the industrial elaboration of a pharmaceutical composition in powder form destined to prepare , through dilution in water , a solution or suspension capable to rapidly neutralize gastric hyperacidity , having long - lasting anti - acid activity and certain protective capacity of gastric mucosa requires the presence of various ingredients with specific functions and determined thereon . the preferred ones are : sodium or potassium bicarbonate , mixtures of sodium bicarbonate and carbonate , sodium bicarbonate associated with calcium and magnesium carbonate , sodium bicarbonate and calcium or aluminum hydroxide . these soluble or partially soluble anti - acids or combination thereof may be added in an amount of about 100 to 2000 mg per dosage unit . the preferred among them are : omeprazole , esomeprazole , lansoprazole , pantoprazole and rabeprazole . the proton pump inhibitor may be added in an amount of about 10 to about 80 mg per dosage unit . 4 . besides of excipients , sugar , binder , scents , sweetener and the like . the scents which are used during the present invention may be in powder form or coated ( for example : trademark durarome by the company firmenich or the like ). it has been shown through experiments that the mere mixture of the ingredients of the composition is not enough for the elaboration of a suitable and stable pharmaceutical product . the mere operation of mixing the ingredients leads to incorrect compositions . generally , they are characterized by : 1 . formation of precipitates due to irregular gelification of alginic acid or salts thereof . 2 . low fluidity of the powder through the product dosing and packaging stages . 4 . irregular distribution of the inhibitor of proton pump over the anti - acid of the composition . 5 . irregular stability of the inhibitor of proton pump in acid environment upon the reconstitution of the pharmaceutical composition with water an prior to its administration . 6 . in general , the pharmaceutical forms obtained upon reconstitution with water or other drinks are not homogeneous . therefore , they are not convenient for therapeutic use . surprisingly , it has been found and shown through experiments that it is possible to elaborate , appropriately , with the same ingredients , powdered pharmaceutical forms to be reconstituted through the proceeding object of the present invention . 1 ) mixing 100 % of the inhibitor of proton pump in a collette granulator or similar , along with up to 30 % of sodium alginate of the composition , 100 % of the bicarbonate of the composition , 100 % of the mannitol of the composition at maximum speed over 3 cycles of 4 minutes each one at room temperature . 2 ) wet the resulting mixture in the same granulator ( e . g . : collette ) at minimum speed , adding water with a peristaltic pump over 1 minute , then knead for 2 minutes at maximum speed . using a total percentage in weight of water of no more than 10 % of the total weight of the pharmaceutical composition . b ) dry the above mixture in fluid bed , under vacuum or under normal pressure : at a temperature lower than 50 ° c . and until a residual humidity of 2 % is obtained . preferably lower than 0 . 7 %. using a quadro comill equipment with 991 micron conical sieve . speed 2400 rpm and in dry room . in double cone mixer ( size 2 ) at 60 rpm during 30 minutes in a dry room . final humidity , due to loss upon drying , should not be higher than 1 . 5 %. a ) after performing the wet granulation ( a ), drying ( b ), grinding and homogenization ( c ), and mixing with the remaining ingredients ( d ). c ) perform the following assessments : content of active principles , uniformity of the contents of the pharmaceutical composition and residual humidity . the enclosed photographs of electronic microscope allow for the observation of the difference in homogenization and distribution between : a physical mixture of ingredients ( sodium alginate , omeprazole and sodium bicarbonate ) ( fig1 ) and , the obtained granulate ( and with the same ingredients ) through the above describe proceeding ( fig2 ). the dosing and packaging of the composition , object of the present invention , may be performed , equally in : in packages of 50 - 100 or 200 grams with airtight closure and attached powder metered - dose device . corresponding to 10 , 20 or 40 dosing units . one remarked and surprising aspect , due to its practical results , has been the election of sodium alginate to be used for the present invention . the alginic acid and its sodium salt are linear copolymers of β ( 1 → 4 )- d - mannuronic acid and α - l - guluronic acid . they may have variable morphologies and molecular weights . the molecular weight may range between 20 , 000 and 200 , 000 . such characteristics confer each of them particular properties . without being bond to theory , the sodium alginate used in the proceeding of this invention is characterized by having a low percentage of humidity of up to 2 %, and preferably up to 0 . 7 %, per drying before the incorporation of the preparation . the sodium alginate may be added in an amount of about 100 to about 500 mg per dosage unit . most of commercial basic alginates and alginic acid have high humidity ( 8 to 15 %) and their use is not convenient directly in the formulation object of the present invention . besides , the content of sodium alginate of the pharmaceutical composition should be lower than 20 % of the total weight of the formulation . preferably , between 2 and 10 % of the total weight thereof . the sodium alginate added to the composition , besides of its therapeutic activity , supplies the composition with the following technical characteristics : 1 ) during the granulation the presence of up to 30 % of total sodium alginate of the composition acts as a binder and notably improves the fluency of the mixture during the fractioning and packaging stages of the pharmaceutical product . the binding property of alginates is well known and widely described in technical literature . e . g . : ( sakr a m , elsabbagh h m , shalaby a h , effect of the technique of incorporating sodium alginate on its binding and / or disintegrating effectiveness in sulfathiazole tablets — pharm ind . ( 1978 ); 40 ( 10 ); 1080 - 1086 ), which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety . 2 ) also during wet granulation it favors the homogeneous distribution of the inhibitor of proton pump over the sodium bicarbonate and mannitol . for the granulation state it is not necessary ( although it is convenient , due to its practical aspect ) to use low humidity sodium alginate . 3 ) the second fraction of sodium alginate of the total in the composition should preferably be of low humidity , which assures 3 remarked characteristics : a ) fast dissolution without the formation of clots or precipitates during the reconstitution of the powder in water . the practical use for the pharmaceutical form for oral administration . b ) rapid increase of viscosity of the solution or suspension reconstituted with water . favoring the homogeneous dispersion of the inhibitor of proton pump which is bond to the granulate crystals . c ) the rapid dispersion of sodium alginate ( called “ external ”) and which has been incorporated after the wet granulation also favors the anti - acid and muco - protective activity of this substance over gastric mucosa . another surprising and experimentally demonstrated aspect has been that wet granulation did not destroy the inhibitor of proton pump present in the granulate . even in the presence of water and at a temperature of up to 50 ° at normal pressure during a relatively considerable drying time . possible due to the formation of a protecting basic micro - environment generated by the sodium bicarbonate and the sodium alginate in intimate contact with such inhibitor of proton pump . this protection has been demonstrated and is mentioned in the examples section . it has also been indirectly demonstrated that the composition , due to its nature , protects the inhibitor of proton pump from gastric ph after the intake of the product for the time needed and enough to reach the first portion of the intestine , where the ph of the environment is compatible with the chemical stability of said inhibitor . it has been observed through experiments , and it is so described in the examples section , that the composition object of the present invention suitably supports the incorporation of up to 20 meq of hydrochloric acid during 30 minutes ( simulated gastric environment ). it has also been shown and it is so described in the examples section that the powder composition has convenient pharmaceutical stability and is suitable for human use under the form of extemporaneous suspensions . it has been observed that the composition object of the present invention shows the following general characteristics and advantages : 1 ) when it is incorporated to a dosing unit at a volume of water of 30 to 100 ml under stirring it forms a rapid and homogeneous suspension . 2 ) the low molecular weight sodium alginate , preferably granular and previously dried to a humidity of less than 2 % is rapidly and practically dispersed . it does not decant and contributes to an homogeneous suspension of the inhibitor of proton pump and other ingredients . 3 ) when the composition is added to a simulated gastric environment : a ) a ph of more than 6 is reached in less than 2 minutes . b ) when 0 . 1n hydrochloric acid is incorporated afterwards at 0 . 66 meq / minute up to 20 mequivalents , the ph is kept near 6 for about 30 minutes . this is the time needed and enough for the inhibitor of proton pump to reach the first portion of the small intestine , as observed in the examples section below . 4 ) the stability of the inhibitor of proton pump is suitable , being , after 30 minutes higher than 95 % and also 99 %. 5 ) the addition of sodium alginate with the above mentioned characteristics gives certain flexibility to the formula : a ) it allows to modify the content of inhibitor of proton pump and other ingredients of the composition without altering neither its physical - chemical characteristics nor its stability . b ) and it meets , as mentioned above , 2 functions in the composition : the addition of the rest of sodium alginate added during the wet granulation acts as a binder and improves flowability and uniformity of the contents of the composition , and possibly , along with the sodium bicarbonate present in the wet granulation it protects the inhibitor of proton pump . the addition of the rest of sodium alginate up to 70 % added afterwards acts as gelification agent , anti - acid and protector of the gastric mucosa . 6 ) the thus obtained pharmaceutical forms , reconstituted with water or other drinks , are homogeneous and are , therefore , convenient for their therapeutic use in human medicine . 7 ) with the same composition it is possible to elaborate pharmaceutical presentations : single dose and multiple dose . 8 ) the flexibility of the proceeding allows to elaborate single and multiple dose compositions with a different content of inhibitor of proton pump as required , for therapeutic reasons or due to the age of patients to whom the product is destined . the following examples , without being limitating , show in practice the compositions and the practical forms of elaboration . granulate in single dose bags for oral suspension using encapsulated scents ( e 1 ) the granulate was prepared in an amount enough for 600 bags with : substances to be granulated were placed in a collette granulator ( omeprazole , sodium bicarbonate , mannitol and sodium alginate ). 3 mixing runs were performed of 4 minutes each at maximum speed . distilled water was added through a peristaltic pump for 1 minute , granulating at minimum speed , and finally one run of mixing was applied at maximum speed . the obtained wet granulate was dried in a fluid bed at 50 ° c . for 3 hours until the residual humidity determined by loss upon drying was between 0 . 5 and 1 . 5 %. the dry granulate was milled and homogenized in quadro comill mill ( sieve : 991 microns , speed : 2400 rpm ). the thus obtained granulate showed the following approximate particle size distribution . dried sodium alginate : 100 grams of sodium alginate were first dried at 70 ° c . under vacuum until a residual humidity of less than 2 % was obtained . the dried omeprazole granulate obtained in stage ii above ( weight 1080 g ) was mixed with the following ingredients of the formulation : desiccated sodium alginate 120 g corn starch 96 g encapsulated strawberry scent 15 g encapsulated banana scent 15 g sucralose 24 g sugar 1650 g the dosage ( in single dose bags ) and final packaging was performed in rovena equipment using the appropriate foil : triple foil ( paper - aluminum - polyethylene ) content weight per bag : 5 g dose , which contains about 5 % to about 10 % of sodium alginate , about 33 . 6 % of sodium bicarbonate and about 0 . 4 to about 0 . 8 % of a proton pump inhibitor . humidity : 0 . 5 to 1 . 5 % aqueous activity : 0 . 4 to 0 . 6 % rotronic hydroscop bt . approximate particle size distribution : the dispersion of the content of a bag ( 5 g ) in about 30 ml of water was rapid , homogeneous and demanded less than 2 minutes . granulate in single dose bags using non - encapsulated scents ( for example : strawberry - banana ) ( e2 ) the proceeding and ingredients stated in example 1 were used , except that the scents were not encapsulated . 600 bags were prepared . a ) corresponding to intermediates prepared according to examples 1 and 2 , and from stage i ( wet granulation ) and stage ii ( drying , milling and homogenization ) a1 : assay : content of omeprazole in granulates obtained according to example i and example ii samples were placed in a 25 ml volumetric flask and were brought to volume with diluent *. it was sonicated in a test - lab for 15 minutes , allowed to cool and then it was magnetically stirred for 15 minutes . one portion was filtered through nylon filter ( 0 . 45 μm ) and a 2 in 10 dilution was preformed with diluent *. a2 : stability of the granulates with omeprazole obtained in examples 1 and 2 . samples of both granulates were placed in caramel - colored bottles on the stove at 60 ° for 15 days . it was seen that under the wet granulation conditions , subsequent drying at 50 ° c . and storage at 60 ° c ./ 15 days , the stability of omeprazole and physical appearance of the composition were satisfactory . b ) corresponding to end product ( granulate in single dose bags for oral suspension ) elaborated according to stages 1 , ii and iii described in examples 1 and 2 ). b 1 : assay of the granulates in single dose bags for oral suspension samples were placed in a 100 ml volumetric flask and 50 ml of diluent were added *. it is sonicated for 15 minutes , cooled and brought to volume with diluent . it is magnetically stirred for 15 minutes and then filtered through nylon 0 . 45 μm . b 2 : uniformity of the content of omeprazole in granulates in single dose bags for oral suspension : the content of omeprazole is determined according to the above stated conditions . sample mean area weight % omep . m1 4786 . 85 4 . 9886 99 . 1 m2 4793 . 07 4 . 9442 100 . 1 m3 4846 . 00 5 . 0436 99 . 2 m4 4970 . 81 5 . 1499 99 . 7 m5 4700 . 41 4 . 8969 99 . 5 m6 4686 . 01 4 . 8263 100 . 2 m7 4736 . 74 5 . 0025 97 . 8 m8 4588 . 87 5 . 2330 90 . 5 m9 4627 . 41 4 . 8709 98 . 1 m10 4700 . 63 4 . 9078 98 . 9 m1 to m10 : correspond to bags with single dose granulate containing powdered non - coated scents . it is observed that the pharmaceutical composition obtained through the above described elaboration proceeding has a very good uniformity of omeprazole contents . b 3 : behavior of the single dose granulate in bags for oral suspension containingo 20 mg of omeprazole in simulated gastric environment a ) the total content of one bag ( 5 g ) dispersed in water was added to 250 ml of 0 . 01 n hcl . every 2 minutes ( for a total of 30 minutes ), addition of 0 . 1n hydrochloric acid was continued until the equivalent of 20 meq of hcl was completed , measuring the ph continuously . it is observed that at 30 minutes the ph is near 6 and it allows to keep the stability of the inhibitor of proton pump ( omeprazole ). in fig3 : the change in ph is observed for the simulated gastric environment after the addition of the composition and throughout the 30 minutes of addition of 0 . 1 n hydrochloric acid . b ) after 30 minutes samples were extracted from the assayed solution and the content of omeprazole is determined ( method : hplc according to example ii - c ). the content was stable ( 99 % of the starting amount of omeprazole present in the bag ). single dose granulate in bags for oral suspension containing , respectively , 30 and 40 mg of omeprazole 600 bags were prepared of each strength ( 30 and 40 mg de omeprazole ) and controlled according to example 1 and 2 ( stages i , ii and iii ). granulates in single dose bags were prepared for oral suspension according to the product stated in examples i and ii , containing the following inhibitors of proton pump : lantoprazole , esomeprazole and pantoprazole . the single dose bag compositions for each inhibitor of the proton pump are summarized in the following table : composition 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 pantoprazole 20 **** **** 20 **** **** 40 **** **** lansoprazole **** 20 **** **** 30 **** **** 15 **** esomeprazole **** **** 20 **** **** 20 **** **** 40 sodium 1680 1680 1680 1680 1680 1680 1680 1680 1680 bicarbonate sodium 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 alginate desiccated 200 200 200 200 200 200 200 200 200 sodium alginate dry corn 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 starch mannitol 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 sucralose 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 sugar q . s . 5000 5000 5000 5000 5000 5000 5000 5000 5000 lime - lemon 150 150 150 **** **** **** **** **** **** orange - lemon **** **** **** 75 + 75 75 + 75 75 + 75 **** **** **** banana - **** **** **** **** **** **** 75 + 75 75 + 75 75 + 75 strawberry the suspension in water showed , in all the cases , good and fresh taste . granulate multiple dose pharmaceutical compositions for oral suspension which active principle is either : omeprazole , esomeprazole , lansoprazole or pantoprazole they were prepared according to the proceedings stated in examples i , ii and iv for multiple dose compositions . said compositions or granulates elaborated according to the above were packaged in units ( glass , high density polyethylene ) and with air - tight closure . preferably , with threaded closure . a ) one bag with desiccating material ( silicagel ) to preserve the contents of the humidity added during the packaging b ) one unit of powder measurement which allows patient to dose according to medical indication the granulate for oral suspension according to the dosage stated in every case ( 2 . 5 to 5 . 0 grams ). the multiple dose granulates showed an appropriate taste upon reconstitution in water and stability in time . the proceeding stated in example 1 was used , replacing the sodium bicarbonate ( 1680 mg ) of the composition for an uniform mixture consisting of sodium bicarbonate ( 800 mg ), potassium bicarbonate ( 700 mg ) and anhydrous sodium carbonate ( 150 mg ). 600 units of granulate for oral use were prepared , and packaged in single dose units . one or more embodiments of the present invention have been described . nevertheless , it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention . accordingly , other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims .
an anti - acid pharmaceutical composition for the rapid and prolonged neutralization of gastric acidity with mucosa - protecting activity in powder form to prepare , by dispersion in water , a pharmaceutical solution or suspension for oral use characterized in that the composition includes sodium alginate ; an anti - acid soluble agent or a combination of anti - acids ; an inhibitor of proton pump ; diluent and sweetening agents , wherein a ) at least 30 % of sodium alginate present in the formulation along with the total of the inhibitor of proton pump are homogeneously distributed over the surface of the total soluble anti - acid agent of the combination of anti - acids of the composition ; and b ) the rest , about 70 %, of sodium alginate present in the formulation contains a percentage of humidity of less than 2 %.