A Stable Formulation of a Non-Steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drug, Ibuprofen and an Antihistamine drug, Famotidine for a Combination Therapy

Purpose: The present research study was focused on developing an oral dosage form with two highly incompatible drugs, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, Ibuprofen and an antihistamine drug, Famotidine to be administered as a combination therapy in a single dose and further asses the stability of the finished product.

Methods: A novel drug formulation was designed by employing mini tablets technology to manufacture Famotidine core tablets and the core tablets are further film coated with Opadry II coating solution to inhibit Famotidine contact with Ibuprofen matrix. Film coated Famotidine 30 mg mini-tablets were then encapsulated in Ibuprofen blend to improve the compatibility and stability of the drug product [1,2]. Each mini-tablet of Famotidine contain 5 mg dose of Famotidine and 6 such mini-tablets were encapsulated in each size “00” hard gelatin capsule containing Ibuprofen blend equivalent to 800 mg claim. The stability of the finished product was evaluated in accelerated stability conditions to ensure the impurities are well within the Pharmacopeia (USP) assigned limits.

Results: The dissolution release of Ibuprofen and Famotidine is higher than 85 % in 15 minutes and is compared against the only available product in the combination therapy, DUEXIS® (Ibuprofen and Famotidine Tablets 800 mg and 26.6 mg). The stability of the final formulation is evaluated by placing the samples in 40°C/75 % RH storage condition for six months and the results of the pharmacopeia (USP) listed specified and unspecified impurities are well not more than 0.5 % w/w of the label claim. Famotidine and Ibuprofen are two highly in-compatible drugs for a combination therapy, and has been a challenge in the field to formulate for a combination therapy to improve patient compliance. The two drugs tend to form impurities at significate levels in direct physical contact during any stage of the manufacturing process.