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VINCRISTINE……..Chemistry, Isolation

September 28, 2013 12:27 pm / 1 Comment on VINCRISTINE……..Chemistry, Isolation

VINCRISTINE

(3aR,3a1R,4R,5S,5aR,10bR)-methyl 4-acetoxy-3a-ethyl-9-((5S,7S,9S)-5-ethyl-5-hydroxy-9-(methoxycarbonyl)-2,4,5,6,7,8,9,10-octahydro-1H-3,7-methano[1]azacycloundecino[5,4-b]indol-9-yl)-6-formyl-5-hydroxy-8-methoxy-3a,3a1,4,5,5a,6,11,12-octahydro-1H-indolizino[8,1-cd]carbazole-5-carboxylate

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Advanced study of natural sources of anti-cancer from harmoini

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Vincristine (brand name, Oncovin), formally known as leurocristine, sometimes abbreviated “VCR”, is a vinca alkaloid from the Catharanthus roseus (Madagascar periwinkle), formerly Vinca rosea and hence its name. It is amitotic inhibitor, and is used in cancer chemotherapy. Vincristine is created by the coupling of indole alkaloids vindoline and catharanthine in the vinca plant.^[1]

Mechanism

Tubulin is a structural protein that polymerizes to microtubules. The cell cytoskeleton and mitotic spindle, among other things, are made of microtubules. Vincristine binds to tubulin dimers, inhibiting assembly of microtubule structures. Disruption of the microtubules arrests mitosis in metaphase. Therefore, the vinca alkaloids affect all rapidly dividing cell types including cancer cells, but also those of intestinal epithelium and bone marrow.

Uses

Vincristine is delivered via intravenous infusion for use in various types of chemotherapy regimens. Its main uses are in non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma as part of the chemotherapy regimen CHOP, Hodgkin’s lymphoma as part of MOPP, COPP, BEACOPP, or the less popular Stanford V chemotherapy regimen, in acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and in treatment for nephroblastoma (Wilms tumor, a kidney tumor most common in young children). It is also used to induce remission in ALL with Dexamethasone and L-Asparaginase. Vincristine is occasionally used as an immunosuppressant, for example, in treating thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) or chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). It is used in combination with prednisone to treat childhood leukemia.

The main side-effects of vincristine are peripheral neuropathy, hyponatremia, constipation, and hair loss.

Peripheral neuropathy can be severe, and hence a reason to avoid, reduce, or stop the use of vincristine. One of the first symptoms of peripheral neuropathy is foot drop: A person with a family history of foot drop and/or Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT) should avoid the taking of vincristine.^[2]

Accidental injection of vinca alkaloids into the spinal canal (intrathecal administration) is highly dangerous, with a mortality rate approaching 100 percent. The medical literature documents cases of ascending paralysis due to massive encephalopathy and spinal nerve demyelination, accompanied by intractable pain, almost uniformly leading to death; a handful of survivors were left with devastating neurological damage with no hope of recovery. Rescue treatments consist of washout of the cerebrospinal fluid and administration of protective medications.^[3] A significant series of inadvertent intrathecal vincristine administration occurred in China in 2007 when batches of cytarabine andmethotrexate (both often used intrathecally) manufactured by the company Shanghai Hualian were found to be contaminated with vincristine.^[4]

Having been used as a folk remedy for centuries, studies in the 1950s revealed that C. roseus contained 70 alkaloids, many of which are biologically active. While initial studies for its use in diabetes mellitus were disappointing, the discovery that it caused myelosuppression (decreased activity of the bone marrow) led to its study in mice withleukemia, whose lifespan was prolonged by the use of a vinca preparation. Treatment of the ground plant with Skelly-B defatting agent and an acid benzene extract led to a fraction termed “fraction A”. This fraction was further treated withaluminium oxide, chromatography, trichloromethane, benz-dichloromethane, and separation by pH to yield vincristine.^[5]

Vincristine was approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in July 1963 as Oncovin. The drug was initially discovered by a team led by Dr. J.G. Armstrong, then marketed by Eli Lilly and Company.

Like LSD, the microtubule toxin vincristine allegedly causes not-unpleasant visual hallucinations in humans. Other side-effects of vincristine include depression, agitation, and insomnia. Very small doses are needed for the effects of LSD or vincristine, for example, these drugs are active at concentrations of 4.3E-7 M-1 vincristine and 1.0E-8 M-1 LSD.

Many researchers have favored the drug-receptor theory to explain drug-induced hallucinations, usually at the 5-HT2A receptor. In the drug-receptor theory, signal amplification takes place when one molecule of drug binds to a receptor, which activates G-proteins, which affects more proteins, thus signaling cascades explain how a small amount of LSD can lead to widespread changes in the cell.

Van Woerkom suggests instead that LSD binds an element of the cytoskeleton, in a fashion similar to colchicine or vinblastine, which directly bind tubulin. The amount of LSD needed to produce hallucinations is so vanishly small, that it seems hard to believe that a submicromolar dosage of LSD could act on a substrate as vast as the cytoskeleton. However, some microtubule inhibitors such as vincristine are effective at very low dosages. The potency of vincristine may partly explain the success of this drug as a chemotherapeutic drug.

Three generic drug makers supply vincristine in the United States – APP, Mayne, and Sicor (Teva).

^ “Pharmacognosy of Vinca Alkaloids”.
Graf, W. D.; Chance, P. F.; Lensch, M. W.; Eng, L. J.; Lipe, H. P.; Bird, T. D. (1996). “Severe Vincristine Neuropathy in Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease Type 1A”. Cancer 77 (7): 1356–1362. doi:10.1002/(SICI)1097-0142(19960401)77:7<1356::AID-CNCR20>3.0.CO;2-#. PMID 8608515.
Qweider, M.; Gilsbach, J. M.; Rohde, V. (2007). “Inadvertent Intrathecal Vincristine Administration: A Neurosurgical Emergency. Case Report”. Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine 6 (3): 280–283. doi:10.3171/spi.2007.6.3.280. PMID 17355029.
Jake Hooker and Walt Bogdanich (January 31, 2008). “Tainted Drugs Tied to Maker of Abortion Pill”. New York Times.
Johnson, I. S.; Armstrong, J. G.; Gorman, M.; Burnett, J. P. (1963). “The Vinca Alkaloids: A New Class of Oncolytic Agents” (pdf). Cancer Research 23 (8 Part 1): 1390–1427.PMID 14070392.

External links

Cytostatic Vinca alkaloids rosea L. Catharanthus roseus G.Don) are now well known anticancer and particularly useful. Given the small amount of vincristine in Catharanthus present, quite a number of ways of preparation have been proposed by chemists. Thus FR-A-2296418 describes the synthesis of vincristine by coupling Catha-ranthine and vindoline. Other laboratories have achieved the transformation of vinblastine vincristine oxidation under controlled conditions, very strict.
FR-A-2210393 and US-A-3899493 perform the oxidation by chromic acid at -30, -90 ° C in a mixture of acetic acid-acetone or chloroform-acetic acid at -55 ° C.
In U.S. 4,375,432, chromic compound is also used in acid medium at -65 ° C, -50 ° C in a medium based solvent THF. In addition, EP-A-37289 boasts an oxidation mixture ferrous salt, hydrogen peroxide, perchlorate in acetonitrile. ZA-A-82 08939 discloses a method with chromic acid and an ether-chloroform.
HU-A-23638 offers diterbutylchromate in pelargonic acid, and finally EP-A-117861 gets vinblastinel transformation vincristine oxidant potassium permanganate in acetic acid medium. It is clear that these dimeric alkaloids are a valuable material because of their low levels in vegetable raw materials, and therefore the processes of synthesis or semi-synthesis performance are of extreme interest.

Vincristine is used in cancer chemotherapy, particularly for the treatment of certain acute leukemias.
This alkaloid is obtained mainly by extraction from leaves of Catharanthus Ro-seus (U.S. Patent No. 3,205,220) where it is accompanied by other alkaloids bis-Indo-holic, especially vinblastine.Vinblastine (I, R = CH _3), however, is present at a concentration much higher than that of vincristine and is therefore a precursor of choice for the semisynthesis of the latter.
Several processes of vincristine from vinblastine were disclosed. We note in particular patents or patent applications include:
- a) Belgian Patent 739,337 (Gedeon Richter) which describes a method for the oxidation of vinblastine vincristine in a mixture chromic acid, acetic acid and acetone.
- b) Belgian Patent 823560 (Gedeon Richter) the oxidation is performed with oxygen in the presence of formic acid and of a catalyst based on platinum at room temperature.
- c) European Patent Application 18231 (Gedeon Richter): is carried out by oxidation with chromic acid or an alkali metal dichromate in the presence of acetic anhydride and, optionally, of ethanol and an organic solvent immis target with water.
- d) European Patent Application 37289 (Eli Lil-ly): the oxidation is effected by the perchlorate of iron (II) in the presence of hydrogen peroxide and acetonitrile.
In addition, the European patent application 37. 290 discloses a process for the oxidation of vinblastine base with Na ₂ Cr ₂ O ₇ in the presence of sulfuric acid in tetrahydrofuran. This reaction led to -50 ° C, is achieved with a yield of 80-92% calculated for each estimation.
Observed yields or purity of the products obtained characterizing the processes described above are, however, significant disadvantages.
Frequently a secondary product formed is N-demethyl vinblastine need then reformulate for vincristine.

Thus Potier and Kutney obtained products with the C18’S-C2’R absolute configuration, which is critical for anti-tumor activity, by a coupling reaction of the N.sup.b -oxide of catharanthine, or its derivatives, with vindoline, in the presence of trifluoroacetic anhydride, followed by a reduction reaction. [See Potier et. al. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 98. 7017 (1976) and Kutney et. al. Helv. Chim. Acta, 59, 2858 (1976)].

The Potier and Kutney coupling process has disadvantages. The yields are not satisfactory except for the coupling of catharanthine N-oxide with vindoline and even there the preparative yield is low. While vindoline is the most abundant alkaloid of Vinca rosea and is thus readily available, the other possible components of the Potier-Kutney coupling process (catharanthine, allocatharanthine, voacangine,) are relatively inaccessible, costly, and they do not allow a wide range of structural variation of that component of the coupling process.

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EP 0117861 B1
clips
The process of the present invention produces a simple vincristine, in quantity and purity requiring little or no additional purification by recrystallization or chromatography.
[0009]

The reagent used is oxidation permanganate ion dissolved in toluene or dichloromethane as solvent. An alternative consists in immobilizing the resin on a permanganate anion, for example a polymer such as polystyrene comprising ammonium groups. Solubilization can be achieved by the action of a complexing agent crown ether (“crown-ether”) of potassium permanganate.
[0010]

The permanganate anion can also be solubilized by preparing an ammonium salt or quaternary phosphonium corresponding which is soluble in methylene chloride or toluene. For this purpose, it is preferable to use potassium permanganate benzyltriethylammonium.
[0011]

Obtaining from vincristine vinblastine using a permanganate salt is unexpected since the potassium permanganate used in some acetone oxide derivatives of vinblastine at the portion of the molecule velbanamine (Kutney, Balsevich and Worth, Heterocycles, 11, 69, 1978). The N-methyl group of the vindoline part intact.
[0012]

The formation of N-CHO indoline skeleton on a bis-indole group vinblastine using a permanganate salt has never been reported.
[0013]

According to one embodiment of the method of the present invention, vinblastine, preferably in the form of sulphate, is treated in the presence of an organic acid such as acetic acid, with an excess of potassium permanganate dissolved in dichloromethane or toluene in the presence of “18-crown-6” or ether derivatives dibenzo-or di-cyclohexylcorrespondants. The reaction is conducted at a temperature between -40 ° C and -75 ° C and is preferably followed by thin layer chromatography. The reaction time generally ranges from 5 minutes to 3 hours.
[0014]

Potassium permanganate is preferably dissolved in dichloromethane and the oxidation reaction is then carried out at -70 ° C.
[0015]

The solubility of potassium permanganate is indeed substantially increased in the presence of a macrocyclic polyether as the “18-crown-6” ether (1, 4, 7, 10, 13, 16-hexaoxacy-clooctadécane) or derivative dibenzo – or corresponding dicyclohexyl-hexyl.
[0016]

The reaction mixture is then treated simultaneously by a mild reducing and alkaline. For this purpose, use is preferably an aqueous solution of bisulfite, disulfite or sodium metabisulfite and ammonia.
[0017]

The organic phase was separated and the aqueous phase is extracted several times with methylene chloride. The combined organic phases were concentrated in vacuo to give a residue containing 80-85% of base vincristine, a 90-95% yield.
[0018]

Alternatively, you can proceed with the extraction of the reaction mixture after reduction without conducting a simultaneous alkalinization. The acidic aqueous solution was then extracted with dichloromethane. This route is a novel process for purification of vincristine formed in the reaction medium.
[0019]

According to another embodiment of the present invention, vincristine is obtained by oxidation of vinblastine by reacting a quaternary ammonium permanganate. The ammonium cation is preferably benzyltriethylammonium group or benzyl trimethyl ammonium (see eg Angew. Chem., Intern. Ed. 13, 170, 1974). The reaction is carried out in 2 to 6 hours at -60 ° C in an inert solvent wherein the ammonium salt is soluble, and an acid, preferably an organic acid of low molecular weight. A mixture of dichloromethane and glacial acetic acid can be used. After treatment with a mild reducing agent in aqueous medium, the resulting acidic solution is extracted with dichloromethane, and the organic phase is made alkaline by washing with a basic aqueous solution and concentrated. Vincristine solvate is isolated with a yield higher than 90%.
[0020]

The latest variant of the method of the invention is particularly advantageous in terms of economic and technical.
[0021]

Purification or separation may be effected by crystallization and chromatography using techniques well known this from the crude product of the reaction. The product can also be lyophilized.
[0022]

In most cases, vincristine thus obtained can be converted directly into an addition salt with an organic or inorganic acid, preferably pharmaceutically acceptable. This salt is preferably a sulfate that may arise in a more or less solvated or hydrated.
[0023]

We can also prepare vincristine dissolved in a physiologically acceptable solvent and ready to be injected.
[0024]

In particular, vincristine sulfate is obtained by addition of H ₂ S0 ₄ to a solution of vincristine gross or recrystallized from ethanol, dissolved in a mixture of methylene chloride and anhydrous ethanol, partial removal in vacuo chloride methylene and crystallization.
[0025]

Vincristine sulfate thus obtained has a purity sufficient for use as a medicament, particularly in the form of injectable solutions.

Madagascar Periwinkle: Public Domain Illustration by Sydenham Edwards

The Madagascar periwinkle, an attractive flowering plant, contains the powerful anti-cancer chemicals vinblastine and vincristine. Velvet beans, which are named from the covering of soft hairs on the young plant, contain L-dopa, a very helpful chemical in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease. The Madagascar periwinkle and the velvet bean are just two of the large number of plants that have been found to contain medicinal chemicals. There are almost certainly many more plants that have undiscovered health benefits.

The Madagascar Periwinkle

The Madagascar periwinkle is native to Madagascar and India, but is now grown in many countries as a garden plant. It has also escaped from gardens and grows as a weed. The red, purple, pink or white flowers often have a center which is a different color from the rest of the flower. Madagascar periwinkles may grow up to one meter tall and have glossy green leaves.

The sap of the Madagascar periwinkle, which has a milky appearance and is poisonous, contains vinblastine, vincristine and many other alkaloids. Researchers are discovering that many of these alkaloids are biologically active inside the human body.

Vinblastine and Vincristine

Vinblastine and vincristine have very similar chemical structures, but their effects on the body are not the same. Vinblastine is used to treat specific types of cancer, such as Hodgkin’s disease, breast cancer, testicular cancer and non-small cell lung cancer. Vincristine is used in the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and has provided a great breakthrough in successful treatment of this disease in children. When vincristine is added to the treatment regimen for children suffering from ALL, the survival rate reaches eighty percent. Vincristine is not so impressive in the treatment of ALL in adults.

Cells contain a supporting network of protein tubules, which are known as microtubules. Microtubules also play a vital role in the process of cell division. Before a cell divides, each chromosome in the cell is replicated. The replicated chromosomes are separated from their partners and pulled to opposite ends of the cell by microtubules during a process called mitosis. The cell then divides down the middle.

Vinblastine and vincristine stop microtubule formation during mitosis and therefore prevent cells from reproducing. This effect is strongest in cells that have a high rate of division, such as cancer cells. However, vinblastine and vincristine also affect cells lining the intestine, the cells in the bone marrow that produce blood cells, and the cells in the hair follicles, since these too have a high rate of cell division.

Possible vinblastine or vincristine side effects include constipation, hair loss, a low platelet count, which can cause increased bleeding, a low white blood cell count, which can lead to increased infections, or a low red blood cell count, resulting in anemia. There may occasionally be nerve damage, possibly due to the effect of the medicines on the microctubules in the nerve cells. Vincristine is more likely to cause nerve damage than vinblastine.

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vol. 101 no. 33
> Takeshi Kuboyama, 11966–11970

Total synthesis of (+)-vincristine (2). TFA, trifluoroacetic acid or trifluoroacetyl; DBU, 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene.

Stereocontrolled total synthesis of (+)-vincristine

vol. 101 no. 33
> Takeshi Kuboyama, 11966–11970

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see docstoc presentation

click below
Vincristine

var docstoc_docid=”51697405″;var docstoc_title=”Vincristine”;var docstoc_urltitle=”Vincristine”;

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isolation

Kumar A, Patil D, Rajamohanan PR, Ahmad A (2013)

Isolation, Purification and Characterization of Vinblastine and Vincristine from Endophytic Fungus Fusarium oxysporumIsolated from Catharanthus roseus. PLoS ONE 8(9): e71805. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0071805

http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0071805

Isolation, purification and characterization of vinblastine and vincristine from the endophytic fungus Fusarium oxysporum

A two stage fermentation procedure was employed for the isolation of vinblastine and vincristine by Fusarium oxysporum. In the first stage, 500 ml Erlenmeyer flasks containing 100 ml medium (MGYP, (0.3%) malt extract, (1.0%) glucose, (0.3%) yeast extract and (0.5%) peptone) were inoculated with 7 days old culture and incubated at 28°C on a rotary shaker (240 rpm) for 4–5 days, which was used as seed culture (I stage). Later, 10 ml seed culture was transferred to 500 ml Erlenmeyer flask containing 100 ml production medium called as vinca medium-1 (Glucose: 3%, Succinic acid: 1%, Sodium benzoate: 100 mg, Peptone: 1%, Magnesium sulphate: 3.6 mg, Biotin: 1 mg, Thiamine: 1 mg, Pyridoxal: 1 mg, Calcium pentothenate: 1 mg, Phosphate buffer: 1 ml (pH 6.8), L-Tryptophan: 0.1%, Geranium oil: 0.05%.) which were incubated at 28°C for 20 days as shake culture (II stage), after which it was harvested and used for further study. Culture filtrates and mycelia were separated with the help of muslin cloth and then lyophilized. Lyophilized culture filtrate was extracted using ethyl acetate as a solvent system. The organic layer was separated from the aqueous layer using separating funnel. The extraction was repeated thrice and the solvent was dried using anhydrous sodium sulphate and concentrated under vacuum using rotavapour at 40°C in order to get crude extract. A small amount of crude extract was dissolved in ethyl acetate and subjected to thin layer chromatography (TLC) on silica gel-G (0.5 mm thickness) using chloroform:methanol (8:2) as a solvent system. The TLC plates were sprayed with ceric ammonium sulphate reagent. Vinca alkaloids spots produced brilliant violet color as well as purple color with above spraying reagent. Purification of fungal vinblastine and vincristine were done by silica gel column chromatography. The crude extract was loaded on silica gel column (60–120 mesh size, 40 cm×2 cm length width) pre-equilibrated with chloroform and eluted with a gradient of chloroform:methanol (100% chloroform, 9:1, 8:2, 7:3, 1:1 and 3:7 and 100% methanol). Fractions containing compounds with Rf values similar to that of the standard vinblastine and vincristine were pooled and subjected to preparative TLC on a 0.5 mm thick (20 cm×20 cm) silica plate and developed in chloroform:methanol (8:2) solvent system. The putative bands of fungal vinblastine and vincristine were scraped and eluted out with methanol. Purity of the isolated compounds was checked on TLC in the solvent systems such as (a) chloroform:methanol (8:2) (b) chloroform:methanol (9:1) and (c) ethyl acetate: acetonitrile (8:2).

http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0071805

Simeprevir has been approved in Japan for the treatment of genotype 1 chronic hepatitis C infection

September 28, 2013 1:55 am / Leave a comment

simeprevir

CAS number	923604-59-5
Formula	C38H47N5O7S2
Weight	749.93908

Stockholm, Sweden — Medivir AB (OMX: MVIR) today reports that Janssen Pharmaceutical R&D Ireland (Janssen) has been informed by the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) that simeprevir has been approved for the treatment of genotype 1 chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.

read all at

http://www.pharmalive.com/japan-approves-simeprevir

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections affect approximately 3 percent of the worldwide population and often lead to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. The standard therapy of pegylated- interferon and ribavirin induces serious side effects and provides viral eradication in less than 50% of patients. Combination therapy of HCV including ribavirin and interferonare currently is the approved therapy for HCV. Unfortunately, such combination therapy also produces side effects and is often poorly tolerated, resulting in major clinical challenges in a significant proportion of patients. Numerous direct acting agents (DAAs) have been or are being developed for treatment of HCV, such as telaprevir and boceprevir (both received MA approved in 2011 for use with interferon and ribavirin based therapy), however direct acting agents are linked to increased toxicity of treatment, the emergence of resistance, and to date do not provide a standard of care which is interferon free. The combination of direct acting agents can also result in drug-drug interactions. To date, no HCV therapy has been approved which is interferon free. There is therefore a need for new combination therapies which have reduced side effects, and interferon free, have a reduced emergence of resistance, reduced treatment periods and/or and enhanced cure rates.

Simeprevir (formerly TMC435) is an experimental drug candidate for the treatment of hepatitis C. It is being developed byMedivir and Johnson & Johnson‘s pharmaceutical division Janssen Pharmaceutica and is currently in Phase III clinical trials.^[1]

Simeprevir is a hepatitis C virus protease inhibitor.^[2]

Simeprevir is being tested in combination regimens with pegylated interferon alfa-2a and ribavirin,^[3] and in interferon-free regimens with other direct-acting antiviral agents including daclatasvir^[4] and sofosbuvir ^[5]

Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Priority Review to the New Drug Application (NDA) for simeprevir (TMC435). Simeprevir is an investigational NS3/4A protease inhibitor taken orally (150 mg capsule) once a day along with pegylated interferon and ribavirin for genotype 1 chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in adult patients with compensated liver disease (meaning the liver is heavily scarred but still functional).

“Hepatitis C is a complex disease and Janssen is committed to working with the HCV community, caregivers, and health care systems to address this global epidemic,” said Gaston Picchio, Hepatitis Disease Area Leader, Janssen Research & Development. “We are pleased that the FDA has granted simeprevir Priority Review, as it is a significant step forward in making this therapy available to physicians and their hepatitis C patients.”

The FDA grants Priority Review to medicines that may offer major advances in care or provide a treatment option where no adequate therapy exists. Under the Prescription Drug User Fee Act, FDA review will begin approximately 60 days after receipt of the application and will aim to be completed within six months from when the review period begins.

The regulatory submission for simeprevir is supported in part by data from three pivotal Phase 3 studies: QUEST-1 and QUEST-2 in treatment-naïve patients and PROMISE in patients who have relapsed after prior interferon-based treatment. Janssen also recently submitted simeprevir for marketing authorization to regulatory authorities in Japan and Europe.

“Medivir Announces That Simeprevir (TMC435) Data Will Be Presented at the Upcoming AASLD Meeting”. Yahoo News. October 1, 2012. Retrieved November 6, 2012.
Lin, TI; Lenz, O; Fanning, G; Verbinnen, T; Delouvroy, F; Scholliers, A; Vermeiren, K; Rosenquist, A et al. (2009). “In vitro activity and preclinical profile of TMC435350, a potent hepatitis C virus protease inhibitor”. Antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy 53 (4): 1377–85. doi:10.1128/AAC.01058-08. PMC 2663092. PMID 19171797. |displayauthors= suggested (help)
“Phase 3 Studies Show Simeprevir plus Interferon/Ribavirin Cures Most Patients in 24 Weeks”. hivandhepatitis.com. December 27, 2012.
Medivir announces TMC435 in an expanded clinical collaboration. Medivir. 18 April 2012.
Results from a phase IIa study evaluating Simeprevir and Sofosbuvir in prior null responder Hepatitis C patients have been presented at CROI. 6 March 2013.

IUPAC standard name
(1R, 4R, 6S, 15R, 17R)-N-(cyclopropanesulfonyl) -17 – ({7-methoxy-8-methyl-2-[4 – (propan-2-yl) -1,3-thiazol-2 -yl] quinolin-4-yl} oxy)-13-methyl-2 ,14-dioxo-3 ,13-diazatricyclo [13.3.0.0 4 , 6 ] octadec-7-ene-4-carboxamide
IUPAC traditional name
(1R, 4R, 6S, 15R, 17R)-N-(cyclopropanesulfonyl) -17 – {[2 – (4-isopropyl-1 ,3-thiazol-2-yl)-7-methoxy-8-methylquinolin-4- yl] oxy}-13-methyl-2 ,14-dioxo-3 ,13-diazatricyclo [13.3.0.0 4 , 6 ] octadec-7-ene-4-carboxamide
Aliases
TMC435
TMC435350

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NS3/4A protease inhibitors

Ciluprevir (BILN 2061) Boehringer Ingelheim

Boceprevir (SCH503034) Merck

Telaprevir (VX-950) Vertex

Danoprevir (RG7227) Roche

simeprevir /TMC435 Tibotec / Medivir

Vaniprevir (MK-7009) Merck

Bl 201335 Boehringer Ingelheim

BMS-650032 Bristol-Myers Squibb

GS-9256 Gilead

ABT-450 Abbott / Enanta

Narlaprevir (SCH900518) Merck

PHX1766 Phenomix

ACH-1625 Achillion

IDX320 Idenix

MK-5172 Merck

VX-985 Vertex Drug name Company

GS-9451 Gilead

Telaprevir

Accordin to http://en.wikipedia.Org/wiki/File:Telaprevir.svg, Teaprevir has the structure

Systematic lUPAC Name: (1 S,3aR,6aS)-2-[(2S)-2-[[(2S)-2-Cyclohexyl-2-(pyrazine-2- carbonylamino)acetyl]amino]-3,3-dimethylbutanoyl]-/\/-[(3S)-1-(cyclopropylamino)-1 ,2- dioxohexan-3-yl]-3,3a,4,5,6,6a-hexahydro-1/-/-cyclopenta[c]pyrrole-1-carboxamide

Telaprevir may be administered in a unit dose of, for example between about 250 and about l OOOmg, such as about 750mg/kg. Typically once, twice, three or four times daily, such as three times daily for the duration of the pre-treatment period and/or combination treatment period.

Boceprevir

Accordin to http://en.wikipedia.0rg/wiki/File:B0ceprevir.svg, Boceprevir has the structure:

Systematic lUPAC Name: (1 R,2S,5S)-N-[(2≡)-4-amino-1-cyclobutyl-3,4-dioxobutan-2-yl)]- 3-{(2S)-2-[(tert-butylcarbamoyl)amino]-3,3-dimethylbutanoyl}- 6,6-dimethyl-3- azabicyclo[3.1.0]hexane-2-carboxamide

Boceprevir may be administered in a unit dose of, for example between about 250 and about 1000mg, such as about 800mg/kg. Typically once, twice, three or four times daily, such as three times daily for the duration of the pre-treatment period and/or combination treatment period.

Compound 1: miR-122 inhibitor

As reported in Young et al., JACS 2010, 132, 7976-7981) (hereby incorporated by reference), it is possible to assay for small molecule inhibitors of miR122 and small molecule are known, such as those illustrated below:

» {7.02 ± 1.40) If (4. S3 * 0.45)

The numerical values refer to luciferase expression due to miR-122 deprepression, and values greater than 1 indicate miR-122 inhibition.

EMA Accepts AstraZeneca’s Naloxegol Application

September 28, 2013 1:53 am / 1 Comment on EMA Accepts AstraZeneca’s Naloxegol Application

naloxegol

http://www.ama-assn.org/resources/doc/usan/naloxegol.pdf

Morphinan-3,14-diol, 4,5-epoxy-6-(3,6,9,12,15,18,21-heptaoxadocos-1-yloxy)-17-(2-
propen-1-yl)-, (5α,6α)-

4,5α-epoxy-6α-[(3,6,9,12,15,18,21-heptaoxadocosan-1-yl)oxy]-17-(prop-2-en-1-
yl)morphinan-3,14-diol

MOLECULAR FORMULA C34H53NO11
MOLECULAR WEIGHT 651.8

SPONSOR AstraZeneca
CODE DESIGNATION NKTR-118
CAS REGISTRY NUMBER 854601-70-0
WHO NUMBER 9434

Marketing Authorisation Application for naloxegol accepted by European Medicines Agency

Friday, 27 September 2013

AstraZeneca today announced that the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has accepted the Marketing Authorisation Application (MAA) for naloxegol, an investigational peripherally-acting mu-opioid receptor antagonist, which has been specifically designed for the treatment of opioid-induced constipation (OIC) for adult patients 18 years and older, including patients with inadequate response to laxatives.

http://www.pharmalive.com/ema-accepts-astrazeneca-s-naloxegol-application

Naloxegol (INN; NKTR-118), or PEGylated naloxol,^[1] is a peripherally–selective opioid antagonist under development byAstraZeneca, licensed from Nektar, for the treatment of opioid-induced constipation.^[2]

^{Opioids are commonly prescribed to patients experiencing chronic pain, which can provide relief from serious medical conditions including osteoarthritis, cancer, and chronic back pain. There are about 250 million opioid prescriptions written annually in the US alone to treat these conditions. Patients taking opioids to treat chronic pain commonly experience a side effect known as opioid-induced constipation, which may include infrequent bowel movements and difficulty passing stools or emptying bowels. Clinically, OIC is the most prevalent side effect of opioid therapy. For those patients who take opiates for long term pain management, approximately 40-50 percent commonly experience OIC.⁵ Only about 40-50 percent of those patients experience effective relief from current treatment options}

^ Roland Seifert; Thomas Wieland; Raimund Mannhold; Hugo Kubinyi, Gerd Folkers (17 July 2006). G Protein-Coupled Receptors as Drug Targets: Analysis of Activation and Constitutive Activity. John Wiley & Sons. p. 227. ISBN 978-3-527-60695-5. Retrieved 14 May 2012.
^ “Nektar | R&D Pipeline | Products in Development | CNS/Pain | Oral Naloxegol (NKTR-118) and Oral NKTR-119”. Retrieved 2012-05-14.

Naloxegol (NKTR-118) is an investigational drug candidate in Phase 3 studies being developed as a once-daily oral tablet for the treatment of opioid-induced constipation. Naloxegol (NKTR-118) was designed using Nektar’s proprietary small molecule polymer conjugate technology. Results of the Phase 2 study of naloxegol (NKTR-118) were presented in October 2009 at the American College of Gastroenterology Annual Clinical Meeting and the American Academy of Pain Management. NKTR-119 is an early stage drug development program that is intended to combine oral naloxegol (NKTR-118) with selected opioids, with the goal of treating pain without the side effect of constipation traditionally associated with opioid therapy.

Nektar and AstraZeneca have a global agreement for both naloxegol (NKTR-118) and NKTR-119. Under the agreement, AstraZeneca has responsibility for the development, global manufacturing and marketing of both naloxegol (NKTR-118) and NKTR-119. For naloxegol (NKTR-118), Nektar is eligible to receive up to $235 million in aggregate payments upon the achievement of certain regulatory milestones, as well as additional tiered sales milestone payments of up to $375 million if the product achieves considerable levels of commercial success. Nektar will also be eligible to receive significant double-digit royalty payments on net sales of naloxegol (NKTR-118) worldwide. For NKTR-119, Nektar would receive development milestone payments as well as tiered sales milestone payments. Nektar will also receive significant double-digit royalty payments on NKTR-119 net sales worldwide.

oxalate derivative

http://www.ama-assn.org/resources/doc/usan/naloxegol-oxalate.pdf

Morphinan-3,14-diol, 4,5-epoxy-6-(3,6,9,12,15,18,21-heptaoxadocos-1-yloxy)-
17-(2-propen-1-yl)-, (5α,6α)-, ethanedioate (1:1)
4,5α-epoxy-6α-[(3,6,7,12,15,18,21-heptaoxadocosyl)oxy]-17-(prop-2-
enyl)morphinan-3,14-diol hydrogen ethanedioate

MOLECULAR FORMULA C34H53NO11 . C2H2O4
MOLECULAR WEIGHT 741.8
TRADEMARK None as yet
SPONSOR AstraZeneca
CODE DESIGNATIONS NKTR-118 oxalate, AZ13337019 oxalate
CAS REGISTRY NUMBER 1354744-91-4

Janssen signs licensing agreement with PATH for development of HIV-1 drug

September 27, 2013 1:30 am / 2 Comments on Janssen signs licensing agreement with PATH for development of HIV-1 drug

rilpivirine.

Janssen R&D Ireland has signed a licensing agreement with PATH for the early development of a long-acting depot formulation of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) drug rilpivirine.

Rilpivirine, a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI), is being developed as potential pre-exposure prophylaxis against HIV infection

read all at

http://www.pharmaceutical-business-review.com/news/janssen-signs-licensing-agreement-with-path-for-development-of-hiv-1-drug-250913

Rilpivirine (TMC278, trade name Edurant) is a pharmaceutical drug, developed by Tibotec, for the treatment of HIVinfection.^[1]^[2] It is a second-generation non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) with higher potency, longer half-lifeand reduced side-effect profile compared with older NNRTIs, such as efavirenz.^[3]^[4]

Rilpivirine entered phase III clinical trials in April 2008,^[5]^[6] and was approved for use in the United States in May 2011.^[7] A fixed-dose drug combining rilpivirine with emtricitabine and tenofovir, was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in August 2011 under the brand name Complera.^[8]

Like etravirine, a second-generation NNRTI approved in 2008, rilpivirine is a diarylpyrimidine (DAPY). Rilpivirine in combination with emtricitabine and tenofovir has been shown to have higher rates of virologic failure than Atripla in patients with baseline HIV viral loads greater than 100,000 copies.

Rilpivirine bound to proteins in the PDB

“TMC278 – A new NNRTI”. Tibotec. Retrieved 2010-03-07.
Stellbrink HJ (2007). “Antiviral drugs in the treatment of AIDS: what is in the pipeline ?”. Eur. J. Med. Res. 12 (9): 483–95.PMID 17933730.
Goebel F, Yakovlev A, Pozniak AL, Vinogradova E, Boogaerts G, Hoetelmans R, de Béthune MP, Peeters M, Woodfall B (2006).“Short-term antiviral activity of TMC278–a novel NNRTI–in treatment-naive HIV-1-infected subjects”. AIDS 20 (13): 1721–6.doi:10.1097/01.aids.0000242818.65215.bd. PMID 16931936.
Pozniak A, Morales-Ramirez J, Mohap L et al. 48-Week Primary Analysis of Trial TMC278-C204: TMC278 Demonstrates Potent and Sustained Efficacy in ART-naïve Patients. Oral abstract 144LB.
ClinicalTrials.gov A Clinical Trial in Treatment naïve HIV-1 Patients Comparing TMC278 to Efavirenz in Combination With Tenofovir + Emtricitabine
ClinicalTrials.gov A Clinical Trial in Treatment naïve HIV-Subjects Patients Comparing TMC278 to Efavirenz in Combination With 2 Nucleoside/Nucleotide Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors
“FDA approves new HIV treatment”. FDA. Retrieved 2011-05-20.
“Approval of Complera: emtricitabine/rilpivirine/tenofovir DF fixed dose combination”. FDA. August 10, 2011.

Rilpivirine hydrochloride, 4-[[4-[[4-(2-Cyanoethenyl)-2,6-dimethylphenyl]amino]-2-pyrimidinyl]amino]benzonitrile monohydrochloride, is a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and indicated for the treatment of HIV-1 infection in treatment-naïve adult patients in combination with other antiretroviral agents. The product received marketing approval in the US (brand name Edurant) and is represented by the following general formula (I):
[0003]

EP1419152 B1 claims amongst others Rilpivirine base and Rilpivirinehydrochloride per se as well as pharmaceutical compositions comprising the same. However, only concrete examples for preparingRilpivirine base are given in said patent but no concrete examples describing the production of the hydrochloride salt are provided.
[0004]

EP1632232 B1 claims amongst others a solid pharmaceutical composition comprising crystalline forms A, B, C or D of Rilpivirinehydrochloride. In addition said patent claims a process for the production of Rilpivirine hydrochloride by reacting Rilpivirine base with hydrochloric acid in the presence of a suitable acid, such as acetic acid.
[0005]

Polymorphism is a phenomenon relating to the occurrence of different crystal forms for one molecule. There may be several different crystalline forms for the same molecule with distinct crystal structures and varying in physical properties like melting point, XRPD pattern and FTIR spectrum. These polymorphs are thus distinct solid forms which share the molecular formula of the compound from which the crystals are made up, however they may have distinct advantageous physical properties such as e.g. chemical stability, physical stability, hygroscopicity, solubility, dissolution rate, bioavailability, etc.
[0006]

The bioavailability of a compound intended to be administered orally, is dependent on the compounds solubility in aqueous systems as well as the compounds permeability as mentioned in EP1632232 B1 . Hydrates are known to be less soluble in aqueous systems than anhydrous forms of the same compound. Hence anhydrous forms of Rilpivirinehydrochloride are preferred over hydrated forms. Rilpivirinehydrochloride form D of EP1632232 B1 is a hydrate and thus no suitable candidate for the preparation of an orally administered medicament, whereas form E of the present invention is an anhydrate.
[0007]

The novel polymorph E of Rilpivirine hydrochloride of the present invention shows high solubility in aqueous systems e.g. a higher solubility than forms A and C of EP1632232 B1 and is thus especially suitable for the preparation of an orally administered medicament.
[0008]

In addition the crystalline forms A and C of EP1632232 B1 are difficult to make in a reliable manner as these forms are obtained from the same solvent system. As the polymorphs A and C of Rilpivirinehydrochloride are obtainable from the same solvent system acetic acid/water, the production processes are especially critical and sensitive because the single crystalline forms are only obtainable in pure form in a quite narrow range of temperature as described in the concrete examples A.a) and A.c) of EP1632232 B1 . In contrast form E of the present invention is reliably obtained by crystallization from ethanol as form E is the only polymorph of Rilpivirine hydrochloride obtained from this solvent system.
[0009]

According to example A.b) of EP1632232 B1 form B is obtained by recrystallizing Rilpivirine hydrochloride from propanone using an initial Rilpivirine hydrochloride concentration of 0.3 g/L. However, this concentration is not suitable for up-scaling as larger amounts of Rilpivirine hydrochloride would ask for tremendous solvent volumina and hence the usage of tremendously large reaction vessels. In contrast form E of the present invention is also obtained by applying higher initial Rilpivirine hydrochloride concentrations such as e.g. ≥10 g/L and is thus suitable for large scale production.
[0010]

Hence, aim of the present invention is to circumvent the drawbacks of the known forms A, B, C and D ofEP1632232 B1 by providing an anhydrous polymorph of Rilpivirine hydrochloride, which is obtainable in an easy and reliable manner also in large scale. In addition the novel polymorph shows high solubility in aqueous systems making it especially suitable for the preparation of an orally administered medicament.

Drugs for Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension (CTEPH)

September 26, 2013 2:30 pm / 2 Comments on Drugs for Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension (CTEPH)

<div style=”margin-bottom:5px”> <strong> <a href=”https://www.slideshare.net/CTEPH/drugs-for-cteph-studi-farmacologici” title=”Drugs for CTEPH – studi farmacologici” target=”_blank”>Drugs for CTEPH – studi farmacologici</a> </strong> from <strong><a href=”http://www.slideshare.net/CTEPH” target=”_blank”>CTEPH</a></strong> </div>

Cobicistat – European Commission Approves Gilead Sciences’ TybostTM, a New Boosting Agent for HIV Therapy

September 26, 2013 3:51 am / 2 Comments on Cobicistat – European Commission Approves Gilead Sciences’ TybostTM, a New Boosting Agent for HIV Therapy

cobicistat

1004316-88-4

C ₄₀ H ₅₃ N ₇ O ₅ S ₂

(1,3-thiazol-5-yl) methyl (5S, 8R, 11R) -8,11-dibenzyl-2-methyl-5-[2 – (morpholin-4-yl) ethyl] -1 – [2 – (propan-2-yl) -1,3-thiazol-4-yl] -3,6-dioxo-2 ,4,7,12-tetraazatridecan-13-oate

cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) inhibitor

Tybost Facilitates Once-Daily Dosing of the Protease Inhibitors Atazanavir and Darunavir –

FOSTER CITY, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Sep. 25, 2013– Gilead Sciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: GILD) today announced that the European Commission has granted marketing authorization for once-daily TybostTM (cobicistat 150 mg tablets), a pharmacokinetic enhancer that boosts blood levels of certain HIV medicines. Tybost is indicated as a boosting agent for the HIV protease inhibitors atazanavir 300 mg once daily and darunavir 800 mg once daily as part of antiretroviral combination therapy in adults with HIV-1 infection. Today’s approval allows for the marketing of Tybost in all 28 countries of the European Union (EU).

read all at

http://www.pharmalive.com/eu-oks-gileads-hiv-therapy-tybost

Cobicistat (formerly GS-9350) is a licensed drug for use in the treatment of infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

Like ritonavir (Norvir), cobicistat is of interest not for its anti-HIV properties, but rather its ability to inhibit liver enzymes that metabolize other medications used to treat HIV, notablyelvitegravir, an HIV integrase inhibitor currently under investigation itself. By combining cobicistat with elvitegravir, higher concentrations of elvitgravir are achieved in the body with lower dosing, theoretically enhancing elvitgravir’s viral suppression while diminishing its adverse side-effects. In contrast with ritonavir, the only currently approved booster, cobicistat has no anti-HIV activity of its own.^[1]

Cobicistat is a component of the four-drug, fixed-dose combination HIV treatmentelvitegravir/cobicistat/emtricitabine/tenofovir (known as the “Quad Pill” or Stribild).^[1]^[2] The Quad Pill/Stribild was approved by the FDA in August 2012 for use in the United States and is owned by Gilead Sciences.
Cobicistat is a potent inhibitor of cytochrome P450 3A enzymes, including the importantCYP3A4 subtype. It also inhibits intestinal transport proteins, increasing the overall absorption of several HIV medications, including atazanavir, darunavir and tenofovir alafenamide fumarate.^[3]

Highleyman, L. Elvitegravir “Quad” Single-tablet Regimen Shows Continued HIV Suppression at 48 Weeks. HIV and Hepatitis.com
R Elion, J Gathe, B Rashbaum, and others. The Single-Tablet Regimen of Elvitegravir/Cobicistat/Emtricitabine/Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate (EVG/COBI/FTC/TDF; Quad) Maintains a High Rate of Virologic Suppression, and Cobicistat (COBI) is an Effective Pharmacoenhancer Through 48 Weeks. 50th Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (ICAAC 2010). Boston, September 12–15, 2010.
Lepist, E. -I.; Phan, T. K.; Roy, A.; Tong, L.; MacLennan, K.; Murray, B.; Ray, A. S. (2012). “Cobicistat Boosts the Intestinal Absorption of Transport Substrates, Including HIV Protease Inhibitors and GS-7340, in Vitro”. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy 56 (10): 5409–5413. doi:10.1128/AAC.01089-12. PMC 3457391. PMID 22850510.

Quad ® laboratoryGilead Sciences , which funded the two clinical trials that have been published, containing a mixture of three active ingredients:tenofovir ,emtricitabine and a new active antiretroviral elvitegravir , also a CYP3A4 inhibitor called cobicistat.

The chemical structures of some of these HCV inhibitors as reported by numerous sources are provided below:

Telaprevir

BI-201335

TMC-435 (TMC-435350)

BMS-650032 (Asunaprevir)

danoprevir

MK-5172

ANA-598 (Setrobuvir)

GS-333126 (GS-9190 or tegobuvir)

GS-9451

Mericitabine (R-4048 or RG7128 or R7128)

IDX-184

filibuvir (PF-00868554)

PSI-7977 (GS-7977)

BMS-790052 (daclatasvir)

BIT-225

[0153] BMS-791 As used herein, BMS-

791325 may also be

See also publications at http://wwwl .easl.eu/easl201 l/program/’Posters/Abstract680.htm; and http://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT00664625. For GS-5885, see publications at http://www.natap.org/201 l/EASL/EASL_68.htm; http://wwwl .easl.eu/easl2011/program/Posters/Abstractl 097.htm; and http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01353248.

C ₄₀ H ₅₃ N ₇ O ₅ S ₂

EMCURE-A SUCESS STORY

September 25, 2013 8:13 am / 2 Comments on EMCURE-A SUCESS STORY

Mukund K Gurjar

Chief Scientific Officer, Director of Research & Development and Executive Director, Emcure Pharmaceuticals


		Emcure Pharmaceuticals Limited
		ITBT Park Phase II
		Hinjwadi, PUNE, INDIA

Among the vast ocean of literature on organic chemistry , you will find a pearl in the form of Emcure

we are treated to excellent reading material and important communications in our field

hats off to this team

Dr. Mukund K. Gurjar serves as the Chief Scientific Officer of Emcure Pharmaceuticals Limited and serves as its Director of Research & Development.

Dr. Gurjar has been closely associated with Drugs and Pharmaceutical Sciences since 1975 and is a distinguished Researcher in the country. He has carried out extensive work in the field of new chemical entities (NCEs). Dr. Gurjar has been an Executive Director of Emcure Pharmaceuticals Ltd. since 2001.

He serves as Deputy Director at National Chemical Laboratory, Pune. Dr. Gurjar served as Non-Executive Director of Cipla Limited since January 19, 2002 until August 27, 2007.

Dr. Gurjar has the distinction of being one of the 43 scientists from India who have been mentioned in the Institute of Scientific Information of Chemists and has more than 500 citations. Dr. Gurjar has obtained Master of Science degree in Organic Chemistry and Ph.D. in chemistry from the Nagpur University. He also obtained the second Ph.D. degree from the London University, UK.

He is a leading Fellow at various National and International Academies

Board Members Memberships

2001-Present

Chief Scientific Officer, Director of Research & Development and Executive Director

Emcure Pharmaceuticals Limited

2002-2007

Former Non Executive Director

Cipla Limited

Education

PhD

University Of London

Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University

PhD

Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University

Other Affiliations

Cipla Limited

University Of London

Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University

DOB-28-08-1952

LINKS

http://www.emcure.co.in/bod.asp

http://www.ias.ac.in/php/fell_detail.php3?name=Gurjar&intials=Mukund&year=28-08-1952

http://www.researchgate.net/profile/Mukund_Gurjar/

About EMCURE : Company Profile as quoted by COMPANY WEBSITE

The Company was incorporated as Emcure Pharmaceuticals Private Limited on April 16, 1981 as a private limited company under the Companies Act, 1956.Emcure Pharmaceuticals is a fast growing Indian pharmaceutical company engaged in developing, manufacturing and marketing a broad range of pharmaceutical products globally. Our core strength lies in developing and manufacturing differentiated pharmaceutical products in-house, which we commercialize through our marketing infrastructure across geographies and relationships with multi-national pharmaceutical companies.Emcure Pharmaceuticals is ranked as the 14th largest pharmaceutical company (Source: IMS Health India, Secondary Stockist Audit (“SSA”), March 2013) in India in terms of market share based on the domestic sales of pharmaceutical products. We believe that our competitive advantage in the domestic market lies in our established presence in all major therapeutic areas including blood related, cardiology, pain and analgesics, HIV, gynecology, nephrology, anti-infective, and vitamins, minerals and nutrients products. We have also recently entered the oncology and diabetes therapeutic areas.Emcure Pharmaceuticals have a well-diversified income base thanks to our business in the international markets. We have our own sales and marketing infrastructure in the United States through our subsidiary, Heritage. We sell our portfolio of branded generic products to the Rest of World. Our products are currently shipped to over 65 countries, where we have established our presence by focusing on important alliances with local and multi-national companies that enjoy a leadership position in the therapeutic areas on which we focus. We have subsidiaries in Dubai, Brazil, South Africa, Singapore and Nigeria and branch offices in Russia and Morocco.Emcure Pharmaceuticals…….quote………. are focus our research and development efforts on developing a portfolio of differentiated products across several platforms, including chiral molecules and biosimilars, and novel drug delivery systems. We have a portfolio of 11 chiral molecules, eight of which we launched for the first time in India. We also have capabilities to develop complex products, including difficult iron preparations, oncology drugs and controlled release products. Our portfolio of in-house manufactured five commercialized biosimilars including TNK-tPA, which we launched for the first time in India, and our brand Vintor is ranked no. 1 in erythropoietin market (Epoetin Alfa Recombinant) (Source: IMS Health India, SSA, March 2013).

Glaxo Gets EU OK for New Revolade Indication

September 25, 2013 4:05 am / Leave a comment

GSK receives marketing authorisation from the European Commission for additional Revolade™ (eltrombopag) indication as the first approved treatment for chronic hepatitis C-associated thrombocytopenia

GlaxoSmithKline plc announced today that the European Commission has granted an additional indication for Revolade™ (eltrombopag) as a treatment for low platelet counts (thrombocytopenia) in adult patients with chronic hepatitis C infection, where the degree of thrombocytopenia is the main factor preventing the initiation or limiting the ability to maintain optimal interferon (IFN)-based therapy

read all at

http://www.pharmalive.com/glaxo-gets-eu-ok-for-new-revolade-indication

Purdue Pharma L.P. Receives FDA Approval For 15 mcg/hour Dosage Strength Of Butrans (buprenorphine) Transdermal System CIII

September 25, 2013 3:36 am / 1 Comment on Purdue Pharma L.P. Receives FDA Approval For 15 mcg/hour Dosage Strength Of Butrans (buprenorphine) Transdermal System CIII

buprenorphine

STAMFORD, Conn., Sept. 24, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — Purdue Pharma L.P. announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a new 15 mcg/hour dosage strength of Butrans® (buprenorphine) Transdermal System CIII, which will provide an additional titration option for healthcare professionals. Four strengths of Butrans will now be available: 5, 10, 15 and 20 mcg/hour. Purdue expects to launch Butrans 15 mcg/hour commercially in the U.S. in October 2013.

read all at

http://www.drugs.com/newdrugs/purdue-pharma-l-p-receives-fda-approval-15-mcg-hour-butrans-buprenorphine-transdermal-ciii-3909.html

Buprenorphine is a semi-synthetic opioid that is used to treat opioid addiction in higher dosages (>2 mg), to control moderate acute pain in non-opioid-tolerant individuals in lower dosages (~200 µg), and to control moderate chronic pain in dosages ranging from 20–70 µg/hour. It is available in a variety of formulations: Subutex, Suboxone, Zubsolv (buprenorphine HCl and naloxone HCl; typically used for opioid addiction), Temgesic (sublingual tablets for moderate to severe pain), Buprenex (solutions for injection often used for acute pain in primary-care settings), Norspan and Butrans (transdermal preparations used for chronic pain).

The treatment of opiate abuse and dependence by substitution of the abused opiate with a safer, longer-acting opioid is often a successful pharmacotherapeutic intervention strategy. Heroin, a widely abused opiate, acts as an agonist for the mu-opioid receptor (MOR). Heroin is often abused using intravenous injection, often resulting in needle-sharing among addicts, which is often responsible for the spread of life-threatening infections such as hepatitis C and HIV/AIDS. Methadone has been used as a substitute MOR agonist. Methadone is orally active, and has sufficient duration of action to enable it to be given as a single daily dose. More recently, buprenorphine 1, 21-(cyclopropyl-7α-[(S)-1-hydroxy-1,2,2-trimethylpropyl]-6,14-endo-ethano-6,7,8,14-tetrahydro-oripavine, a MOR partial agonist, has been used as a pharmacotherapy (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 4,935,428 ). As a partial MOR agonist, it has a lower ceiling to its MOR-mediated effects than a full MOR agonist (e.g., methadone). As a result, buprenorphine has a greater margin of safety than full MOR agonists. In addition, buprenorphine also has a long duration of action. Buprenorphine’s enhanced safety, coupled with its extended duration, enables a relatively long dosing interval, typically every 24 hours, but this can be extended to every 72 hours or more.

Buprenorphine’s favorable safety profile compared to methadone has allowed it to be prescribed by office-based physicians, which has substantially decreased the cost of treatment, and increased the number of addicts in pharmacotherapy treatment.
For the treatment of opiate abuse and dependence, buprenorphine is available as tablets formulated for sublingual administration, and is sold under the trademark Subutex^®. The daily maintenance dose for Subutex^® is in the range 4-16 mg. Subutex^®is readily soluble in aqueous media, making it possible for addicts to misuse the formulation by dissolving the tablets in water, and then injecting the resulting solution. To counter this misuse, buprenorphine has been formulated as a mixture with the MOR antagonist naloxone in a 4:1 ratio (Suboxone^®).
Sublingual administration of buprenorphine has several drawbacks, notably the need to avoid swallowing the tablet because of buprenorphine’s low bioavailability (∼5%) when taken orally. In comparison, buprenorphine’s bioavailability is approximately fifty percent when absorbed sublingually (see, e.g., Jasinski and Preston, Buprenorphine, Ed. A Cowan, JW Lewis, Wiley-Lis, NY pp. 189-211).
Several buprenorphine ester derivatives are described by Stinchcomb et al. in Pharm. Res (1995), 12, 1526-1529. The physiochemical properties of the esters are described, and compared with those of buprenorphine hydrochloride and its free base. Stinchcomb et al. also describe transdermal absorption of these esters in Biol. Pharm. Bull. (1996), 19, 263-267 and Pharm. Res. (1996), 13, 1519-1523. Wang, Published U.S. Patent Application No. 2005/0075361 , also describes some buprenorphine derivatives, which are apparently useful for pain relief when delivered intramuscularly or subcutaneously. EP 1 422 230 discloses buprenorphine monocarboxylic ester derivatives and dibuprenorphine dicarboxylic ester derivatives which exert a longer analgesic effect as compared to buprenorphine hydrochloride.

Buprenorphine hydrochloride was first marketed in the 1980s by Reckitt & Colman (now Reckitt Benckiser) as an analgesic, generally available as Temgesic 0.2 mg sublingual tablets, and as Buprenex in a 0.3 mg/mL injectable formulation. In October 2002, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the United States also approved Suboxone and Subutex, buprenorphine’s high-dose sublingual tablet preparations indicated for detoxification and long-term replacement therapy in opioid dependency, and the drug is now used predominantly for this purpose.

In the European Union, Suboxone and Subutex, buprenorphine’s high-dose sublingual tablet preparations, were approved for opioid addiction treatment in September 2006.^[3] In the Netherlands, buprenorphine is a List II drug of the Opium Law, though special rules and guidelines apply to its prescription and dispensation. In the United States, it was rescheduled to Schedule III drug from Schedule V just before FDA approval of Suboxone and Subutex.^[4] In recent years, buprenorphine has been introduced in most European countries as a transdermal formulation for the treatment of chronic pain.

Commercial preparations

British firm Reckitt & Colman (now Reckitt Benckiser) first marketed buprenorphine under the trade names Temgesic (sublingual/parenteral preparations) and Buprenex (parenteral). Subsequently, two more formulations were released: Subutex (white, oval-shaped, bitter, no active additives) and Suboxone (white color [orange in the U.S.], hexagonal tablet, lemon-lime-flavored, one part naloxone for every four parts buprenorphine). The orange film strips form of Suboxone are lemon flavor. More than 71% of patients gave Suboxone film a favorable taste rating.^[5]

8mg Suboxone film strip

Subutex and Suboxone are available in 2 mg and 8 mg sublingual dosages. (Suboxone Film is also available in doses of 4 mg/1 mg & 12 mg/3 mg buprenorphine/naloxone respectively). On October 8, 2009, Roxane Laboratories of Columbus, Ohio, United States won FDA approval for a generic preparation of Subutex^[6] and as of October 23, 2009, announced that it is ready for distribution nationwide in 2 mg and 8 mg sublingual dosages. The demand for this generic was so high that Roxane did not produce enough to meet market demand, resulting in pharmacies running out and being unable to order more.^[7] Teva Pharmaceutical Laboratories of Tel Aviv, Israel also received approval (as of April 1, 2010) for a generic formulation of Subutex sublingual tablets in 2 mg and 8 mg dosages that are currently available in limited distribution in America as of June 20, 2010. In 2013, Reckitt Benckiser voluntarily discontinued the sale of Suboxone tablets in the United States based on data from Poison control centers that consistently found significantly higher rates (7.8–8.5 times greater) of accidental pediatric exposure with Suboxone tablets as compared with Suboxone Film.^[8]

Since 2001, buprenorphine is also available transdermally as 35, 52.5, and 70 µg/h transdermal patches that deliver the dose over 96 hours. This dosage form is marketed as Transtec in most European countries by Grunenthal (Napp Pharmaceuticals in the UK,^[9]^[10] Norpharma in Denmark) for the treatment of moderate to severe cancer pain and severe non-cancer pain not responding to non-opioids.

Other available buprenorphine formulations include a 5, 10, and 20 µg/h, 7-day patch, marketed as Butrans in the U.S. by Purdue Pharma (and by Napp Pharmaceuticals in the UK) indicated for the management of moderate to severe chronic pain in patients requiring a continuous, around-the-clock opioid analgesic for an extended period of time.^[11] A similar transdermal system is marketed by a collaboration between Mundipharma and Grunenthal in Australia under the name Norspan, with indications for moderate chronic pain not responding to non-opioids, dosed in 5, 10, or 20 µg/h patches.^[12]

In India: Addnok 0.4, 2 & 8 Mg Sublingual Tablets by Rusan Pharma Ltd.,^[13] Tidigesic 0.2 mg (slow release) or 0.3 mg/mL injectable by Sun Pharmaceuticals;^[14] Buprigesic (0.3 mg/mL) by Neon Laboratories;^[15] Morgesic (0.3 mg/mL) by Samarth Pharma; Norphin (0.3 mg/mL) Unichem Laboratories.

A novel implantable formulation of buprenorphine (Probuphine), using a polymer matrix sustained-release technology, has been developed to offer treatment for opioid dependence while minimizing risks of patient noncompliance and illicit diversion. FDA requested additional information about Probuphine on April 30, 2013, in a complete response letter to Titan Pharmaceuticals pending NDA.^[16]

In addition to the sublingual tablet, Suboxone is now marketed in the form of a sublingual film, available in the 2 mg/0.5 mg, 4 mg/1 mg, 8 mg/2 mg, and recently 12 mg/3 mg dosages; the film is not available in Canada or the United Kingdom (where it was discovered). The makers of Suboxone, Reckitt Benckiser, claim that the film has some advantages over the traditional tablet in that it dissolves faster and, unlike the tablet, adheres to the oral mucosa under the tongue, preventing it from being swallowed or falling out; that patients favor its taste over the tablet, stating that “more than 71% of patients scored the taste as neutral or better”; that each film strip is individually wrapped in a compact unit-dose pouch that is child-resistant and easy to carry; and that it is clinically interchangeable with the Suboxone tablet and can also be dosed once daily.^[17] Reckitt Benckiser also states that the film discourages misuse and abuse, as the paper-thin film is more difficult to crush and snort. Also, a ten-digit code is printed on each pouch, which helps facilitate medication counts and, therefore, serves to deter diversion into the illegal drug market. Although Suboxone film may deter snorting the drug it makes injecting the drug much easier as the films are extremely easy to dissolve in water making for easy injection and the fact that the naloxone in suboxone is ineffective at blocking the effects of buprenorphine when injected by addicts not dependent on another opioid.

Physicochemical properties

Buprenorphine is a semi-synthetic derivative of thebaine, one of the most chemically reactive opium alkaloids. Buprenorphine has a molecular weight of 467 and its structure is typically opioid with the inclusion of a C-7 side-chain containing a t-butyl group. This group confers overall lipophilicity on the molecule which has an important influence on its pharmacology.

Opioids exert their pharmacological effects by binding to opioid receptors. The pharmacological effects are determined by the nature of opioid-receptor interaction. Some of these effects such as analgesia, mediated by an agonistic action at the μ-opioid receptor are desirable, whereas others such as nausea, sedation, or constipation can be considered as unwanted adverse effects. Buprenorphine is a μ-opioid receptor agonist with high affinity, but low intrinsic activity. Compared with morphine (a full μ-opioid agonist) buprenorphine is considered a partial μ-opioid agonist displaying high affinity for and slow dissociation from the μ-opioid receptor. A full dose-dependent effect on analgesia has been seen within the clinically relevant dose range (up to 10 mg), but no respiratory depression which levels off at higher doses (Dahan et al. 2005). Clinically, there is also a less marked effect of buprenorphine-binding to μ-opioid receptors on gastrointestinal transit times, and indeed constipation seen in the clinic is remarkably low (Griessinger et al. 2005). Buprenorphine also shows partial agonistic activity at the opioid receptor-like receptor 1 (ORL1)-receptors which are (at least at supraspinal receptors) postulated to induce a pronociceptive effect. A study by Lutfy et al. (2003) reported that co-activation of ORL1-receptors compromises the antinociception induced by activation of the μ-opioid receptor. ORL1-activation has also an effect on hyperalgesia. It might be that buprenorphine’s partial agonism reduces this effect compared with full ORL1-agonists such as morphine or fentanyl. Buprenorphine’s antagonistic action at the δ-receptors which have a marked anti-opioid action and seem to negatively modulate central analgesia seems further to contribute to its clinically seen analgesic effect. Its likewise antagonistic activity at the κ-opioid receptors might explain the fact that it induces much less sedation and psychotomimetic effects than morphine or fentanyl (Lewis 1985; Leander 1988). Animal studies have shown that buprenorphine has a 20–40 times higher potency than morphine (Martin et al. 1976).

The strong binding of buprenorphine to the μ-opioid receptor has several consequences. Initial binding is relatively slow compared with other opioids such as fentanyl (Boas and Villiger 1985). However, the onset of analgesia is not dissimilar, since buprenorphine achieves effective analgesia at relatively low receptor occupancy (5%–10%) (Tyers 1980) and thus relatively low plasma concentrations of buprenorphine are sufficient to provide effective pain relief. The slow dissociation of buprenorphine from the receptor results in a long duration of effect and also confers another advantage in that when the drug is withdrawn an abstinence syndrome is rarely seen because of the long time taken for the drug to come off the receptor (Bickel et al. 1988).

1 Weinberg, D. S.; Inturrisi, C. E.; Reidenberg, B.; Moulin, D. E.; Nip, T. J.; Wallenstein, S.; Houde, R. W.; Foley, K. M. (1988). “Sublingual absorption of selected opioid analgesics”. Clinical pharmacology and therapeutics 44 (3): 335–342. PMID 2458208.
2. Eriksen, J.; Jensen, N. H.; Kamp-Jensen, M.; Bjarnø, H.; Friis, P.; Brewster, D. (1989). “The systemic availability of buprenorphine administered by nasal spray”. The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology 41 (11): 803–805. PMID 2576057.
3. Suboxone EU Approval
4.DEA Rescheduling
5.What flavor do suboxone come in?. Kgbanswers.com (2012-09-06). Retrieved on 2013-05-19.
6.FDA Approval Letter to Roxane
7.Generic buprenorphine shortage
8.Reckitt Benckiser Announcement of Suboxone tablets withdrawal
9.Napp Pharmaceuticals
10.electronic Medicines Compendium (eMC) of UK medicines, Transtec product characteristics. Medicines.org.uk (2010-10-21). Retrieved on 2013-05-19.
11. “Butrans”, accessed January 23, 2011.
12. “Norspan Buprenorphine Drug/Medicine information”. news-medical.net
13.Addnok information
14. Tidigesic in India
15. Buprigesic in India
16.Probuphine complete response letter
17. Suboxone film patient information
18 Likar, R. (2006). “Transdermal buprenorphine in the management of persistent pain – safety aspects”. Therapeutics and clinical risk management 2 (1): 115–125. PMC 1661652. PMID 18360586.

Buprenorphine acts as a mixed agonist / antagonist and it is an important treatment option for opiate addiction and analgesia.
- Opiate compounds such as (-)-naltrexone, (-)-naloxone, (-)-nalbuphene, (-)-nalmefene, and (-)-buprenorphine have been used for addiction therapy. (-)-Buprenorphine, in particular, is increasingly being used for the treatment of heroin addiction. Recently, the (+)-opiate enantiomers have been shown to have important bioactivities that differ from their (-) counter parts. Because of the exceptional opiate medicinal activity of (-)-buprenorphine, there is great interest in the therapeutic efficacy of (+)-buprenorphine. In order to explore the possible benefits of this compound, there is a need in the art for synthetic routes to produce (+)-buprenorphine or its derivatives in an efficient and cost effective manner that generates a high yield of product having a high degree of purity.
- The following documents disclose processes for the preparation of buprenorphine:
  - D1: WO 2007/081506 A (MALLINCKRODT INC [US]) 19 July 2007 (2007-07-19)
  - D2: J. MARTON ET AL: “Herstellung von 6,14-Ethenomorphinan-Derivaten” LIEBIGS ANNALEN DER CHEMIE, 1993, pages 915-919, XP002519987
  - D1 discloses a process for the preparation of buprenorphine from oripavine.
  - D2 discloses a process
[0002]

The conventional synthetic route used world-wide to prepare buprenorphine utilizes thebaine as the starting material.
[0003]

Through a series of chemical reactions, thebaine is converted into nor-buprenorphine, the immediate precursor to buprenorphine. The final step adds a cyclopropyl methyl group to the nitrogen to form buprenorphine from nor-buprenorphine.
[0004]
An outline of the conventional series of reactions from thebaine to buprenorphine follows:
1. 1. Reaction of thebaine with methyl vinyl ketone to form the 4 + 2 reaction product.
2. 2. Hydrogenation of the carbon-carbon double bond.
3. 3. Addition of a tertiary butyl group via a Grignard Reaction.
4. 4. An N-demethylation, via a two step reaction sequence.
5. 5. An O-demethylation reaction and an N-cyano hydrolysis.
6. 6. Addition of the cyclopropyl methyl group to form buprenorphine.
[0005]

A drawback of this conventional production scheme is that the O-demethylation step is considered a low to moderate yield transformation. There is therefore a need for a norbuprenorphine/buprenorphine production scheme that does not include an O-demethylation step.
[0006]

Processes for preparing Bupremorphine or Bupremorphine derivatives are disclosed in EP1439179 , US5849915 and Chem. Commun., 16, 2002, 1762-1763

[0007]
An aspect of the present invention is to provide a method for producing norbuprenorphine utilizing oripavine as the starting material. The method comprises:
- reacting oripavine according to Formula I with methyl vinyl ketone to form a compound according to Formula II;
- hydrogenating the compound according to Formula II to form a compound according to Formula III;
- adding a t-butyl group to the compound according to Formula III to form a compound according to Formula X; and
- demethylating the nitrogen of the compound according to Formula X to form norbuprenorphine, Formula VIII.
[0008]

Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a method of making buprenorphine utilizing oripavine as the starting material.

[0009]

There is provided a method utilizing oripavine as the preferred starting material for the synthesis of nor-buprenorphine and optionally buprenorphine. Oripavine is a naturally occurring alkaloid of Papaver somniferum. The key difference between the conventional technology and the present use of oripavine as a starting material is that the O-demethylation step, typically a low to moderate yield transformation, is not needed since the oripavine molecule lacks an O-3 methyl group. In a synthesis involving several steps, it is advantageous to have only high yield reactions, in order for the overall transformation to be economical. Since the present oripavine based synthesis does not require the O-3 demethylation step, the overall yield from oripavine provides an improved yield over that traditionally achieved when thebaine is used as the starting material. The conversion route from oripavine to produce buprenorphine is convenient and more straightforward as compared to other synthetic routes.
[0010]

An illustrative embodiment of the steps for converting oripavine into norbuprenorphine, and optionally buprenorphine, is as follows:
[0011]

The sequence outlined above is an illustrative embodiment presented to show the transformations required, but is not limited as to the order in which the transformations may be employed. In an alternative embodiment, the hydrogenation of the Diels-Alder double bond can also be accomplished as part of step 7 when the removal of the Y protecting group is through catalytic hydrogenation.

Step 1:

[0012]

The first step involves reaction of the oripavine with methyl vinyl ketone. This addition reaction may be accomplished by any conventional method known in the art. An illustrative embodiment is a Diels-Alder reaction in which the oripavine and methyl vinyl ketone are dissolved in a solvent and refluxed until the reaction is substantially complete. Illustrative suitable solvents include isopropyl alcohol, methanol, ethanol, toluene and mixtures thereof. The reaction mixture is then filtered to isolate the Diels-Alder adduct solids. Typical reactions result in at least about an 85% yield of at least about 98% purity.

Step 2:

[0013]

The second step involves the hydrogenation of the C-C double bond. In an illustrative embodiment, the Diels-Alder adduct formed in step 1 was charged to a reaction vessel with Pd/ Carbon catalyst, then dissolved in a solvent. A presently preferred solvent is methanol, but any suitable solvent may be used, including methanol, ethanol, isopropyl alcohol, acetic acid and mixtures thereof. The hydrogenation takes place under nitrogen at an elevated pressure and temperature. The temperature and pressure are selected to insure substantial completion of the reaction, as is well known in the art. An illustrative temperature range typical of this reaction is about 50-90°C, with about 60°C being preferred and an illustrative pressure range typical of this reaction is about 20-60 psi, with about 35 psi being preferred. The reaction mixture is filtered to remove the catalyst and the resulting filtrate reduced under vacuum to yield the product according to Formula III.

Step 3:

[0014]

Optional step 3 discloses the addition of a protecting group Y to form a compound according to Formula IV. The preferred method using oripavine as the starting material for norbuprenorphine and then buprenorphine utilizes an O-3 protecting group. However, the reaction can be accomplished without the use of the protection group, although the overall yield may be compromised. Further, the protecting group may be removed simultaneously with another step thereby eliminating one chemical step. Addition of an O-3 protecting group may minimize unwanted chemical reactions involving the unprotected phenol function at the 3-position. Illustrative suitable protecting groups include benzyl, O-t-butyl and silyl groups.
[0015]

In an illustrative embodiment, the reduced Diels-Alder adduct according to Formula III and ground K₂CO₃ are added (K₂CO₃ not soluble) in chloroform and benzyl bromide, heated and refluxed. After cooling to room temperature, the reaction mixture is filtered to remove the K₂CO₃. The filtrate is then reduced under vacuum and azeo dried in toluene.

Step 4:

[0016]

The fourth step utilizes the crude material according to Formula IV, formed in step 3. in a Grignard reaction. Under moisture free conditions and further under an inert atmosphere, t-BuMgCl is added, followed by anhydrous toluene. The solution is distilled until a pot temperature of about 100 °C is achieved, and the compound according the Formula IV is added. The reaction is quenched, and the temperature of the reaction mixture lowered. The organic and aqueous layers are separated, and the organic layer is concentrated under vacuum yielding an oily residue. The oily residue is then purified resulting in a compound according to Formula V, of up to about 93% purity.
[0017]

In an alternate embodiment, the t-butyl group is added using a t-butyl lithium reagent, as is well known in the art.
[0018]

The N-demethylation reaction may be accomplished by any suitable method known in the art. In the illustrative embodiment shown in steps 5 and 6, the methyl group is first converted into a nitrite in step 5, followed by reduction of the nitrile group in step 6.

Step 5:

[0019]

In an illustrative embodiment of step 5, the tertiary alcohol starting material according to Formula V is dissolved in a solvent, flushed with an inert atmosphere, and then K₂CO₃ and cyanogen bromide are added. This reaction mixture is then refluxed until the reaction is substantially complete, cooled to room temperature and filtered to remove the K₂CO₃. The reaction mixture is then extracted and the organic layers reduced and dried under vacuum. The resulting solid is purified yielding up to about 93% clean material after drying.

Step 6:

[0020]

In an illustrative embodiment, potassium hydroxide is dissolved in diethylene glycol and heated. The N-CN compound according to Formula VII is added and the reaction mixture heated until the reaction is substantially complete. After cooling to room temperature, distilled water is added and the resulting solid collected and dried, with up to about 100% yield.
[0021]

The N-demethylation may be accomplished by any method know to those skilled in the art without departing from the instant method.

Step 7:

[0022]

The seventh step involves the removal of the optional protecting group. In the illustrative embodiment, the Y protecting group added in step 3 is removed. In this embodiment, the secondary amine starting material may be catalytically removed by Pd/Carbon in a suitable , solvent. Suitable solvents include methanol, ethanol, isopropyl acetate and mixtures thereof. The resulting filtrate is dried under vacuum to yield norbuprenorphine. In another embodiment, the Y protecting group may be removed with an acid, such as HCl, HOAc, HF or an F anion.

Step 8:

[0023]

Finally the norbuprenorphine is optionally converted to buprenorphine as illustrated in step 8. In an illustrative embodiment, the norbuprenorphine is converted to buprenorphine.
[0024]

In an illustrative embodiment, a mixture of norbuprenorphine, a mild base, and cyclopropylmethyl bromide are heated in an oilbath at about 80-100°C until the reaction is substantially complete. The reaction mixture is then added over 5 minutes to 160ml of water, with mechanical stirring, yielding a gum. The mixture is stirred and filtered, and the filter cake is washed with water. The HPLC will show about 90% by area of desired product, and 0.2-0.5% of an N-butenyl substituted impurity. The resulting product is dried, and then boiled in alcohol, cooled, and filtered to yield buprenorphine.
[0025]

In the alternative, norbuprenorphine can be converted to buprenorphine by reductive amination, or by acylation followed by reduction of the amide.
[0026]

In an alternative embodiment, the hydrogenation step 2 is performed on the crude reaction mixture formed in step 1, thereby providing a one-pot reaction scheme for forming a compound according to Formula III.
[0027]

The oripavine, methyl vinyl ketone and isopropyl alcohol are heated under pressure. Upon cooling, a Pd-C catalyst is added, and the reaction mixture is heated under pressure until the reaction is substantially complete. The product is then solubilized and the catalyst removed by filtration. The filtrate is then concentrated under vacuum.
[0028]

In another alternative embodiment, illustrated below, a method for producing norbuprenorphine, and optionally buprenorphine, from oripavine, without the use of a protecting group on O-3. The individual reactions are as discussed in more detail above.
[0029]
The method comprises:
1. a) reacting the oripavine according to Formula I with methyl vinyl ketone to form a compound according to Formula II;
2. b) hydrogenating the compound according to Formula II to form a compound according to Formula III;
3. c) adding a t-butyl group to the compound according to Formula III to form a compound according to Formula X; and
4. d) demethylating the nitrogen of the compound according to Formula X to form norbuprenorphine, Formula VIII.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

WO 2009078986 A1

Th invention provides processes and intermediate compounds for producing buprenorphine. In particular, the process encompasses synthetic routes for the production of buprenorphine or derivatives of buprenorphine from norhydromorphone or derivatives of norhydromorphone. While it is envisioned that the synthetic routes described herein may be utilized to produce (+/-)-buprenorphine, in an exemplary aspect of the invention, the process encompasses the production of (+)-buprenorphine or derivatives of (+)-buprenorphine.

For purposes of illustration, Reaction Scheme 1 depicts the production of compound 8 from compound 1 in accordance with one aspect of the present invention:

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

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