AU2011205050A1 - Solid pharmaceutical compositions comprising a S1P receptor agonist and a sugar alcohol - Google Patents

Abstract

A solid pharmaceutical composition suitable for oral administration, comprising: (a) a S1 P receptor agonist; and (b) a sugar alcohol.

Description

Australian Patents Act 1990 - Regulation 3.2A ORIGINAL COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Invention Title "Solid pharmaceutical compositions comprising a Si P recpetor agonist and a sugar alcohol" The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: P/00/00 I r4 fPhl\ nAR\177 l7 i DOC - 717/1l C\NRPonbl\DCC\AVKU781104_1 DOC-217/2011 SOLID PHARMACEUTICAL COMPOSITIONS COMPRISING A S1P RECPETOR AGONIST AND A SUGAR ALCOHOL This is a divisional of Australian Patent Application No. 2008200368, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. The present invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising a sphingosine-1 phosphate receptor agonist. Sphingosine-1 phosphate (hereinafter "S1P") is a natural serum lipid. Presently there are 8 known S1P receptors, namely S1P1 to S1P8. S1P receptor agonists have accelerating lymphocyte homing properties. SiP receptor agonists are immunomodulating compounds which elicit a lymphopenia resulting from a re-distribution, preferably reversible, of lymphocytes from circulation to secondary lymphatic tissue, evoking a generalized immunosuppression. Naive cells are sequestered, CD4 and CD8 T-cells and B-cells from the blood are stimulated to migrate into lymph nodes (LN) and Peyer's patches (PP), and thus infiltration of cells into transplanted organs is inhibited. The various known S1 P receptor agonists show structural similarities, which result in related problems in providing a suitable formulation. In particular, there is a need for an SIP receptor agonist containing formulation which is well-adapted for oral administration in a solid form, e.g. as a tablet or capsule. Accordingly, the present invention provides a solid pharmaceutical composition suitable for oral administration, comprising a S1P receptor agonist and a sugar alcohol. It has surprisingly been found that solid compositions comprising a sugar alcohol provide formulations which are particularly well suited to the oral administration of S1 P receptor agonists. The compositions provide a convenient means of systemic administration of SIP receptor agonists, do not suffer from the disadvantages of liquid formulations for injection or oral use, and have good physicochemical and storage properties. In particular, the compositions of the present invention may show a high level of uniformity in the distribution of the SiP receptor agonist throughout the composition, as well as high stability. The compositions of the invention may be manufactured on high speed automated equipment, and thus do not require hand encapsulation.

-2 S1P receptor agonists are typically sphingosine analogues, such as 2-substituted 2-amino prooane-1,3-diol or 2-amino-propanol derivatives. Examples of appropriate S1P receptor agonists are, for example: - Compounds as disclosed in EP627406A1, e.g.a compound of formula I

H

2

OR

3

R

4

R

5 N

CH

2

OR

2 Ri wherein R 1 is a straight- or branched (C 12 .22)carbon chain - which may have in the chain a bond or a hetero atom selected from a double bond, a triple bond, 0, S, NRe, wherein Re is H, alkyl, aralkyl, acyl or alkoxycarbonyl, and carbonyl, and/or - which may have as a substituent alkoxy, alkenyloxy, alkynyloxy, aralkyloxy, acyl, alkylamino, alkylthio, acylamino, alkoxycarbonyl, alkoxycarbonylamino, acyloxy, alkylcarbamoyl, nitro, halogen, amino, hydroxyimino, hydroxy or carboxy; or

R

1 is - a phenylalkyl wherein alkyl is a straight- or branched (Cs-2o)carbon chain; or - a phenylalkyl wherein alkyl is a straight- or branched (C 1

.

3 o)carbon chain wherein said phenylalkyl is substituted by - a straight- or branched (Cs.

20 )carbon chain optionally substituted by halogen, - a straight- or branched (C6.2o)alkoxy chain optionally substitued by halogen, - a straight- or branched (Co-2o)alkenyloxy, - phenylalkoxy, halophenylalkoxy, phenylalkoxyalkyl, phenoxyalkoxy or phenoxyalkyl, - cycloalkylalkyl substituted by Co-2Dalkyl, - heteroarylalkyl substituted by C 6

.

2 Dalkyl, - heterocyclic C6-2 0 alkyl or - heterocyclic alkyl substituted by C 2

.

2 oalkyl, and wherein the alkyl moiety may have -3 - in the carbon chain. a bond or a heteroatom selected from a double bond, a triple bond, 0, S, sulfinyl, sulfonv, or NR 6 , wherein Re is as defined above, and - as a substituent alkcxy, alkenyloxy, alkynyloxy, aralkyloxy, acyl, alkylamino. alkylthic. acylamino, alkoxvcarbony, alkoxycarbonylamino, acylcxy, alkyicarbamcy!, nitro, halogen, amino, hydroxy or carboxy, and each of R 2 , R 3 , R 4 and R 5 , independently, is H, C1, alkyl or acyl or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof; - Compounds as disclosed in EP 1002792A1, e.g. a compound of formula il CH2OR'3 0 R'4R' 5 N IC-(CH2) CH 2)m SH2O R'2 wherein m is I to 9 and each of R' 2 , R' 3 , R' 4 and R's, independently, is H, alkyl or acyl, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof; - Compounds as disclosed in EP0778263 Al, e.g. a compound of formula IlIl N R"I R"2 I ~- - Y . V W L - -2' 1 (C H 2 )m.0

R"

3 wherein W is H; C 1 ealkyl, C 2 -ealkenyl or C 2 .6alkynyl; unsubstituted or by OH substituted phenyl; R" 4 0(CH 2 )n; or C 1 .6alkyl substituted by 1 to 3 substituents selected from the group consisting of halogen, Ca4cycloalkyl, phenyl and phenyl substituted by OH; X is H or unsubstituted or substituted straight chain alkyl having a number p of carbon atoms or unsubstituted or substituted straight chain alkoxy having a number (p-1) of carbon atoms, e.g. substituted by 1 to 3 substitutents selected from the group consisting of C1.3 alkyl, OH,

C

1 .ealkoxy, acyloxy, amino, C 1 .alkylamino, acylamino, oxo, haloC 1 .ealkyl, halogen, unsubstituted phenyl and phenyl substituted by 1 to 3 substituents selected from the group consisting of C 1 .8alkyl, OH, C 1 .ealkoxy, acyl, acyloxy, amino, C 1 .alkylamino, acylamino, haloC 1 .6alkyl and halogen; Y is H, C 1 ealkyl, OH, C 1 .alkoxy, acyl, acyloxy, amino, C 1 . ealkylamino, acylamino, haloC 1

.

4 alkyl or halogen, Z 2 is a single bond or a straight chain alkylene having a number or carbon atoms of q, -4 each of p and q, independently, is an intecer of 1 to 20, with the proviso of 6<-pq<23. m' is 1, 2 or 3, n is 2 or 3, each of R"1, R" 2 , R" 3 and R" 4 , independently, is H, C 1 .4alkyl cr acyl, or a phar-naceutically acceptable salt thereof, - Compounds as disclosed in WOO2/1 8395, e.g. a compound of formula lVa or lVb

CH

2 R CH2R 3 b Rla QH% RaI I (R~a) 2 N--CHr;;- P ==O

(R

2 a) 2 N C-CH 2 -X-- P =0

CH

2 Rl

CH

2 RIb C or CH 2

(CH

2

)

7

CH

3 IVa Ya-R 4 a lVb wherein X, is 0, S, NRI. or a group -(CH 2 )na-, which group is unsubstituted or substituted by 1 to 4 halogen; n, is 1 or 2, RI, is H or (C 1 .4)alkyl, which alkyl is unsubstituted or substituted by halogen; R 1 . is H, OH, (C1.

4 )alkyl or O(C 1 .4)alkyl wherein alkyl is unsubstituted or substituted by 1 to 3 halogen; RIb is H, OH or (C 1

.

4 )alkyl, wherein alkyl is unsubstituted or substituted by halogen; each R2 is independently selected from H or (C 1

.

4 )alkyl, which alkyl is unsubstituted or substitued by halogen; R 3 , is H, OH, halogen or O(C 1 .4)alkyl wherein alkyl is unsubstituted or substituted by halogen; and R3b is H, OH, halogen, (C 1

.

4 )alkyl wherein alkyl is unsubstituted or substituted by hydroxy, or O(C 1 .4)alkyl wherein alkyl is unsubstituted or substituted by halogen; Y. is -CHr, -C(O)-, -CH(OH)-, -C(=NOH)-, 0 or S, and R 4 , is (C 4 . 1 4 )alkyl or (C4- 14 )alkenyl; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or hydrate thereof; - Compounds as disclosed in WO 02/076995, e.g. a compound of formula V RIC

R

4 eR 3 N (CH 2 )mc-XcR 2 C V

R

0 wherein me is 1, 2 or 3; X, is 0 or a direct bond; -5 R1, is H; C1.3aikyl optionally substituted by OH, acyl, halogen, C3.1ocycIoaIky!, phenyl or hydroxy-phenylene;

C

2 .salkenyl; C 2 .salkynyl; or phenyl optionally substituted by OH;

R

2 1 is ORSC wherein R 5 c is H or C 1

.

4 alkyl optionally substituted by 1, 2 or 3 halogen atoms, and R 6 , is H or C 1 .4alkyl optionally substituted by halogen; each of R 3 , and Rc, independently, is H, C 1 4alkyl optionally substituted by halogen, or acyl, and R, is C 1

-

20 alkyl which may optionally have in the chain an oxygen atom and which may optionally be substituted by nitro, halogen, amino, hydroxy or carboxy; or a residue of formula (a) _______(a) OR -(C H2)2-4- 6 RBC wherein R 7 , is H, C 1

.

4 alkyl or C 1 .4alkoxy, and Rae is substituted C 1 -2 0 alkanoyl, phenylC 1

.

1 4 alkyl wherein the C1.

1 4 alkyl is optionally substituted by halogen or OH, cycloalkylC 1

.

14 alkoxy or phenylC 1

.

1 4 alkoxy wherein the cycloalkyl or phenyl ring is optionally substituted by halogen, C 1

.

4 alkyl and/or C 1

.

4 alkoxy, phenylC 1

.

1 4 alkoxy

C

1

.

14 alkyl, phenoxyC 1

.

1 4 alkoxy or phenoxyC 1

.

1 4 alkyl, Re being also a residue of formula (a) wherein Re, is C 1

.

1 4 alkoxy when R 1 , is C 1 .4alkyl,

C

2 .Galkenyl or C 2 -6alkynyl, or a compound of formula VI R 5

R

4

UR

3 xN CH 2 )nx VI

CH

2 -OR R wherein nx is2,3or4

R

1 . is H; C 1

.

4 alkyl optionally substituted by OH, acyl, halogen, cycloalkyl, phenyl or hydroxy-phenylene;

C

2 -salkenyl; C 2 .ealkynyl; or phenyl optionally substituted by OH; -6 R2x is H, C,.4 alky! or acyl each of R 3 , and R 4 independently is H, C 1 ualkyl optionally substituted by halogen or acyl,

R

5 , is H, C 1

.

4 alkyl or C 1 -alkoxy, and R&x is CI-2C alkanoyl substituted by cycloalkyl; cyloalkylCJ 1 alkcxy wherein the cycicalky! ring is optionally substituted by halogen, C 1 _alkyl and/or C 1

.

4 alkoxy; phenylC 1 1 4 alkoxy wherein the phenyl ring is optionally substituted by halogen, C 1 4alkyl and/or C 1

.

4 alkoxy,

R

6 , being also C 4

.

1 4 alkoxy when R 1 , is C 2

.

4 alkyl substituted by OH, or pentyloxy or hexyloxy when R 1 , is C 1 -akyl, provided that R 6 is other than phenyl-butylenoxy when either R 5 , is H or R 1 , is methyl, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof; - Compounds as disclosed in W002/06268A1, e.g. a compound of formula VII NR dR 2 d R 6d R 7d R 4T -(CH 2)1n X;-YT-Rsd Vil RUO wherein each of Ri and R2d, independently, is H or an amino-protecting group; Ra is hydrogen, a hydroxy-protecting group or a residue of formula P<ORqd

OR

8 d 0 R4d is lower alkyl; nd is an integer of 1 to 6; Xd is ethylene, vinylene, ethynylene, a group having a formula - D-CH 2 - (wherein D is carbonyl, - CH(OH)-, 0, S or N), aryl or aryl substituted by up to three substitutents selected from group a as defined hereinafter; Yd is single bond, C 1 .alkylene, C 1

.

1 oalkylene which Is substituted by up to three substitutents selected from groups a and b, C 1 .talkylene having 0 or S in the middle or end of the carbon chain, or C 1

.

1 alkylene having 0 or S in the middle or end of the carbon chain which is substituted by up to three substituents selected from groups a and b; Rsd is hydrogen, cycloalkyl, aryl, heterocycle, cycloalkyl substituted by up to three substituents selected from groups a and b, aryl substituted by up to three substituents selected from groups a and b, or heterocycle substituted by up to three substituents selected from groups a and b; -7 each of Rae and e, independently, is H or a substituent selected from gro upa; each of R8d and R 9 ., independently, is H or C 4 alkyi optionally substituted by halogen; <group a > is halogen, lower alkyl, halogeno lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, lower alkylthic. carboxyl, lower alkoxvcarbonyl, hydroxy, lower aliphatic acy!, aminc, mono-lower alkylamino, di-lower alkylamino, lower aliphatic acylamino, cyano or nitro; and <group b > is cycloalkyl, aryl, heterocycle, each being optionally substituted by up to three substituents selected from group a; with the proviso that when Rsd is hydrogen, Yd is a group exclusive of single bond and linear

C

1

.

10 alkylene, or a pharmacologically acceptable salt or ester thereof; -Compounds as disclosed in JP-14316985 (JP2002316985), e.g. a compound of formula Vill: NR leR 2 RoB X-Y-RSe

R

4 e (CH 2 )ne Vill

R

3 e0

R

7 8 wherein Rie,R2e,R 3 e,R4.,,R 6 e,R6e,R., n., X, and Y, are as disclosed in JP-14316985; or a pharmacologically acceptable salt or ester thereof; -Compounds as disclosed in WO 03/29184 and WO 03/29205, e.g. compounds of formula IX Ri 1 R3f NH R X

CH

2 0R IX

(CH

2 ), CH 2

OR

5 , wherein Xf is 0 or S, and Rif, R 2 r, R3f and nf are as disclosed in WO 03/29184 and 03/29205, each of R4r and R 5 t, independently is H or a residue of formula || OR, 0 wherein each of Raf and Rm, independently, is H or C 1

.

4 alkyl optionally substituted by halogen; e.g. 2-amino-2-[4-(3-benzyloxyphenoxy)-2-chlorophenyl]propyl-1,3-propane-diol or 2 -amino-2-[4-(benzyloxyphenylthio)-2- chlorophenyl)propyl-1,3-propane-diol, or a pharmacological salt thereof. -Compounds as disclosed in W003/062252A1, e.g. a compound of formula X -8 (R )0a N Ar/ A 7 (CH 2 )ng__ ( ;i 21 19 x wherein Ar is phenyl or naphthyl; each of mg and ng independently is 0 or 1; A is selected from COOH, P03H2, PO2H, SO3H, PO(Cl-3alkyl)OH and 1H-tetrazol-5-yl; each of R1g and R2g independently is H, halogen, OH, COOH or C1-4alkyl optionally substituted by halogen; R3g is H or C1-4alkyl optionally substituted by halogen or OH; each R4g independently is halogen, or optionally halogen substituted C1-4alky or C1-3alkoxy; and each of Rg and M has one of the significances as indicated for B and C, respectively, in W003/062252A1; -Compounds as disclosed in WO 03/062248A2, e.g. a compound of formula XI R, 3h (R4,, Nlh 4~ Rh) 04 A N Ar Xl L J H Ri-M

R

2 h wherein Ar is phenyl or naphthyl; n is 2,3 or 4; A is COOH, 1H-tetrazol-5-yl, P03H2, P02H2, -SO3H or PO(R5h)OH wherein R5h is selected from C1-4alkyl, hydroxyCl-4alkyl, phenyl, CO-Cl -3alkoxy and -CH(OH)-phenyl wherein said phenyl or phenyl moiety is opitonally substituted; each of R1h and R2h independently is H, halogen, OH, COOH, or optionally halogeno substituted Cl-6alkyl or phenyl; R3h is H or C1-4alkyl optionally substituted by halogen and/ OH; each R4h independently is halogeno, OH, COOH, C1-4alkyl, S(0)0,1 or2C1-3alkyl, C1-3alkoxy, C3-6cycloalkoxy, aryl or aralkoxy, wherein the alkyl portions may optionally be substituted by 1-3 halogens; and each of Rg and M has one of the significances as indicated for B and C, respectively, in W003/062248A2. According to a further embodiment of the invention, a S1 P receptor agonist for use in a combination of the invention may also be a selective SIP1 receptor, e.g. a compound which possesses a selectivity for the SI P1 receptor over the Si P3 receptor of at least 20 fold, e.g. 100, 500, 1000 or 2000 fold, as measured by the ratio of EC50 for the S1PI receptor to the EC50 for the S1P3 receptor as evaluated in a 35S-GTPyS binding assay, said compound having an EC50 for binding to the S1P1 receptor of 100 nM or less as evaluated by the 35S GTPyS binding assay. Representative S1P1 receptor agonists are e.g. the compounds listed -9 in WO 03/061567, the contents of whic- being incorporated herein by reference, for instance a compound of formula 0 S~~ 0H C N H OH XII or OH /OH N ~ OH

CH.(CH

2 ) XIll in each case where citations of patent applications are given, the subject matter relating to the compounds is hereby incorporated into the present application by reference. Acyl may be a residue Ry-CO- wherein Ry is C 1 .ealkyl, C3.ecycloalkyl, phenyl or phenyl-C 1 . 4 alkyl. Unless otherwise stated, alkyl, alkoxy, alkenyl or alkynyl may be straight or branched. When in the compounds of formula I the carbon chain as R 1 is substituted, it is preferably substituted by halogen, nitro, amino, hydroxy or carboxy. When the carbon chain is interrupted by an optionally substituted phenylene, the carbon chain is preferably unsubstituted. When the phenylene moiety is substituted, it is preferably substituted by halogen, nitro, amino, methoxy, hydroxy or carboxy. Preferred compounds of formula I are those wherein R 1 is C 13

.

20 alkyl, optionally substituted by nitro, halogen, amino, hydroxy or carboxy, and, more preferably those wherein R 1 is phenylalkyl substituted by CO 14 -alkyl chain optionally substituted by halogen and the alkyl moiety is a C 1 .6alkyl optionally substituted by hydroxy. More preferably, R 1 is phenyl-C 1 .ealkyl substituted on the phenyl by a straight or branched, preferably straight, C.

14 alkyl chain. The Cr.

14 alkyl chain may be in ortho, meta or para, preferably in para. Preferably each of R 2 to R 5 is H. A preferred compound of formula I is 2-amino-2-tetradecyl-1,3-propanediol. A particularly preferred SIP receptor agonist of formula I is FTY720, i.e. 2 -amino-2-[2-(4-octylphenyl) -10 ethyl]propane-1,3-diol in free form or in a pharmaceutically acceptable salt form (referred to hereinafter as Compound A), e.g. the hydrochloride, as shown: HHC A preferred compound of formula 11 is the one wherein each of R' 2 to R'5 is H and m is 4, i.e. 2-amino-2-{2-[4-(1-oxo-5-phenylpentyl)phenyl]ethyl}propane-1,3-diol, in free form or in pharmaceutically acceptable salt form (referred to hereinafter as Compound B), e.g the hydrochloride. A preferred compound of formula IlIl is the one wherein W is CH 3 , each of R", to R" 3 is H, Z 2 is ethylene, X is heptyloxy and Y is H, i.e. 2-amino-4-(4-heptyloxyphenyl)-2-methyl-butanol, in free form or in pharmaceutically acceptable salt form (referred to hereinafter as Compound C), e.g. the hydrochloride. The R-enantiomer is particularly preferred. A preferred compound of formula IVa is the FTY720-phosphate (R2 is H, R 3 a is OH, X. is 0, R1a and Rib are OH). A preferred compound of formula IVb is the Compound C-phosphate (Ru is H, Rab is OH, Xa is 0, R1. and Rib are OH, Ya is 0 and R 4 a is heptyl). A preferred compound of formula V is Compound B-phosphate. A preferred compound of formula V is phosphoric acid mono-[(R)-2-amino-2-methyl-4-(4 pentyloxy-phenyl)-butyljester. A preferred compound of formula Vill is (2R)-2-amino-4-[3-(4-cyclohexyloxybutyl) benzob]thien-6-yl]-2-methylbutan-1 -ol. When the compounds of formulae I to XIII have one or more asymmetric centers in the molecule, the various optical isomers, as well as racemates, diastereoisomers and mixtures thereof are embraced. Examples of pharmaceutically acceptable salts of the compounds of formulae I to XIII include salts with inorganic acids, such as hydrochloride, hydrobromide and sulfate, salts with organic acids, such as acetate, fumarate, maleate, benzoate, citrate, malate, methanesulfonate and benzenesulfonate salts, or, when appropriate, salts with metals, such as sodium, potassium, calcium and aluminium, salts with amines, such as triethylamine and - 11 salts with dibasic amino acids, such as lysine. The compounds and salts of the present invention encompass hydrate and solvate forms. Binding to SIP receptors can be determined according to the following assays. A. Binding affinity of S1P receptor agonists to individual human S1P receptors Transient transfection of human SiP receptors into HEK293 cells S1P receptors and G; proteins are cloned, and equal amounts of 4 cDNAs for the EDG receptor, Gi-a, G-P and G-y are mixed and used to transfect monolayers of HEK293 cells using the calcium phosphate precipitate method (M. Wigler et al., Cell. 1977;11;223 and DS. Im et al., Mol. Pharmacol. 2000;57;753). Briefly, a DNA mixture containing 25 pg of DNA and 0.25 M CaCl 2 is added to HEPES-buffered 2 mM Na 2

HPO

4 . Subconfluent monolayers of HEK293 cells are poisoned with 25 mM chloroquine, and the DNA precipitate is then applied to the cells. After 4 h, the monolayers are washed with phosphate-buffered saline and refed media (90% 1:1 Dulbecco's modified essential media (DMEM):F-12 + 10% fetal bovine serum). The cells are harvested 48-72 h after addition of the DNA by scraping in HME buffer (in mM: 20 HEPES, 5 MgCl 2 , 1 EDTA, pH 7.4) containing 10% sucrose on ice, and disrupted using a Dounce homogenizer. After centrifugation at 800xg, the supernatant is diluted with HME without sucrose and centrifuged at 100,000xg for 1h. The resulting pellet is rehomogenized and centrifuged a second hour at 100,000xg. This crude membrane pellet is resuspended in HME with sucrose, aliquoted, and snap-frozen by immersion in liquid nitrogen. The membranes are stored at 70*C. Protein concentration is determined spectroscopically by Bradford protein assay. GTPyS bindina assay using S1 P receptor/HEK293 membrane preparations GTPyS binding experiments are performed as described by DS. Im et al., Mol. Pharmacol. 2000; 57:753. Ligand-mediated GTPyS binding to G-proteins is measured in GTP binding buffer (in mM: 50 HEPES, 100 NaCl, 10 MgCl 2 , pH 7.5) using 25 pg of a membrane preparation from transiently transfected HEK293 cells. Ligand is added to membranes in the presence of 10 pM GDP and 0.1 nM ( 3 S]GTPyS (1200 Ci/mmol) and incubated at 30*C for 30 min. Bound GTPyS is separated from unbound using the Brandel harvester (Gaithersburg, MD) and counted with a liquid scintillation counter.

- 12 The composition of the invention preferably contains 0.01 to 20% by weight of Si P receptor agonists, more preferably 0.1 to 10%, e.g. 0.5 to 5% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition. The sugar alcohol may act as a diluent, carrier, filler or bulking agent, and may suitably be mannitol, maltitol, inositol, xylitol or lactitol, preferably a substantially non-hygroscopic sugar alcohol, e.g. mannitol (D-mannitol). A single sugar alcohol may be used, or a mixture of two or more sugar alcohols, e.g a mixture of mannitol and xylitol, e.g. in a ratio of 1:1 to 4:1. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the sugar alcohol is prepared from a spray-dried composition, e.g. mannitol composition, having a high specific surface area. The use of this type of mannitol composition may assist in promoting uniform distribution of the S1P receptor agonist throughout the mannitol in the compositon. A higher surface area may be achieved by providing a sugar alcohol, e.g. mannitol, preparation consisting of particles having a smaller mean size and/or a rougher surface on each particle. The use of a spray dried sugar alcohol, e.g. mannitol, e.g. with a mean particle size of 300 pm or less, has also been found to improve compressibility and hardness of tablets formed from the composition. Preferably the single point surface area of the sugar alcohol preparation, e.g. mannitol, is 1 to 7 m 2 /g, e.g. 2 to 6 m 2 /g or 3 to 5 m 2 /g. The mannitol preparation may suitably have a mean particle size of 100 to 300 pm, e.g. 150 to 250 pm and a bulk density of 0.4 to 0.6 g/mL, e.g. 0.45 to 0.55 g/mL. A suitable high surface area mannitol is Parteck M200, available commercially from E. Merck. The composition preferably contains 75 to 99.99% by weight of the sugar alcohol, more preferably 85 to 99.9%, e.g 90 to 99.5% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition. The composition preferably further comprises a lubricant. Suitable lubricants include stearic acid, magnesium stearate, calcium stearate, zinc stearate, glyceryl palmitostearate, sodium stearyl fumarate, canola oil, hydrogenated vegetable oil such as hydrogenated castor oil (e.g. Cutina@ or Lubriwax@ 101), mineral oil, sodium lauryl sulfate, magnesium oxide, colloidal silicon dioxide, silicone fluid, polyethylene glycol, polyvinyl alcohol, sodium benzoate, talc, poloxamer, or a mixture of any of the above. Preferably the lubricant -13 com rises magnesium stearate, hydrogenated castor oil or mineral oil. COloidai silicon dioxide and polyethvlene glyccl are less preferred as the lubricant. The composition preferably contains 0.01 to 5% by weight of the lubricant, more preferably I to 3% by weight, e.g. about 2% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition. The composition may comprise one or more further excipients such as carriers, binders or diluents. In particular, the composition may comprise microcrystalline cellulose (e.g. Avicel@), methylcellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, starch (e.g. com starch) or dicalcium phosphate, preferably in an amount of from 0.1 to 90 % by weight, e.g. 1 to 30%'by weight, based on the total weight of the composition. Where a binder, e.g. microcrystalline cellulose, methylcellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose is used, it is preferably included in an amount of 1 to 8 %, e.g. 3 to 6% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition. The use of a binder increases the granule strength of the formulation, which is particularly important for fine granulations. Microcrystalline cellulose and methylcellulose are particularly preferred where a high tablet hardness andlor longer disintegration time is required. Hydroxypropyl cellulose is preferred where faster distintegration is required. Where appropriate, xylitol may also be added as an additional binder, for example in addition to microcrystalline cellulose, e.g. in an amount up to 20% by weight of the sugar alcohol, e.g. xylitol. In one embodiment, the composition further comprises a stabiliser, preferably glycine HCI or sodium bicarbonate. The stabiliser may be present in an amount of e.g. 0.1 to 30%, preferably 1 to 20% by weight. The composition may be in the form of a powder, granule or pellets or a unit dosage form, for example as a tablet or capsule. The compositions of the present invention are well adapted for encapsulation into an orally administrable capsule shell, particularly a hard gelatin shell. Alternatively the compositions may be compacted into tablets. The tablets may optionally be coated, for instance with talc or a polysaccharide (e.g. cellulose) or hydroxypropylmethylcellulose coating.

- 14 Where the pharmaceutical capsule is in unit dosage form, each unit dosage will suitably contain 0.5 to 10 mg of the S1P receptor agonist. The compositions of the invention may show good stability characteristics as indicated by standard stability trials, for example having a shelf life stability of up to one, two or three years, and even longer. Stability characteristics may be determined, e.g. by measuring decomposition products by HPLC analysis after storage for particular times, at particular temperatures, e.g. 20*, 400 or 60 0 C. The pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention may be produced by standard processes, for instance by conventional mixing, granulating, sugar-coating, dissolving or lyophilizing processes. Procedures which may be used are known in the art, e.g. those described in L. Lachman et al. The Theory and Practice of Industrial Pharmacy, 3rd Ed, 1986, H. Sucker et al, Pharmazeutische Technologie, Thieme, 1991, Hagers Handbuch der pharmazeutischen Praxis, 4th Ed. (Springer Verlag, 1971) and Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences, 13th Ed., (Mack Publ., Co., 1970) or later editions. In one aspect, the present invention relates to a process for producing a pharmaceutical composition, comprising: (a) mixing an S1 P receptor agonist with a sugar alcohol; (b) milling and/or granulating the mixture obtained in (a); and (c) mixing the milled and/or granulated mixture obtained in. (b) with a lubricant. By using this process, a preparation having a good level of content and blend uniformity (i.e. a substantially uniform distribution of the S1P receptor agonist throughout the composition), dissolution time and stability is obtained. The S1P receptor agonist, e.g. 2 -amino-2-[2-(4-octylphenyl)ethyl]propane-1,3-diol, hydrochloride, may optionally be micronized, and/or pre-screened, e.g. with a 400 to 500 pm mesh screen, before step (a) in order to remove lumps. The mixing step (a) may suitably comprise blending the S1P receptor agonist and the sugar alcohol, e.g. mannitol in any suitable blender or mixer for e.g. 100 to 400 revolutions.

- 15 The process may be carried out by dry mixing the components. In this embodiment the milling step (b) may suitably comprise passing the mixture obtained in (a) through a screen, which preferably has a mesh size of 400 to 500 pm. Process step (a) may comprise the steo of mixing the total amount of S1P receptor agonist at first with a low amount of sugar alcohol, e.g. from 5 to 25% by weight of the total weight of sugar alcohol, in order to form a pre-mix. Subsequently the remaining amount of sugar alcohol is added to the pre-mix. Step (a) may also comprise the step of adding a binder solution, e.g. methylcellulose and/or xylitol, e.g. an aqueous solution, to the mixture. Alternatively the binder is added to the mix dry and water is added in the granulation step. The milled mixture obtained in (b) may optionally be blended once more before mixing with the lubricant. The lubricant, e.g. magnesium stearate, is preferably pre-screened, e.g. with a 800 to 900 pm screen, before mixing. Alternatively, a wet granulation process is employed. In this embodiment, the S1 P receptor agonist is preferably first dry-mixed with the desired sugar alcohol, e.g. mannitol, and the obtained sugar alcohol/Si P receptor agonist mixture is then dry-mixed with a binder such as hydroxypropyl cellulose or hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose. Water is then added and the mixture granulated, e.g. using an automated granulator. The granulation is then dried and milled. If desirable, an additional amount of binder may be added in step (c) to the mixture obtained in (b). The process may comprise a further step of tabletting or encapsulating the mixture obtained in (c), e.g. into a hard gelatin capsule using an automated encapsulation device. The capsules may be coloured or marked so as to impart an individual appearance and to make them instantly recognizable. The use of dyes can serve to enhance the appearance as well as to identify the capsules. Dyes suitable for use in pharmacy typically include carotinoids, iron oxides, and chlorophyll. Preferably, the capsules of the invention are marked using a code. The pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention are useful, either alone or in combination with other active agents, for the treatment and prevention of conditions e.g. as - 16 disclosed in US 5,604,229, WO 97/24112, WO 01/01978, US 6,004,555, US 6,274,629 and JP-14316985, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. In particular, the pharmaceutical compositions are useful for: a) treatment and prevention of organ or tissue transplant rejection, for example for the treatment of the recipients of heart, lung, combined heart-lung, liver, kidney, pancreatic, skin or corneal-transplants, and the prevention of graft-versus-host disease, such as sometimes occurs following bone marrow transplantation; particularly in the treatment of acute or chronic allo- and xenograft rejection or in the transplantation of insulin producing cells, e.g. pancreatic islet cells; b) treatment and prevention of autoimmune disease or of inflammatory conditions, e.g. multiple sclerosis, arthritis (for example rheumatoid arthritis), inflammatory bowel disease, hepatitis, etc.; c) treatment and prevention of viral myocarditis and viral diseases caused by viral mycocarditis, including hepatitis and AIDS. Accordingly, in further aspects the present invention provides: 1. A composition as defined above, for use in treating or preventing a disease or condition as defined above. 2. A method of treating a subject in need of immunomodulation, comprising administering to the subject an effective amount of a composition as defined above. 3. A method of treating or preventing a disease or condition as defined above, comprising administering to the subject a composition as defined above. 4. Use of a pharmaceutical composition as defined above for the preparation of a medicament for the prevention or treatment of a disease or condition as defined above. The invention will now be described with reference to the following specific embodiments.

-17 Examole 1 Micronized Compound A, e.g. 2-amino-2-[2-(4-octylphenyl)ethyl]propan e-1,-diol, hydrochicride salt (FTY720), is screened and 116.7 g of the screened compound is mixed with 9683.3 g mannitol (Parteck M200 from E. Merck). The mixture is then milled in a Frewitt MGI device (Key International Inc. USA) using a 30 mesh screen. Magnesium stearate is screened using a 20 mesh screen and 200 g of the screened compound blended with the FTY720/mannitol mixture to produce a product composition. The product composition is then compacted on a tablet press using a 7 mm die to form 120 mg tablets, each containing: Compound A, e.g. FTY720 * 1.4 mg Mannitol M200 116.2 mg Magnesium stearate 2.4 mg Total 120 mg * 1 mg of Compound A in free form is equivalent to 1.12 mg of FTY720. Example 2 In a further example, the process of example I is repeated except that the magnesium stearate is replaced by Cutina@ (hydrogenated castor oil). Example 3 Compound A, e.g. FTY720, and mannitol (Parteck M200 from E. Merck) are each screened separately using an 18 mesh screen. 1.9 g screened FTY720 is mixed with 40 g screened mannitol for 120 revolutions in a blender at 32 rpm. The FTY720/mannitol mixture is then screened through a 35 mesh screen. The screened FTY720/mannitol mixture is added to a granulator along with a further 340.1 g mannitol and 12 g hydroxypropylcellulose. The mixture is mixed for 3 minutes. Water is then added at a rate of 100 mI/minute and the mixture granulated for 2 minutes. The granulation is transferred into a tray dryer and dried at 50*C for 150 minutes.

- 18 The mixture is then milled in a Frewitt MG] device using a 35 mesh screen. Magnesium stearate is screened and 6 g of the screened compound is blended for 90 revolutions at 32 rpm with the FTY720/mannitol mixture to produce a product composition shcwing a substantially uniform distribution of the SIP receptor agonist throughout the mannitol in the blend. The product composition is then filled into size 3 hard gelatin shells on an Hoflinger & Karg 400 encapsulation device. 120 mg of the product composition is added to each capsule. Therefore each capsule contains: FTY720* 0.56 mg Mannitol M200 114.04mg Hydroxypropylcellulose 3.6 mg Magnesium stearate 1.8 mg Total 120 mg Example 4 In a further example, the process of example 3 is repeated except that the magnesium stearate is replaced by Cutina@ (hydrogenated castor oil). Example 5 In a further example, the process of example 3 is repeated except that the hydroxypropyl cellulose is replaced by hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose. Example 6a Micronized Compound A, e.g. FTY720, is screened using a 400 pm (40 mesh) screen. 58.35 g of the screened compound is mixed with 4841.65 g mannitol (Parteck M200 from E. Merck) in a 25L Bohle bin blender for 240 blending revolutions. The mixture is then milled in a Frewitt MGI device using a 400 pm mesh screen, and the milled mixture is blended once more. Magnesium stearate is screened and 100 g of the screened compound is blended with the FTY720/mannitol mixture to produce a product composition showing a substantially uniform distribution of the S1 P receptor agonist throughout the mannitol in the blend.

-19 The product composition is then filled into size 3 hard gelatin shells on an Hoflinger & Karg 400 encapsulation device. 120 mg of the product composition is added to each capsule. Therefore each capsule contains: FTY720* 1.4 mg Mannitol M200 116.2 mg Magnesium stearate 2.4 mg Total 120 mg Example 6b In an alternative embodiment, capsules are manufactured using the components and in the amounts as described in Example 6a, but the FTY720 is first mixed with 14 mg mannitol (before screening). This mixture is then screened as described above. The screened mixture is then blended with the remaining mannitol and the magnesium stearate is. added, followed by additional blending and filling into capsules. Examples 7 and 8 In further examples, capsules are prepared as described in example 6, except that each capsule contains each component in the following amounts: Example 7 Example 8 FTY720 * 2.8 mg 5.6 mg Mannitol M200 114.8 mg 112 mg Magnesium stearate 2.4 mg 2.4 mg Total 120 mg 120 mg Examples 9 to 11 In further examples, capsules are prepared as described in examples 6 to 8, except that the magnesium stearate is replaced in each case by Cutina@ (hydrogenated castor oil). Examples 12 to 22 - 20 In further examples, capsules or tablets are prepared as described in examples 1 to 11, except that FTY720 is replaced in each case by 2-amino-2-{2-[4-(1-cx-5 phenylpentyl)phenyljethyl}propane-1,3-diol hydrochloride. Examoles 23 and 24 Capsules containing the following ingredients are prepared, by weighing each component and mixing in a mortar, then filling into capsules: Example 23 Example 24 FTY720 5 mg 1 mg D-mannitol 83.7 mg 117 mg Com starch 24 mg Avicel@ PH101 12 mg Hydroxypropylcellulose 0.3 mg 7 mg Talc 3 mg 3 mg Lubri wax @101 2 mg 2 mg Total 130 mg 130 mg Examples 25 to 27 Pharmaceutical compositions containing the following ingredients are produced: Example 25 Example 26 Example 27 FTY720 5 g log 100 g D-mannitol 991 g 986 g 897 g Methylcellulose SM-25 4 g 4 g 3 g Total 1000 g 1000 g 1000 g The FTY720 and a proportion of the D-mannitol equal to twice the weight of the FTY720 are nixed in a Microspeed Mixer MS-5 type (Palmer, USA) for 2 minutes at 1200 rpm. The remaining D-mannitol is added to the mixture and mixed for another 2 minutes. 80 or 60 milliliters of 5% methylcellulose SM-25 solution is supplied from a hopper and granulated under the same conditions. The mixture is extruded through a screen with 0.4 mm apertures - 21 using an extruder RG-5 type. The extruded material is dried at 65C by a fluidized-bed granulator STREA I Type (Pathecn, Canada) and then sieved through a 24 mesh sieve. Fine particles which pass through a 6C mesh sieve are removed. The obtained fine granules are filled into capsules by a Zuma capsule-filling machine (100 mg per capsule). Examoles 28 to 31 Tablets containing the following ingredients (in mg) are produced: Example 28 Example 29 Example 30 Example 31 FTY720 1 1 1 1 D-mannitol 62.3 62.3 62.0 62.0 Xylitol* 26.7(5.4) 26.7(5.4) 26.6 26.6 Methylcellulose - - 0.4 0.4 Microcrystalline 24.0 - 24.0 cellulose Low-substituted - 24.0 - 24.0 Hydroxypropyl cellulose Hydrogenated oil 6.0 6.0 6.0 6.0 Total 120.0 120.0 120.0 120.0 The amount of xylitol indicated in brackets was used as a binder. FTY720, D-mannitol and xylitol are placed in a fluid-bed granulator (MP-01 model, Powrex), mixed for five minutes, and granulated under spray of binder solution, followed by drying till the exhaust temperature reaches 40 0 C. The granulation conditions are as shown below. Dried powder is passed through a 24-mesh sieve, added to the specified amount of filler and lubricant, and mixed in a mixer (Tubular Mixer, WAB) for three minutes to make the powder for compression. The resulting powder is compressed by a tabletting machine (Cleanpress correct 12 HUK, Kikushui Seisakusho) with a punch of 7 mm i.d. x 7.5 mm R at a compression force of 9800 N. Granulation conditions: -L Se ertinc Oharge-in amount 1170 c Volurne of intake-air 50 m r Temperature of intake-air 75 0 C Flow rate of spray solution 15 mLimin Spray air pressure 15 N/cm 2 Spray air volume 30 L/min Volume of binder solution 351 mL Examples 32 to 39 ablets containing the following ingredients (in mg) are produced: Ex. 32 ' Ex. 33 Ex. 34 Ex. 35 Ex. 36 Ex. 37 Ex. 38 Ex. 39 FTY720 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 D-mannitol 116.6 114.2 104.6 114.2 104.6 116.6 115.4 113 magnesium 2.4 2.4 2.4 2.4 2.4 - - stearate glycine HCI - 2.4 12 - - - .. sodium - - - 2.4 12 - - bicarbonate zinc - - - - - 2.4 - stearate silicone fluid - - - - - - 3.6 mineral oil - - - - - - - 6 Total 120.0 120.0 120.0 120.0 120.0 120.0 120.0 120.0 Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" and "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps. The reference in this specification to any prior publication (or information derived from it), or to any matter which is known, is not, and should not be taken as an acknowledgment or admission or any form of suggestion that that prior publication (or information derived from it) or known matter forms part of the common general knowledge in the field of endeavour to which this specification relates

Claims (19)

1. A process for producing a pharmaceutical composition, comprising: (a) mixing an S1 P receptor agonist with a sugar alcohol; (b) milling and/or granulating the mixture obtained in (a); and (c) mixing the milled and/or granulated mixture obtained in (b) with a lubricant.

2. Process according to claim 1 wherein the S1P receptor agonist is micronized and/or pre-screened before step (a).

3. Process according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the mixing step (a) comprises blending the S1P receptor agonist and the sugar alcohol in a suitable blender or mixer, e.g. for 100 to 400 revolutions.

4. Process according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the components are dry mixed.

5. Process according to claim 4 wherein the milling step (b) comprises passing the mixture obtained in (a) through a screen.

6. Process according to any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein step (a) comprise the step of mixing the total amount of S1P receptor agonist at first with a low amount of sugar alcohol in order to form a pre-mix.

7. Process according to claim 6 wherein the pre-mix formed in step (a) comprise from 5 to 25% by weight of the total weight of sugar alcohol.

8. Process according to any one of the preceding claims wherein step (a) further comprises the step of adding a binder solution to the mixture. C:4RPortbl\DCCDAR\37H1104_ DOC.2M)1/2011 - 24

9. Process according to any one of claims 4 to 8 wherein the binder is added to the mix dry and water is added in the granulation step.

10. Process according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the milled mixture obtained in (b) is blended before mixing with the lubricant.

11. Process according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the lubricant is pre-screened before mixing.

12. Process according to any one of claims 1 to 11 wherein an additional amount of binder is added in step (c) to the mixture obtained in (b).

13. Process according to any one of claims 1 to 4 comprising the following steps: i) the S1P receptor agonist is dry-mixed With the sugar alcohol, ii) the obtained sugar alcohol/S1 P receptor agonist mixture is dry mixed with a binder, iii) water is added, iv) the mixture is granulated, and v) the granulation is dried and milled.

14. Process according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the composition contains 0.01 to 20% by weight of S1 P receptor agonist, based on the total weight of the composition.

15. Process according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the composition contains 75 to 99.99% by weight of the sugar alcohol, based on the total weight of the composition.

16. Process according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the S1P receptor agonist is selected from 2-amino-2-[2-(4-octylphenyl)ethyl]propane- C :NRPonblDCC\DAR\37811 .(MDOC-2ZM7/21111 - 25 1,3-diol (FTY720), a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and FTY720 phosphate.

17. Process according to any one of claims 1 to 16 wherein the S1 P receptor agonist is 2-amino-2-[2-(4-octylphenyl)ethyl]propane-1,3-diol (FTY720), or the hydrochloride salt thereof.

18. A pharmaceutical composition obtained by a process according to any one of claims 1 to 17.

19. A process according to claim 1 substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one of the examples.