing chamber for housing said
vessel via said holder is formed in said housing, said needle part
is disposed in said housing such that said needle tip points
towards said housing chamber, and an introduction port for
introducing outside air that communicates with the air introduction
flow path of said needle part is provided in a wall of said
housing,
[0268] and the dry powder inhaler is constituted such that said
holder part is advanced and retreated in the axial direction of
said housing in said housing chamber using said holder operating
part.
[0269] 311. The dry powder inhaler for transpulmonary
administration according to item 310, characterized in that said
housing is formed from a housing main body having a
removal/insertion port for said vessel formed therein in a position
in which said holder part is retreated, and a lid for said
removal/insertion port that is connected to said housing main body
by a hinge,
[0270] and the dry powder inhaler is constituted such that said
holder operating part has said mechanism part which advances said
holder part towards the needle tip of the needle part when said lid
is pushed down to close said removal/insertion port, and retreats
said holder part away from said needle tip when said lid is lifted
up to open said removal/insertion port, and said lid is used as the
operating member of said mechanism part.
(4) Dry Powder Inhalation System for Transpulmonary
Administration
[0271] The dry powder inhalation system for transpulmonary
administration of the present invention is a system that combines a
freeze-dried composition having a composition such that, by
applying an air impact to the freeze-dried composition which exists
in a non-powder form having been freeze-dried in a vessel and not
subjected to processing such as pulverization, the freeze-dried
composition can be made into fine particles having a mean particle
diameter of 10 microns or less or a fine particle fraction of 10%
or more in the vessel, and a inhaling device comprising prescribed
member. According to this dry powder inhalation system for
transpulmonary administration, a user him/herself can prepare the
freeze-dried composition which has been provided in a non-powder
form into a powdered preparation comprising fine particles having a
mean particle diameter of 10 microns or less or a fine particle
fraction of 10% or more, which is a preparation suitable for
transpulmonary administration, at the time of use (the time of
inhalation), and administer (take) the powdered preparation.
[0272] To obtain the effects of the dry powder inhalation system
for transpulmonary administration effectively, it is important to
select the composition of the freeze-dried composition, the
inhaling device, the vessel and so on appropriately.
[0273] It is preferable to use a freeze-dried composition which is
prepared by freeze-drying a composition liquid containing
ingredients in the non-dissolved form and is endowed with the
following properties (i) to (iii):
[0274] (i) has a non-powder cake-like form,
[0275] (ii) has a disintegration index of 0.05 or more, and
[0276] (iii) becomes fine particles having a mean particle diameter
of 10 microns or less or a fine particle fraction of 10% or more
upon receipt of an air impact having an air speed of at least 1
m/sec and an air flow rate of at least 17 ml/sec.
[0277] The detailed description of the composition and preparing
method of the freeze-dried composition of the present invention in
the above section (1) holds for this section.
[0278] The freeze-dried composition is subjected to a freeze-drying
process in the vessel and it is to be housed therein. The amount of
the freeze-dried composition housed in the vessel is preferably an
amount containing a unit dose (single dose) or a plurality of
doses, specifically 2 to 3 doses, of the active ingredients. More
preferably, it is an amount containing a unit dose (single dose) of
the active ingredient. Moreover, the specific amount of the
freeze-dried composition to be housed in the vessel will vary
according to the type and content of the active ingredient
contained in the freeze-dried composition, and is selected as
appropriate from amounts that can be inhaled, with there being no
particular limitation; nevertheless, the amount is generally 30 mg
or less, preferably 20 mg or less, more preferably 10 mg or less,
particularly preferably 5 mg or less.
[0279] As the dry powder inhaler, it is preferable to adopt a
device comprising {circle around (1)} a member for applying an air
impact (or a member for introducing air) and {circle around (2)} a
member for discharging fine particles (or a member for
administering by inhalation), in which, by a member for introducing
air (member {circle around (1)}) air is introduced into (inflow) a
vessel which houses the non-powder-form freeze-dried composition
and the freeze-dried composition is pulverized into fine particles
using the impact (jet pressure) of the air that has been introduced
into (flowed into) the vessel, and then, using the member {circle
around (2)} for discharging fine particles, the dried powder
composition made into fine particles by the member {circle around
(1)} is discharged from the vessel. Then, the fine particles are
directly administered to a user.
[0280] An example of such device is the dry powder inhaler of the
present invention mentioned in the section (3).
[0281] The dry powder inhalation system suitable for transpulmonary
administration according to the present invention includes a vessel
housing the freeze-dried composition of the present invention and a
dry powder inhaler of the present invention used in combination at
the time of inhalation. In other words, the dry powder inhalation
system of the present invention, at least when used for inhalation,
comprises the vessel housing the freeze-dried composition of the
present invention and the dry powder inhaler of the present
invention.
[0282] According to the system of the present invention, by
introducing air into the vessel housing the freeze-dried
composition of the present invention using the dry powder inhaler
for applying an air impact having an air speed of at least 1 m/sec
and an air flow rate of at least 17 ml/sec to the freeze-dried
composition in the vessel. Thus, a dry powdered preparation having
a particle size suitable for transpulmonary administration by
inhalation or having fine particle fraction usable efficiently for
transpulmonary administration by inhalation can be obtained.
[0283] Examples of the particle diameter suitable for
transpulmonary administration by inhalation include the mean
particle diameter, more specifically, an aerodynamic mean particle
diameter (mass median aerodynamic diameter, MMAD) is 10 microns or
less, preferably 5 microns or less. The effective particle
proportion (fine particle fraction) used efficiently for
transpulmonary administration by inhalation is at least 10%,
preferably at least 20%, more preferably 25%, yet more preferably
at least 30%, and in particular preferably at least 35%.
[0284] Furthermore, the system allows transpulmonary administration
of the obtained dry powdered preparation directly to a user by
inhalation. Therefore, the dry powder inhalation system for
transpulmonary administration of the present invention is a system
for producing a dry powdered preparation suitable for
transpulmonary administration and, at the same time, a system for
transpulmonarily administering the dry powder preparation to a
user.
[0285] The dry powder inhalation system for transpulmonary
administration of the present invention encompasses the specific
embodiments defined in the following items:
[0286] 401. A dry powder inhalation system for transpulmonary
administration, using a combination of:
[0287] (1) a vessel housing a freeze-dried composition that is
prepared by freeze-drying a composition liquid containing
ingredients in the non-dissolved form and has the following
properties: [0288] (i) a non-powder cake-like form, [0289] (ii) a
disintegration index of 0.05 or more, and [0290] (iii) a property
of becoming fine particles having a mean particle diameter of 10
microns or less or a fine particle fraction of 10% or more upon
receiving an air impact having an air speed of at least 1 m/sec and
an air flow rate of at least 17 ml/sec; and
[0291] (2) a device comprising a member capable of applying said
air impact to the freeze-dried composition in said vessel, and a
member for discharging the powder-form freeze-dried composition
that has been made into fine particles.
[0292] 402. The dry powder inhalation system for transpulmonary
administration according to item 401, wherein the vessel housing
the freeze-dried composition contains active ingredients of a
single dose.
[0293] 403. The dry powder inhalation system for transpulmonary
administration according to item 401, wherein the vessel and the
device are used in combination at the time of inhalation.
[0294] 404. The dry powder inhalation system for transpulmonary
administration according to item 401, wherein the disintegration
index of the freeze-dried composition is in a range of 0.05 to
1.5.
[0295] 405. The dry powder inhalation system for transpulmonary
administration according to item 401, wherein the air impact of
(iii) is generated by air having an air speed of at least 2 m/sec
and an air flow rate of at least 17 ml/sec.
[0296] 406. The dry powder inhalation system for transpulmonary
administration according to item 401, wherein the air impact of
(iii) is generated by air having an air speed in a range of 1 to
300 m/sec and an air flow rate of at least 17 ml/sec.
[0297] 407. The dry powder inhalation system for transpulmonary
administration according to item 401, wherein the air impact of
(iii) is generated by air having an air speed of at least 1 m/sec
and an air flow rate of at least 20 ml/sec.
[0298] 408. The dry powder inhalation system for transpulmonary
administration according to item 401, wherein the air impact of
(iii) is generated by air having an air speed of at least 1 m/sec
and an air flow rate in a range of 17 ml/sec to 15 L/sec.
[0299] 409. The dry powder inhalation system for transpulmonary
administration according to item 401, wherein the freeze-dried
composition has a property of becoming fine particles having a mean
particle diameter of 5 microns or less or a fine particle fraction
of 20% or more upon receipt of an air impact.
[0300] 410. The dry powder inhalation system for transpulmonary
administration according to item 401, wherein the freeze-dried
composition contains a low-molecular-weight drug as the active
ingredient.
[0301] 411. The dry powder inhalation system for transpulmonary
administration according to item 401, wherein the freeze-dried
composition contains a high-molecular-weight drug such as proteins,
a nucleic acid or the like as the active ingredient.
[0302] 412. The dry powder inhalation system for transpulmonary
administration according to item 401, wherein the freeze-dried
composition contains a nucleic acid as an active ingredient with
held in the holder.
[0303] 413. The dry powder inhalation system for transpulmonary
administration according to item 310, wherein the freeze-dried
composition contains a low-molecular-weight drug as the active
ingredient, and at least one selected from the group consisting of
amino acids, dipeptides, tripeptides, and saccharides as a
carrier.
[0304] 414. The dry powder inhalation system for transpulmonary
administration according to item 411, wherein the freeze-dried
composition contains a high-molecular-weight drug such as proteins,
a nucleic acid or the like as the active ingredient, and at least
one selected from the group consisting of amino acids, dipeptides,
tripeptides, and saccharides as a carrier.
[0305] 415. The dry powder inhalation system for transpulmonary
administration according to item 413, wherein the freeze-dried
composition contains a low-molecular-weight drug as the active
ingredient, and at least one selected from the group consisting of
hydrophobic amino acids, hydrophobic dipeptides, and hydrophobic
tripeptides as the carrier.
[0306] 416. The dry powder inhalation system for transpulmonary
administration according to item 414, wherein the freeze-dried
composition contains a high-molecular-weight drug such as proteins,
a nucleic acid or the like as the active ingredient, and at least
one selected from the group consisting of hydrophobic amino acids,
hydrophobic dipeptides, and hydrophobic tripeptides as the
carrier.
[0307] 417. The dry powder inhalation system for transpulmonary
administration according to item 401, wherein the freeze-dried
composition is a water-soluble composition.
[0308] 418. The dry powder inhalation system for transpulmonary
administration according to item 301, wherein the device is:
[0309] i) a dry powder inhaler for transpulmonary administration,
being a device used for making a freeze-dried composition that has
been housed in non-powder form in a vessel into fine particles, and
administering the resulting fine particles to a user by
inhalation,
[0310] comprising a needle part having an air jet flow path, a
needle part having a discharge flow path, air pressure-feeding
member for feeding air into the air jet flow path of said needle
part, and an inhalation port that communicates with the discharge
flow path of said needle part,
[0311] and characterized by being constituted such that a stopper
that seals up said vessel is pierced by said needle parts, thus
communicating the air jet flow path and the discharge flow path
with the inside of said vessel, and air is jetted into said vessel
through said air jet flow path using said air pressure-feeding
member, thus pulverizing said freeze-dried composition into fine
particles by the impact of the jetted air, and discharging the fine
particles obtained from the inhalation port via said discharge flow
path, or
[0312] ii) a dry powder inhaler for transpulmonary administration,
being a device used for making a freeze-dried composition that has
been housed in non-powder form in a vessel into fine particles, and
administering the resulting fine particles to a user by
inhalation,
[0313] comprising a needle part having a suction flow path, a
needle part having an air introduction flow path, and an inhalation
port that communicates with said suction flow path,
[0314] and characterized by being constituted such that, in a state
in which a stopper sealing up said vessel has been pierced by said
needle parts, through the inhalation pressure of the user, air in
said vessel is inhaled from said inhalation port, and at the same
time outside air flows into said vessel, at a negative pressure,
through said air introduction flow path, and as a result said
freeze-dried composition is pulverized into fine particles by the
impact of the air flowing in, and the fine particles obtained are
discharged from the inhalation port through said suction flow
path.
[0315] 419. The dry powder inhalation system for transpulmonary
administration according to item 418, as the device, using the dry
powder inhaler comprising:
[0316] a holder part for holding a vessel that is sealed up with a
stopper and houses a freeze-dried composition in a non-powder
cake-like form that will be made into fine particles upon receiving
an air impact,
[0317] a member for applying an air impact to said freeze-dried
composition in said vessel, and sucking said freeze-dried
composition in a powder-form that has been made into fine particles
by the air impact out from said vessel,
[0318] a needle part having a auction flow path for sucking said
freeze-dried composition out from said vessel, and an air
introduction flow path for introducing outside air into said
vessel,
[0319] a suction port that communicates with said suction flow path
of said needle part,
[0320] a guide part for guiding said holder part in the axial
direction of said needle part,
[0321] a holder operating part that has a mechanism part for, when
said vessel is held by said holder part, advancing the vessel
towards a needle tip of said needle part to pierce the stopper of
the vessel with said needle tip, and retreating the vessel from
said needle tip to separate the stopper of the vessel from said
needle tip ,and an operator that operates the mechanism part, and
is constituted such that said operating member can be operated with
a force smaller than the force necessary for the mechanism part to
pierce the stopper of the vessel with said needle part,
[0322] and a housing that supports said needle part and is for
providing said suction port, said guide part and said holder
operating part,
[0323] and constituted such that, in a state in which said stopper
has been pierced by said needle part to communicate the suction
flow path and the air introduction flow path of said needle part
with the inside of said vessel and position the tip of the air
introduction flow path at said freeze-dried composition, through
the inhalation pressure of a user, air in said vessel is inhaled
from said suction port, and air is made to flow into said vessel
through the air introduction flow path, thus applying an air impact
to the freeze-dried composition in said vessel.
[0324] 420. The dry powder inhalation system for transpulmonary
administration according to item 401, using a combination of:
[0325] (1) a vessel housing a freeze-dried composition that is
prepared by freeze-drying a composition liquid containing
ingredients in the non-dissolved form, and has the following
properties: [0326] (i) a non-powder cake-like form, [0327] (ii) a
disintegration index in a range of 0.05 to 1.5, and [0328] (iii) a
property of becoming fine particles having a mean particle diameter
of 10 microns or less or a fine particle fraction of 10% or more
upon receipt of an air impact having an air speed in a range of 1
to 300 m/sec and an air flow rate in a range of 17 ml/sec to 15
L/sec; and
[0329] (2) a device comprising a member capable of applying said
air impact to the freeze-dried composition in said vessel, and a
member for discharging the powder-form freeze-dried composition
that has been made Into fine particles.
[0330] 421. The dry powder inhalation system for transpulmonary
administration according to item 420, wherein the vessel housing
the freeze-dried composition housing a freeze-dried composition
containing a single dose of active ingredient.
[0331] 422. The dry powder inhalation system for transpulmonary
administration according to item 420, wherein the air speed is 1 to
250 m/sec.
[0332] 423. The dry powder inhalation system for transpulmonary
administration according to item 420, wherein the air flow rate is
20 ml/sec to 10 L/sec.
(5) Transpulmonary Administration Method
[0333] The present invention further provides a transpulmonary
administration method comprising making a freeze-dried composition
in a non-powder form into fine particles suitable for
transpulmonary administration at the time of usage
(administration), and administering the resulting preparation in a
powder form with fine particles by inhalation. The transpulmonary
administration method can be carried out using the dry powder
inhalation system for transpulmonary administration of the present
invention described in detail in the section (4), and preferably
using the dry powder inhalation system for transpulmonary
administration comprising the vessel which houses the freeze-dried
composition of the present invention described in detail in the
section (1), which is prepared by freeze-drying the composition
liquid containing ingredients in the non-dissolved form and a dry
powder inhaler described in the section (3).
[0334] The transpulmonary administration method of the present
invention encompasses the specific embodiments defined in the
following items:
[0335] 501. A transpulmonary administration method comprising:
[0336] making a freeze-dried composition into fine particles having
a mean particle diameter of 10 microns or less or a fine particle
fraction of 10% or more by applying an air impact having an air
speed of at least 1 m/sec and an air flow rate of at least 17
ml/sec to the freeze-dried composition at the time of use, and
[0337] administering the resulting fine particle powder to a user
by inhalation;
[0338] the freeze-dried composition prepared by freeze-drying a
composition liquid containing ingredients in the non-dissolved form
and having the following properties:
[0339] (i) has a non-powder cake-like form,
[0340] (ii) has a disintegration index of 0.05 or more, and
[0341] (iii) becomes fine particles having a mean particle diameter
of 10 microns or less or a fine particle fraction of 10% or more
upon receipt of the air impact.
[0342] 502. The transpulmonary administration method according to
item 501, wherein the freeze-dried composition contains a single
dose of active ingredients.
[0343] 503. The transpulmonary administration method according to
item 501, wherein the freeze-dried composition is housed in a
vessel, and the fine particle powder are made using a device
comprising a member capable of applying the air impact to the
freeze-dried composition in the vessel and a member for discharging
the resulting fine particle powder-form freeze-dried composition
out of the vessel.
[0344] 504. The transpulmonary administration method according to
item 503, wherein the disintegration index of the freeze-dried
composition is in the range of 0.05 to 1.5.
[0345] 505. The transpulmonary administration method according to
item 503, wherein the air impact of (iii) is generated by air
having an air speed of at least 2 m/sec and an air flow rate of at
least 17 ml/sec.
[0346] 506. The transpulmonary administration method according to
item 503, wherein the air impact of (iii) is generated by air
having an air speed in a range of 1 to 300 m/sec and an air flow
rate of at least 17 ml/sec.
[0347] 507. The transpulmonary administration method according to
item 503, wherein the air impact of (iii) is generated by air
having an air speed of at least 1 m/sec and an air flow rate of at
least 20 ml/sec.
[0348] 508. The transpulmonary administration method according to
item 503, wherein the air impact of (iii) is generated by air
having an air speed of at least 1 m/sec and an air flow rate in a
range of 17 ml/sec to 15 L/sec.
[0349] 509. The transpulmonary administration method according to
item 503, wherein the freeze-dried composition contains a
low-molecular-weight drug as the active ingredient.
[0350] 510. The transpulmonary administration method according to
item 503, wherein the freeze-dried composition contains a
high-molecular-weight drug such as a protein, a nucleic acid or the
like as the active ingredient.
[0351] 511. The transpulmonary administration method according to
item 503, wherein the freeze-dried composition contains a nucleic
acid as the active ingredient with held in the holder.
[0352] 512. The transpulmonary administration method according to
item 509, wherein the freeze-dried composition contains a
low-molecular-weight drug as the active ingredient, and at least
one selected from the group consisting of amino acids, dipeptides,
tripeptides, and saccharides as a carrier.
[0353] 513. The transpulmonary administration method according to
item 510, wherein the freeze-dried composition contains a
high-molecular-weight drug such as proteins, a nucleic acid or the
like as the active ingredient, and at least one selected from the
group consisting of amino acids, dipeptides, tripeptides, and
saccharides as a carrier.
[0354] 514. The transpulmonary administration method according to
item 512, wherein the freeze-dried composition contains a
low-molecular-weight drug as the active ingredient, and at least
one selected from the group consisting of hydrophobic amino acids,
hydrophobic dipeptides, and hydrophobic tripeptides as the
carrier.
[0355] 515. The transpulmonary administration method according to
item 513, wherein the freeze-dried composition contains a
high-molecular-weight drug such as proteins, a nucleic acid or the
like as the active ingredient, and at least one selected from the
group consisting of hydrophobic amino acids, hydrophobic
dipeptides, and hydrophobic tripeptides as the carrier.
[0356] 516. The transpulmonary administration method according to
Item 503, wherein the freeze-dried composition is a water-soluble
composition.
[0357] 517. The transpulmonary administration method according to
item 503, being a method of making into fine particles and
administering such that the fine particles have a mean particle
diameter of 5 microns or less or a fine particle fraction of 20% or
more.
[0358] 518. The transpulmonary administration method according to
item 503, using the dry powder inhaler of item 301 or 302 shown in
the section of (1) Dry powder inhaler as the device.
[0359] 519. The transpulmonary administration method according to
item 518, using the dry powder inhaler of item 309 shown in the
section of (3) Dry powder inhaler as the device.
[0360] 520. The transpulmonary administration method according to
item 503, wherein the freeze-dried composition has the following
properties:
[0361] (i) has a non-powder cake-like form,
[0362] (ii) has a disintegration index in a range of 0.05 to 1.5,
and
[0363] (iii) becomes fine particles having a mean particle diameter
of 10 microns or less or a fine particle fraction of 10% or more
upon receiving an air impact having an air speed in a range of 1 to
300 m/sec and an air flow rate in a range of 17 ml/sec to 15
L/sec,
[0364] and the fine particles are made using a dry powder inhaler
comprising a member capable of applying said air impact to the
freeze-dried composition in the vessel and a member for discharging
the resulting fine particle powder-form freeze-dried composition
out of the vessel.
[0365] 521. The transpulmonary administration method according to
item 520, wherein the air speed is 1 to 250 m/sec.
[0366] 522. The transpulmonary administration method according to
item 520, wherein the air flow rate is 20 ml/sec to 10 L/sec.
(6) Use of a Freeze-dried Composition for Transpulmonary
Administration by Inhalation
[0367] The present invention also provides use of a freeze-dried
composition in a non-powder form for the transpulmonary
administration by inhalation. The use encompasses the specific
embodiments defined in the following items:
[0368] 601. Use of a freeze-dried composition for transpulmonary
administration by inhalation,
[0369] the freeze-dried composition prepared by freeze-drying a
composition liquid containing ingredients in the non-dissolved form
and having the following properties:
[0370] (i) has a non-powder cake-like form,
[0371] (ii) has a disintegration index of 0.05 or more, and
[0372] (iii) becomes fine particles having a mean particle diameter
of 10 microns or less or a fine particle fraction of 10% or more
upon receipt of an air impact having an air speed of at least 1
m/sec and an air flow rate of at least 17 ml/sec, and being used by
forming into fine particles having said mean particle diameter or
said fine particle fraction.
[0373] 602. The use of a freeze-dried composition for
transpulmonary administration according to item 601, wherein the
freeze-dried composition contains the active ingredient of a single
dose.
[0374] 603. The use of a freeze-dried composition for
transpulmonary administration according to item 601, wherein the
freeze-dried composition is housed in a vessel, and the fine
particles are made using a device comprising a member capable of
applying the air impact to the freeze-dried composition in the
vessel and a member for discharging the resulting fine particle
powder-form freeze-dried composition out of the vessel.
[0375] 604. The use of a freeze-dried composition for
transpulmonary administration according to item 603, wherein the
disintegration index of the freeze-dried composition is in the
range of 0.05 to 1.5.
[0376] 605. The use of a freeze-dried composition for
transpulmonary administration according to item 603, wherein the
freeze-dried composition becomes fine particles having a mean
particle diameter of 10 microns or less or a fine particle fraction
of 10% or more upon receiving an air impact having an air speed of
at least 2 m/sec and an air flow rate of at least 17 ml/sec.
[0377] 606. The use of a freeze-dried composition for
transpulmonary administration according to item 603, wherein the
freeze-dried composition becomes fine particles having a mean
particle diameter of 10 microns or less or a fine particle fraction
of 10% or more upon receiving an air impact having an air speed in
a range of 1 to 300 m/sec and an air flow rate of at least 17
ml/sec.
[0378] 607. The use of a freeze-dried composition for
transpulmonary administration according to item 603, wherein the
freeze-dried composition becomes fine particles having a mean
particle diameter of 10 microns or less or a fine particle fraction
of 10% or more upon receiving an air impact having an air speed of
at least 1 m/sec and an air flow rate of at least 20 ml/sec.
[0379] 608. The use of a freeze-dried composition for
transpulmonary administration according to item 603, wherein the
freeze-dried composition becomes fine particles having a mean
particle diameter of 10 microns or less or a fine particle fraction
of 10% or more upon receiving an air impact having an air speed of
at least 1 m/sec and an air flow rate in a range of 17 ml/sec to 15
L/sec.
[0380] 609. The use of a freeze-dried composition for
transpulmonary administration according to item 603, wherein the
freeze-dried composition becomes fine particles having a mean
particle diameter of 5 microns or less or a fine particle fraction
of 20% or more upon receiving an air impact.
[0381] 610. The use of a freeze-dried composition for
transpulmonary administration according to item 603, wherein the
freeze-dried composition contains a low-molecular-weight drug as
the active ingredient.
[0382] 611. The use of a freeze-dried composition for
transpulmonary administration according to item 603, wherein the
freeze-dried composition contains a high-molecular-weight drug such
as proteins, a nucleic acid or the like as the active
ingredient.
[0383] 612. The use of a freeze-dried composition for
transpulmonary administration according to item 603, wherein the
freeze-dried composition contains a nucleic acid as the active
ingredient with held in the holder.
[0384] 613. The use of a freeze-dried composition for
transpulmonary administration according to item 610, wherein the
freeze-dried composition contains a low-molecular-weight drug as
the active ingredient, and at least one selected from the group
consisting of amino acids, dipeptides, tripeptides, and saccharides
as a carrier.
[0385] 614. The use of a freeze-dried composition for
transpulmonary administration according to item 611, wherein the
freeze-dried composition contains a high-molecular-weight drug such
as a protein, a nucleic acid or the like as the active ingredient,
and at least one selected from the group consisting of amino acids,
dipeptides, tripeptides, and saccharides as a carrier.
[0386] 615. The use of a freeze-dried composition for
transpulmonary administration according to item 613, wherein the
freeze-dried composition contains a low-molecular-weight drug as
the active ingredient, and at least one selected from the group
consisting of hydrophobic amino acids, hydrophobic dipeptides, and
hydrophobic tripeptides as the carrier.
[0387] 616. The use of a freeze-dried composition for
transpulmonary administration according to item 614, wherein the
freeze-dried composition contains a high-molecular-weight drug such
as proteins, a nucleic acid or the like as the active ingredient,
and at least one selected from the group consisting of hydrophobic
amino acids, hydrophobic dipeptides, and hydrophobic tripeptides as
the carrier.
[0388] 617. The use of a freeze-dried composition for
transpulmonary administration according to item 603, wherein the
freeze-dried composition is a water-soluble composition.
[0389] 618. The use of a freeze-dried composition for
transpulmonary administration according to item 603, using the dry
powder inhaler of item 301 or 302 shown in the section of (3) Dry
powder inhaler as the device.
[0390] 619. The use of a freeze-dried composition for
transpulmonary administration according to item 618, using the dry
powder inhaler of item 109 shown in the section of (3) Dry powder
inhaler as the device.
[0391] 620. The use of a freeze-dried composition for
transpulmonary administration according to item 603, wherein the
freeze-dried composition which is prepared by freeze-drying a
composition liquid containing ingredients in the non-dissolved form
and has the following properties: [0392] (i) has a non-powder
cake-like form, [0393] (ii) has a disintegration index in a range
of 0.05 to 1.5, and [0394] (iii) becomes fine particles having a
mean particle diameter of 10 microns or less or a fine particle
fraction of 10% or more upon receipt of an air impact having an air
speed in a range of 1 to 300 m/sec and an air flow rate in a range
of 17 ml/sec to 15 L/sec, and the fine particles are made using a
device comprising a member capable of applying the air impact to
the freeze-dried composition in the vessel and a member for
discharging the resulting fine particle powder-form freeze-dried
composition out of the vessel.
[0395] 621. The use of a freeze-dried composition in transpulmonary
administration according to item 620, wherein the air speed is 1 to
250 m/sec.
[0396] 622. The use of a freeze-dried composition in transpulmonary
administration according to item 620, wherein the air flow rate is
20 mi/sec to 10 L/sec.
(7) Use of a Freeze-dried Composition For Manufacture of a Dry
Powdered Preparation for Transpulmonary Administration by
Inhalation
[0397] Furthermore, the present invention provides use of a
freeze-dried composition in a non-powder form for manufacture of a
dry powdered preparation for transpulmonary administration by
inhalation. The use encompasses the specific embodiments defined in
the following items:
[0398] 701. Use of a freeze-dried composition for manufacture of a
dry powdered preparation for transpulmonary administration by
inhalation,
[0399] the freeze-dried composition having the following
properties: [0400] (i) prepared by freeze-drying a composition
liquid containing ingredients in the non-dissolved form, [0401]
(ii) has a non-powder cake-like form, [0402] (iii) has a
disintegration index of 0.05 or more, and [0403] (iv) becomes fine
particles having a mean particle diameter of 10 microns or less or
a fine particle fraction of 10% or more upon receipt of an air
impact having an air speed of at least 1 m/sec and an air flow rate
of at least 17 ml/sec, and being used by forming into fine
particles having said mean particle diameter or said fine particle
fraction at the time of use.
[0404] 702. The use of a freeze-dried composition for manufacture
of a dry powdered preparation for transpulmonary administration
according to item 701, wherein the freeze-dried composition
contains the active ingredient of a single dose.
[0405] 703. The use of a freeze-dried composition for manufacture
of a dry powdered preparation for transpulmonary administration
according to item 701, wherein the disintegration index of the
freeze-dried composition is in the range of 0.05 to 1.5.
[0406] 704. The use of a freeze-dried composition for manufacture
of a dry powdered preparation for transpulmonary administration
according to Item 701, wherein the freeze-dried composition becomes
fine particles having a mean particle diameter of 10 microns or
less or a fine particle fraction of 10% or more upon receipt of an
air impact having an air speed of at least 2 m/sec and an air flow
rate of at least 17 ml/sec.
[0407] 705. The use of a freeze-dried composition for manufacture
of a dry powdered preparation for transpulmonary administration
according to item 701, wherein the freeze-dried composition becomes
fine particles having a mean particle diameter of 10 microns or
less or a fine particle fraction of 10% or more upon receipt of an
air impact having an air speed in a range of 1 to 300 m/sec and an
air flow rate of at least 17 ml/sec.
[0408] 706. The use of a freeze-dried composition for manufacture
of a dry powdered preparation for transpulmonary administration
according to item 701, wherein the freeze-dried composition becomes
fine particles having a mean particle diameter of 10 microns or
less or a fine particle fraction of 10% or more upon receipt of an
air impact having an air speed of at least 1 m/sec and an air flow
rate of at least 20 ml/sec.
[0409] 707. The use of a freeze-dried composition for manufacture
of a dry powdered preparation for transpulmonary administration
according to item 701, wherein the freeze-dried composition becomes
fine particles having a mean particle diameter of 10 microns or
less or a fine particle fraction of 10% or more upon receipt of an
air impact having an air speed of at least 1 m/sec and an air flow
rate in a range of 17 ml/sec to 15 L/sec.
[0410] 708. The use of a freeze-dried composition for manufacture
of a dry powdered preparation for transpulmonary administration
according to item 701, wherein the freeze-dried composition becomes
fine particles having a mean particle diameter of 5 microns or less
or a fine particle fraction of 20% or more upon receipt of an air
impact.
[0411] 709. The use of a freeze-dried composition for manufacture
of a dry powdered preparation for transpulmonary administration
according to item 701, wherein the freeze-dried composition
contains a low-molecular-weight drug as an active ingredient.
[0412] 710. The use of a freeze-dried composition for manufacture
of a dry powdered preparation for transpulmonary administration
according to item 701, wherein the freeze-dried composition
contains a high-molecular-weight drug such as proteins, a nucleic
acid or the like as an active ingredient.
[0413] 711. The use of a freeze-dried composition for manufacture
of a dry powdered preparation for transpulmonary administration
according to item 701, wherein the freeze-dried composition
contains a nucleic acid as the active ingredient with held in the
holder.
[0414] 712. The use of a freeze-dried composition for manufacture
of a dry powdered preparation for transpulmonary administration
according to item 701, wherein the freeze-dried composition
contains a low-molecular-weight drug as the active ingredient, and
at least one selected from the group consisting of amino acids,
dipeptides, tripeptides, and saccharides as a carrier.
[0415] 713. The use of a freeze-dried composition for manufacture
of a dry powdered preparation for transpulmonary administration
according to item 710, wherein the freeze-dried composition
contains a high-molecular-weight drug such as proteins, a nucleic
acid or the like as the active ingredient, and at least one
selected from the group consisting of amino acids, dipeptides,
tripeptides, and saccharides as a carrier.
[0416] 714. The use of a freeze-dried composition for manufacture
of a dry powdered preparation for transpulmonary administration
according to item 712, wherein the freeze-dried composition
contains a low-molecular-weight drug as the active ingredient, and
at least one selected from the group consisting of hydrophobic
amino acids, hydrophobic dipeptides, and hydrophobic tripeptides as
the carrier.
[0417] 715. The use of a freeze-dried composition for manufacture
of a dry powdered preparation for transpulmonary administration
according to item 713, wherein the freeze-dried composition
contains a high-molecular-weight drug such as proteins, a nucleic
acid or the like as the active ingredient, and at least one
selected from the group consisting of hydrophobic amino acids,
hydrophobic dipeptides, and hydrophobic tripeptides as the
carrier.
[0418] 716. The use of a freeze-dried composition for manufacture
of a dry powdered preparation for transpulmonary administration
according to item 701, wherein the freeze-dried composition is a
water-soluble composition.
[0419] 717. The use of a freeze-dried composition for manufacture
of a dry powdered preparation for transpulmonary administration
according to item 701, wherein the mean particle diameter of the
fine particles of the powdered preparation for transpulmonary
administration is 5 microns or less or the fine particle fraction
of the fine particles is 20% or more.
[0420] 718. The use of a freeze-dried composition for manufacture
of a dry powdered preparation for transpulmonary administration
according to item 701, wherein the freeze-dried composition is
housed in a vessel, and the fine particles are prepared by using a
device comprising a member for applying a prescribed air impact to
the freeze-dried composition housed in the vessel and a member for
discharging the resulting fine particle powder form freeze-dried
composition out of the vessel.
[0421] 719. The use of a freeze-dried composition for manufacture
of a dry powdered preparation for transpulmonary administration of
item 718, using the dry powder inhaler according to item 301 or 302
shown in the section of (3) Dry powder inhaler as the device.
[0422] 720. The use of a freeze-dried composition for manufacture
of a dry powdered preparation for transpulmonary administration
according to item 719, using the dry powder inhaler of item 309
shown in the section of (3) Dry powder inhaler as the device.
[0423] 721. The use of a freeze-dried composition for manufacture
of a dry powdered preparation for transpulmonary administration
according to item 701, using the freeze-dried composition having
the following properties:
[0424] (i) prepared by freeze-drying a composition liquid
containing ingredients in the non-dissolved form,
[0425] (ii) has a non-powder cake-like form,
[0426] (iii) has a disintegration index in a range of 0.05 to 1.5.
and
[0427] (iv) becomes fine particles having a mean particle diameter
of 10 microns or less or a fine particle fraction of 10% or more
upon receiving an air impact having an air speed in a range of 1 to
300 m/sec and an air flow rate in a range of 17 ml/sec to 15
L/sec.
[0428] 722. The use of a freeze-dried composition for manufacture
of a powdered preparation for transpulmonary administration
according to item 721, wherein the air speed is 1 to 250 m/sec.
[0429] 723. The use of a freeze-dried composition for manufacture
of a powdered preparation for transpulmonary administration
according to item 721, wherein the air flow rate is 20 ml/sec to 10
L/sec.
(8) Use of a Composition Liquid Containing Ingredients in the
Non-dissolved Form for Manufacture of a Freeze-dried Powdered
Composition for Preparing a Dry Powder Preparation for
Transpulmonary Administration
[0430] Furthermore, the present invention relates to a use of a
composition liquid containing ingredients in the non-dissolved form
for manufacture of a freeze-dried powdered composition for
preparing a dry powder preparation for transpulmonary
administration.
[0431] It should be noted that the composition in the non-dissolved
form containing ingredients for manufacture of a freeze-dried
composition, a preparation method thereof, a preparation method of
a freeze-dried composition using the same, a method of using the
freeze-dried composition obtained (a preparation method of a
freeze-dried preparation for transpulmonary administration) are as
described in the above.
EXAMPLE
[0432] Following is a detailed description of the present
invention, citing examples; however, the present invention is not
limited to these examples.
[0433] In the following examples, the disintegration index of the
non-powder-form freeze-dried composition (freeze-dried cake) of the
present invention, and the fine particle fraction (%), which is an
indicator for evaluating the delivery into the lungs of the dry
powdered preparation produced, were calculated in accordance with
the following methods.
<Calculation of Disintegration Index>
[0434] 1.0 ml of n-hexane is instilled gently down the wall of the
vessel into the prepared non-powder-form freeze-dried composition
(freeze-dried cake), and agitation is carried out for about 10
seconds at 3,000 rpm using an Automatic Lab-Mixer NS-8
(manufactured by Pasolina). The mixture obtained is put into a UV
cell (manufactured by Shimadzu GLC Center) of optical path length 1
mm and optical path width 10 mm, and then the turbidity of the
mixture is measured immediately at a measurement wavelength of 500
nm using a spectrophotometer (UV-240, manufactured by Shimadzu
Corporation). The value obtained by dividing the turbidity obtained
by the total formulation amount (the total amount (weight) of the
active ingredient and the carrier) is taken as the disintegration
index.
<Calculation of Fine Particle Fraction>
[0435] A vessel filled with the prepared non-powder-form
freeze-dried composition is installed into the dry powder inhaler,
and using the device a prescribed air impact is applied on the
composition, and the fine powdered preparation thus produced is
discharged directly into apparatus A (a twin impinger: manufactured
by Copley, UK) as mentioned in the European Pharmacopoeia (Third
Edition Supplement 2001, p 113-115). After this, the solvents in
stage 1 and stage 2 of the apparatus are respectively collected,
and the active ingredient contained in each solvent in the stage 1
or stage 2 is assayed using an appropriate method in accordance
with the type of active ingredient in the freeze-dried composition,
for example a bioassay method or HPLC (see the report of Lucas et
al. (Pharm. Res., 15 (4), 562-569 (1998)) and the report of Iida et
al. (Yakugaku Zasshi, 119 (10), 752-762 (1999)). The fraction that
can be expected to be delivered into the lungs is that in stage 2
(the aerodynamic diameter of particles recovered in this fraction
is 6.4 .mu.m or less); the proportion of the active ingredient that
reaches stage 2 and is recovered here is generally called the fine
particle fraction (the amount that can be expected to reach the
lungs), and is taken as a yardstick for evaluating the suitability
as an inhalation for transpulmonary administration.
[0436] In the Examples and Comparative Examples given below, the
active ingredients contained in stage 1 and stage 2 were
quantitated, and the weight amount of the active ingredient in
stage 2 was divided by the total weight amount of the active
ingredients jetted out (the total weight amount of the active
ingredients contained in stage 1 and stage 2: hereinafter also
referred to as "Stage 1+Stage 2") to calculate fine particles
fraction. Moreover, as a rule in the European Pharmacopoeia, when
using the twin impinger (manufactured by Copley, UK), it is
stipulated that suction is carried out at an air suction flow rate
of 60 L/min, i.e. 1 L/sec, and hence in the Examples and
Comparative Examples below this was followed.
Embodiment 1
[0437] Dry Powder Inhaler (Jet Type 1)
[0438] A description of an embodiment of the jet type dry powder
inhaler used in the present invention will now be given using FIG.
1.
[0439] The dry powder inhaler is an air jet type apparatus for
breaking down into fine particles and delivering into the lungs a
unit or a plurality of doses of a non-powder-form freeze-dried
composition 2 housed at the bottom of a vessel 1, and comprises a
needle 5 that has an air jet flow path 3 and a discharge flow path
4, an air intake member 7 that has an inhalation port 6 and is
attached to a base end of the needle part 5, a tubular safety cover
8 that surrounds the needle part 5 and also holds the vessel 1, and
air pressure-feeding member 9.
[0440] The air pressure-feeding member 9 is manually operated and
comprises a tubular bellows body 10. An intake port 12 equipped
with an intake valve 11, and a discharge port 14 equipped with a
discharge valve 13 are provided in the bellows body 10. The
discharge port 14 is attached to a connecting port 15 formed at the
base end of the air jet flow path 3 of the needle part 5, and
communicates with the air jet flow path 3. By applying a
compressive force to the bellows body 10 and thus contracting the
bellows body 10 in a state in which the intake valve 11 is closed,
the discharge valve 13 is opened, and air in the bellows body 10 is
discharged into the vessel 1 from the discharge port 14 via the air
jet flow path 3. When the compressive force is released, on the
other hand, the bellows body 10 expands due to the elastic
restoring force of the bellows body 10, and in a state in which the
discharge valve 13 is closed, the intake valve 11 opens, and air is
introduced into the bellows body 10.
[0441] When using the dry powder inhaler, as shown in FIG. 1, the
vessel 1 is inserted into the tubular safety cover 8, and a stopper
1a of the vessel 1 is pierced by the needle part 5, thus
communicating the air jet flow path 3 and the discharge flow path 4
with the inside of the vessel 1. In this state, if the bellows body
10 of the air pressure-feeding member 9 is contracted to discharge
air from the discharge port 14, then this air passes through the
air jet flow path 3 and is jetted out from the tip of the needle
part 5 towards the freeze-dried composition 2 in the vessel, and
due to the resulting air impact the freeze-dried composition 2
becomes fine particles, which then pass through the discharge flow
path 4 of the needle part 5 and are discharged from the inhalation
port 6 of the air intake member 7. The user (patient) inhales these
fine particles from the inhalation port 6 of the air intake member,
whereupon the fine particles of the freeze-dried composition 2 are
delivered into the lungs of the user (patient). The material of the
stopper of the vessel for use in the invention is not limited, and
can be selected from materials usually used for a stopper of a
vessel for holding a drug or compound, such as rubber, plastic,
aluminum or the like.
[0442] With this jet type dry powder inhaler, the air jet amount is
set to be about 20 ml, the volume of the vessel about 5 ml, the
bore (diameter) of the air jet flow path 3 about 1.2 mm, and the
bore (diameter) of the discharge flow path 4 about 1.8 mm.
[0443] Note, however, that there is no limitation to this. The
preferable range for the bores of the air jet flow path 3 and the
discharge flow path 4 varies according to the size of the vessel
and so on. These bores can be selected as appropriate from a range
of 0.3 to 10 mm, preferably 0.3 to 7 mm, more preferably 0.5 to 5
mm.
[0444] Moreover, regarding the air pressure-feeding member 9, the
discharge amount of fine particles required for administration by
inhalation can be adjusted by adjusting the speed of compression of
the bellows body 10. Adjustment can also be carried out by such air
jet such that most of the freeze-dried composition 2 is broken down
into fine particles.
Embodiment 2
[0445] Dry Powder Inhaler (Self-inhaling Type 1)
[0446] A description of an embodiment (first embodiment) of the
self-inhaling type dry powder inhaler used in the present invention
will now be given using FIG. 2. The dry powder inhaler shown in
FIG. 2 comprises a needle part 5 having a suction flow path 16 and
an air Introduction flow path 17, a tubular safety cover 8, and an
air intake member 19 that has an inhalation port 18 and
communicates with the suction flow path 16. The air intake member
19 is connected to the base end of the suction flow path 16 of the
needle part 5.
[0447] When using the dry powder inhaler, as shown In FIG. 2, the
vessel 1 is inserted into the tubular safety cover 8, and an
stopper 1a of the vessel 1 is pierced by the needle part 5, thus
communicating the suction flow path 16 and the air introduction
flow path 17 with the inside of the vessel 1. In this state,
through the inhalation pressure of the user (patient), air in the
vessel 1 is sucked in from the inhalation port 18 via the suction
flow path 16, and at the same time outside air flows into the
vessel 1, which is now at a negative pressure, from the air
introduction flow path 17 At this time, the freeze-dried
composition 2 is made into fine particles through the air impact
acting on the freeze-dried composition 2, and the fine particles
produced are delivered into the user's (patient's) lungs from the
inhalation port 18 via the suction flow path 16.
[0448] Moreover, with this dry powder inhaler, setting is carried
out such that most of the freeze-dried composition 2 is made into
fine particles and discharged from the inhalation port 18 through
one Inhalation of the user (patient). It is considered that the air
flow rate of one inhalation of the user (patient) is 5 to 300
L/min, preferably 10 to 200 L/min, more preferably 10 to 100 L/min,
but the design of the self-inhaling type dry powder inhaler of the
present invention is modified as appropriate in accordance with the
respiratory ability of the user (patient) using the device. With
the dry powder inhaler shown in FIG. 2, in accordance with the
respiratory ability of the user (patient) in question, the volume
of the vessel has been set to about 10 ml, and the bores of the air
introduction flow path 17 and the suction flow path 16 to about 1.5
mm. As a result, the settings are such that the freeze-dried
composition 2 is made into fine particles and discharged from the
inhalation port 18 with virtually none left behind through one
inhalation of the user (patient).
Embodiment 3
[0449] Dry Powder Inhaler (Self-inhaling Type 2)
[0450] A description of an embodiment (second embodiment) of the
self-inhaling type dry powder inhaler used in the present invention
will now be given using FIG. 3. The dry powder inhaler shown in
FIG. 3 is the same as the jet type dry powder inhaler shown in FIG.
1 with the bellows body 10 used for pressure-feeding air removed
from the connecting port 15. The discharge flow path 4 of the jet
type dry powder inhaler of FIG. 1 corresponds to a suction flow
path 16, the air jet flow path 3 to an air introduction flow path
17, and the air intake member 7 having the inhalation port 6 to an
air intake member 19 having an inhalation port 18.
[0451] When using the self-inhaling type dry powder inhaler in
question, the main points are the same as with the dry powder
inhaler shown in FIG. 2. Through the inhalation pressure of the
user (patient), air in the vessel 1 is sucked in from the
inhalation port 18 via the suction flow path 16, and at the same
time outside air flows into the vessel 1, which is now at a
negative pressure, from the air introduction flow path 17. The
freeze-dried composition 2 is made into fine particles through the
air impact produced accompanying this inflow of air. The fine
particles produced are then delivered into the user (patient's)
lungs from the inhalation port 18. As mentioned before, the air
flow rate for one inhalation of the user (patient) is generally in
a range of 5 to 300 L/minute; however, with the dry powder inhaler
shown in FIG. 3, in accordance with the respiratory ability of the
user (patient) in question, the volume of the vessel was set to
about 5 ml, the bore (diameter) of the air introduction flow path
17 to about 1.2 mm, and the bore (diameter) of the suction flow
path 16 to about 1.8 mm. As a result, the settings are such that
most of the freeze-dried composition 2 is made into fine particles
and discharged from the inhalation port 18 through one inhalation
of the user (patient).
[0452] If the self-inhaling type dry powder inhaler is constituted
in this way, then by detachably installing air pressure-feeding
member 9 such as a bellows body 10 into the connecting port 15, the
self-inhaling type dry powder inhaler can be changed into a jet
type. A single dry powder inhaler can thus be used as either a
self-inhaling type or a jet type as desired.
[0453] Each of the above dry powder inhalers of the present
invention, regardless of whether it is a self-inhaling type or a
jet type, can be constituted such that it is possible to select and
set the size of the air impact such that the freeze-dried
composition becomes fine particles of mean particle diameter 10
microns or less, preferably 5 microns or less, and flies out with
almost none left behind.
Embodiment 4
[0454] Dry Powder Inhaler (Self-inhaling Type 3)
[0455] A description of an embodiment (third embodiment) of the
self-inhaling type dry powder inhaler used in the present invention
will now be given using FIGS. 4 to 10. FIG. 4 is a perspective view
showing the dry powder inhaler, and FIG. 5 is a cross section
showing the dry powder inhaler. Moreover, FIG. 6(a) is a partial
cross section showing a needle part 5 and a suction port 31 of the
dry powder inhaler, and (b) is a side view of the needle part 5.
Furthermore, FIGS. 7 to 10 are cross sections for explaining the
operation of the dry powder inhaler.
[0456] The dry powder inhaler comprises a needle part 5 in which
are formed a suction flow path 16 and an air introduction flow path
17, a holder part 22 for holding a vessel 1, a housing chamber 20
for housing the vessel 1 via the holder part 22, a guide part 23
provided in the housing chamber 20 for guiding the holder part 22
in the axial direction of the needle part 5, and a holder operating
part 24 for advancing and retreating the holder part 22 along the
guide part 23; these are all housed in a tubular housing 21.
Moreover, a mouthpiece 32 that has a suction port 31 and
communicates with the suction flow path 16 of the needle part 5 is
provided at a tip of the housing 21.
[0457] As shown in FIG. 7, in detail the housing 21 is formed from
a housing main body 26 in which is formed a removal/insertion port
25 in a position in which the holder part 22 is retreated, and a
lid 27 that opens and closes the removal/insertion port 25. The lid
27 is connected to the housing main body 26 by a hinge 21A, and a
window 28 for verifying whether the vessel 1 has been loaded is
provided in the lid 27.
[0458] An introduction port 29 for introducing outside air is
provided in a wall of the housing 21, and a check valve 30 is
installed at the introduction port 29. Moreover, the mouthpiece 32
is provided at the tip of the housing 21. The suction port 31 of
the mouthpiece 32 is covered by a cap 32a when the dry powder
inhaler is not being used.
[0459] A flange-shaped partition part 33 is formed at the base end
of the needle part 5, and an end of the air introduction flow path
17 passes through the partition part 33 and opens out in an outer
peripheral direction of the partition part 33. Moreover, a
peripheral wall part 34 extends from an outer rim part of the
partition part 33 towards the suction port 31 of the mouthpiece 32.
The needle part 5 is installed into the housing 21 by fitting the
partition part 33 into the tip part of the housing 21. Through this
installation, the axial direction of the housing 21 and the axial
direction of the needle part 5 are aligned with one another.
[0460] A remover 35 for lifting the vessel 1 from the base of the
holder part 22 and removing the vessel 1 is attached to the holder
part 22, and a lever 36 for lifting the vessel 1 up is formed on
the remover 35.
[0461] The holder operating part 24 comprises a mechanism part 37
for moving the holder part 22 back and forth along the axial
direction of the housing 21, and an operating lever for operating
the mechanism part 37. The mechanism part 37 comprises a connector
39. One end of the connector 39 is connected to the holder part 22
by a hinge 40, and the other end of the connector 39 is connected
to the lid 27 by a hinge 41. The lid 27 is also used as the
above-mentioned operating lever. By opening and closing the lid 27,
the holder part 22 is advanced and retreated along the guide part
23.
[0462] The point of action of the force for pushing down the lid 27
is shown by the arrow C in FIGS. 7. That is, the distance from the
hinge 21A to the point of action is made to be longer than the
distance from the hinge 21A to the hinge 41. As a result, through
the lever principle, the lid (operating lever) 27 can be operated
by a force smaller than the force necessary to pierce the stopper
1a of the vessel 1 with the needle part 5.
[0463] Moreover, as shown in FIG. 6, second introduction paths 42
for supplementary introduction of air are formed in the dry powder
inhaler. When sucking the freeze-dried composition that has been
made into a powder from the mouthpiece 32, outside air passes
through these second introduction path 42 and flows to the suction
port 31 of the mouthpiece 32. As a result, the dry powder inhaler
can be used without imposing a burden even by a user (patient)
having reduced pulmonary capacity or a child patient. Note that the
second introduction paths 42 may be omitted.
[0464] Introduction grooves 42a are provided in the partition part
33 of the needle part 5 and introduction grooves 42b are provided
in the peripheral wall part 34. By fitting the mouthpiece 32 into
the peripheral wall part 34 of the needle part 5, the second
introduction paths 42 are thus formed from the mouthpiece 32 and
the introduction grooves 42a and 42b.
[0465] A slight gap 43 is formed between the mouthpiece 32 and the
housing 21, and one end 44 of the second introduction paths 42
opens out to the outside via the gap 43, while the other end 45 of
the second introduction paths 42 opens out into the suction port 31
of the mouthpiece 32.
[0466] Moreover, as shown in FIG. 6, a wall 47 having vent holes 46
is provided in the suction port 31. Consequently, even in the case
that the air impact applied to the freeze-dried composition 2 is
small due to a lack of suction force or the like, and part of the
freeze-dried composition 2 is not made into a powder, the
non-powder part can be made into a powder when passing through the
vent holes 46 of the wall 47.
[0467] Moreover, as shown in FIG. 6(a), a tip opening 17a of the
air introduction flow path 17 of the needle part 5 is made to be
closer to the freeze-dried composition 2 than a tip opening 16a of
the suction flow path 16. As a result, dropping of the flow speed
of the air that flows into the vessel 1 from the tip opening 17a of
the air introduction flow path 17 can be suppressed as much as
possible, and hence an effective air impact can be applied to the
freeze-dried composition 2. Moreover, because the tip opening 16a
of the suction flow path 16 of the needle part 5 is further from
the freeze-dried composition 2 than the tip opening 17a of the air
introduction flow path 17, making of the freeze-dried composition 2
can be made to into a fine powder in the vessel 1 as much as
possible before being sucked into the air introduction flow path 16
of the needle part 5.
[0468] The dry powder inhaler is used as follows. Firstly, the lid
27 is lifted up to open the removal/insertion port 25 of the
housing 21 as in FIG. 7, whereby the holder part 22 is pulled
backwards to reach the removal/insertion port 25 of the housing 21.
Next, the vessel 1 is installed in the holder part 22 with the
stopper 1a facing forwards. Next, the lid 27 is pushed down to
close the removal/insertion port 25 of the housing 21 as in FIG. 8,
whereby the holder part 22 is pushed towards the needle part 5 by
the connector 39, and the stopper 1a of the vessel 1 is pierced by
the tip of the needle part 5, thus communicating the suction flow
path 16 and the air introduction flow path 17 of the needle part 5
with the inside of the vessel 1. Next, air in the vessel 1 is
sucked from the suction port 31 of the mouthpiece 32 through the
suction flow path 16 of the needle part 5 by the inhalation
pressure of the user (patient). At this time, the inside of the
vessel 1 becomes a negative pressure and the check valve 30 opens,
and outside air flows into the vessel 1 through the air
introduction flow path 17 of the needle part 5. As a result, an air
impact is generated in the vessel 1 and the freeze-dried
composition 2 is broken down into fine particles, and the fine
particles prepared are delivered into the user's (patient's) lungs
from the suction port 31 via the suction flow path 16. After use,
the lid 27 is lifted up to pull the holder part 22 back up to the
removal/insertion port 25 of the housing 21, and then the remover
35 is lifted up by the lever 36 and the vessel 1 is removed from
the holder part 22.
[0469] Even if air is conversely blown into the vessel 1 from the
suction port 31 of the mouthpiece 32, discharge to the outside of
the freeze-dried composition 2 made into fine particles is
prevented by the check valve 30.
[0470] As mentioned before, the air flow rate of one inhalation of
the user (patient) is generally in a range of 5 to 300 L/min, but
with the dry powder inhaler shown in FIGS. 4 to 10, in accordance
with the respiratory ability of the user (patient), the volume of
the vessel 1 has been set to about 5 ml, the bore (diameter) of the
air introduction flow path 17 to about 2.5 mm, and the bore
(diameter) of the suction flow path 16 to about 2.5 mm. As a
result, the settings are such that most of the freeze-dried
composition 2 is made into fine particles and discharged from the
suction port 31 through one inhalation of the user (patient).
[0471] Other embodiments of the dry powder inhaler (self-inhaling
type) are shown in FIGS. 11 to 13.
[0472] With the dry powder inhaler (self-inhaling type 4) shown in
FIG. 11, an operating member 48 is provided so as to be freely
rotatable in the circumferential direction of the housing 21 as
shown by the arrow. The mechanism part of the holder operating
part, which is not shown in the drawing, comprises a spiral groove
and a follower that engages into the same; when the operating
member 48 is rotated, this rotation is converted to linear movement
of the holder part 22 in the axial direction of the needle part 5.
Note that the angle of rotation of the operator 48 is about
180.degree..
[0473] With the dry powder inhaler (self-inhaling type 5) shown in
FIG. 12 and FIG. 13, an annular operating member 49 is installed so
as to be freely rotatable in the housing 21. The mechanism part of
the holder operating part, which is not shown in the drawing,
comprises a feed screw; when the operating member 49 is rotated,
this rotation is converted to linear movement of the holder part 22
in the axial direction of the needle part 5. The holder part 22 can
be withdrawn from the back of the housing 21.
Example 1
[0474] 72 .mu.g of `LipofectAMINE 2000` which is a cationic gene
transfer liposome (manufactured by Invitrogen Corporation) and 24
.mu.g of pEGFP-C2, which is a plasmid DNA (manufactured by
Clontech), were blended into 1,200 .mu.l of OPTI-MEM I Reduced
Serum Medium (manufactured by Invitrogen Corporation, modified
Eagle's minimum essential medium), and the resultant was mixed and
suspended to form a complex in the Medium. The geometric mean
particle diameter of the complex formed was measured with a Dynamic
Light Scattering Particle Size Analyzer (Electrophoretic Light
Scattering Spectrophotometer, ELS-8000, manufactured by Otsuka
Electronics Co., Ltd.) Subsequently, 100 .mu.l of suspension
containing the complex formed was added and mixed to 400 .mu.l of
aqueous L-leucine solution (5 mg/ml) in which the L-leucine was
dissolved in water in advance, which aqueous solution was contained
in a vessel (trunk diameter of 1.8 mm), and 10 samples were
prepared in this manner. Thereafter, freeze-drying was carried out
using a shelf-type freeze-dryer (Lyovac GT-4, manufactured by
Leybold). The disintegration index of the non-powder-form
(cake-like) freeze-dried composition (freeze-dried cake) obtained
was calculated. Next, a vessel containing the non-powder-form
freeze-dried composition (freeze-dried cake) obtained was installed
in a jet type dry powder inhaler (having a bellows body 10 capable
of supplying an amount of air of about 20 ml; Embodiment 1, FIG. 1)
designed such that the bore of the air jet flow path 3 was 1.2 mm
and the bore of the discharge flow path 4 was 1.8 mm.
[0475] It was verified that, by introducing an amount of air of
about 20 ml from the dry powder inhaler into the vessel (giving an
air impact arising through an air speed of about 35 m/sec and an
air flow rate of about 40 ml/sec), the non-powder-form freeze-dried
cake in the vessel was made into fine particles, and the fine
particles were jetted out from the vessel via the discharge flow
path 4 in an instant. The fine particles were collected using a
particle size distribution meter (Aerosizer: manufactured by
Amherst Process Instrument, Inc., USA; R. W. Niven: Pharmaceutical
Technology, 72-78 (1993)) fitted with an Aerobreather (manufactured
by Amherst Process Instrument, Inc., USA, R. W. Niven:
Pharmaceutical Technology, 72-78(1993)), which is an artificial
lung model capable of directly measuring the particle size
distribution of the particles jetted out from the vessel
(measurement conditions: breath rate: 60 L/min, breath volume: 1 L,
acceleration: 19); the particle size distribution of the fine
particles that had been made was thus measured, and the mass median
aerodynamic diameter (.mu.m.+-.SD) was calculated from the particle
size distribution. The geometric mean particle diameter of
particles contained in the suspension in the suspended-form, the
disintegration index, and the mass median aerodynamic diameter
(.mu.m.+-.SD) of the fine particles jetted out from the inhaler are
shown in Table 1 for each of the freeze-dried compositions.
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Geometric mean Mass median particle
aerodynamic Freeze-dried diameter Disintegration diameter
composition (.mu.m) index (.mu.m .+-. SD, MMAD) LipofectAmine 0.827
0.186 1.762 .+-. 1.491 2000 + pEGFP-C2 + Leucine
[0476] As shown in Table 1, the non-powder-form freeze-dried cake
having a disintegration index of 0.186 was disintegrated by the air
impact arising through an air speed of about 35 m/sec and an air
flow rate of about 40 ml/sec, becoming a fine-particle-form
powdered preparation of mass median aerodynamic diameter of 5 .mu.m
or less suitable for transpulmonary administration. Consequently,
it was verified that a sample before freeze-drying, even in a
non-dissolved form (here, in the suspension form), can be provided
as a freeze-dried composition which can be made into
fine-particle-form dried powder suitable for transpulmonary
administration by the specific air impact defined in the present
invention. More specifically, the sample before freeze-drying, even
in a non-dissolved form, can be used for the dry powder inhaler for
transpulmonary administration of the present invention, and thus
transpulmonary administration can be efficiently carried out. Note
that genes or antisense molecules capable of offering therapeutic
effects by transpulmonary administration can be introduced into a
body by employing a cancer suppression gene p53 or a cystic
fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) instead of the
plasmid DNA (pEGFP-C2) employed in the present Example. Thus, It
should be considered that the dry powder inhalation system of the
present invention can be efficiently utilized for gene therapy.
Example 2
Comparative Example 1
[0477] 72 .mu.g of `LipofectAMINE 2000`, which is a cationic gene
transfer liposome (manufactured by Invitrogen corporation) and 10
.mu.g of Oligo-RNA (manufactured by Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co.,
Ltd.) were mixed and suspended in the presence of OPTI-MEM I
Reduced Serum Medium (manufactured by Invitrogen corporation,
modified Eagle's minimum essential medium), to form a complex. The
geometric mean particle diameter of the complex formed was measured
with a Dynamic Light Scattering Particle Size Analyzer
(Electrophoretic Light Scattering Spectrophotometer, ELS-8000,
manufactured by Otsuka Electronics Co., Ltd.).
[0478] Subsequently, 100 .mu.l of suspension containing the complex
formed was added to 400 .mu.l of aqueous L-leucine solution (5
mg/ml) prepared by dissolving L-leucine into water in advance,
which aqueous solution was contained in a vessel (trunk diameter of
18 mm), and 10 samples were prepared in the same manner, to prepare
samples for freeze-drying (Example 2). As a Comparative Example,
400 .mu.l of aqueous solution (5 mg/ml) of dextran 40 instead of
L-leucine aqueous solution employed in the above was used for
preparing samples for freeze-drying (10 samples) in the same manner
as in the above (Comparative Example 1).
[0479] Thereafter, freeze-drying was carried out using a shelf-type
freeze-dryer (Lyovac GT-4, manufactured by Leybold). The
disintegration index of the non-powder-form (cake-like)
freeze-dried composition (freeze-dried cake) obtained was
calculated. Next, a vessel containing the non-powder-form
freeze-dried composition (freeze-dried cake) obtained was installed
in a jet type dry powder inhaler (having a bellows body 10 capable
of supplying an amount of air of about 20 ml; Embodiment 1, FIG. 1)
designed such that the bore of the air jet flow path 3 was 1.2 mm
and the bore of the discharge flow path 4 was 1.8 mm.
[0480] It was verified that, by introducing an amount of air of
about 20 ml from the dry powder inhaler into the vessel (giving an
air impact arising through an air speed of about 35 m/sec and an
air flow rate of about 40 ml/sec), the non-powder-form freeze-dried
cake in the vessel was made into fine particles, and the fine
particles were jetted out from the vessel via the discharge flow
path 4 in an instant. The fine particles were collected using a
particle size distribution meter (Aerosizer: manufactured by
Amherst Process Instrument, Inc., USA) fitted with an Aerobreather
(manufactured by Amherst Process Instrument, Inc., USA)
(measurement conditions: breath rate: 60 L/min, breath volume: 1 L,
acceleration: 19), and the particle size distribution of the fine
particles that had been made was thus measured, and the mass median
aerodynamic diameter (.mu.m.+-.SD) was calculated from the particle
size distribution.
[0481] The freeze-dried composition of Comparative Example 1 was
not dispersed by the air impact arising through an air speed of
about 35 m/sec and an air flow rate of about 40 ml/sec, and hence a
mass median aerodynamic diameter could not be calculated.
[0482] The geometric mean particle diameter of particles contained
in the suspension in the suspended-form, the disintegration index,
and the mass median aerodynamic diameter (.mu.m.+-.SD) of the fine
particles jetted out from the inhaler are shown in Table 2 for each
of the freeze-dried compositions (Example 2, Comparative Example
1). TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Geometric mean Mass median particle
aerodynamic Freeze-dried diameter Disintegration diameter
composition (.mu.m) index (.mu.m .+-. SD, MMAD) Example 2)
LipofectAMINE 2000 + Oligo-RNA + 1.19 0.165 1.633 .+-. 1.496
Leucine Comparative Example 1) LipofectAMINE 1.19 0.002 not
dispersed 2000 + Oligo-RNA + and thus Dextran 40 unmeasureable
[0483] As shown in Table 2, the non-powder-form freeze-dried cake
having a disintegration index of 0.165 was disintegrated by the air
impact arising through an air speed of about 35 m/sec and an air
flow rate of about 40 ml/sec, becoming a fine-particle-form
powdered preparation of mass median aerodynamic diameter of 5 .mu.m
or less suitable for transpulmonary administration even if the
sample before freeze-drying was in the non-dissolved form (here, in
the suspension form) as in Example 1.
[0484] In contrast thereto, the non-powder-form freeze-dried cake
having a disintegration index of 0.002 was neither dispersed nor
made into fine particles by the air impact, and hence was not
suitable for providing a dry powder preparation for transpulmonary
administration.
Examples 3 to 5
Comparative Example 2
[0485] 360 .mu.g of `Superfect` which is an activate dendrimer
molecule (cationic polymer) for gene transfer (manufactured by
Qiagen) and 5 .mu.g of Oligo-RNA (manufactured by Otsuka
Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.) (Example 3, Comparative Example 2) or 24
.mu.g of pEGFP-C2 (manufactured by Clontech) which is a plasmid DNA
(Examples 4 and 5) were mixed and suspended in the presence of
1,200 .mu.g of OPTI-MEM I Reduced Serum Medium (manufactured by
Invitrogen corporation, modified Eagle's minimum essential medium),
to form a complex. The geometric mean particle diameter of the
complex formed was measured with a Dynamic Light Scattering
Particle Size Analyzer (Electrophoretic Light Scattering
Spectrophotometer, ELS-8000, Otsuka Electronics Co., Ltd.) or a
Laser Diffraction/Scattering Particle Size Distribution Analyzer
(Laser Diffraction Particle Size Analyzer, SALD-3000J, Shimadzu
Corporation). Subsequently, 100 .mu.l of suspension containing the
complex formed was added to 400 .mu.l of aqueous
L-leucine-dissolved solution (5 mg/ml) prepared in advance, which
aqueous solution was contained in a vessel (trunk diameter of 18
mm) (Examples 3 and 4), or added to 400 .mu.l of aqueous
lactose-dissolved solution (5 mg/ml) prepared in advance, which the
aqueous solution was contained in a vessel (trunk diameter of 18
mm) (Example 5) and 10 samples were thus prepared for each Example
in the same manner, to prepare samples for freeze-drying. As a
Comparative Example, 400 .mu.l of aqueous dextran 40-dissolved
solution (5 mg/ml) instead of the aqueous L-leucine-dissolved
solution employed in Example 3 was used to prepare samples for
freeze-drying (10 samples) in the same manner (Comparative Example
2).
[0486] Thereafter, freeze-drying was carried out using a shelf-type
freeze-dryer (Lyovac GT-4, manufactured by Leybold). The
disintegration index of the non-powder-form (cake-like)
freeze-dried composition (freeze-dried cake) obtained was
calculated. Next, a vessel containing the non-powder-form
freeze-dried composition (freeze-dried cake) obtained was installed
in a jet type dry powder inhaler (having a bellows body 10 capable
of supplying an amount of air of about 20 ml; Embodiment 1, FIG. 1)
designed such that the bore of the air jet flow path 3 was 1.2 mm
and the bore of the discharge flow path 4 was 1.8 mm.
[0487] As for the freeze-dried composition obtained according to
Examples 3, 4, and 5, it was verified that, by introducing an
amount of air of about 20 ml from the dry powder inhaler into the
vessel (giving an air impact arising through an air speed of about
35 m/sec and an air flow rate of about 40 ml/sec), the
non-powder-form freeze-dried cake in the vessel was made into fine
particles, and the fine particles were jetted out from the vessel
via the discharge flow path 4 in an instant. The fine particles
were collected using a particle size distribution meter (Aerosizer:
manufactured by Amherst Process Instrument, Inc., USA) fitted with
an Aerobreather (manufactured by Amherst Process Instrument, Inc.,
USA) (measurement conditions: breath rate: 60 L/min, breath volume:
1 L, acceleration. 19); the particle size distribution of the fine
particles that had been made was thus measured, and the mass median
aerodynamic diameter (.mu.m.+-.SD) was calculated from the particle
size distribution in the same manner as in Example 1.
[0488] In contrast thereto, the non-powder form freeze-dried cake
of Comparative Example 2 was not dispersed by the air impact
arising through an air speed of about 35 m/sec and an air flow rate
of about 40 ml/sec, and hence the mass median aerodynamic diameter
was not obtained.
[0489] The geometric mean particle diameter of particles contained
in the suspension in the suspended-form, the disintegration index,
and the mass median aerodynamic diameter (.mu.m.+-.SD) of the fine
particles jetted out from the inhaler are shown in Table 3 for each
of the freeze-dried compositions (Examples 3 to 5, Comparative
Example 2). TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 Geometric mean Mass median
particle aerodynamic Freeze-dried diameter Disintegration diameter
composition (.mu.m) index (.mu.m .+-. SD, MMAD) Example 3)
Superfect + Oligo- 11.12 0.225 1.578 .+-. 1.403 RNA + Leucine 4)
Superfect + pEGFP- 3.74 0.189 1.646 .+-. 1.420 C2 + Leucine 5)
Superfect + pEGFP- 3.74 0.080 2.848 .+-. 1.873 C2 + Lactose
Comparative Example 2) Superfect + Oligo- 11.12 0.003 not dispersed
RNA + Dextran 40 and thus unmeasureable
[0490] As shown in Table 3, the non-powder-form freeze-dried cakes
having a disintegration index of 0.080 to 0.225, that is, 0.05 or
more, were disintegrated by the air impact arising through an air
speed of about 35 m/sec and an air flow rate of about 40 ml/sec,
becoming a fine-particle-form powdered preparations of mass median
aerodynamic diameter of 5 .mu.m or less suitable for transpulmonary
administration even if the sample before freeze-dried was in the
non-dissolved form (here, in the suspension form) as in Example 1
and particles contained therein had the geometric mean particle
diameter of 11 .mu.m and thus were prone to aggregate.
[0491] In contrast thereto, the non-powder-form freeze-dried cake
having the disintegration index of 0.003 was neither dispersed nor
made into fine particles by the air impact, hence was not suitable
for preparing a dry powder preparation for transpulmonary
administration.
[0492] Consequently, it was verified that the samples before
freeze-drying, even in the non-dissolved form (here, in the
suspension form), can be provided as a freeze-dried compositions
which can be made into fine-particle-form dried powders suitable
for transpulmonary administration by the specific air impact
defined in the present invention. More specifically, the samples
before freeze-drying, even in the non-dissolved form, can be used
for the dry powder inhaler for transpulmonary administration of the
present invention, and thus transpulmonary administration can be
efficiently carried out. Note that genes or antisense molecules
capable of offering curative effects by transpulmonary
administration can be introduced into a body by employing a cancer
suppression gene p53 or a cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance
regulator (CFTR) instead of the plasmid DNA (pEGFP-C2) employed in
the present Example. Moreover, as Oligo-RNA is a kind of RNAi (RNA
interference) and is a RNA duplex applicable to RNAi technology, a
short duplex RNA may thus be introduced corresponding to a target
gene, whereby a function of a messenger RNA of the target gene can
be specifically controlled (suppressed), and hence is applicable to
a therapy for lung cancer.
[0493] Thus, it should be considered that the dry powder inhalation
system of the present invention can be efficiently utilized for
gene therapy.
Example 6
[0494] 360 .mu.g of `Superfect`, which is an activate dendrimer
molecule for gene transfer (manufactured by Qiagen), and 5 .mu.g of
Oligo-RNA (manufactured by Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.) were
mixed and suspended in the presence of 1,200 .mu.g of OPTI-MEM I
Reduced Serum Medium (manufactured by Invitrogen corporation,
modified Eagle s minimum essential medium), to form a complex. The
geometric mean particle diameter of the complex formed was measured
with a Laser Diffraction/Scattering Particle Size Distribution
Analyzer (Laser Diffraction Particle Size Analyzer, SALD-3000J,
Shimadzu Corporation).
[0495] Subsequently, 100 .mu.l of suspension containing the complex
formed was added to 400 .mu.l of aqueous L-Valine-dissolved
solution (2.5 mg/ml) prepared in advance, which aqueous solution
was contained in a vessel (trunk diameter of 18 mm), and 10 samples
were prepared in the same manner for each Example, to prepare
samples for freeze-drying. Thereafter, freeze-drying was carried
out using a shelf-type freeze-dryer (Lyovac GT-4, manufactured by
Leybold). The disintegration index of the non-powder-form
(cake-like) freeze-dried composition (freeze-dried cake) obtained
was calculated.
[0496] Next, a vessel containing the non-powder-form freeze-dried
composition (freeze-dried cake) obtained was installed in a jet
type dry powder inhaler (having a bellows body 10 capable of
supplying an amount of air of about 20 ml; Embodiment 1, FIG. 1)
designed such that the bore of the air jet flow path 3 was 1.2 mm
and the bore of the discharge flow path 4 was 1.8 mm.
[0497] It was verified that, by introducing an amount of air of
about 20 ml from the dry powder inhaler into the vessel (giving an
air impact arising through an air speed of about 35 m/sec and an
air flow rate of about 40 ml/sec), the freeze-dried composition of
Example 6 was made into fine particles, and the fine particles were
jetted out from the vessel via the discharge flow path 4 in an
instant. The fine particles were collected using a particle size
distribution meter (Aerosizer: manufactured by Amherst Process
Instrument, Inc., USA) fitted with an Aerobreather (manufactured by
Amherst Process Instrument, Inc., USA (measurement conditions:
breath rate: 60 L/min, breath volume: 1 L, acceleration: 19), the
particle size distribution of the fine particles that had been made
was thus measured, and the mass median aerodynamic diameter
(.mu..+-.SD) was calculated from the particle size distribution in
the same manner as in Example 1.
[0498] The geometric mean particle diameter of particles contained
in the suspension in the suspended-form, the disintegration index,
and the mass median aerodynamic diameter (.mu.m.+-.SD) of the fine
particles jetted out from the inhaler are shown in Table 4 for each
of the freeze-dried compositions. TABLE-US-00004 TABLE 4 Geometric
mean Mass median particle aerodynamic Freeze-dried diameter
Disintegration diameter composition (.mu.m) index (.mu.m .+-. SD,
MMAD) 6) Superfect + Oligo- 13.9 0.275 1.589 .+-. 1.553 RNA +
Valine
[0499] As shown in Table 4, the non-powder-form freeze-dried cake
having a disintegration index of 0.275 was disintegrated by the air
impact arising through an air speed of about 35 m/sec and an air
flow rate of about 40 ml/sec, becoming a fine-particle-form
powdered preparation of mass median aerodynamic diameter of 5 .mu.m
or less suitable for transpulmonary administration even if the
sample before freeze-dried was in the non-dissolved form (here, in
the suspension form) as in Example 1 and particles contained
therein had the geometric mean particle diameter of about 14 .mu.m
and thus were prone to aggregate.
[0500] As shown by the results obtained in Examples 2 to 6, it was
verified that the samples before freeze-drying, even in the
non-dissolved form (here, in the suspension form), can be provided
as a freeze-dried composition which can be made into
fine-particle-form dried powder suitable for transpulmonary
administration by the specific air impact defined in the present
invention. More specifically, the freeze-dried composition
containing ingredients can be used for the dry powder inhaler for
transpulmonary administration of the present invention even when
the ingredients are not dissolved or are difficult to dissolve into
the solvent, and thus transpulmonary administration can be
efficiently carried out.
Examples 7 and 8
[0501] A solution obtained by dissolving insulin (0.2 mg in Example
7 and 1 mg in Example 8) (Recombinant Human Insulin Crystal,
manufactured by Biobras, Brazil; relative activity: 26.4 U/mg) into
hydrochloric acid solution, and a solution obtained by dissolving
various carriers as shown in Table 5 into purified water were
separately prepared, and these solutions were mixed at the
proportion shown in Table 5, to form various suspensions in the
suspended form. The geometric mean particle diameter of particles
contained in the suspensions was measured with a Laser
Diffraction/Scattering Particle Size Distribution Analyzer (Laser
Diffraction Particle Size Analyzer, SALD-3000J, Shimadzu
Corporation).
[0502] Subsequently, the various suspensions were filled into
vessels (trunk diameter 18 mm), and freeze-drying was carried out
using a shelf-type freeze-dryer (Lyovac GT-4, manufactured by
Leybold). The disintegration index of the non-powder-form
freeze-dried compositions (freeze-dried cake) obtained was
calculated. Next, a vessel (trunk diameter 18 mm) filled with each
non-powder-form freeze-dried composition obtained was installed in
a self-inhaling type dry powder inhaler configured such that the
bore of the air introduction flow path 17 was 1.99 mm and the bore
of the suction flow path 16 was 1.99 mm (Embodiment 3, FIG. 3).
Using this, the fine particle fraction (%) was calculated with a
twin impinger (manufactured by Copley, UK) (applying an air impact
arising through an air speed of about 95 m/sec and an air flow rate
of about 295 ml/sec to the freeze-dried cake). The geometric mean
particle diameter of particles contained in the suspension in the
suspended-form, the disintegration index and the fine particle
fraction (%) are shown for each of the freeze-dried compositions in
Table 5. TABLE-US-00005 TABLE 5 Geometric mean particle
Freeze-dried diameter Disintegration Fine particle composition
(.mu.m) index fraction (%) Example 7) 0.2 mg insulin + 0.1 mg 0.52
0.292 95.3% leucine + 0.042 mg arginine (pH 6.5) 8) 1 mg insulin +
0.6 mg 0.63 0.238 57.9% phenylalanine + 0.11 mg arginine (pH
6.4)
[0503] As can be seen from Table 5, the non-powder-form
freeze-dried compositions (freeze-dried cakes), which showed a
disintegration index of at least 0.238, were easily made into fine
particles in the vessel by the above-mentioned air impact, even
though the sample before freeze-drying was in the form of
containing an active ingredient (insulin) in the non-dissolved
form, and it was possible to produce a powdered preparation
suitable for transpulmonary administration.
Examples 9 to 11
[0504] A solution obtained by dissolving 1 mg of insulin
(Recombinant Human Insulin Crystal, manufactured by Biobras, is
Brazil; relative activity: 26.4 U/mg) into hydrochloric acid
solution, and a solution obtained by dissolving 0.5 mg of
phenylalanine into purified water were separately prepared. These
solutions were mixed, and then the pH was adjusted with sodium
hydroxide, to form various suspensions in the suspended form. The
geometric mean particle diameter of particles contained in the
suspensions was measured with a Laser Diffraction/Scattering
Particle Size Distribution Analyzer (Laser Diffraction Particle
Size Analyzer, SALD-3000J, manufactured by Shimadzu
Corporation).
[0505] Subsequently, the various suspensions were filled into
vessels (trunk diameter 18 mm), and freeze-drying was carried out
using a shelf-type freeze-dryer (Lyovac GT-4, manufactured by
Leybold). The disintegration index of the non-powder-form
freeze-dried compositions (freeze-dried cake) obtained was
calculated. Next, a vessel (trunk diameter 18 mm) filled with each
non-powder-form freeze-dried composition obtained was installed in
a jet-type dry powder inhaler (having a bellows body capable of
supplying an amount of air of about 20 ml) configured such that the
bore of the air introduction flow path was 1.2 mm and the bore of
the suction flow path was 1.8 mm. Using this, the fine particle
fraction (%) was calculated with a twin impinger (manufactured by
Copley, UK) (applying an air impact arising through an air speed of
about 35 m/sec and an air flow rate of about 40 ml/sec to the
freeze-dried cake). The geometric mean particle diameter of
particles contained in the suspension in the suspended-form, the
disintegration index and the fine particle fraction (%) are shown
for each of the freeze-dried compositions in Table 6.
TABLE-US-00006 TABLE 6 Geometric mean particle Freeze-dried
diameter Disintegration Fine particle composition (.mu.m) index
fraction (%) Example 9) 1 mg insulin + 0.5 mg 3.10 0.39 69.3%
phenylalanine (pH 6.0) 10) 1 mg insulin + 0.5 mg 0.55 0.39 75.1%
phenylalanine (pH 6.4) 11) 1 mg insulin + 0.5 mg 0.61 0.36 72.0%
phenylalanine (pH 6.6)
[0506] As can be seen from Table 6, the non-powder-form
freeze-dried compositions (freeze-dried cakes), which showed a
disintegration index of at least 0.36, were easily made into fine
particles in the vessel by the above-mentioned air impact, even
though the sample before freeze-drying was in the form of
containing an active ingredient (insulin) in the non-dissolved
form, and it was possible to produce a powdered preparation
suitable for transpulmonary administration.
Examples 12 and 13
[0507] A solution obtained by dissolving 0.1 mg of insulin
(Recombinant Human Insulin Crystal, manufactured by Biobras,
Brazil; relative activity: 26.4 U/mg) into hydrochloric acid
solution, and a solution obtained by dissolving various carriers as
shown in Table7 into purified water were separately prepared. These
solutions were mixed, and then the pH was adjusted with sodium
hydroxide, to form various suspensions in the suspended form. The
geometric mean particle diameter of particles contained in the
suspensions was measured with a Laser Diffraction/Scattering
Particle Size Distribution Analyzer (Laser Diffraction Particle
Size Analyzer, SALD-3000J. Shimadzu Corporation).
[0508] Subsequently, the various suspensions were filled into
vessels (trunk diameter 18 mm), and freeze-drying was carried out
using a shelf-type freeze-dryer (Lyovac GT-4, manufactured by
Leybold). The disintegration index of the non-powder-form
freeze-dried compositions (freeze-dried cake) obtained was
calculated. Next, a vessel (trunk diameter 18 mm) filled with each
non-powder-form freeze-dried composition obtained was installed in
a self-inhaling type dry powder inhaler configured such that the
bore of the air introduction flow path 17 was 1.99 mm and the bore
of the suction flow path 16 was 1.99 mm (Embodiment 3, FIG. 3).
Using this, the fine particle fraction (%) was calculated with a
twin impinger (manufactured by Copley, UK) (applying an air impact
arising through an air speed of about 95 m/sec and an air flow rate
of about 295 ml/sec to the freeze-dried cake). The geometric mean
particle diameter of particles contained in the suspension in the
suspended-form, the disintegration index and the fine particle
fraction (%) are shown for each of the freeze-dried compositions in
Table 7. TABLE-US-00007 TABLE 7 Geometric mean particle
Freeze-dried diameter Disintegration Fine particle composition
(.mu.m) index fraction (%) Example 12) 0.1 mg insulin + 0.5 mg 0.54
0.115 68.7% Leucyl-valine (pH 6.4) 13) 0.1 mg insulin + 1.5 mg 0.67
0.051 58.9% Leucyl-valine (pH 6.5)
[0509] As can be seen from Table 7, the non-powder-form
freeze-dried compositions (freeze-dried cakes), which showed a
disintegration index of at least 0.051, were easily made into fine
particles in the vessel by the above-mentioned air impact, even
though the sample before freeze-drying was in the form of
containing an active ingredient (insulin) in the non-dissolved
form, and it was possible to produce a powdered preparation
suitable for transpulmonary administration.
Example 14
[0510] A solution obtained by dissolving 0.1 mg of insulin
(Recombinant Human Insulin Crystal, manufactured by Biobras,
Brazil; relative activity: 26.4 U/mg) into hydrochloric acid
solution, and a solution obtained by dissolving valine into
purified water were separately prepared. These solutions were
mixed, and then the pH was adjusted to pH 6.5 with sodium
hydroxide, to form various suspensions in the suspended form. The
geometric mean particle diameter of particles contained in the
suspensions was measured with a Laser Diffraction/Scattering
Particle Size Distribution Analyzer (Laser Diffraction Particle
Size Analyzer, SALD-3000J, Shimadzu Corporation).
[0511] Subsequently, the various suspensions were filled into
vessels (trunk diameter 18 mm), and freeze-drying was carried out
using a shelf-type freeze-dryer (Lyovac GT-4, manufactured by
Leybold). The disintegration index of the non-powder-form
freeze-dried compositions (freeze-dried cake) obtained was
calculated. Next, a vessel (trunk diameter 18 mm) filled with each
non-powder-form freeze-dried composition obtained was installed in
a self-inhaling type dry powder inhaler configured such that the
bore of the air introduction flow path 17 was 1.99 mm and the bore
of the suction flow path 16 was 1.99 mm (Embodiment 3, FIG. 3).
[0512] Using this, an air impact arising through an air speed of
about 1 m/sec and an air flow rate of about 17 ml/sec is applied to
the non-powder form freeze-dried composition (freeze-dried cake)
contained in the vessel, and fine particles generated were directly
jetted from the inhaler to an Aerosizer (manufactured by Amherst
Process Instrument, Inc., USA) fitted with an Aerobreather
(manufactured by Amherst Process Instrument, Inc., USA: measurement
conditions: breath rate: 1 L/min, breath volum: 0.1 L), which is an
artificial lung model capable of directly measuring the particle
size distribution of the jetted particles; the particle size
distribution of the fine particles was thus measured. From the
results, the mass median aerodynamic diameter (.mu.m.+-.SD) of the
jetted fine particles was calculated. The geometric mean particle
diameter of particle contained in the suspension in non-suspended
form, the disintegration index for each of the freeze-dried
compositions and the mass median aerodynamic diameter of the
particles jetted out from the inhaler are shown in Table 8.
TABLE-US-00008 TABLE 8 Geometric mean Mass median particle
aerodynamic Freeze-dried diameter Disintegration diameter
composition (.mu.m) index (.mu.m .+-. SD, MMAD) 14) 0.1 mg insulin
+ 0.57 0.221 1.875 .+-. 1.384 0.57 mg Valine
[0513] As can be seen from Table 8, the non-powder-form
freeze-dried compositions (freeze-dried cakes), which showed a
disintegration index of 0.221, were easily made into fine particles
in the vessel by the above-mentioned air impact, even though the
sample before freeze-drying was in the form of containing an active
ingredient (insulin) in the non-dissolved form, and it was possible
to produce a powdered preparation suitable for transpulmonary
administration.
Reference Examples 1 to 5
[0514] Insulin (Recombinant Human Insulin Crystal, manufactured by
Biobras, Brazil; relative activity: 26.4 U/mg) (1 mg, 2 mg), or
insulin and any of various carriers as shown in Table 6, was/were
made up to 0.2 ml by dissolving in injection distilled water
containing hydrochlolic acid, this was filled into vessels (trunk
diameter 18 mm), and freeze-drying was carried out using a
shelf-type freeze-dryer (Lyovac GT-4, manufactured by Leybold). The
disintegration index of the non-powder-form freeze-dried
composition (freeze-dried cake) obtained was calculated. Next, a
vessel (trunk diameter 18 mm) filled with the non-powder-form
freeze-dried composition obtained was installed in a self-inhaling
type dry powder inhaler (Embodiment 3, FIG. 3) designed such that
the bore of the air introduction flow path 17 was 1.99 mm and the
bore of the suction flow path 16 was 1.99 mm (Embodiment 3, FIG.
3). Using this, the fine particle fraction (%) was calculated with
a twin impinger (manufactured by Copley, UK) (applying an air
impact arising through an air speed of about 95 m/sec and an air
flow rate of about 295 ml/sec to the freeze-dried cake). The
disintegration index and the fine particle fraction (%) are shown
in Table 9 for each of the freeze-dried compositions.
TABLE-US-00009 TABLE 9 Disintegration Fine particle Freeze-dried
composition index fraction (%) Ref. 1) 1 mg insulin 0.159 75.0 Ref.
2) 1 mg insulin + 1.4 mg leucine 0.145 80.7 Ref. 3) 1 mg insulin +
1.0 mg valine 0.110 79.4 Ref. 4) 2 mg insulin 0.177 42.4 Ref. 5) 2
mg insulin + 1.4 mg leucine 0.137 65.1
[0515] As can be seen from Table 9, the non-powder-form
freeze-dried compositions (freeze-dried cakes), which showed a
disintegration index of 0.110 or more, were easily made into fine
particles in the vessel by the above-mentioned air impact, with it
being possible to produce a powdered preparation suitable for
transpulmonary administration.
Reference Examples 6 to 10
[0516] 1 mg of insulin (Recombinant Human Insulin Crystal,
manufactured by Biobras, Brazil; relative activity: 26.4 U/mg) and
any of various carriers (1.5 mg) as shown in Table 7 were made up
to 0.5 ml by dissolving in injection distilled water containing
hydrochloric acid, this was filled into vessels (trunk diameter 18
mm), and freeze-drying was carried out using a shelf-type
freeze-dryer (Lyovac GT-4, manufactured by Leybold). The
disintegration index of the non-powder-form freeze-dried
composition (freeze-dried cake) obtained was calculated. Next, a
vessel (trunk diameter 18 mm) filled with the non-powder-form
freeze-dried composition obtained was installed in a jet type dry
powder inhaler (having a bellows body capable of supplying an
amount of air of about 20 ml, Embodiment 1, FIG. 1) designed such
that the bore of the air jet flow path was 1.2 mm and the bore of
the discharge flow path was 1.8 mm. Using this, an air impact
arising through an air speed of about 35 m/sec and an air flow rate
of about 40 ml/sec is applied to the non-powder form freeze-dried
composition (freeze-dried cake) contained in the vessel, and fine
particles generated were directly jetted from the inhaler to an
Aerosizer (manufactured by Amherst Process Instrument, Inc., USA)
fitted with an Aerobreather (manufactured by Amherst Process
Instrument, Inc., USA: measurement conditions: breath rate: 60
L/min, breath volume: 1 L), which is an artificial lung model
capable of directly measuring the particle size distribution of the
jetted particles; the particle size distribution of the fine
particles was thus measured. From the results, the mass median
aerodynamic diameter (.mu.m.+-.SD) of the jetted fine particles was
calculated.
[0517] Furthermore, a vessel (trunk diameter 18 mm) filled with the
non-powder-form freeze-dried composition obtained was installed in
a self-inhaling type dry powder inhaler designed such that the bore
of the air introduction flow path was 1.99 mm and the bore of the
suction flow path was 1.99 mm (Embodiment 3, FIG. 3). Using this,
the fine particle fraction (%) was calculated with a twin impinger
(manufactured by Copley, UK) (applying an air impact arising
through an air speed of about 95 m/sec and an air flow rate of 295
ml/sec to the freeze-dried cake).
[0518] The disintegration index, the mass median aerodynamic
diameter (.mu.m.+-.SD) of the fine particles jetted out from the
jet type dry powder inhaler, and the fine particle fraction (%) of
the fine particles obtained by the self-inhaling type dry powder
inhaler are shown in Table 10 for each of the freeze-dried
compositions. TABLE-US-00010 TABLE 10 Mass median aerodynamic
diameter Freeze-dried Disintegration (.mu.m .+-. SD, Fine particle
composition index MMAD) fraction (%) Reference Examples 6) Insulin
+ isoleucine 0.124 1.759 .+-. 1.425 71.1 7) Insulin + leucine 0.250
1.954 .+-. 1.454 74.1 8) Insulin + valine 0.124 2.007 .+-. 1.438
72.1 9) Insulin + 0.204 1.872 .+-. 1.477 62.0 phenylalanine 10)
Insulin + D-mannitol 0.160 2.239 .+-. 1.435 61.2
[0519] As shown in Table 10, the non-powder-form freeze-dried
compositions (freeze-dried cakes), which showed a disintegration
index of 0.124 or more, were easily made into fine particles in the
vessel by the air impact arising through an air speed of about 35
m/sec and an air flow rate of about 40 ml/sec or the air impact
arising through an air speed of about 95 m/sec and an air flow rate
of 295 ml/sec. Moreover, the mean particle diameter of the fine
particles manufactured by the air impact arising through an air
speed of about 95 m/sec and an air flow rate of 295 ml/sec was 5
.mu.m or less, and hence it was possible to produce a powdered
preparation suitable for transpulmonary administration.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0520] According to the dry powder inhalation system for
transpulmonary administration of the present invention, a
freeze-dried composition can be made Into fine particles down to a
size necessary for delivery into the lungs, and moreover
administration of the fine particles Into the lungs through
inhalation is possible. That is, according to the dry powder
inhalation system for transpulmonary administration of the present
invention, a freeze-dried composition that has been prepared in a
non-powder form can be made into fine particles at the time of use
(the time of administration), and administered through inhalation
at the same time, and hence a special operation for making the
preparation into fine particles becomes unnecessary. Consequently,
according to the dry powder inhalation system for transpulmonary
administration (preparation system) of the present invention, there
is no risk of loss during the manufacturing process (deactivation
of the drug or collection loss through a filling operation) or loss
during storage (for example deactivation of the drug due to being
stored in a fine particle form), or contamination with impurities
during the manufacturing process; a desired fixed amount can thus
be administered stably. This is useful in particular with
preparations having as an active ingredient a generally expensive
pharmacologically active substance such as a protein or a
peptide.
[0521] The proportion of effective particles (fine particle
fraction) attained by the dry powder inhalation system for
transpulmonary administration of the invention is at least 10%, and
can be increased to at least 20%, at least 25%, at least 30% or at
least 35%. U.S. Pat. No. 6,153,224 indicates that, with many of
prior art dry powder inhalers, the proportion of the active
ingredient (particles) to adhere to the lower portions of the lungs
is only about 10% of the amount of the active ingredient inhaled.
Further, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2001-151673
states that the amount of an inhalation powder preparation reaching
the lungs (lung reaching proportion) is generally about 10% of the
drug discharged from the preparation. Therefore, the dry powder
inhalation system of the invention is valuable in that it is
capable of achieving a higher proportion of effective particles
(fine particle fraction) than prior art powder inhalation
preparations.
[0522] According to the freeze-dried composition and jet type dry
powder inhaler of the present invention, the freeze-dried
composition can be made into fine particles merely by jetting air
into the vessel from the air jet flow path using the air
pressure-feeding means and thus applying a slight air impact to the
freeze-dried composition. The making into fine particles can thus
be carried out at the time of use with an dry powder inhaler having
a simple structure and moreover with simple handling. Moreover,
because the dry powder inhaler has a simple structure, it can be
produced with a low manufacturing cost, and hence mass distribution
is possible.
[0523] Moreover, according to the jet type dry powder inhaler, by
adjusting the speed of compression of the air pressure-feeding
means such as a bellows body, the amount sucked in of the aerosol
(powdered preparation) can be adjusted in accordance with the
respiratory ability of the user. Moreover, by using a single
integrated needle part, the operation of piercing the stopper of
the vessel with the needle part becomes simple.
[0524] Furthermore, according to the self-inhaling type dry powder
inhaler, the freeze-dried composition can be made into an aerosol
(made into fine particles) through an air impact being generated by
the inhalation pressure of the user, and hence the making into fine
particles and administration into the lungs of the freeze-dried
composition can be carried out at the same time as the user
inhaling, and thus it can be expected that the drug will be
administered in a stable amount with no loss. Moreover, a separate
special operation for making into an aerosol (making into fine
particles) is unnecessary, and hence handling is easy. Moreover, as
with the jet type, by using a single integrated needle part, the
operation of piercing the elastic port stopper of the vessel with
the needle part becomes simple.
[0525] According to the dry powder inhaler of the present
invention, by piercing the stopper of the vessel with the tip of
the needle part having the suction flow path and the air
introduction flow path, and air in the vessel then being sucked in
from the suction port by the inhalation pressure of the user
(patient), air can be made to flow into the vessel from the air
introduction flow path of the needle part, thus applying an air
impact to the freeze-dried composition, and the freeze-dried
composition that has been made into a powder can be sucked in from
the vessel.
[0526] Moreover, in the case of the dry powder inhaler of the
present invention disclosed as Embodiment 4 in particular, the
following effects are exhibited.
[0527] When trying to apply an effective air impact to the
freeze-dried composition and suck the powder-form freeze-dried
composition that has been made into fine particles from the vessel,
the cross-sectional areas of the suction flow path and the air
introduction flow path must be made large, and hence the diameter
of the needle part must be made large.
[0528] However, in the case of piercing a needle part having a
large diameter through the stopper, it becomes necessary to hold
the vessel securely, and in this state move the vessel towards the
needle tip without deviating away from the axis of the needle part,
and push the stopper against the needle tip with a large force.
[0529] As described above, the dry powder inhaler of the present
invention thus has a holder part that holds the vessel, a guide
part of the holder part, and a holder operating part having a
mechanism part and an operating member that operates the mechanism
part. Therefore, by holding the vessel with the holder part, moving
the vessel along the axis of the needle part following the guide
part towards the needle tip, and operating the operating member, it
is thus possible to pierce the needle part through the stopper of
the vessel using a relatively low force.
[0530] In this way, according to the dry powder inhaler of the
present invention, the stopper of the vessel can be pierced by the
needle part easily and reliably.
[0531] Moreover, if a constitution is adopted in which the housing
is formed in a tubular shape, the suction port is formed at a tip
part of the housing, a housing chamber for the vessel is formed in
the housing, the needle part is disposed in the housing so that the
needle tip points towards the housing chamber, an introduction port
for introducing outside air that communicates with the air
introduction flow path of the needle part is provided in a wall of
the housing, and the holder part is advanced and retreated in the
axial direction of the housing in the housing chamber using the
holder operating part, then a pencil-shaped dry powder inhaler can
be formed, which is easy to use and conveniently portable.
[0532] Moreover, if the constitution is made to be such that the
housing is formed from a housing main body having a
removal/insertion port for the vessel in a position in which the
holder part is retreated, and a lid for the removal/insertion port
that is connected to the housing main body by a hinge, the holder
operating part has a mechanism part which moves the holder part
forwards when the lid is pushed down and the removal/insertion port
closed, and moves the holder part backwards when the lid is lifted
up and the removal/insertion port opened, and the lid is used as
the operating member of the mechanism part, then the mechanism part
of the holder operating part can be simplified and in the
manufacturing cost. Moreover, the removal/insertion port of the
vessel can be closed at the same time as piercing the stopper of
the vessel with the needle tip, and hence use becomes easier.
* * * * *