Pharmaceutical development of a parenteral lyophilised formulation of the investigational anticancer agent ES-285.HCl.

The aim of this study was to design stable parenteral pharmaceutical final products containing 25 mg and 50 mg ES-285.HCl per dosage unit for use in phase I clinical trials. ES-285.HCl drug substance was fully characterised and showed very slight solubility in water. The development of the pharmaceutical product, containing 2-hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin, is discussed in view of formulation optimisation and manufacture. The developed freeze-dried products were found stable for at least 6 months at an accelerated storage condition of 25 +/- 2 degrees C/60 +/- 5% relative humidity and for at least 12 months at the designated long term storage condition of 5 +/- 3 degrees C, in the dark. Phase I trials using ES-285.HCl 25 mg/vial and 50 mg/vial final products are currently ongoing.