Princeton University

Merck + Co., Inc.

Brian K Johnson

Robert K Prud'homme

John M Williams

Ulf H Dolling

Raymond Cvetovich

Louis S Crocker

Daniel Richard Sidler

Robert Wenslow

Hsien-Hsin Tung

Joseph Kukura, Ii

Daniel Sidler

Joseph Ii Kukura

Louis Crocker

This invention discloses a process for making nanoparticles of amphiphilic copolymers by flash precipitation. Nanoparticles may be of amphiphilic copolymer alone or may contain an additive target molecule, preferably an organic active. The inclusion of additive target molecules in amphiphilic copolymer nanoparticles can alter their water solubility characteristics, fluid dynamics, and/or stability. Changing an additive target molecule's solubility and stability in a nanoparticle can make a water insoluble compound suitable for pharmaceutical administration as well as specifically target the molecule to a specific area of a patient's body. The process affords the production of nanoparticles at high absolute active content, at high yield, high productivity, and high processing rates while using unusually low amounts of amphiphilic copolymers. Furthermore, the resulting particles exhibit sufficient stability for post processing as desired. The invention also discloses two apparatuses for the production of nanoparticles of amphiphilic copolymers by flash precipitation.

Process and apparatuses for preparing nanoparticle compositions with amphiphilic copolymers and their use

This invention discloses a process for making nanopanticles of amphiphilic copolymers by flash precipitation. Nanoparticles may be of amphiphilic copolymer alone or may contain an additive target molecule, preferably an organic active. The inclusion of additive target molecules in amphiphilic copolymer nanoparticles can alter their water solubility characteristics, fluid dynamics, and/or stability. Changing an additive target molecule's solubility and stability in an nanoparticle can make a water insoluble compound suitable for pharmaceutical administration as well as specifically target the molecule to a specific area of a patient's body. The process affords the production of nanoparticles at high absolute active content, at high yield, high productivity, and high processing rates while using unusually low amounts of amphiphilic copolymers. Furthermore, the resulting particles exhibit sufficient stability for post processing as desired. The invention also discloses two apparatuses for the production of nanoparticles of amphiphilic copolymers by flash precipitation.

The present invention relates to a process for reducing the levels of organic solvents to pharmaceutically acceptable levels in thermally unstable crystalline carbapenem solids represented by formula I:or a salt thereof, wherein Rand R, are the same or different, and are selected from H, alkyl, aryl, and heteroaryl, comprising washing a carbapenem solid containing organic solvent with an organic solvent containing water; and using vacuum and/or inert gas (hydrated or dry) at low temperature to produce a compound of formula I containing pharmaceutically acceptable levels of organic solvents, wherein the water content of the crystalline carbapenem solid, correcting for organic solvents, is maintained at about 13% to about 25% during the process.

Process for making carbapenem compounds

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Princeton, NJ, United States of America

Brian K Johnson