Pharmaceutical Cocrystal Development of TAK-020 with Enhanced Oral Absorption

Abstract

The objective of this study was to improve the solubility of poorly water-soluble drugs by pharmaceutical cocrystal engineering techniques and select the best pharmaceutical forms with high solubility and solubilized formulations for progress from the early discovery stage toward the clinical stage. Several pharmaceutical cocrystals of TAK-020, a Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitor, were newly discovered in the screening based on the solid grinding method and the slurry method, considering thermodynamic factors that dominate cocrystal formation. TAK-020/gentisic acid cocrystal (TAK-020/GA CC) was selected based on a physicochemical property of enhanced dissolution rate. TAK-020/GA CC was proven to be a reliable cocrystal formation with a definitive stoichiometric ratio by a variety of analytical techniques—pKa calculation, solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance, and single X-ray structure analysis from the view of regulation. Furthermore, its absorption was remarkable and beyond those achieved in currently existing solubilized formulation techniques, such as nanocrystal, amorphous solid dispersion, and lipid-based formulation, in dog pharmacokinetic studies. TAK-020/GA CC was the best drug form, which might lead to good pharmacological effects with regard to enhanced absorption and development by physicochemical characterization. Through the trials of solid-state optimization from early drug discovery to pharmaceutical drug development, the cocrystals can be an effective option for achieving solubilization applicable in the pharmaceutical industry.

Keywords

• cocrystal
• poorly soluble drug
• crystal engineering
• solubilized formulation
• absorption improvement