Ocorrência de polimorfismo em matérias-primas de famotidina e meloxicam e avaliação de sua influência na qualidade físico-química de fármacos e medicamentos

Abstract

Solid drugs can present the phenomenon of polymorphism and different polymorphs may have different physico-chemical properties. Therefore, choosing the correct form can avoid problems of the phase transition during the processes of manufacture, distribution and storage and solubility can affect the bioavailability, efficacy and safety of drugs. Two active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) of low solubility were chosen to evaluate the occurrence of polymorphism and its influence on the quality of drugs and pharmaceutical products. Famotidine, an antagonist of receptor H2 widely used in the treatment of ulcerous diseases, presents two polymorphs: A and B. Among the five APIs samples studied, one shows a mixture of polymorphs A and B which affected the quality and efficacy of the drug product. Meloxicam, inhibitor of cyclooxygenase (COX) with COX-2 moderate selectivity is an anti-inflammatory extensively used in joint diseases. There is a description of five meloxicam polymorphs in the literature. But only polymorphs I and IV have their crystalline structures elucidated. All APIs studied were identified and characterized as polymorph I by DRXP, IV-ATR, DSC and TG techniques, and they are in agreement what has been recommended for commercialization. However for one of the APIs another polymorph was found (polymorph III). The mixture of polymorphs I and III affects significantly the solubility and the dissolution of meloxicam tablet. Therefore, solubility of the drugs was influenced by the polymorphism presence, which could compromise the efficacy and safety of drug products.