AU681256B2 - Granular product or tablet containing an effervescent system and an active pharmaceutical substance, as well as a method for its preparation - Google Patents

Description

950217 1 P1 892PC Granular product or tablet containing an effervescent system and an active pharmaceutical substance, as well as a method for its preparation Field of the Invention This invention relates to a granular pharmaceutical preparation or more particulary a tablet containing an effervescent system and a preferably acid-sensitive pharmaceutical substance, such as cisapride, beta-carotene, an H2 blocker such as cimetidine or ranitidine, and/or a substance which is to be administered in an effervescent pharmaceutical preparation with comparatively small amounts of effervescent components or a comparatively low acidneutralizing capacity.

Background of the Invention Heretofore it has been possible only with difficulty to incorporate acid-sensitive drugs in stable form into effervescent tablets or effervescent instant granular products, since in contact with the acid of the effervescent system such compositions hydrolyze or decompose, i.e. they are not shelf-stable. Furthermore, whenever such a substance also affects the surface tension of water, frothing occurs which is highly undesirable for the consumption of the effervescent solution, or in any event, hydrophobic particles of the drug tend to creep upward on the glass. On the other hand, in certain cases, the antacid side-effect of an effervescent tablet is undesirable for many drugs.

Therefore an object of this invention is to provide an effervescent system which will avoid the aforesaid disadvantages and offer the possibility of administering to a patient pharmaceutical substances, inclusive of acidsensitive substances which have hydrophobic properties or properties influencing the surface tension of water, in pleasant-to-drink effervescent solutions. It is a further object of this invention to create an effervescent tablet or AMENDED SHEET

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960208 2 PI1 92PCx an instant effervescent granular product with an acidbinding capacity of less than 5 meq (measurement according test Nr. 301 from The United States Pharmacopoeia 23, National Formulary 18), in order to avoid undesired antacid effects. This is especially advantageous for all H2 blockers. Lastly, it is desired that the tablet or granular product is to dissolve rapidly in water at a temperature of about 15-20 0 C in less than about 2 minutes.

Summary of the Invention The solution to the aforesaid problems can be achieved in a surprisingly simple, cost-effective and efficient manner in accordance with this invention e.g. by first substantially coating acid particles with a composition comprising at least one neutral substance which causes a depression of the melting point of the acid grains at their surface, and -:ereafter anchoring thereon at least one second coating wnic- contains an alkali and/or alkaline earth carbonate and/or bicarbonate, and optionally a partial reaction oroduct of the carbonate or bicarbonate with the same or a different organic acid.

The invention is more fully discussed in detail below along with a detailed discussion and illustration of several preferred embodiments.

Detailed Description Neutral substances within the meaning of this invention include polymers soluble in water and/or alcohol, such as e.g. polyvinylpyrrolidone, carbohydrates, such as saccharose, pentaerythritol, glucose, and fructose (although the Latter two, under the influence of thT only slightly alkaline effervescent-grain surface due to the bicarbonate soating, are subject to a Maillard reaction tending to make them yellow and therefore they are not particulary preferred Sherein), hydrocolloids, such as maltodextrin, dextrin and kMENDED S1EET I i I l~eC R 950217 3- P! 892PC the like; especially preferred are higher alcohols, such as xylitol, mannitol and sorbitol.

Various embodiments of the invention are described in the defining clauses of the dependent claims.

It is true that W093/00886 discloses that a foreign acid, possibly gluconic acid delta-lactone, which hydrolyzes to gluconic acid, can be incorporated at the surface of acid vehicle crystals, with the result that the crystal lattice is disturbed and a melting point depression is achieved.

However, such a measure cannot of course provide adequate protection for acid-sensitive active substances. It has therefore also been impossible hitherto to use the invention of W093/00886 for acid-sensitive active substances in practice.

It has also been proposed (British Patent 1,270,781) to coat acid vehicle crystals for effervescent tablets with a thin polymer layer, such as, for example, with polyvinylpyrrolidone, carboxymethylcellulose or the like. However, this results in an undesirable retardation of the dissolution time and, in the case of the 1 to 5% by weight of polyvinylpyrrolidone described there in the Examples, foam formation problems; furthermore, some acid is always transferred from the vehicle crystal to the layer in solution when the coating is applied by means of ethanolic or aqueous solution, whereby the acid-sensitive active substances would not be protected sufficiently. In addition, however, those skilled in the art have for over 20 years been unable satisfactorily to solve the problem of accommodating acid-sensitive active substances in effervescent systems not only in a shelf-stable manner but also in relatively small tablet weights with very low acidneutralizing capacity and short dissolution time. An effervescent tablet is generally defined as being particularly rapid when the dissolution (or complete

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WO 95/23594 PCT/EP95/00650 -4suspending) of the tablet components takes less than 120 sec, preferably 90 sec or less.

According to the invention, however, after (preferably only a small amount of) the neutral substance has been applied to the acid grains, alkali and/or earth alkaline carbonate and/or bicarbonate particles are anchored on the grain surface in order to prohibit an interaction between the acid and the active substance.

Furthermore, the process proposed in EP-A1-415 326 for coating acid vehicle crystals with several times the amount of sugar in order, in combination with bicarbonate, to achieve a slightly prickling effect, for a chewable tablet or lozenge has not been able to solve the combination of the problems or tasks: such a system would not be sufficiently reactive to dissolve an effervescent tablet in water within a reasonable time. It was the aim of the said EP-Al to slow down the reaction between acid and carbonate in order not to produce an undesired high effervescent effect in the mouth.

If, as disclosed in the prior art (US-A-4 127 645), a tablet having a core of acid, bicarbonate and calcium were coated with a neutral substance, for example with sorbitol in an aqueous, alcoholic or in a water/alcohol-solution, such a tablet would not provide reliable protection for acidsensitive active substances contained in the core. However, if the mixture were pressed with a neutral substance (e.g.

maltodextrin, if necessary as a mixture with sugar, US-A-4 650 669; sorbitol with vitamins, US-A-5 223 264, only suitable as a prickling chewable tablet) to give tablets, then either both reactants would be coated together or undesirable agglomerated granules would occur. In both cases, the reaction on dissolution of the tablet would take place too slowly and the dissolution time would thus be undesirably increased, or the solution would contain undesirably large amounts of sugar. Furthermore, it is very

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Cln 5- 21892-PC probable that, in agglomerated granules, acid particles too would be present unprotected at the surface of the granules; however, this results in greater instability for acidsensitive active substances.

In U.S. Patent No. 4,867,942, a method is described in which vehicle crystals of a solid, edible organic acid are covered on their surface wi-h a pre-reacted solution serving as buffer, particularly an acid alkali and/or alkaline earth salt of a solid, edible organic acid. Thereaftcr, more of the acid crystals and amounts of carbonate or bicarbonate are anchored side by side on this coating. Water which is released in the various neutralization partial reactions' is removed by a final treatment with alcohol and vacuum drying.

Such a process is disadvantageous, however, in that, for acid-sensitive drugs, on the acid crystal surface an additional acid simultaneously enters into a reaction with the alkali carbonate, and the reaction thus proceeds too fast and consequently not sufficiently uniformly. Therefore, the product that forms from this method cannot completely prevent the reaction of an acid-sensitive drug mixed in with it, due to the acid crystals lying on the surface of the granules.

'n contrast, the structure of the effervescent system according to this invention not only prevents direct contact of an acid-sensitive drug with the acid crystals thereby providing an effervescent tablet or granular product with substantially more shelf-stability, but it also permits the preparation of substantially smaller tablets, those with smaller amounts of effervescent components which, when dissolved, result in a buffer system. Thus, the present tablets according to the invention, in contrast to buffer systems of antacid effervescent preparations, can remain at far less than 5 meq of acid-neutralizin capacity. Also, in terms of product preparation, a retarded reaction and better compressibility into tablets is obtained. With the aid of ANF., NDE0J 3HEEZ st LBeWBC-~qe~~ 950217 6- P1 E92PC this invention, an effervescent tablet can be prepared which for the first time contains an acid-sensitive drug, such as cisapride, or an H2 blocker such as cimetidine, and which has an acid-neutralizing capacity of less than 5 meg for a tablet (or granular product) weight of only 1.6 to 2.3 g.

Further, in accordance with an especially advantageous embodiment of this invention, after the acid crystals have been covered with a coating of neutral substance, at least a portion of the carbonate and/or bicarbonate particles intended for a full dose can be applied to this coating, so that effervescent grains are formed from acid crystals on which a first coating of neutral substance has formed, and thereon a second coating of carbonate and/or bicarbonate, which has partially reacted with the acid in some cases.

The invention can be particularly expediently used for products or processes as described, for example, in EP-B1- 76 340, US-A-4 867 942 and W093/00886, and whose description and claims are herein regarded as having been disclosed.

The application of the neutral substance, especially a sorbitol solution, for example, causes a depression of the melting point on the surface of the citric acid crystals.

Thus, on the one hand, the adhesive force for the next coating containing alkali or alkaline earth carbonates and/or bicarbonates increases, and at the same time this signifies a slower and therefore more uniform reaction of the citric acid crystal surface and better.passivation, so that the acid-sensitive drugs are less attacked by the effervescent grains. On the other hand, the melting point depression protracts the recrystallization time of the citric acid or of the citrates that have formed, which signifies better compressibility of the effervescent granules over a longer period f ime.

~p i i IIY-YI:bP ?60208 7 Pl 92PCx The amount of neutral substance applied to the acid vehicle crystals depends on the amount of solvent with which the acid can be wet, since a maximum of 50 70 by weight can be dissolved in an aqueous solution. It is therefore preferably added in an amount of 0.05 to 1.0, in particular 0.07 to 0.8, by weight, based on the acid. Additions of less than 0.07 have only a weak effect and those of less than 0.05 have no effect which is relevant according to the invention: the shelf-stability of acid-sensitive active substances is reduced. Additions of over 0.8 generally begin to have an interfering effect, and at above 1.0 the reactivity of citric acid and of the effervecent system is -onsierably slowed down.

However, this may be less troublesome in the case of granules since a longer dissolution time tends to be desirable there in order to allow the granules to sink on introduction into water and only thereafter to undergo a reaction for dissolution. Otherwise, however, the amounts of neutral substance which can be applied to, for example, citric acid are determined by the amount of solution with which the citric acid can be wet, since the neutral substances are in fact applied in solution, and a 50 to max.

solution can be prepared. The citric acid crystals cannot be wet with an infinitely large amount of water and hence solvent.

Zn certain circumstances, the neutral coating, especially if .rbonate and/or bicarbonate particles are anchored on it, can also contain small amounts of a solid, edible organic acid, and in some cases an acid different from the one of which the vehicle crystals consist as disclosed per se in another context but here also in order to intensify the melting point depression and/or to control the effervescent reaction and rate of dissolution.

AMENDED SHEET 950217 8- i1 892PC Each such effervescent grain is, taken by itself, actually a small effervescent "tablet", and effervesces by itself.

Therefore, if desired, a short dissolving time, small quantity and low acid-neutralizina capacity can be achieved.

Experiments thus far towards achieving a fast-acting, small effervescent tablet by the use of monosodium citrate instead of citric acid have failed, because this greatly slows the effervescent reaction, since the monosodium citrate reacts more slowly with sodium bicarbonate, and such tablets usually have an acid consuming capacity exceeding 5 mEq.

On the other hand, a very thin monosodium citrate coating in accordance with this invention, especially as a third or fourth layer, which can contain an additional neutral substance if desired, acts advantageously because 1 mol of monosodium citrate binds 1 mol of water of crystallization and thus contributes to the drying or to maintenance of dryness. Furthermore, in any case, uncovered citric acid surfaces can be covered again or more completely with bicarbonate.

Additionally, since many substances exhibit some form of taste sensation of which many are unpleasant, especially those exhibiting bitterness, it is desirable to keep the final effervescent solution, especially since it is in beverage form, within the pH range of 3.8 to 4.6. Experience has shown that within this range paricularly bitter substances can be more effectively masked.

While not obligatory, it is preferable to remove residual water from the reaction granules in the course of their preparation by a final treatment with alcohol. Alcohol may disrupt the bonding of water of crystallization, because during drying the residual moisture is removed along with the alcohol by evaporation. Small amounts of an antifoaming WO 95/23594 PCT/EP9/00650 -9agent can also be added to the alcohol in order to accelerate the dissolution of the final tablet.

Many of the aforementioned drugs, especially cimetidine and cisapride, often cause frothing in an effervescent ti b.et.

This is not due, however, to foaming such as that caused by tensides. That is to say, the active agents themselves, when stirred into water, do not foam. Instead, when the effervescent particles in the tablet dissolve, bubbles of carbon dioxide form.

These bubbles burst and leave the CO 2 on the surface. Now, if a less soluble or more hydrophobic substance is present, the undissolved particles envelop the CO 2 bubbles, and by forming such a film successfully prevent rapid bubble bursting, so that the bubbles with this film on the surface collect and thus a "foam" is formed. However, the "foam" already forming between the effervescent grains interferes with the continued reaction, and thus with the rapid dissolution of the tablet or granules. This circumstance is combatted according to the invention by the additon of very small amounts of at least one antifoaming agent with the result that any "foam" that forms as the effervescent reaction begins immediately collapses.

The antifoaming agent is preferably added in an amount of 0.005 bis 0.5% by weight, based on the total amount including any fillers, flavors, etc., or 0.05 2.0% by weight, based on active substance. Additions of less than 0.005 have no effect relevant according to the invention; additions of more than 0.5 give rise to troublesome or unacceptable side effects.

In the case of active substances which are soluble, although not too freely soluble, as in the case of cimitidine, a percentage of simethicone of 0.1 0.3% by weight, based on active substance, is used, which is equivalent to the use of

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WO 95/23594 PCT/EP95/00650 10 0.016 0.028 percent (about 0.03%) based on the total tablet weight. The situation is somewhat different in the case of an insoluble hydrophobic, active substance, such as cisapride (the monohydrate is used), where 1% of simethicone is used, based on the active substance, but an amount of 0.006% results when based on the tablet weight of 1.6 g. It is evident that the cisapride, as a slightly soluble, hydrophobic active substance, requires a larger amount of antifoaming agent for suppressing the foam, but the required fillers and the effervescent base result in a substantially smaller amount of simethicone being used per tablet, so that the ratios are inverted.

In the case of the soluble active substances, such as cimetidine and ranitidine, the simethicone is required in smaller amounts, in order to suppress the smaller tendency to foaming in the local reaction on dissolution of the effervescent tablet, whereas in the case of cjsapride as already mentioned the tendency to foam is substantially greater and the principle is therefore also slightly different.

If larger amounts are used, film formation of simethicone occurs at the surface after dissolution of the effervescent tablet, by virtue of the fact that especially in the casof insoluble active substances particles of the active substance collect and remain hanging and thus result in unattractive dissolution behavior, this film then additionally having the tendency to form a ring on the glass wall.

In some cases, however, very small amounts of a tenside, for example, docusate sodium, are also added. Due to their wettable nature, such drug particles dissolve more quickly and no longer adhere to the foam bubbles. The proportion of such substances must be determined very precisely to achieve the desired dissolving characteristics.

-L LI I IL WO 9S/23594 PCT/EP95/00650 -11 Although in some cases the antifoaming agent can be applied to the effervescent system and/or to the drug, this is not preferred according to the invention. In the first case, it might cause undesirable slowing of the dissolution and reaction of the effervescent components unless very slight amounts of antifoaming agent sufficient for the achievement of the desired effect are used. In the second case, only those drugs are involved which, when the antifoaming agent is drawn onto them from a solution in a solvent methyl ethyl ketone and acetone) at 40 0 C, do not lose any of their solubility or stability. Additionally, in the course of production with the use of finely powdered drugs the addition of antifoaming agents may lead to poor distribution because of drug particles attaching themselves to the antifoaming agent droplets.

It is therefore preferred, in accordance with this invention, that first the formation of a typical gra-ular product from antifoaming agents and a neutral substance is undertaken, which product is thereafter mixed with the effervescent system and the drug, plus additional adjuvants if desired perfumes, sweeteners and the like) and the mixture then compressed into tablet form.

The moisture released in the preparation of the effervescent system by the neutralization reaction, and not entirely removed by heating and/or vacuum treatment, as well as moisture picked up from the air during storage, can best be bound by the addition of a moisture-binding agent, especially anhydrous sodium carbonate (which can absorb mols of water per mol) or sodium sulfate. The agent can be bound either by applying it to one or more of the coatings applied to the vehicle crystals, or by adding it to the total mixture. This improves shelf life because the reaction of the acid-sensitive active agent with the acid is further suppressed or completely prevented by the reduction of WO 95/23594 PCT/EP95/00650 12 moisture. However, excessive amounts of such moisturebinding agent, for example sodium carbonate, are not desirable as it may retard the effervescent reaction.

Sodium carbonate as a drying agent, therefore, should not be used for completely covering the effervescent grains, since it is preferable to operate with only small quantities effective to merely dry the residual moisture, or to retard the reaction during manufacture, and to avoid undesirably lengthenip-I the dissolving time of the tablet. Therefore, the final addition of sodium carbonate should not be used for complete coverage (or a tablet coating), due to both the quantity and the grain size (approx. 0.1 0.05 mm), and it is therefore not suitable for producing a continuous coating on the bicarbonate already present. However, it can be partially hooked onto the effervescent grains. It is also possible, however, not to add the sodium carbonate until after the drying operation.

In principle, the percentage amount of sodium carbonate per tablet depends on several factors, such as, for example, the amount of effervescent base used, the amount and type of the fillers used, the presence of other carbonates, such as, for example, calcium carbonate, etc.

The moisture-binding agent, in particular sodium carbonate, is preferably added in an amount of between 1 and 10, in particular 4 6, by weight (based on the total amount, including any fillers, flavors, etc.). Additions of less than 4 have only a weak effect, and with those of less than 1, the drying effect and increase in stability is too small, they have no effect relevant according to the invention.

Additions of over 6 generally begin to have a troublesome effect because sodium carbonate dissolves more slowly and reacts more poorly; above 10% the dissolution time is already significantly lengthened, since sodium carbonate first absorbs water (up to 10 molecules of water of i WO 95/23594 PCT/EP95/00650 13 crystallization) on dissolution of the effervescent tablet, i.e. is calcined and only then reacted with the citric acid.

Here it .s to be emphasized that 1 mol of water of crystallization can be bound per mol by sodium citrate alone developing in or on the 'orbitol layer, and in spite of any residual moisture present the sorbitol layer prevents or hinders any acid harm to the drug.

If all of the prescribe d steps are followed in accordance with the invention, effervescent tablets can be produced, even with the difficult substances referred to, which at a tablet weight of, 1.6 g,will attain a dissolving time of less than 100 seconds. It is also to be noted that especially cimetidine, due to its hydrophobic character, further lengthens the dissolving time in comparison with other drugs, under otherwise equal conditions.

Granulation with sorbitol solution permits rapid dissolution without the incorporation of an extraneous acid that is otherwise necessary, for example, according to W093/00886.

Furthermore, during the preparation of the effervescent systems of this invention, and in any case of the tablets themselves, the steps taken according to the invention will enable the control of reactions which take place at the surface of individual crystals or granules, which thus constitutes a local mechanism, while also during dissolution the above-described desired advantages will be achieved throughout.

The system is also extraordinarily well suited for the processing of substances which are both acid-sensitive a sparingly soluble in water. Such substances, such as cisapride for example, exhibit very unpleasant behavior in suspension, since, as mentioned above, they tend to froth together with the effervescent system, adhere to a glass 960208 14 P1192PCx wall, -orm unpleasant rings and tend to agglomerate on the surface of the drink.

All the aforesaid problems can be effectively combatted by preparing seperate granules. For this purpose in yet another emb diment of this invention, there is provided a vehicle which can consist of an Aerosil and/or a neutral substance, .ichn the drug is applied preferably with the surface of its grains partially dissolved, and/or with binding agents and/or tensides if desired, and dried, or is bound to the vehicle surface by means of binders.

The amount of the suspended substance is limited to at most 8, preferably at most 4.5, by weight (based on the total mixture), for example for cisapride, since larger amounts would result in increased sinking of the granule particles after dissolution of the tablet. On the other hand, the amount of binder used is likewise limited to 1% by weight, since it otherwise leads to undesirable agglomerated granules of active substance, suspended substance and binder, which dissolve only with difficulty and then sink to :he bottom, i.e. prevent the desired suspension.

The invention will now be more fully described and understood with reference to the following examples of preferred embodiments. However these examples are for illustrative purposes only, and many other embodiments and variations will be readily apparent to those persons skilled in the relevant art and are not intended to limit the scope of this invention or the claims or the spirit thereof.

Alternatively, the drug can also be dissolved in the methyl ethyl ketone or in acetone and coated onto mannitol, Aerosil(R) and sodium bicarbonate.

4NDD S~HEET .0 WO 95/23594 PCTIEP95100650 15 Example 1: Preparation of effervescent tablets containing 200 mg of cimetidine a) Preparation of the effervescent system 102 parts by weight of coarse citric acid and 25 parts by weight of finely powdered citric acid (the latter is preferable for improving build-up to effervescent grains on the vehicle crystal as the powder particles provide a rough surface on which up to about 30% of bicarbonate can be anchored) or tartaric acid are aspirated into a preheated vacuum tank and heated to approx. 60 0 C with stirring. Next, 0.85 parts by weight of a solution 1, which has been formed from 36 parts by weight each of water and sorbitol, 21 parts by weight of citric acid and 7 parts by weight of sodium bicarbonate, is aspirated and distributed on the citric acid by mixing. Thereafter, 52.5 parts by weight of sodium bicarbonate and 4.4 parts by weight of aspartame are added to this mixture, which is then stirred and dried by a vacuum of up to 200 mbar, after which 1.9 parts by weight of sodium carbonate are aspirated and distributed in the mixture by stirring, and the mixture is then dried by a vacuum of up to mbar.

Next, a further 0.6 parts by weight of said solution are aspirated and distributed in the mixture by mixing. The resultant effervescent grains are dried in a vacuum of up to mbar with stirring. If necessary, 0.25 parts by weight of 96% ethanol are also employed to dry the mixture, and aspirated. Then, again 9.3 parts by weight of sodium carbonate are bound onto the effervescent grain surface.

After another final drying, the product is removed through a sieve.

b) Preparation of the granulated antifoaming agent In a vacuum mixing tank with a jacket temperature of 80 0

C,

7.7 parts by weight of sorbitol powder are added and heated to 50 0 C. Then, 0.2 parts by weight of simethicone in a IluL ~gnsll~B~--- I WO 95/23594 PCTIEP95/00650 16 butanone/acetone mixture are aspirated in, stirred by vibrational mixing and dried under full vacuum down to mbar at a temperature of at least 45 0

C.

c) Preparation of the total mixture In a mixer, 20 parts by weight of cimetidine, with 21.1 parts by weight of sorbitol powder if desired, are mixed for minutes at 6 rpm with 178.4 parts by weight of the effervescent system prepared in Then 7 parts by weight of the antifoaming agent granules prepared in b) and screened through a 0.6 mm sieve, and 4.5 parts by weight of lemon flavoring, are added, mixed for another 5 minutes at 6 rpm. The final mixture is pressed into tablets which weigh 2.3 g, contain 200 mg of cimetidine, and have a hardness of 6-8 kp.

Example 2: Preparation of effervescent tablets containing 200 mg of cimetidine, and citric and malic acid in the effervescent grains: 102 parts by weight of coarse citric acid, 25 parts by weight of powdered citric acid and 1.1 parts by weight of malic acid are heated to 60°C with stirring in a preheated vacuum tank. A solution consisting of 0.4 parts by weight of water, 0.22 parts by weight of sorbitol and 0.22 parts by weight of malic acid is then aspirated in and distributed onto the citric acid by mixing. 52.5 parts by weight of sodium bicarbonate and 4.4 parts by weight of aspartame are next added to the mixture and dried by stirring, in a vacuum of up to 200 mbar. Next, 1.9 parts by weight of sodium carbonate are aspirated in and distributed in the mixture by stirring, and then vacuum drying is performed down to mbar. Finally, a final drying can be performed with ethanol, and then 9.3 parts by weight of sodium carbonate are added to the mixture. The rest of the procedure is similar to Example 1.

WO 95/23594 PCT/EP95/00650 17 Example 3: Effervescent tablets containing 400 mg of cimetidine, and mannitol as a neutral substance 49 parts by weight of citric acid are aspirated into a preheated vacuum tank and heated with stirring to 60 0

C.

Then, 0.45 parts by weight of a solution 1, which has been prepared from 0.25 parts by weight of water and 0.20 parts by weight of mannitol, is aspirated in and distributed on the citric acid by mixing, whereupon 14.7 parts by weight of sodium bicarbonate and 3.2 parts by weight of aspartame are then added. Reaction is started with stirring and then drying is performed with a vacuum up to 200 mbar. 0.5 parts by weight of sodium carbonate are next aspirated and distributed in the mixture by stirring, and then drying is performed with a vacuum to 15 mbar. Then 0.5 parts by weight of a solution 2, which has been prepared from solution 1 by the addition of 0.16 parts by weight of monosodium citrate, is aspirated into the mixture and distributed by mixing. The effervescent grains obtained therefrom are then dried by vacuum and stirring to 20 mbar, and finally 2.8 parts by weight of sodium carbonate are added. To this mixture is then added 17.3 parts by weight of cimetidine, 4.3 parts by weight of mannitol, 8 parts by weight of sorbitol, 0.9 parts by weight of flavoring, and 4 parts by weight of antifoaming agent granules prepared according to Example 1 until distribution is uniform.

Example 4: Effervescent tablets containing 300 mg of cimetidine, as well as maltodextrin as a neutral substance.

Similarly to Example 3, for a 300 mg cimetidine effervescent tablet, a 50% solution of maltodextrin is selected, which is p-C l 1 C- WO 95/23594 PCT/EP95/00650 18 then used in the same amount as in the case of the 400 milligram form.

In all of the examples in which the tablets contain 100 to 400 mg of cimetidine, the tablet weight can be 2.3 g. The tablets have a dissolving time of preferably 60 to 150 seconds and a buffering capacity below 5 meq, measured according to USP XXII, by back-titration (with 0.5 N NaOH) of an effervescent tablet dissolved in 70 ml of water and with 30 ml of 1.0 N HC1 added.

The figures given in the following table 1 are the percentages of individual ingredients in the particular total mixture of the illustrated preferred embodiments, which therefore are in the following preferred ranges: Table 1 Cimetidine Citric acid Sodium bicarbonate Sodium carbonate Aspartame 2 30% 30 60% 10 30% 2 10% 1-4% (cooresponds to an ef,;,:vescent tablet containing SO 600 mg of cimetidine) sorbitol 5-20% maniitol 2-10% simethicone 0.005-0.5% flavoring 0.1-3% A preferred percentage composition of cimetidine effervescent tablets or bags of granules containing 100, 200, 300 and 400 mg of cimetidine, with a total weight of 2.31 grams, is summarized below in table 2: Mul WO 95/23594 PCT/EP95/00650 19 Table 2 100 mg 200 mg 300 mg 400 mg Cimetidine 4.30 8.70 13 17.3 Citric acid 50 50 48.2 48.2 Sodium 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.04 citrate Aspartame 1.74 1.64 2.54 3.24 Sorbitol 12.5 12.5 12.8 8.00 Sodium 20.7 20.7 14.7 14.7 bicarbonate Sodium 4.4 4.4 3.5 3.3 carbonate Manntiol 4.3 4.3 4.3 HMA Lemon 2.0 2.0 0.9 0.9 flavoring Simethicone 0.02 0.02 0.02 0.02 Example 5: Cisapride effervescent tablets a) Preparation of the effervescent grains 655 parts by weight of crystalline citric acid, 70 parts by weight of citric acid powder and 8 parts by weight of sodium saccharin sodium are heated while mixing to 60°C. Then 2.8 parts by weight of a solution consisting of 0.6 parts by weight of sorbitol, 0.3 parts by weight of trisodium citrate, 0.5 parts by weight of citric acid and 1.6 parts by weight of water are aspirated into this mixture and distributed by mixing. Next, 340 parts by weight of sodium bicarbonate as well as 2 parts by weight of aspartame are added and reacted. Before drying, 77 parts by weight of sodium carbonate are added, whereupon the mixture is vacuum dried with slow stirring to 15 mbar.

I 950217 20 1 892PC b) Preparation of the granulated drug Insoluble and hydrophobic cisapride is attached to a suspending substance by means of a binder and a small amount of a tenside as follows: A solution of 10 parts by weight of cisapride, 2 parts by weight of polyvinylpyrrolidone and 0.8 part by weight of docusate sodium in 1 part by weight of ethanol and 40 parts by weight of acetone is applied to parts by weight of Aerosil uniformly distributed and then dried while stirring. The granules are sieved to 0.1 0.3 mm.

c) Preparation of the final mixture To 1152 parts by weight of effervescent grains are added parts by weight of maltodextrin, 100 parts by weight of lactose, 184 parts by weight of mannitol, 40 parts by weight of flavoring, 50.2 parts by weight of anti-foaming granules (0.2 parts by weight of simethicone coated onto 50 parts by weight of mannitol), as well as the granulated drug prepared in mixing is carried out for 15 minutes for uniform distribution and the mixture is then pressed to form tablets of 1.6 g, which have an acid-neutralizing capacity of only 2 meq. Cisapride effervescent tablets having such a low acid-neutralizing capacity are unknown to date.

Example 6: Beta-carotene effervescent tablets With this extremely acid- and oxidation-sensitive aubstance, attention must be paid to an especially good covering of the acid. The surface and the contact zone on the beta-carotene must be kept alkaline. Therefore the effervescent grains are covered at least in part with calcium carbonate, thus insuring an alkaline surface. This, however, does result in a slightly longer dissolving time, which in this case is desirable, because the beta-carotene needs time to suspend while the tablet is dissolving. Large amounts of sorbitol, as in US-A-5 223 264 mentioned at the outset, are by no

I~

WO 95/23594 PCT/EP95/00650 21 means suitable for a beta-carotene effervescent tablet which is intended to be dissolved or suspended in water.

a) Preparation of the effervescent grains 1315 parts by weight of citric acid, 7 parts by weight of sodium saccharin and 45 parts by weight of sodium cyclamate are heated in a vacuum tank to 50 0 C. Then 16.8 parts by weight of a sclution prepared from 3.6 parts by weight c' calcium carbonate, 19 parts by weight of citric acid, 12 parts by weight of sorbitol, and 45 parts by weight of water are stirred in and distributed onto the citric acid by mixing. Next, 400 parts by weight of calcium carbonate and 190 parts by weight of citric acid are added and the mixture heated with stirring to 60C. Then follows the second granulation with 44 parts by weight of the above-mentioned solution, and after distributing and mixing, 403 parts by weight of sodium bicarbonate are added, and also, before drying, 52 parts by weight of sodium carbonate. The mixture is then vacuum-dried to 15 mbar with slow mixing.

b) Preparation of the final mixture 130 parts by weight of sorbitol and 540 parts by weight of mannitol and 50 parts by weight of flavoring, an encapsulated beta-carotene suspendable in water and corresponding to 2 to 15 parts byl weight of 100% betacarotene, plus, if desired, 50 to 250 parts by weight of vitamin C and/or a solid tocopheryl acetate suspendable in water (corresponding to 10 to 75 parts by weight of 100% tocopheryl acetate), plus still other vitamins if desired, are mixed with 2415 parts by weight of the effervescent grains prepared according to The product has a tablet weight of 3.3 g and its dissolving time is 60 to 90 seconds.

950217 22 Pri 92PC Example 7: Ranitidine effervescent tablets a) Preparation of the effervescent grains 840 parts by weight of crystalline citric acid, 210 parts by weight of citric acid powder, 45 parts by weight of sodium cyclamate, and 4 parts by weight of sodium saccharin are heated in a vacuum mixing tank at 60 0 C. Then a solution consisting of 6 parts by weight of water, 1 part by weight of sodium citrate, and 3 parts by weight of sorbitol is aspirated in and distributed by stirring. 500 parts by weight of sodium bicarbonate are next added and allowed to react, and thereafter 370 parts by weight of monosodium citrate are added, which are also allowed to react. Lastly, 100 parts by weight of sodium carbonate are added and the granules are dried with slow stirring up to 15 mbar.

b) Preparation of the final mixture To the effervescent grains thus prepared, 167 parts by weight of ranitidine hydrochloride, 125 parts by weight of mannitol plus 100.4 parts by weight of a granulated antifoaming agent (consisting of 100 parts by weight of mannitol and 0.4 parts by weight of simethicone) and the flavoring agent are added. This mixture is mixed for minutes for uniform distribution, and then pressed to tablets of 2.5 g. The tablets have a dissolving time of to 80 seconds and an acid-neutralizing capacity of about 2 meq and contain (in percent by weight) 6.8 ranitidine hydrochloride, 42.0 citric acid, 14.8 monosodium citrate, 20.0 sodium bicarbonate, 4.0 sodium carbonate, sweeteners, 5.0 mannitol, 0.1 sorbitol, 4.0 granulated antifoaming agent (containing 0.016 diemthylpolysiloxane) and 1.2 flavoring.

a I I, I

I~~_C

950217 23 p1 392PC Example 8: 545 parts by weight of crystalline citric acid and 133 parts by weight of powdered citric or tartaric acid are mixed while heating to 60 0 C. Then, as the first coating, a solution which consists of 6 parts by weight of wate: and 4 parts by weight of sorbitol is distributed on the surface by stirring. Next, 222 parts by weight of sodium bicarbonate are made to react on the surface of the citric acid, and finally 80 parts by weight of sodium bicarbonate are added.

The product is dried with slow stirring. The granules are screened to 1.5 mm, and then mixed for 10 minutes at 10 rpm with 167 parts by weight of ranitidine hydrochloride, 100 parts by weight of anti-foaming granules (containing 0.4 parts by weight of simethicone and 100 parts by weight of lactose), plus 54 parts by weight of sweetener and 40 parts by weight of flavoring, until uniform distribution is obtained. The mixture is then pressed to tablets weighing 1.43 g and having a dissolving time of 65-70 sec, a hardness of 8, and an acid-neutralizing capacity of about 1.5 meq.

The product contains no monosodium citrate. Ranitidine effervescent tablets having such a low acid-neutralizinQ capacity have not been disclosed to date.

Example 9: 38.2% of citric acid is heated with 0.26% of sodium saccharin to 60 0 C, then two-thirds of a solution which consists of, with respect to the final mixture, 0.6% water, 0.18% sorbitol, and 0.12% sodium citrate is applied. The solution is distributed for 5 minutes by mixing at 10 rpm.

Then 16.2% of sodium bicarbonate and 2.9% of aspartame are added and anchored on the surface of the citric acid by reaction on the neutral substance coating. Then follows a second wetting with the third one-third of the solution; then 12.9% monosodium citrat and, finally, 5.2% sodium _,-sdCsd 950217 24 P 892PC carbonate are added. The effervescent grains are dried while mixing them slowly by applying a vacuum, at a temperature of at least 50 0 C, to 15 mbar. The basic effervescent granular product is screened to 1.5 mm and mixed with 11.0% of ranitidine hydrochloride, 6.5% of mannitol, 6.5% of antifoaming granules plus 0.2% of flavoring, and pressed to tablets of 1.55 g, which have a dissolving time of 50 sec at a hardness of 7.3 and an acid-neutralizing capacity of less than 2 meq.

Example 10: Vehicle crystal grains coated only with a neutral substance Since cisapride, for example, in comparison to ranitidine, is not as highly sensitive to acid, it is nevertheless also possible by the procedure to be described below to achieve protection against the acid, all the more so since the drug is embedded in granules.

a) Preparation of the acid crystals coated with a neutral substance 593 parts by weight of crystalline citric acid plus 70 parts by weight of citric acid powder are heated to 60 0 C. Then a solution of 4 parts by weight of sorbitol in 4 parts by weight of water is applied and distributed onto the surface of the citric acid by mixing. Finally the citric acid thus coated is vacuum dried at 50 to 60 0

C.

In the case of both the form of effervescent product presented here and that of effervescent grains which contain a second alkali or alkali earth carbonate coating, it is possible to protect cisapride, for example, against attack by the citric acid in the drug granules by the addition of sodium bicarbonate.

WO 95/23594 PCT/EP95/00650 25 b) Preparation of the drug granules 160 parts by weight of mannitol, 10 parts by weight of cisapride, 5 parts by weight of aerosil and 10 parts by weight of sodium bicarbonate are heated with mixing to 60 0

C.

Then half of a solution of 27 parts by weight of methyl ethyl ketone (or 45 parts by weight of acetone), 2 parts by weight of alcohol, 2 parts by weight of poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) K30, 1 part by weight of propylene glycol and 0.8 parts by weight of docusate sodium are added and distributed for 5 minutes for the purpose of uniform wetting. The mixture is dried to 0.8 bar, the second part of this solution is aspirated, and again distributed by stirring for 5-10 minutes, and finally vacuum dried.

The active agent granules are then screened to 0.3 mm and already have an enhanced protection against acid attack simply due to the sodium bicarbonate they contain. They can then be mixed with the acid crystals coated with neutral substance, the remaining carbonates and bicarbonates, as well as the other tablet ingredients, and pressed to give tablets.

c) Preparation of the final mixture The citric acid dried and coated according to a) is then mixed with the drug granules prepared according to parts by weight of sweetener, 80 parts by weight of sodium carbonate, 430 parts by weight of sodium bicarbonate, and parts by weight of maltodextrin, 100 parts by weight of lactose, 150 parts by weight of mannitol, 50 parts by weight of an antifoaming granulate, and 20 parts by weight of flavoring, and then pressed to tablets of about 1.6 g, which have a dissolving time of 60 to 70 seconds at a hardness of 7.

WO 95/23594 PCTIEP95/00650 26 Example 11: Cisapride effervescent tablets a) Preparation of the effervescent granules: Citric acid, consisting of an amount of 300 parts by weight of granules, 80 parts by weight of fine granules and parts by weight of powder, together with 5 parts by weight of saccharin sodium, is uniformly wet at 60 0 C with 2.2 parts by weight of a solution which contains 0.4 part by weight of sorbitol, 0.15 part by weight of sodium bicarbonate, 0.45 part by weight of citric acid and 1.2 parts by weight of water. 12 parts by weight of malic acid are then aspirated in and uniformly anchored on the sorbitol layer formed on the citric acid crystals. Finally, 205 parts by weight of sodium bicarbonate and 1.2 parts by weight of aspartame are aspirated in and once again uniformly distributed. Finally, the material is covered with 4C parts by weight of sodium carbonate, vacuum-dried and discharged through a 1.2 mm sieve.

b) Preparation of the active ingredient granules: 12 parts by weight of polyvinylpyrrolidone are dissolved in 12 parts by weight of ethanol; 6 parts by weight of propylene glycol and 6 parts by weight of docusate sodium are then added and the mixture is diluted with 165 parts by weight of ethyl methyl ketone. Half of this solution is distributed over a mixture of 960 parts by weight of mannitol, 30 parts by weight of Aerosil 60 parts by weight of sodium bicarbonate and 61 parts by weight of cisapride, which is heated to 60 0 C. Partial drying is then carried out in vacuo, and further wetting is effected with the second half of the solution, followed by complete drying and dicharge through a 0.3 mm sieve.

The final mixture is prepared analogously to Example

Claims (44)

1. A granular effervescent product suitable for preparing an aqueous solution or suspension of one or more pharmaceutically active substances for oral administration, being capable of being pressed into tablets, and/or said product in tablet form, comprising effervescent grains obtained from carrier crystals of at least one solid, edible organic acid, said crystals being substantially covered by at least one first coating containing at least one neutral substance soluble in water and/or alcohol, wherein said neutral substance is applied in a relative to the acid grains small amount and is effective for depressing the melting point of the acid crystals on their surface, and at least one second coating containing at least one substance selected from the group consisting of alkali carbonate, alkali bicarbonate, alkaline earth carbonate, alkaline earth bicarbonate, alkali salt of at least one solid edible organic acid, and alkaline earth salt of at least one solid edible organic acid.

2. The granular product or tablet according to claim 1, wherein the neutral substance is selected from the group consisting of a water-soluble polymer, a higher alcohol, a carbohydrate and a hydrocolloid, and which neutral substance is present in an amount of from about 0.05 to about 1.0% by weight, from about 0.07 to about 0.8% by weight.

3. The granular product or tablet according to Claim 2 wherein said neutral 20 substance is present in an amount of from about 0.05 to about 1.0% by weight, from about 0.07 to about 0.8% by weight. rmaot00 oaot08 ywih

4. The granular product or tablet according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a moisture-binding agent is anchored on said effervescent grains.

5. The granular product or tablet according to claim 4 wherein said 25 moisture-binding agent is selected from the group consisting of anhydrous sodium carbonate and sodium sulfate. i 6. The granular product or tablet according to claim 5 wherein said agent is applied in an amount of from about 4 to about 10% by weight with respect to the total mixture.

7. The granular product or tablet according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein on the effervescent grains at least one additional coating is S: applied, comprising a substance selected from the group consisting of alkali salts Sand/or alkaline earth salts of at least one solid, edible, organic acid as buffer and, optionally, comprising an additional neutral substance.

8. The granular product or tablet according to claim 7, wherein at least one of the coatings contains an antifoaming agent.

9. The granular effervescent product or tablet according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the granular product, or said granular product compressed in tablet form, further comprises at least one antifoaming agent S. 40 present in a granular product of its own. [n:\libc]00133:MER a s .~e 28 The granular product or tablet according to any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the antifoaming agent is selected from the group consisting of dimethicone and simethicone and is applied in an amount of from about 0.005 to about 0.5% by weight with respect to the total mixture or from about 0.05 to about 2.0% by weight with respect to the pharmaceutically active substance.

11. The granular product or tablet according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein it has an acid-binding capacity of less than 5meq, measured according to test 103 of USP XXIII.

12. The granular product or tablet according to claim 11 wherein said o capacity is less than 3meq.

13. The granular product or tablet according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, at a total weight of no more than 2.5, in water at room temperature, it has a dissolving time of less than 180 seconds.

14. The granular product or tablet according to claim 13 wherein said total weight is no more than 2G. The granular product or tablet according to claim 13 or claim 14 wherein said time is less than 120 seconds.

16. The granular product or tablet according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a pharmaceutically active substance which is hydrophobic and wherein the hydrophobic substance is present in granules separate from the effervescent components, in which granules the hydrophobic substance is coated or anchored onto at least one substance selected from the group consisting of suspending agents and neutral substances preferably se!eced from the group consisting of mannitol and sorbitol. 25 17. The granular product or tablet according to claim '16, wherein the granules also contain at least one component selected from the group consisting of :ibabinders, small amounts of a surfactant, alkali and/or alkaline earth carbonate and/or bicarbonate.

18. The granular product or tablet according to claim 17 wherein the binder is polyvinylpyrolidone.

19. The granular product or tablet according to claim 17 or claim 18 wherein the surfactant is dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate or sodium lauryl sulfate.

20. The granular product or tablet according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein it contains, with respect to the total mixture, about 2 to about by weight of cimetidine; about 30 to abut 60% by weight of a solid, edible organic acid; about 12 to about 40% by weight of at least one alkali or alkaline earth carbonate or bicarbonate (of which about 2 to about 10% by weight is sodium carbonate as moisture-binding agent); about 1 to about 4% by weight of a sweetener; about 0.01 to about 30% by weight of a neutral substance (of which o about 0.01 to about 0.05% by weight is for the neutral substance coating), about 0/ [n:\Iibc]00133:MER 29 0.005 to about 0.5% by weight of an antifoaming agent, and about 0.1 to about 3% by weight of flavouring agent.

21. The granular product or tablet according to claim 20 further comprising about 3 to about 20% by weight of sorbitol and about 2 to about 10% by weight of mannitol.

22. The granular product or tablet according to any one of claims 1 to 19, wherein it contains, with respect to the total mixture, the following components: about 0.4 to about 4.5% by weight of cisapride; about 0.4 to about 1.5% by weight of suspending agent; about 0.1 to about 1% by weight of binder, about 0.03 to about 0.35% by weight of a surfactant about 30 to about 55% by weight of a solid, edible organic acid, about 12 to about 40% by weight of at least one alkali or alkaline earth carbonate or bicarbonate (of which about 2 to about 10% by weight is sodium carbonate as moisture-binding agent); about 0.3 to about 2.5% by weight of sweetener; about 0.02 to about 55% by weight of neutral substance (of which about 0.02 to about 0.1% by weight is for the neutral substance coating); about 0.005 to about 0.05% by weight of antifoaming agent; and about 0.2 to about by weight of flavouring.

23. The granular product or tablet according to claim 22 wherein the binder is polyvinyl pyrrolidone. S 20 24. The granular product or tablet according to claim 22 or claim 23 wherein the surfactant is dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate.

25. The granular product or tablet according to claim 22 or claim 24 wherein the acid is citric acid.

26. The granular product or tablet according to any one of claims 22 or claim 25 25 wherein the neutral substance is maltodextrin, lactose and mannitol.

27. The granular product or tablet according to any one of claims 22 or claim 26 wherein the antifoaming agent is dimethicone or simethicone.

28. The granular product or tablet according to any one of claims 1 to 19, wherein it contains, with respect to the total mixture, the following components: 30 about 0.1 to about 0.5% by weight of beta-carotene (100%); about 0 to about 2% by weight of tocopheryl acetate (100%); about 35 to about 70% by weight of solid, edible organic acid; about 11 to about 38% by weight of at least one alkali or alkaline earth carbonate or bicarbonate; about 1 to about 4% by weight of sweetener; about 0.1 to about 35.0% by weight of neutral substance (of which about 0.1 to about 0.5% by weight is for the neutral substance coating); and about 0.3 to about 3% by weight of flavouring. [n:\libc]00133:MER I

29. The granular product or tablet according to claim 28 wherein the acid is about 0 to about 10% by weight of ascrobic acid, about 35 to about 55% by weight of citric acid, and about 0 to about 5% by weight of malic acid. The granular product or tablet according to claim 28 or claim 29 wherein the carbonate or becarbonate is about 5 to about 15% by weight of calcium carbonate and about 5 to about 20% by weight of sodium bicarbonate.

31. The granular product or tablet according to any one of claims 28 to wherein the neutral substance i3 about 1 to about 10% by weight of sorbitol and about 5 to about 25% by weight of mannitol.

32. The granular product or tablet according to any one of claims 1 to 19, wherein it contains, with respect to the total mixture, the following components: about 3 to about 14% by weight of ranitidine hydrochloride (75-300mg per dose); about 30 to about 50% by weight of citric acid; about 0 to about 20% by weight of monosodium citrate; about 10 to about 30% by weight of sodium bicarbonate; about 2 to about 10% by weight of sodium carbonate; about 1 to about 3% by weight of sweetener; about 0.05 to about 0.2% by weight of neutral substance for the first coating as well as about 0 to about 15% by weight of additional neutral substances; about 0 to about 8% by weight of antifoaming granules, and about 0.1 to about 4% by weight of flavouring. S 20 33. An effervescent tablet containing at least one pharmaceutically active substance and an effervescent system comprising; at least one solid, edible, -se.: S organic acid, at least one alkali metal carbonate or bicarbonate as a gas-forming component and at least one alkali metal salt of the acid, at least two layers being applied to carrier crystals consisting of at least one acid, wherein the first layer 25 contains at least one other, solid, edible, organic acid or the alkali metal salt of this other acid, or both, whereas the second layer contains at least one alkali metal salt i of said at least one acid, and wherein the first layer additionally contains a neutral substance selected from the group consisting of a water-soluble polymer, a higher alcohol, a carbohydrate and a hydrocolloid.

34. A granular product or tablet, with an effervescent system as according to claim 1, and cisapride as the pharmaceutically active substance, wherein, at a total weight of less than 2 grams, it has an acid-binding capacity of less than The granular product or tablet according to claim 34 wherein said cisapride is at a total weight of less than about

36. The granular product or tablet according to claim 34 or claim 35 which has an acid binding capacity of less than 3meq.

37. A granular product or tablet, with an effervescent system as according to claim 1, and cimetidine as the pharmaceutically active substance, wherein, at a total weight of less than 2.5grams, it has an acid-binding capacity of less than /fsR A [n:\libc]00133:MER L~ i ~d L _I 31

38. A granular product or tablet according to claim 37 wherein said cisapride is at a total weight of less than about

39. The granular product or tablet according to claim 37 or claim 38 which has an acid binding capacity of less than 3meq.

40. A granular product or tablet, with an effervescent system as according to claim 1, and ranitidine as the pharmaceutically active substance, wherein, at a total weight of less than 2.6grams, it has an acid-binding capacity of less than 3meq.

41. A granular product or tablet according to claim 40 wherein said ranitidine is at a total weight of less than

42. A granular product or tablet according to claim 40 or claim 41 which has an acid binding capacity of less than 2meq.

43. A process for the preparation of a granular product or of a tablet according to any o. e of the preceding claims, wherein crystals of at least one solid, edible organic acid are wet with an aqueous solution of a neutral substance, and then, before complete drying, an alkali and/or alkaline earth carbonate and/or bicarbonate in powder form is uniformly distributed and anchored on the moist surface layer by mixing, whereupon the effervescent grains thus prepared are dried and mixed with a pharmaceutically active substance preferably with an acid- sensitive one, especially one that is selected from the group consisting of H2- blockers, cimetidine, ranitidine, cisapride and beta-carotene and pharmaceutically acceptable adjuvants, and optionally compressed into tablets.

44. The process according to claim 43, wherein, on the effervescent grains, at least one additional coating is applied by wetting the grains with the solution of a buffer. 25 45. The process according to claim 44 wherein the buffer is alkali, carbonate, alkali bicarbonate, alkaline earth carbonate, alkaline earth bicarbonate, alkali salt of at least one solid edible organic acid or alkaline earth salt of at least one solid edible organic acid.

46. The process according to any one of claims 43 to 45, wherein the solution further comprises a neutral substance selected from the group consisting of a water-soluble polymer, a higher alcohol, a carbohydrate and a hydrocolloid.

47. The process according to any one of claims 43 to 46, wherein, in addition to the drug, the effervescent grains are also mixed with a granular product which has been made by applying an antifoaming agent in an appropriate solvent to the surface of neutral substance particles, and drying the solvent.

48. The process according to any one of claims 43 to 47, wherein the dried effervescent grains are wetted with ethanol, and are dried again, by evaporating the ethanol, to remove residual moisture.

49. The process according to claim 48, wherein said ethanol contains an tJRi antifoaming agent dissolved. [n:\Iibc]00133:MER I k- 32 The process according to any one of claims 43 to 49, wherein the pharmaceutically active substance, before admixing it to the effervescent system, is together with a binding agent and/or a surfactant applied in solution to and uniformly distributed on the grains of a suspension agent and dried.

51. The process according to any one of claims 43 to 50, wherein the pharmaceutically active substance, before admixing it to the effervescent system, is mixed with at least one neutral substance, at least one suspension agent and at least one substance selected from the group of alkali carbonate, alkali bicarbonate, alkaline earth carbonate, alkaline earth bicarbonate, alkali salt of at least one solid edible organic acid, alkaline earth salt of at least one solid edible organic acid, whereafter a solution of at least one binding agent and/or a tenside is at least once applied to, distributed on the grains of the mixture and dried.

52. A process for the manufacture of effervescent granules from a powdered or granular mixture of a solid, edible, organic acid and the carbonate and/or bicarbonate of an alkali and/or alkaline earth metal under vacuum, wherein, for the passivation of the surface of at least one of the components to a state of strong inertia to the reaction, there is added to the heated mixture during the treatment under vacuum a metered quantity of a polar solvent, the difference in pressure caused by development of carbon dioxide through the addition of solvent during the reaction being determined up to a maximum of 105Pa, the volume and mass of the carbon dioxide liberated being ascertained from this difference in pressure, and the heat treatment being repeated, after rapid drying of the mixture, as many times as necessary to obtain passivation of the surface as indicated by an evident slowing S: down of the reaction and by a reduced development of gas, and wherein in said 25 polar solvent there is dissolved a neutral substance selected from the group consisting of a water-soluble polymer, a higher alcohol, a carbohydrate and a hydrocolloid.

53. A process for the preparation of an effervescent granular material containing at least one solid, crystalline edible organic acid and at least one S 30 carbonate of an alkali metal or an alkaline earth metal which splits off CO 2 upon Soo*: reaction with said organic acid in aqueous solution, which comprises: pre-reacting a portion of said organic ar'- and said carbonate in solution in water and/or alcohol to form a pre-reaction product, adding said pre-reaction product to an additional portion of said organic acid in crystalline form with thorough mixing to form a first coating by reaction with said organic acid crystals and liberation of the resulting wvater of crystallisation. applying at least one additional coating including said carbonate onto the organic acid crystals with said first coating adhering thereto, and [n:\libc]00133:MER L I ~L1~ I II 33 terminating the reaction after the last coating has been applied by drying, wherein to said pre-reaction product there is added a neutral substance selected from the group consisting of a polymer soluble in water and/or alcohol, a higher alcohol, a carbohydrate and a hydrocolloid.

54. A granular effervescent product suitable for preparing an aqueous solution or suspension of one or more pharmaceutically active substances for oral administration, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one of the Examples. A process for preparing a granular effervescent product suitable for preparing an aqueous solution or suspension of one or more pharmaceutically active substances for oral administration, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one of the Examples. Dated 30 September, 1996 Gerhard Gergely Patent Attorneys for the Applicant/Nominated Person SPRUSON FERGUSON a Q3 'n o a. a S. SOS., [n:\libc]00133:MER a 1 INTERNATIONAL SEARCH REPORT Inte. inal Application No PCT/EP 95/00650 SA. CLASSIFICATION OF SUBJECT MATTER IPC 6 A61K9/46 According to International Patent Classification (IPC) or to both national classification and IPC B. FIELDS SEARCHED I gm I Minimum documentation searched (classification system followed by classification symbols) IPC 6 A61K Documentation searched other than minimum documentation to the extent that such doct aents are included in the fields searched Electronic data base consulted during the intemational search (name of data base and, where practical, search terms used) C. DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED TO BE RELEVANT Category' Citation of document, with indication, where appropriate, of the relevant passages Relevant to claim No. A WO,A,93 00886 (GERGELY) 21 January 1993 1-27 cited in the application see page 17 page 18; examples 6,7 A EP,A,O 415 326 (SS PHARMACEUTICAL CO., 1-27 LTD.) 6 March 1991 cited in the application see the whole document A US,A,4 704 269 (KORAB) 3 November 1987 1-27 see column 6 column 7; example 1 A GB,A,1 270 781 (ABBOTT LABORATORIES) 12 1-27 April 1972 cited in the application see the whole document Further documents are listed in the continuation of box C. Patent family membs are listed in annex. Special categories of cited documents: T' later document published after the international filing date S. or priority date and not in conflict with the application but cA' document defining the general state of the art which is not cited to understand the pnncipr Or theory underlying the considered to be of particular relevance invention earlier document but published on or after the international document of particular relevance; the claimed invention filing date cannot be considered novel or cannot be considered to document which may throw doubts on priority claim(s) or involve an inventive step when the document is taken alone which is cited to establish the publication date of another document of particular relevance; the claimed invention citation or other special reason (as specified) cannot be considered to involve an inventive step when the document referring to an oral disclosure, use, exhibition or document is combined with one or more other such docu- other means ments, such combination being obvious to a person skilled document published prior to the international filing date but in the art. later than the priority date claimed document member of the same patent family Date of the actual completion of the international search Date ,f mailing of the international search report 9 June 1995 2 1. 06.95 Name and mailing address of the ISA Authorized officer European Patent Office, P.B. 5818 Patentlaan 2 NL 2280 HV Rijswijk Tel.(+31-70) 340-2040, Tx. 31 651 eponl, Benz, K Fax: 31.70) 340-3016 Form PCT/ISA/210 (second sheet) (July 1992) MNERNATIONAL SEARCH ,nformation on patent farnfly members REPORT Intei nal Applicatton No PCT/EP 95/00650 Patent document Publication IPatent family Publication cited in search report date Tmember(s) I date WO-A-9300886 21-01-93 AT-T- 117199 15-02-95 CA-A- 2112663 21-01-93 IJE-D- 59201238 02-03-95 EP-A- 0592484 20-04-94 ES-T- 2053411 01-08-94 JP-T- 6508839 06-10-94 US-A- 5415870 16-05-95 EP-A-0415326 06-03-91 JP-A- 3227916 08-10-91 JP-A- 3090030 16-04-ql OE-D- 69012932 03-11-r OE-T- 69012932 04-05-95 US-A- 5204087 20-04-93 US-A-4704269 03-11-87 NONE GB-A-1270781 12-04-72 NONE Form PCT/ISA/210 (patent tamily annex) (July 1992