PRODUCTION MODULE AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING SOLID MEDICAMENTS

Abstract

The present invention relates to a production module (1) for producing solid medicaments (22) in individual batches (37, 38, 39, 40), comprising a supplying device (2) for supplying powdered starting materials, a mixing device (3), which is connected to the feeding device (2) and is intended for working the supplied powdered starting materials into a product, a final working device (4), which is connected to the mixing device (3) and is intended for the final production of an end product from the worked starting materials, and a control device (5) for automatically controlling the supplying device (2) and the mixing device (3) and the final working device (4), characterized in that diverters (6, 7, 9, 12) allow a batch (37, 38, 39, 40) to be passed on from the supplying device (2) to the mixing device (3) and from the mixing device (3) to the final working device (4) without any backmixing, and in that data of all the process sensors and quality sensors of the production module (1) are linked with the respective batch (37, 38, 39, 40) by the control device (5), and in this way tracking and tracing of the batches is made possible.

Claims

1. A production module (1) for producing solid medicaments (22) in individual lots (37, 38, 39, 40), comprising a supply device (2) for supplying powdered starting substances, a mixing device (3), connected to the supply device (2), for processing the supplied powdered starting substances to form a product, a final processing device (4), connected to the mixing device (3), for final manufacturing of an end product from the processed starting substances, and a control device (5) for automatically controlling the supply device (2) and the mixing device (3) and the final processing device (4), the production module (1) being configured to deliver a lot (37, 38, 39, 40) from the supply device (2) to the mixing device (3), and from the mixing device (3) to the final processing device (4), without any back-mixing through collecting locks (6, 7, 9, 12).

2. The production module (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that a first collecting lock (6) is arranged between the supply device (2) and the mixing device (3), in order to prevent fluid communication between the supply device (2) and the mixing device (3).

3. The production module (1) as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that a second collecting lock (7) is arranged between the mixing device (3) and the final processing device (4), in order to prevent fluid communication between the mixing device (3) and the final processing device (4).

4. The production module (1) as claimed in claim 3, further comprising a bifurcation (32), through which a lot (37, 38, 39, 40) can be ejected, between the second collecting lock (7) and the final processing device (4).

5. The production module (1) as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that a third collecting lock (9) is arranged between the final processing device (4) and a module boundary (8) of the production module (1), in order to prevent fluid communication between the final processing device (4) and an environment of the production module (1).

6. The production module (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the supply device is configured to supply at least one active pharmaceutical ingredient (17) and at least one pharmaceutical excipient (18, 19, 20).

7. The production module (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the supply device (2) comprises at least one dosing unit (13, 14, 15, 16) for dosing the starting substances supplied.

8. The production module (1) as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the final processing device (4) comprises a tablet press and/or a capsule filler (11), a coating device (10) is arranged downstream of the tablet press and/or the capsule filler (11), a fourth collecting lock (12) being arranged between the tablet press and/or capsule filler (11) and the coating device (10), in order to prevent fluid communication between the tablet press and/or capsule filler (11) and the coating device (10).

9. The production module (1) as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that there is at least one quality sensor inside the first collecting lock (6) and/or the second collecting lock (7) and/or the third collecting lock (9) and/or the fourth collecting lock (12), by which quality sensor the control device is configured to detect a quality of the content of the first collecting lock (6) and/or the second collecting lock (7) and/or the third collecting lock (9) and/or the fourth collecting lock (12).

10. The production module (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the supply device (2) is connected to the mixing device (3), and/or the mixing device (3) is connected to the final processing device (4), by means of a transport network consisting of product lines and valves.

11. A method for producing solid medicaments utilizing a production module (1) as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that starting substances (17, 18, 19, 20) are dosed highly accurately into the first collecting lock (6) by means of dosing units (13, 14, 15, 16) of the supply device (2) in a fixed quantity.

12. The method as claimed in claim 11, characterized in that each lot is processed separately in the supply device (2) and subsequently separately in the mixing device (3) and subsequently separately in the final processing device (4) and/or is transported after each concluded process step into a collecting lock (6, 7, 9, 12) and checked there by means of quality sensors for its suitability for further processing.

13. The method as claimed in claim 11, characterized in that each lot is granulated and dried in the mixing device (3) only in a process unit or is granulated in the mixing device (3) in an extruder or a high-shear granulator, and subsequently dried in a process unit of the mixing device (3).

14. The method as claimed in claim 11, characterized in that further substances are supplied into the second collecting lock (7) by means of at least one additional dosing unit (21), in order to mix the respective lot with the further substances.

15. The method as claimed in claim 11, characterized in that quality sensors in individual process units of the mixing device (3) check the quality in order to enable delivery of the respective lot into the transport network, or in order to eject the respective lot manually or automatically into a refuse container directly after or from the process units of the mixing device (3), so that, if predefined quality parameters are not achieved, each lot is ejected through a bifurcation (32) into a refuse container before reaching the final processing device (4).

16. The production module (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that a first collecting lock (6) is arranged between the supply device (2) and the mixing device (3), in order to prevent fluid communication between the supply device (2) and the mixing device (3), and in order to carry out quality controls under constant conditions by means of quality sensors, and in order to uniformize and homogenize different pharmaceutical powders supplied.

17. The production module (1) as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that a second collecting lock (7) is arranged between the mixing device (3) and the final processing device (4), in order to prevent fluid communication between the mixing device (3) and the final processing device (4), and in order to carry out further quality controls under constant conditions by means of quality sensors and/or in order to mix the processed product from the mixing device (3) with further substances, which can be dosed to the second collecting lock (7) using at least one additional using dosing unit (21).

18. The production module (1) as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that a third collecting lock (9) is arranged between the final processing device (4) and a module boundary (8) of the production module (1), in order to prevent fluid communication between the final processing device (4) and an environment of the production module (1), and in order to allow further quality controls of the tablets or capsules under constant conditions with the aid of quality sensors.

19. The production module (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the mixing device (3) comprises a fluidized-bed system and/or a wet granulator.

20. The production module (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the final processing device (4) comprises a tablet press and/or a capsule filler (11).

21. The production module (1) as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the final processing device (4) comprises a tablet press and/or a capsule filler (11), a coating device (10) is arranged downstream of the tablet press and/or the capsule filler (11), a fourth collecting lock (12) being arranged between the tablet press and/or capsule filler (11) and the coating device (10), in order to prevent fluid communication between the tablet press and/or capsule filler (11) and the coating device (10), and in order to provide the tablets with a resting phase if required.

22. The production module (1) as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that there is at least one quality sensor inside the first collecting lock (6) and/or the second collecting lock (7) and/or the third collecting lock (9) and/or the fourth collecting lock (12), by which quality sensor the control device is configured to detect a quality of the content of the first collecting lock (6) and/or the second collecting lock (7) and/or the third collecting lock (9) and/or the fourth collecting lock (12) and link the quality with each corresponding lot.

23. The production module (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the supply device (2) is connected to the mixing device (3) by means of a transport network consisting of product lines and valves.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0035] Exemplary embodiments of the invention will be described in detail below with reference to the appended drawing. In the drawing:

[0036] FIG. 1 is a schematic depiction of a production module according to one exemplary embodiment of the invention,

[0037] FIG. 2 is a schematic depiction of a first subregion of the production module according to the exemplary embodiment of the invention,

[0038] FIG. 3 is a schematic depiction of a second subregion of the production module according to the exemplary embodiment of the invention, and

[0039] FIG. 4 is a schematic depiction of a fourth subregion of the production module according to the exemplary embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0040] FIG. 1 schematically shows a depiction of a production module 1 for manufacturing solid medicaments 22, according to one exemplary embodiment of the invention. The production module 1 comprises a supply device 2, a mixing device 3, a final processing device 4 and a control device 5 and a cleaning device 36. The supply device 2, the mixing device 3 and the final processing device 4 represent preferred process units of the production module 1.

[0041] Via the supply device 2, starting substances 17, 18, 19, 20 can be supplied through a module boundary 8 to the production module 1. Furthermore, the starting substances 17, 18, 19, 20 can be transported to the mixing device 3 via the supply device 2. This is shown in FIG. 2.

[0042] FIG. 2 schematically shows a subregion of the production module 1. In particular, the supply device 2 and the mixing device 3 are represented schematically. The starting substances 17, 18, 19, 20 are, in particular, an active pharmaceutical ingredient 17 and a first pharmaceutical excipient 18, a second pharmaceutical excipient 19 and a third pharmaceutical excipient 20. Depending on the application, more or fewer starting substances 17, 18, 19, 20 may be used. The inlets for the starting substances 17, 18, 19, 20 are preferably releasably connected to source containers (not represented). The starting substances are, in particular, pharmaceutical powders.

[0043] The supply device 2 comprises a first dosing unit 13, a second dosing unit 14, a third dosing unit 15 and a fourth dosing unit 16. The active pharmaceutical ingredient 17 supplied can be dosed by means of the first dosing unit 13. The first pharmaceutical excipient 18 can be dosed by means of the second dosing unit 14, the second pharmaceutical excipient 19 can be dosed by means of the third dosing unit 15, and the third pharmaceutical excipient 20 can be dosed by means of the fourth dosing unit 16. In this way, a composition of the starting substances 17, 18, 19, 20 can be adjusted precisely.

[0044] The starting substances 17, 18, 19, 20 dosed in this way are therefore present in a defined quantity. Particularly advantageously, there is a first collecting lock 6 between the supply device 2 and the mixing device 3. In this case, provision is made for the first dosing unit 13 to be connected to the first collecting lock 6 optionally by means of a first nonreturn valve 23, the second dosing unit 14 to be connected to the first collecting lock 6 optionally by means of a second nonreturn valve 24, the third dosing unit 15 to be connected to the first collecting lock 6 optionally by means of a third nonreturn valve 25, and the fourth dosing unit 16 to be connected to the first collecting lock 6 optionally by means of a fourth nonreturn valve 26. Furthermore, the collecting lock 6 has a filter 35 to allow an air flow into and out of the collecting lock 6. Preferably, the dosing units 13, 14, 15, 16 may extend into a common manifold pipe and thereby be connected to the collecting lock 6. At the same time, there is a fifth nonreturn valve 27 at an exit of the first collecting lock 6, that is to say downstream of the collecting lock 6. The fifth nonreturn valve 27 is preferably opened only when the first optional nonreturn valve 23, the second optional nonreturn valve 24, the third optional nonreturn valve 25 and the fourth optional nonreturn valve 26 are all closed. The first collecting lock 6 therefore makes it possible for direct fluid communication between the dosing units 13, 14, 15, 16 and therefore the supply device 2 and the mixing device 3 to be prevented. In this way, quality assurance can be made possible. In particular, in the first collecting lock 6, there is a quality sensor (not shown), by means of which a check of the quality of the starting substances 17, 18, 19, 20 is made possible. The quality sensor is advantageously connected to the control device 5, so that the control device 5 can carry out the quality control fully automatically. Furthermore, there is ideally at least one stirring member in the collecting lock 6 for uniformizing and homogenizing the dosed bulk material.

[0045] The at least one mixing device 3 is connected downstream of the first collecting lock 6. The mixing device 3 has a sixth nonreturn valve 28 at its entry. With the sixth nonreturn valve 28, a supply of the starting substances 17, 18, 19, 20 to the mixing device 3 can be regulated.

[0046] Mixing devices 3 are intended to mean only collections of process units in which a mixing process in the broadest sense of different materials takes place. In particular, the mixing device 3 is a fluidized-bed system, a wet granulator, preferably a high-shear mixer or extruder, or another mixing apparatus. In particular, according to the invention screw dosers are not regarded as a mixing device 3, since substances in ultrapure form are present in this case.

[0047] The mixing device 3 preferably has a multiplicity of individual process units. The process units are connected by means of a distribution system and/or a separate collection system. By means of the distribution system and/or the collection system, defined product quantities can be transported between the process units and/or the supply device and/or the final processing device, ideally gravimetrically or pneumatically.

[0048] As can be seen in FIG. 1, a final processing device 4 is connected downstream of the mixing device 3. Parts of the final processing device 4 are furthermore shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. In the final processing device 4, in particular, a final manufacturing process takes place in order to manufacture solid medicaments 22.

[0049] As can be seen from FIG. 3, a seventh nonreturn valve 29 is connected downstream of the mixing device 3. By means of the seventh nonreturn valve 29, therefore, output of the starting substances 17, 18, 19, 20 mixed and preferably also granulated by the mixing device 3 from the mixing device 3 can be controlled. Connected downstream, that is to say downstream of the mixing device 3, there is a second collecting lock 7. The second collecting lock 7 is preferably configured in terms of design in a similar way to the first collecting lock 6, with instrument glands and a stirring member. The second collecting lock therefore also allows interruption of fluid communication between the mixing device 3 and the final processing device 4, as well as uniformizing and/or homogenizing of the lot from the mixing device 3. Furthermore, in a preferred configuration, the second collecting lock 7 may have at least one further opening for magnesium stearate and further substances referred to as an external phase. This at least one opening is to this end ideally connected to at least one additional dosing unit 21. To this end, the second collecting lock 7 optionally has an eighth nonreturn valve 30 and ideally a ninth nonreturn valve 31. By means of the eighth nonreturn valve 30, entry of pharmaceutical granulate or powder from the mixing device 3 into the second collecting lock 7 can be controlled. By means of the ninth nonreturn valve 31, output of fluid from the second collecting lock 7 can be controlled. Inside the second collecting lock 7, quality control may preferably again be carried out. From the second collecting lock 7, the product present therein travels to the final processing device 4, or ideally into a further storage container (not represented). In this case, a bifurcation 32 is arranged at an entry of the final processing device 4, by means of which bifurcation a feed flow of the product to the final processing device 4 is controllable. In this case, controllable means the possibility of delivering the lot of good product into the final processing device 4, or if need be the lot of good product into an IBC (intermediate bulk containernot shown), or the lot of substandard product into a refuse container (not shown).

[0050] As shown in FIG. 1, the final processing device 4 preferably comprises a tablet press or a capsule filler 11, as well as a downstream coating device 10. The coating device 10 is in this case, in particular, optional. Thus, FIG. 1 shows that finished solid medicaments 22 may be taken both from the tablet press or the capsule filler 11 and from the coating device 10. The finished solid medicaments 22 are preferably output beyond the module boundary 8.

[0051] Lastly, FIG. 4 shows a third section of the production module 1. It can be seen that a third collecting lock 9 is connected downstream of the final processing device 4. The solid medicaments 22 produced can therefore be output to an environment, that is to say beyond the module boundary 8, by way of the third lock 9. The third collecting lock 9 optionally has a tenth nonreturn valve 33 at the entry and a twelfth nonreturn valve 34 at the exit. This again ensures that no fluid communication of any kind can take place between the final processing device 4 and an environment of the production module 1. Preferably, a final check of the solid medicaments 22 produced takes place inside the third collecting lock 9. Such a check is carried out particularly in terms of mass, height, diameter, hardness, and preferably the active pharmaceutical ingredient content.

[0052] If a coating device 10 is present, provision is furthermore preferably made for a fourth collecting lock 12 to be present between the tablet press or the capsule filler 11 and the coating device 10. The fourth collecting lock 12 prevents fluid communication between the coating device 10 and the tablet press or the capsule filler 11. Again, the possibility of quality assurance is thus also provided.

[0053] In particular, it is provided that all the nonreturn valves 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, if present, can be driven by the control device 5. Furthermore, the supply device 2, the mixing device 3 and the final processing device 4, that is to say in particular the coating device 10 and the tablet press or the capsule filler 11, as well as the cleaning device 36, can preferably be driven by the control device 5. Fully automatic process operation inside the module boundary 8 is therefore preferably ensured. This means that no user interventions at all are necessary in order to produce the finished solid medicaments 22 starting from the starting substances 17, 18, 19, 20. In particular, it also avoids connecting processes between individual process units having to be produced manually by a user, with the result that possible leaks are avoided.

[0054] The production module 1 is, in particular, not enclosed by a housing. A housing is intended to mean a casing which would enclose all the process units, i.e. the supply device 2, the mixing device 3 and the final processing device 4, and would separate them from the immediate environment (GMP production space/clean room). Rather, provision is made for each process unit to have its own walls so as thus to shut off the process spaces from the environment (GMP room/clean room). In particular, this allows full accessibility of the individual process units in the event of maintenance or cleaning being required.

[0055] Production of solid medicaments 22 by means of the production module 1 described above preferably takes place as follows:

[0056] The, in particular powdered, starting substances 17, 18, 19, 20 are transported pneumatically, preferably gravimetrically from source containers to the supply device 2. The starting substances 17, 18, 19, 20 are introduced into the first collecting lock 6 highly accurately, automatically and in a coordinated manner by way of the dosing units 13, 14, 15, 16. Thus a lot is present inside the first collecting lock 6. Here, quality analyses can be carried out by quality sensors. In particular, quality analyses of this kind comprise recording a moisture content, a composition and a particle size distribution of the starting substances 17, 18, 19, 20, and also ideally the purity thereof. This it is made possible already at this point to perform corrections. The lot can ideally be homogenized here too. The composition can ideally be checked and ensured and corrected here by way of the dosing units 13, 14, 15, 16.

[0057] The lot from the first collecting lock 6 is delivered only when the quality is confirmed as good. During the delivery, the first nonreturn valve 23, the second nonreturn valve 24, the third nonreturn valve 25 and the fourth nonreturn valve 26, if present, are closed. Furthermore, the fifth nonreturn valve 27 is opened. This ensures that no fluid communication can take place between the supply device 2 and the mixing device 3 during the transport of the defined product quantity from the first collecting lock 6.

[0058] By means of a distribution system of the mixing device 3, the lot is delivered to preferably at least one first process unit and to preferably at least one second process unit, the process units preferably being parts of a fluidized-bed granulation system and being individual, mutually independent granulating units. A fluidized-bed granulation system therefore has a plurality of process spaces, in particular of the same type. In the process units, the supplied lot is processed, in particular mixed and/or granulated, according to a predefined method. Downstream of the mixing device 3, there is the second collecting lock 7 for collecting the products processed, in particular mixed and/or granulated and/or dried, by the mixing device 3. By quality sensors, which are optional in the individual units, in the mixing device 3, good product is delivered from the mixing device 3 via the transport network to the subsequent unit. In the case of substandard product in the individual units of the mixing device 3, a message is issued to the user on the HMI, and the user can automatically or manually remove the substandard product from the mixing device.

[0059] In the second collecting lock 7, quality control is advantageously carried out again. Defective batches can therefore already be detected early, and optionally ejected with the aid of the bifurcation 32. Furthermore, with the at least one additional dosing unit 21, it is possible to dose magnesium stearate, or other substances referred to as an external phase, highly accurately into the product being processed. By closing the optional eighth nonreturn valve 30 and opening the ninth nonreturn valve 31, the content of the second collecting lock 7 can be transported to the final processing device 4. Again, it is optionally ensured that fluid communication between the mixing device 3 and the final processing device 4 is avoided.

[0060] In particular, the content of the second collecting lock 7 is delivered to the tablet press or the capsule filler 11. Here, processing of the transferred product to form tablets or capsules is carried out. If tablets are produced, the transfer advantageously takes place into the fourth collecting lock 12. From the fourth collecting lock 12, the tablets are transferred to the coating device 10. Again, on the one hand fluid communication between the tablet press or capsule filler 11 and coating device 10 is avoided by the fourth collecting lock 12, and on the other hand the fourth collecting lock 12 makes it possible to carry out quality control.

[0061] By the coating device 10, coating of the tablets with a film is carried out. Subsequently, output of the solid medicaments 22 thereby finished takes place into a third collecting lock 9. If capsules are intended to be produced, output of the capsules, and therefore of the finished solid medicaments 22, preferably takes place from the tablet press or the capsule filler 11 into the third collecting lock 9. By the third collecting lock 9, fluid communication with the environment is again prevented, wherein a final quality test may furthermore be carried out.

[0062] The process described above can be carried out fully automatically by the control device 5. Owing to the presence of quality sensors in the collecting locks 6, 7, 9, 12 and in the supply device 2, the mixing device 3 and the final processing device 4, the first collecting lock 6, the second collecting lock 7, the third collecting lock 9, and the fourth collecting lock 12, transport and constant quality control between and in the individual units of the production module 1 is made possible. In particular no manual interventions by a user are thus necessary.

[0063] The production module 1 furthermore has the following advantages: [0064] Quality control in each process unit or lock during and/or after the respective process. [0065] The possibility of manually or automatically ejecting substandard product before the final processing device and after the units of the mixing device. [0066] No scale-up in terms of the apparatus size from laboratory tests to production processes, since the system can be used for both purposes because of high operating flexibility in relation to the quantities to be introduced. [0067] Defined product quantities of from 500 ml to 50 l per process step and process unit without removing the product from the module. [0068] The module ideally satisfies a containment level corresponding to from <1 g of dust per m.sup.3 of air to 5000 g of dust per m.sup.3 of air. [0069] Exact, fully automatic weigh-in of powders, preferably with an accuracy of at least 1 mg. [0070] 100% trackability in real time of a lot through the entire production module. [0071] Almost 100% traceability of each defined product quantity (lot). [0072] Very substantial avoidance of cross-contamination between the individual lots, since fluid communication between all process units is interrupted by locks and residue-free emptying of all process units and locks is very substantially possible. [0073] Process unit substantially emptiable, where technically expedient. [0074] Process units run independently of one another, but are controlled by a common overall control and regulating device. Minimization of downtimes and quantities of reject material by constant quality control of the lots in the collecting locks between the individual process units by corresponding measurement sensors for the attributes of particle size distribution, moisture content, mixing homogeneity, temperature and purity. [0075] Good accessibility for users to all process units.