The preparation,characterization, structure and dissolution analysis of apremilast solvatomorphs

Apremilast (AP) {systematic name: (S )‐2‐[1‐(3‐ethoxy‐4‐methoxyphenyl)‐2‐(methylsulfonyl)ethyl]‐4‐acetamidoisoindoline‐1,3‐dione} is an inhibitor of phosphodieasterase‐4 (PDE4) and is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with active psoriatic arthritis. The ability of AP to form solvates has been investigated and three solvatomorphs of AP, namely, the AP ethyl acetate hemisolvate, C₂₂H₂₄N₂O₇S·0.5C₄H₈O₂, the AP toluene hemisolvate, C₂₂H₂₄N₂O₇S·0.5C₇H₈, and the AP dichloromethane monosolvate, C₂₂H₂₄N₂O₇S·CH₂Cl₂, were obtained. The three AP solvatomorphs were characterized by X‐ray powder diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry. Single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction was used to analyze the structures, crystal symmetry, packing modes, stoichiometry and hydrogen‐bonding interactions of the solvatomorphs. In addition, dissolution analyses were performed to study the dissolution rates of different AP solvatomorph tablets in vitro and to make comparisons with commercial apremilast tablets (produced by Celgene); all three solvatomorphs showed similar dissolution rates and similar values of the similarity factor f₂ in a comparison of their dissolution profiles.