DESCRIPTION
TITLE OF THE INVENTION
Coated Solid Preparation
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001]
The present invention relates to a coated solid preparation.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002]
Valproic acid, which is useful as an antiepileptic drug, has been widely
administered to treat epilepsy and prevent the seizure. However, valproic acid
deliquesces only by being left to stand at room temperature because of its high
hygroscopicity, therefore, there is no valproic acid preparation that is applicable to a
one-dose pack. Thus, there is a need for development of a preparation that has
stability against moisture and does not deliquesce under normal storage conditions.
[0003]
Known methods for improving the deliquescence of valproic acid include, for
example, a method of blending a solid preparation with a non-hygroscopic excipient
(Patent Document 1), a method of sugar-coating (Patent Document 2), a method of
film-coating with macromolecular substances (Patent Document 3), and a method of
packaging with packaging materials having high water vapor barrier properties.
[0004]
For example, Patent Document 1 reports a method of mixing sodium
valproate, carbomer, and a non-hygroscopic additive to a homogeneous state and
compressing the resulting mixture into tablets, which tablets had properties of
absorbing up to 5% by weight of water even when stored at 75% relative humidity

for three months.
[0005]
Patent Document 2 discloses tablets produced by sugar-coating sodium
valproate sequentially with a first layer composed of sucrose soluble in water and
organic solvents, a second layer composed of macromolecules and sucrose soluble in
water and organic solvents, a third layer composed of sucrose, and a fourth layer
composed of macromolecules, sucrose, and the like, which tablets had stability
against moisture.
[0006]
Patent Document 3 discloses double-coated tablets in which a first coating
layer is formed from a coating agent mainly composed of starch and sugar, and a
second coating layer is formed thereon from a coating agent mainly composed of
macromolecules, which double-coated tablets suppressed the deliquescence of the
deliquescent drug contained as an active ingredient.
[0007]
As a method of packaging with packaging materials having high water vapor
barrier properties, the method of protecting a solid preparation from moisture by
placing the solid preparation in a PTP (press through pack) sheet laminated with
polyvinylidene chloride and sealing the sheet is used in various medicaments.
[0008]
On the other hand, in view of preventing forgetting to take prescribed drugs
or taking a wrong dose, one-dose packs are now in widespread use at clinical sites
and dispensing pharmacies; taking a plurality of solid preparations taken in one dose
out of packaging materials such as a PTP sheet and putting them in one package to
provide to patients have become predominant.
PRIOR ART DOCUMENTS
Patent Documents

[0009]
Patent Document 1: JP 2004-521890 A
Patent Document 2: JP 2006-256961 A
Patent Document 3: JP 2006-83162 A
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED BY THE INVENTION
[0010]
However, in one-dose packing, each solid preparation will be stored for a
long period of time in an automatic packaging machine in a naked state as taken out
of a PTP sheet in advance, therefore, for preparations which have low stability
against moisture and contain as an active ingredient valproic acid having
deliquescence, it is difficult at present to apply to a one-dose pack. That is, patients
who receive a preparation containing valproic acid as an active ingredient have not
gained the advantage of one-dose packs that they improve drug compliance to
enhance the therapeutic effect; there is a need for improvement in this regard.
[0011]
There are methods, as disclosed in Patent Documents 1 to 3, for improving
the stability against moisture of a preparation containing sodium valproate, but, in
any of these methods, increase in size of a solid preparation due to coating cannot be
avoided, making it difficult for patients to take it, so that it is difficult at present to
put the preparation into practice. In particular, the method of sugar-coating a solid
preparation, as disclosed in Patent Document 2, not only requires a long period of
time for the process of sugar-coating, but also has a problem in that, under high
humidity, it exhibits poor moisture barrier properties and cannot suppress
deliquescence and liquefaction. Further, the double-coated tablet disclosed in
Patent Document 3 requires strict control of the production conditions because it
requires multiple coating steps, so that, in view of both production time and

production cost, it is difficult to apply it to a preparation containing sodium valproate.
[0012]
Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide a coated solid
preparation applicable to a one-dose pack, wherein, even when the preparation is in
an unpacked state, the stability against moisture of valproic acid or a
pharmacologically acceptable salt thereof contained therein is maintained and the
deliquescence is suppressed.
MEANS FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEMS
[0013]
To achieve the above object, the present inventors intensively studied to
discover that a coated solid preparation with significantly improved stability against
moisture can be obtained by coating a solid preparation containing as an active
ingredient valproic acid or a pharmacologically acceptable salt thereof with a coating
agent containing a particular component in a particular state without increasing the
size of the coated solid preparation (without posing any problem in patients' taking
the coated solid preparation).
[0014]
Thus, the present invention provides a coated solid preparation comprising as
an active ingredient valproic acid or a pharmacologically acceptable salt thereof; the
preparation being coated with a coating layer containing polyvinyl alcohol and
swelling clay; the mass ratio of the polyvinyl alcohol to the swelling clay being 8:2
to 3:7; the swelling clay being dispersed as a laminated structure.
[0015]
The above coating layer does not pose any problem in patients' taking the
coated solid preparation because it is a thin film layer, and the swelling clay can
improve the stability against moisture of the coated solid preparation and also
effectively prevent the deliquescence of valproic acid or a pharmacologically

acceptable salt thereof because it fully exerts a path effect by being dispersed as a
laminated structure in a swollen state.
[0016]
The above swelling clay is preferably bentonite or magnesium aluminum
silicate, and the water vapor permeability of the above coating layer is still more
preferably 1.0 x 10-5 to 1.0 x 10-4g.mm/cm2-24 hr.atm.
[0017]
Bentonite and magnesium aluminum silicate have very large aspect ratio,
therefore, they can produce a larger path effect in a coating layer formed on the
surface of a solid preparation and further improve the stability against moisture of the
coated solid preparation.
EFFECT OF THE INVENTION
[0018]
The present invention provides a coated solid preparation applicable to a one-
dose pack, wherein, even when the preparation is in an unpacked state, the stability
against moisture of valproic acid or a pharmacologically acceptable salt thereof
contained therein is maintained and the deliquescence is suppressed. The coating
layer in the coated solid preparation of the present invention does not pose any
problem in patients' taking the coated solid preparation because it is a thin film layer,
and the swelling clay can improve the stability against moisture of the coated solid
preparation and also effectively prevent the deliquescence of valproic acid or a
pharmacologically acceptable salt thereof because it fully exerts a path effect by
being dispersed as a laminated structure in a swollen state. Furthermore, the coated
solid preparation of the present invention can be used not only as a sustained-release
preparation but also as an immediate-release preparation, because it has excellent
disintegration properties as well as excellent stability against moisture.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019]
Figure 1 is a focused ion beam transmission electron microscopy image of the
film of Example 1; and
Figure 2 is a focused ion beam transmission electron microscopy image of the
film of Comparative Example 2.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0020]
Preferred embodiments for carrying out the present invention will now be
described. It should be understood, however, that the present invention is not
limited to the following embodiments, and unless otherwise specified,"%" means
"mass/mass percentage (w/w%)".
[0021]
The coated solid preparation of the present invention is characterized in that it
contains as an active ingredient valproic acid or a pharmacologically acceptable salt
thereof and is coated with a coating layer containing polyvinyl alcohol and swelling
clay, wherein the mass ratio of the polyvinyl alcohol to the swelling clay is 8:2 to 3:7
and the swelling clay is dispersed as a laminated structure.
[0022]
"Solid preparation" refers to a pharmaceutical formulated to be a solid,
examples of which include tablets (including sublingual tablets and orally
disintegrating tablets), capsules (including soft capsules and microcapsules), granules,
fine granules, powders, pills, troches, and films. "Coated solid preparation" refers
to a preparation in which a coating layer is formed to prevent the pharmacologically
active components from, for example, being decomposed by oxygen, water vapor,
light, and the like by coating the surface of the above solid preparation with a coating
agent.
[0023]

Examples of "valproic acid or pharmacologically acceptable salt thereof
include valproic acid, sodium valproate, semisodium valproate, sodium hydrogen
divalproate, divalproex, magnesium valproate, zinc valproate, potassium valproate,
and lithium valproate. Examples of commercially available preparations of sodium
valproate include Selenica tablet (Kowa Company, Ltd.), Selenica R tablet (Kowa
Company, Ltd.), Selenica R granule (Kowa Company, Ltd.), Valerin tablet
(Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma Co., Ltd.), Hyserenin tablet (Schering-Plough
Corporation), Depakene tablet (Kyowa Hakko co., ltd.), Depakene R tablet (Kyowa
Hakko co., ltd.), and Depakene fine granule (Kyowa Hakko co., ltd.). Examples of
commercially available preparations of divalproex include Depakote tablet (Abbott).
[0024]
"Polyvinyl alcohol" refers to an alcohol obtained by saponifying polyvinyl
acetate, including from partially saponificated polyvinyl alcohols having several ten
percent of residual acetic acid groups to completely saponificated polyvinyl alcohols
having only a few percent of residual acetic acid groups. The saponification degree
of polyvinyl alcohol is preferably 70 to 97 mol%, and the average degree of
polymerization is preferably 200 to 3000, more preferably 600 to 2400.
[0025]
The above polyvinyl alcohol may be used by mixing two or more polyvinyl
alcohols having different saponification degree and average degree of polymerization.
When mixing two or more polyvinyl alcohols, for example, a polyvinyl alcohol of
low polymerization degree grade may be added and then a polyvinyl alcohol of high
polymerization degree grade may be mixed therewith. Examples of polyvinyl
alcohols include various types of Poval (Kuraray Co., Ltd.) and Gohsenol (Nippon
Synthetic Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.).
[0026]
"Swelling clay" refers to clay having swelling properties, more particularly to

a finely-powdered substance which, when soaked with an appropriate amount of
water, exhibits viscosity and plasticity and also has swelling properties. Swelling
clay is preferably one which is negatively charged due to the compositional balance
of metal salt species, examples of which include smectites such as hydrated
aluminum silicate having three-layer structure. Negatively charged means the state
in which swelling clay has a cation-exchange capability, and the amount of charge is
expressed as Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC). The unit of cation exchange
capacity is milliequivalent/100 gram (usually expressed as meq/100 g), and generally
expressed as the number of equivalent corresponding to the molar concentration of
monovalent ions. Preferred examples of the swelling clay contained in the above
coating layer include hydrated aluminum silicate having three-layer structure, for
example, smectites. Examples of smectites include beidellite, nontronite, saponite,
hectorite, sauconite, bentonite, and magnesium aluminum silicate, and these may be
used alone or two or more of these may be used in combination if desired. Among
these smectites, preferred are bentonite and magnesium aluminum silicate, and more
preferred is bentonite. For the above swelling clay, as long as the stability against
moisture of valproic acid or a pharmacologically acceptable salt thereof is not
decreased, these may be used in combination.
[0027]
"Swelling clay in a swollen state" refers to the swelling clay which has been
swollen by soaking the above swelling clay with water. Preferred swelling clay in a
swollen state is, for example, the swelling clay such that a dispersion obtained by
suspending swelling clay in a dispersion medium such as water and stirring the
suspension with a homogenizer or the like is dispersed to the extent that the
dispersion can be completely filtered through a filter paper. As a filter paper used,
for example, No. 5B quantitative filter paper (ADVANTEC) is more preferable.
[0028]

The above swelling clay is dispersed preferably as a laminated structure.
"Laminated structure" refers to the laminated structure formed by stacking of a
plurality of layered structures, particularly to the laminated structure in which 10 to
100 layers of the band of swelling clay are stacked. In order for the above swelling
clay to form a laminated structure, the surface of the solid preparation may be coated
with the coating agent in which the swelling clay is dispersed in a swollen state.
[0029]
"Coating layer" means a layer of a film formed by coating a solid preparation
with a coating agent, the layer being for the purpose of preventing the
pharmacologically active components contained in the solid preparation from, for
example, being decomposed by oxygen, water vapor, light, and the like. The
coating layer contains the above polyvinyl alcohol and swelling clay, and the mass
ratio of polyvinyl alcohol to swelling clay is preferably 8:2 to 3:7, more preferably
4:6 to 6:4. This is because when the mass of swelling clay is less than one fourth of
the mass of polyvinyl alcohol, the path effect of the swelling clay is reduced, so that
the stability against moisture of valproic acid or a pharmacologically acceptable salt
thereof cannot be sufficiently obtained, and when the mass of swelling clay is above
2.3 times the mass of polyvinyl alcohol, the layer structure of the coating layer
becomes non-uniform because of the too high ratio of swelling clay, so that the
sufficient barrier properties cannot be obtained. The percentage of swelling clay in
the above coating layer is preferably 5% or more based on the total coating layer.
[0030]
The water vapor permeability of the above coating layer is preferably 1.0 x
10-5 to 1.0 x 10-4 grnm/cm2-24 hratm, more preferably 1.0 x 10-5 to 6.0 x 10-5
g-mm/cm2-24 hratm, especially preferably 1.0 x 10-5 to 3.5 x 10-5 g-mm/cm2-24
hr atm.
[0031]

The measurement of the water vapor permeability may be made, for example,
in accordance with the standard specification in the art, JIS K8123 (1994), and this
method, if desired, may be partially modified to make the measurement, as described
in Examples herein.
[0032]
The coating agent used to form the above coating layer, which agent contains
the above polyvinyl alcohol and swelling clay, is prepared by dispersing the
polyvinyl alcohol and swelling clay in a suitable solvent, depending on the intended
use, and can coat the solid preparation containing valproic acid or a
pharmacologically acceptable salt thereof which is a pharmacologically active
component.
[0033]
Examples of the solvents used to prepare the coating agent include water,
organic solvents, and mixed water-organic solvent system, among which water is
especially preferred. Examples of the organic solvents include C1-C5 lower
alcohols or mixed solvents thereof.
[0034]
The above coating layer is preferably coated, by coating with the above
coating agent, over 2 to 200% of the solid preparation, and when the solid
preparation is in the form of a tablet, the coverage is preferably 3 to 30%, more
preferably 3 to 20%, still more preferably 3 to 10%.
[0035]
Examples of the method of coating the solid preparation with the coating
agents include, for example, in the case where the inner layer is in the form of a
tablet, the method using coating pans, coating machines for tablets, or the like, and in
the case where the inner layer is in the form of granules or powders, the method
using fluidized-bed coating machines, rolling fluidized-bed coating machine, or the

like.
[0036]
Additives commonly used by those skilled in the art may be further added to
the above coating layer and coating agent. Examples of such additives include
coloring agents such as dyes extracted from plants and masking agents such as
titanium oxide, calcium carbonate, and silicon dioxide.
[0037]
As long as the stability against moisture of valproic acid or a
pharmacologically acceptable salt thereof is not decreased, pharmaceutically
acceptable additives may be added to the above coated solid preparation. For
example, surfactants may be added to improve the dispersibility of swelling clay.
[0038]
To give disintegration properties to the coated solid preparation, for example,
saccharides and sugar alcohols such as maltose, maltitol, sorbitol, xylitol, fructose,
glucose, lactitol, isomaltose, lactose, erythritol, mannitol, trehalose, or sucrose, and
disintegrants such as croscarmellose sodium and low substituted
hydroxypropylcellulose may be added to the above coating layer or the coating agent
used for coating. To increase the robustness of the coated solid preparation,
plasticizers such as triethyl citrate, polyethylene glycol, and glycerin may be added
to the above coating layer or the coating agent used for coating.
[0039]
However, care should be taken when determining the amount of the above
additives commonly used by those skilled in the art, the above pharmaceutically
acceptable additives, and the above disintegrants and plasticizers. As described
above, an important point in the present invention is that the coating layer is one in
which laminated structures in which 10 to 100 layers of the band of swelling clay are
stacked are formed, the band referring to the state in which the swelling clays have

consecutive and continuous contacting surfaces each other. If the above additives
or the like are excessively or non-uniformly added, discontinuous parts where
swelling clays are not in contact each other may be present, and the presence of the
discontinuous parts can impair the moisture barrier properties of the coating layer.
[0040]
The presence of the discontinuous parts due to the excessive addition of the
above additives can be confirmed using the focused ion beam technique by observing
the longitudinal section of a coating layer with a transmission electron microscope.
That is, when discontinuous parts of the swelling clay are observed in the thickness
direction of the coating layer, the moisture barrier properties of the coating layer can
be impaired.
[0041]
The above coated solid preparation may be one which has, further outside the
above coating layer, other functional films composed of, for example, gastric-soluble
or enteric-soluble macromolecular substances, and also may be one which has, inside
the above coating layer, other functional films composed of, for example, gastric-
soluble or enteric-soluble macromolecular substances.
Examples
[0042]
The present invention will now be described in detail by way of examples,
but the present invention is not limited to the examples below.
[0043]
(Method of measuring water vapor permeability)
The measurement of water vapor permeability was made in accordance with
the standard specification in the art, JIS K8123 (1994), with minor modifications.
First, the film prepared by the method described below was cut, with light passing
therethrough, at a portion of uniform thickness without a pinhole into a circle 3.5 cm

in diameter, and the thickness of the film was measured at any five points.
[0044]
Next, 3 g of calcium chloride (particle size: 850 to 2000 µm) was placed in an
aluminum cup (diameter: 30 mm), and the film cut into a circle and a ring for fixing
the film were sequentially placed on the aluminum cup. The ring was fixed by
placing a weight on the ring, and in this state, molten paraffin wax was poured into
the edge of the aluminum cup. After the paraffin wax was solidified, the weight
was removed, and the mass of the whole aluminum cup was measured, which was
defined as the initial mass. Then, the aluminum cup was placed in a thermostat bath
at 40°C and 75% RH. The aluminum cup was taken out every 24 hours for
measuring the mass to calculate the water vapor permeability coefficient by using the
following equation. In all the water vapor permeability measurements described
below, r = 1.5 cm, t = 24 hours, and C = 1 atm.
[0045]
Water vapor permeability P (g-mm/cm2-24 hratm) = W.A/B.t.C
W: Mass increased in 24 hours (g)
A: Mean value of film thickness at five points (mm)
B: Permeability area πr2 (cm2)
t: Elapsed time (hr)
C: Atmosphere (atm)
[0046]
(Example 1)
To 177.5 parts by mass of water were added 10.0 parts by mass of polyvinyl
alcohol (EG-05; Nippon Synthetic Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.) and 312.5 parts by
mass of bentonite solution, and the resulting mixture was stirred with a homogenizer
(Polytron Model KR) to obtain a coating agent. The 3.2% bentonite solution used
was obtained by adding 32 parts by mass of bentonite (Kunipia-F; KUNIMINE

INDUSTRIES CO., LTD., cation exchange capacity: 115 meq/100 g) to 968 parts by
mass of stirred water, dispersing the resulting mixture homogeneously with the
homogenizer, and suction-filtering the resultant through a filter paper. Hereinafter,
polyvinyl alcohol and bentonite may also be referred to as PVA and BT, respectively,
for short.
[0047]
To the coating pan (DRC-200; Powrex Corp.), 200 g of sodium valproate
sustained-release tablets (Selenica R 200 mg; Kowa Company, Ltd.) were loaded,
and the tablets were coated with the coating agent prepared in Example 1 to a
thickness of 20 µm. For the coated solid preparation obtained, the appearance
change of the tablets over time when left to stand under the conditions of 25 °C and
60% RH was observed.
[0048]
Portions of the coating agent obtained in Example 1 were taken, sprayed onto
the back of a polypropylene balance tray, and immediately dried with hot air from a
dryer. Spraying and drying with a dryer were repeated several times, and then the
balance tray was left to stand in an oven at 50°C and dried overnight. A film was
obtained and the water vapor permeability was measured.
[0049]
(Examples 2 and 3)
Water, PVA, and BT solution were mixed to give the compositions shown in
Table 1. Coated solid preparations were obtained by the method of Example 1, and
the appearance change of tablets over time was observed. Films were also obtained
by the method of Example 1, and the water vapor permeability was measured.
[0050]
(Examples 4 and 5)
Water, PVA, and BT solution were mixed to give the compositions shown in

Table 1. Films were obtained by the method of Example 1, and the water vapor
permeability was measured.
[0051]
(Comparative Example 1)
The appearance change of the tablets over time when sodium valproate
sustained-release tablets (Selenica R 200 mg; Kowa Company, Ltd.) were left to
stand under the conditions of 25°C and 60% RH was observed.
[0052]
(Comparative Examples 2 to 4)
Water, PVA, and BT solution were mixed to give the compositions shown in
Table 1. Coated solid preparations were obtained by the method of Example 1, and
the appearance change of tablets over time was observed. Films were also obtained
by the method of Example 1, and the water vapor permeability was measured.
[0053]
Table 1 shows the deliquescence (appearance change over time) of the tablets
and water vapor permeability of the films obtained in Examples 1 to 3 and
Comparative Examples 1 to 4 and the water vapor permeability of the films obtained
in Examples 4 and 5. In the table, the symbol "o" means no change, and "x" means
that the exudation of deliquesced drugs out of the tablets was observed.


As can be seen from Table 1, it was proved that, when the mass ratio of PVA
to BT (PVA/BT) is 8:2 to 3:7, the deliquescence of sodium valproate can be
suppressed to obtain stable solid preparations. It also became clear from the
evaluation of water vapor permeability that the solid preparations coated with a film
having water vapor permeability of 1.0 x 10-4 or less are very stable against moisture.
[0056]
(Measurement of film by transmission electron microscope)
Using the focused ion beam technique, the longitudinal section of the films of
Example 1 and Comparative Example 4 was observed under a transmission electron
microscope. The micrograph of Example 1 is shown in Figure 1, and the
micrograph of Comparative Example 4 is shown in Figure 2.
[0057]
In Figure 1, it was observed that BT, as a laminated structure, had

consecutive and continuous contacting surfaces each other and was homogeneously
dispersed in the film. In Figure 2, on the other hand, BT formed few laminated
structures and the discontinuous parts of BT were observed in the thickness direction
(the upper and lower direction in Figure 2) of the film, suggesting that the
homogeneous dispersion of the laminated structures of BT significantly contributes
to reduced water vapor permeability and the stability against moisture of solid
preparations.
[0058]
(Example 6)
To 17.32 parts by mass of water and 390.0 parts by mass of ethanol were
added 5.28 parts by mass of PVA, 385.0 parts by mass of BT solution, and 2.4 parts
by mass of sorbitan monolaurate, and the resulting mixture was stirred with a
homogenizer to obtain a coating agent. A film was obtained by the method of
Example 1, and the water vapor permeability was measured. Hereinafter, sorbitan
monolaurate may be referred to as Span 20 for short.
[0059]
(Comparative Example 5)
To 480.0 parts by mass of water were added 16.0 parts by mass of PVA and
4.0 parts by mass of BT, and the resulting mixture was stirred with a magnetic stirrer
for 15 minutes to obtain a coating agent. Comparative Example 5 was different
from Example 1 in that BT was added in an unswollen state. From the coating
agent obtained, a film was obtained by the method of Example 1, and the water vapor
permeability was measured.
[0060]
(Comparative Example 6)
To 653.1 parts by mass of water were added 22.6 parts by mass of Eudragit®
RL30D (30% water dispersions) (Rohm), 6.8 parts by mass of PVA, and 212.5 parts

by mass of BT solution, and the resulting mixture was stirred with a homogenizer to
obtain a coating agent. A coated solid preparation was obtained by the method of
Example 1, and the appearance change of tablets over time was observed. A film
was also obtained by the method of Example 1, and the water vapor permeability was
measured.
[0061]
(Comparative Example 7)
To 736.5 parts by mass of water were added 5.0 parts by mass of
microcrystalline cellulose, 5.0 parts by mass of ethyl cellulose, 2.5 parts by mass of
PVA, 125.0 parts by mass of BT solution, and 1.0 parts by mass of glycerin fatty
acid ester, and the resulting mixture was stirred with a homogenizer to obtain a
coating agent. A coated solid preparation was obtained by the method of Example
1, and the appearance change of tablets over time was observed. A film was also
obtained by the method of Example 1, and the water vapor permeability was
measured.
[0062]
(Comparative Example 8)
To 225.0 parts by mass of water were added 15.0 parts by mass of PVA and
10.0 parts by mass of talc, and the resulting mixture was stirred with a homogenizer
to obtain a coating agent. Talc is nonswelling clay mineral. A coated solid
preparation was obtained by the method of Example 1, and the appearance change of
tablets over time was observed. A film was also obtained by the method of
Example 1, and the water vapor permeability was measured.
[0063]
Table 2 shows the deliquescence (appearance change) of the tablets and the
water vapor permeability of the films, which tablets and films were obtained in
Example 6 and Comparative Examples 5 to 8. In the table, the symbol "o" means

no change, and "x" means that the exudation of deliquesced drugs out of the tablets
was observed.
[0064]

The results of Example 6 shows that, in the case where nonionic surfactants
were added to PVA/BT, the water vapor permeability of the film was not more than
1.0 x 10-4 and the deliquescence was not observed even after 2-week storage. The
comparison of Example 2 and Comparative Example 5 showed that it is preferred
that BT should be added in a swollen state rather than as powders. In the tablets of
Comparative Example 6 and Comparative Example 7 which were coated with a
moisture-proof coating composition (coating agent) composed of water-insoluble
materials, the water vapor permeability of the films were greater than 1.0 x 10-4 and
the deliquescence was observed after 2-week storage, from which it was proved that
the moisture-proof coating composition using the prior art was not able to provide
sufficient stability against moisture. Further, the comparison of Comparative
Example 8 and Example 5 showed that the blending of swelling clay significantly

improved the moisture barrier properties.
[0066]
(Example 7)
For the coated tablets obtained in Example 6 and the tablets which were
obtained by leaving the tablets to stand under the conditions of 25 °C and 60% RH,
dissolution tests were performed. The dissolution tests were in accordance with the
Japanese Pharmacopoeia, 15th Edition, Dissolution Test, Second Method; the tablets
were placed into 900 mL of distilled water and the drug release rate at 8,11, and 20
hours after the start of the dissolution was quantitatively determined by HPLC.
[0067]
(HPLC Conditions)
Mobile phase: 50 mM sodium dihydrogen phosphate/acetonitrile = 5/5 (v/v)
Column: Devolosil ODS-5 (4.6 x 150 mm)
Detection wavelength: 210 nm
[0068]
(Comparative Example 9)
For sodium valproate sustained-release tablets (Selenica R 200 mg; Kowa
Company, Ltd.) and the tablets left to stand under the conditions of 25°C and 60%
RH, dissolution test was performed by the method of Example 7.
[0069]
Table 3 shows the results of the dissolution tests of Example 7 and
Comparative Example 9.

[0070]

These results confirmed that the tablets in Example 7 exhibited the equivalent
release rate to that of Selenica R 200 mg tablets (see Initial of Comparative Example
9), commercially available sustained-release tablets, until after 4-week storage. In
Comparative Example 9, on the other hand, the release rate significantly increased
only after 1-day storage from the value of Selenica R 200 mg tablets (see Initial of
Comparative Example 9) because of the deliquescence of drugs. Thus, the solid
preparation of the present invention was proved to have good release properties as
well as stability against moisture.
[0072]
(Example 8)
To the coating pan (DRC-200; Powrex), 200 g of sodium valproate
conventional tablets (Depakene 200 mg; Kyowa Hakko) were loaded, and the tablets
were coated with the coating agent prepared in Example 1 to a coating thickness of
20 urn. For the coated solid preparation obtained, the appearance change of the
tablets over time when left to stand under the conditions of 25°C and 60% RH was
observed.
[0073]
(Example 9)
To the coating pan (DRC-200; Powrex), 200 g of sodium valproate

conventional tablets (Depakene 200 mg; Kyowa Hakko) were loaded, and the tablets
were coated with the coating agent prepared in Example 6 to a coating thickness of
20 µm. For the coated solid preparation obtained, the appearance change of the
tablets over time when left to stand under the conditions of 25°C and 60% RH was
observed.
[0074]
(Comparative Example 10)
The appearance change of the tablets over time when sodium valproate
conventional tablets (Depakene 200 mg; Kyowa Hakko) were left to stand under the
conditions of 25°C and 60% RH was observed.
[0075]
Table 4 shows the appearance change over time of the tablets obtained in
Example 8, Example 9, and Comparative Example 10. In the table, the symbol "o"
means no change, and "x" means that the exudation of deliquesced drugs out of the
tablets was observed.
[0076]

Table 4 shows that the solid preparation of the present invention is applicable
to immediate-release tablets as well as sustained-release tablets because it can
sufficiently suppress the deliquescence even when the inner layers are conventional
tablets (immediate-release tablets).
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

[0078]
The solid preparation of the present invention is useful as a solid preparation
that can be packed in a one-dose pack because the valproic acid or a
pharmacologically acceptable salt thereof contained therein is excellent in long-term
stability against moisture and it has good release properties. The solid preparation
that can be packed in a one-dose pack has the great industrial merit in that it
improves drug compliance of patients, which in turn leads to improved therapeutic
effects.

WE CLAIM
1. A coated solid preparation,
comprising as an active ingredient valproic acid or a pharmacologically
acceptable salt thereof;
the preparation being coated with a coating layer containing polyvinyl alcohol
and swelling clay;
the mass ratio of the polyvinyl alcohol to the swelling clay being 8:2 to 3:7;
the swelling clay being dispersed as a laminated structure.
2. The coated solid preparation according to claim 1, wherein the swelling clay
is bentonite or magnesium aluminum silicate.
3. The coated solid preparation according to claim 1 or 2, wherein water vapor
permeability of the coating layer is 1.0 x 10-5 to 1.0 x 10-4gmm/cm2-24 hr atm.

An object of the present invention is to provide a coated solid preparation
applicable to a one-dose pack, wherein, even when the preparation is in an unpacked
state, the stability against moisture of valproic acid or a pharmacologically
acceptable salt thereof contained therein is maintained and the deliquescence is
suppressed. The present invention provides a coated solid preparation which
contains as an active ingredient valproic acid or a pharmacologically acceptable salt
thereof and is coated with a coating layer containing polyvinyl alcohol and swelling
clay, wherein the mass ratio of the polyvinyl alcohol to the swelling clay is 8:2 to 3:7
and the swelling clay is dispersed as a laminated structure.