US 5,731,355 AGrant

Pharmaceutical Compositions of Propofol and Edetate

Issue Date:1998-03-24

•37 Claims

Abstract

Pharmaceutical compositions containing 2,6-diisopropylphenol (propofol) are described for use as anaesthetics. A method for their preparation is described, as their use in producing anaesthesia including induction and maintenance of general anaesthesia and sedation.

Metadata

Assignee

Zeneca Limited

Inventors

Christopher Buchan Jones
John Henry Platt

Application Information

Application Number:US 8015899

Filing Date:1997-02-18

Priority Date:1994-03-22

Art Unit:125

Classifications

IPC:

A61K 3105A61K 31195

Field of Search:

514731;566

Patent Drawings

This patent does not have any drawings.

Description

The present invention relates to 2,6-diisopropylphenol, known as propofol, and in particular to new pharmaceutical compositions containing propofol.

Propofol is an injectable anaesthetic which has hypnotic properties and can be used to induce and maintain general anaesthesia and for sedation for example in Intensive Care Units. Propofol is a highly successful anaesthetic and is marketed under the trademark `Diprivan` for use in treating humans and under the trademark `Rapinovet` for veterinary use.

Injectable anaesthetics, such as propofol, are administered directly into the blood stream. This gives rise to a rapid onset of anaesthesia influenced almost entirely by the rate at which the anaesthetic agent crosses the blood-brain barrier. It is therefore necessary for the anaesthetic agent to have sufficient lipid solubility to be able to cross this barrier and depress the relevant mechanisms of the brain. However highly lipid soluble molecules are generally poorly soluble in water and thus are difficult to formulate for intravenous injection. In some cases it may be possible to obtain a water soluble salt of the anaesthetic agent which releases a lipid soluble free base in vivo. This is not possible in many cases and, despite considerable research, it did not prove to be feasible with propofol. Thus it was necessary to conduct very substantial research and development into the formulation of propofol in order to obtain pharmaceutical compositions for administration to warm-blooded animals including humans.

The present applicants identified the anaesthetic properties of propofol and filed UK patent application no 13739/74 which was granted as United Kingdom Patent 1472793. Corresponding patents have been granted in the USA (U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,056,635, 4,452,817 and 4,798,846) and many other territories.

This patent claims inter alia a sterile pharmaceutical composition which comprises propofol in association with a sterile pharmaceutically-acceptable diluent or carrier the composition being suitable either directly or after dilution with a liquid diluent for parenteral administration to a warm-blooded animal.

In one aspect, UK 1472793 described the composition as preferably aqueous with propofol in sterile admixture with water and a surfactant or other solubilising agent. In another aspect the composition was described as aqueous with propofol in sterile admixture with water and an additional water-miscible, non-aqueous solvent. In a further aspect the composition was described as an oil-in-water emulsion in which propofol, either alone or dissolved in a water-immiscible solvent, is emulsified with water by means of a surfactant. In yet a further aspect the composition was described as a sterile solid or semi-solid mixture of propofol with a solid diluent, for example lactose, saccharin sodium or a cyclodextran which composition is suitable for dilution with a sterile aqueous diluent.

The patent describes many particular Examples of injectable compositions containing propofol including Examples with various surfactants, various solubilising agents, additional solvents, additional constituents (selected from stabilisers, preservatives and antioxidants), buffering agents and tonicity modifiers.

The present applicants conducted a wide range of studies to determine which type of formulation would be most appropriate for development to provide a formulation for marketing. After considerable effort a formulation of propofol and the surfactant Cremophor EL (Cremophor is a trade mark for a polyoxyethylene castor oil derivative) in water was selected. Cremophor EL was used as the carrier to solubilise the existing intravenous anaesthetic alphaxalone/alphadolone (`Althensin`) and a modified form of Cremophor was used as the carrier to solubilise the intravenous anaesthetic propanidid (`Epontol`).

The present applicants conducted a detailed series of studies in animals and ultimately administered the formulation to over 1000 humans. However, after about five or six years, anaphylactoid reactions were reported in a very small number of patients. Anaphylactoid reactions are allergic-type reactions. It was not clear that Cremophor EL had caused the anaphylactoid reactions in all instances but the present applicants concluded that an alternative formulation of propofol would have to be found and developed.

A substantial amount of work on alternative formulations was performed and an oil-in-water emulsion was eventually selected for development. This was developed and in 1986 was launched in a number of markets under the trade mark `Diprivan`. Since then this formulation has been launched in many markets throughout the world and propofol is highly successful being regarded by anaesthetists as a drug of great merit having unique qualities. In summary propofol is a short-acting anaesthetic, suitable for both induction and maintenance of general anaesthesia, for sedation to supplement regional analgesic techniques, for sedation of ventilated patients receiving intensive care and for conscious sedation for surgical and diagnostic procedures in Intensive Care Units. Propofol may be administered by single or repeated intravenous bolus injections or by continuous infusion. It is very rapidly removed from the blood stream and metabolised. Thus the depth of anaesthesia is easily controlled and patient recovery on discontinuing the drug is usually rapid and the patient is often significantly more clear headed as compared to after administration of other anaesthetics. Side-effects such as nausea and vomiting occur significantly less frequently following administration of propofol than following other general anaesthetic techniques such as with inhalational anaesthetics.

The present applicants have considered extending the range of propofol formulations in order to give the anaesthetist a wider armamentarium from which to select an appropriate drug. For example applicants have developed, as an alternative, an oil-in-water emulsion formulation of propofol wherein the concentration of propofol is twice that of the presently marketed drug.

In considering appropriate further formulations it is desirable to maintain the qualities that make `Diprivan` of such merit, such as those aforementioned and provide a formulation with acceptable chemical and physical stability and which is readily manipulable by the anaesthetist or Intensive Care Unit (ICU) specialist.

An increasing proportion of the usage of `Diprivan` is in the sedation of seriously ill patients particularly in Intensive Care Units and the like. In the sedation of such seriously ill patients administration of `Diprivan` is typically by means of infusion. This requires the use of a `giving set`, which involves the linkage of a reservoir (typically a vial or syringe) of propofol, via appropriate tubing, to a luer connector and thence to a needle positioned in the patient's vein.

Microbial contamination of parenteral fluids used in 'giving sets' of this type has been recognised as one of many causes of nosocomial infection amongst ICU patients. Accordingly, for example in the USA, the general requirements of the Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are that such `giving sets` are changed frequently and in the case of `Diprivan`, it is required that the `giving sets` are changed at least every 6 or 12 hours dependent on the presentation being used.

Intensive Care environments are busy and, as in other parts of the health services, there are pressures for cost-containment. The changing of `giving sets` at least every 6 or 12 hours is relatively time-consuming for the highly skilled ICU nurse, Intensive Care Specialist or anaesthetist. This would particularly be the case when a number of seriously ill patients in an ICU are being infused at the same time.

Therefore, the applicants have sought to develop a new formulation of propofol which would enable `giving sets` to be changed significantly less frequently (for example every 24 hours). This would be much more convenient for the nurse, Intensive Care Specialist or anaesthetist; would lower the pressure on staff, would result in fewer manipulations of `giving sets` and may contribute to cost-saving in the ICU environment.

We have conducted substantial research and have found that the addition of small amounts of a selected agent to `Diprivan` will enable the formulation to be administered in `giving sets` that require changing significantly less frequently than is presently the case; in other words the time for administration and time between changes of the giving sets has been significantly improved. This increase in such times enables packs of increased size to be administered, increasing convenience for the users, decreasing wastage of `Diprivan` and contributing to cost-containment.

Furthermore, in the unlikely event of mishandling leading to accidental extrinsic contamination, the formulation will minimise the chance of microbial growth.

Our own UK Patent 1472793 discloses that formulations of propofol may optionally contain one or more additional constituents selected from stabilisers, preservatives and antioxidants, for example parabens derivatives, for example propyl p-hydroxybenzoate, butylated hydroxytoluene derivatives, ascorbic acid and sodium metabisulphite; metal ion sequestering agents, for example sodium edetate; and antifoaming agents, for example a silicone derivative, for example dimethicone or simethicone.

There is a difficulty in the addition of known preservatives to oil-in-water emulsions such as `Diprivan`. As stated above, `Diprivan` is an anaesthetic used for induction and maintenance of general anaesthesia and for sedation. The volumes administered can be considerable, particularly in the case of sedation. Accordingly, significant volumes of preservative may be administered to the patient receiving treatment. Thus very careful selection of additive must be made in order to satisfy drug Regulatory Authorities; particularly as the use of preservatives in single-dose, terminally sterilised, parenteral injectables is not suggested and/or is the subject of cautionary statements in various Guidelines, for example those of the US, UK and European Pharmacopeias.

Furthermore there is a particular problem in the inclusion of additives in an oil-in-water emulsion for parenteral administration. It is believed that for effectiveness, the antimicrobial properties of any preservative have to be exerted in the aqueous phase. Thus, a preservative with lipophilic properties incorporated at typical usage levels would not be effective as, although there would be some partitioning between the phases, there would be insufficient material in the aqueous phase. Increasing the overall quantity of such preservative would result in unacceptably high levels of preservative in the lipid layer leading to toxicity problems at least.

On the other hand, addition of a preservative with hydrophilic properties, eg an ionic material, also leads to problems. The addition of ionic material to an oil-in-water emulsion tends to destabilise the emulsion. With a higher ionic load (that is concentration of ionic material) the stabilising electrical charge (Zeta potential) on the oily droplets can change. Such electrical charge changes increase the probability of droplet collisions and increase the physical instability of the emulsion.

We studied the possibility of adding one of a number of antimicrobial agents to the oil-in-water emulsion. Such an agent would have to have no significant detrimental effect on the physical and chemical stability of the emulsion. Furthermore, such an agent would have to provide the antimicrobial activity being sought.

A number of potential agents were found to cause instability of the emulsion. Other potential agents failed to provide the level of antimicrobial activity being sought. In addition, we were seeking an agent that would provide these levels of activity at as low a concentration as possible in order to minimise the potential for physical instability and to minimise safety concerns.

After significant effort including consideration of the known preservatives phenylmercuric acetate, phenylmercuric nitrate, benzyl alcohol, chlorobutanol, chlorocresol and phenol and the study of the known preservatives sodium metabisulphite, sodium sulphite, sodium methyl hydroxybenzoate and sodium propyl hydroxybenzoate, we were unable to find a preservative that met our requirements. We then investigated the possible use of other agents which might have the action that we sought. We unexpectedly found that edetate, which is not regarded as a broad spectrum antimicrobial agent was the only agent that would meet our requirements. As referred to above, edetate as the sodium salt is mentioned in our UK Patent 1472793 as a possible metal ion sequestering agent. Sodium edetate is included in two of the many Cremophor-containing examples of that Patent.

Accordingly the present invention provides a sterile pharmaceutical composition for parenteral administration which comprises an oil-in-water emulsion in which propofol dissolved in a water-immiscible solvent, is emulsified with water and stabilised by means of a surfactant, and which further comprises an amount of edetate sufficient to prevent significant growth of microorganisms for at least 24 hours (in the event of adventitious, extrinsic contamination).

By an oil-in-water emulsion we mean a distinct two-phase system that is in equilibrium and in effect, as a whole, is kinetically stable and thermodynamically unstable. This is in complete contrast to a micellar formulation, for example with Cremophor EL, which is thermodynamically stable.

By the term "edetate" we mean ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and derivatives thereof, for example the disodium derivative is known as disodium edetate. In general suitable edetates of this invention are those salts having lower affinity for EDTA than calcium. Particular derivatives of use in the present invention include trisodium edetate, tetrasodium edetate and disodium calcium edetate. The nature of the edetate is not critical, provided that it fulfils the function of preventing significant growth of microorganisms for at least 24 hours in the event of adventitious extrinsic contamination (e.g. preferably no more than 10-fold increase following a low level of extrinsic contamination, such as 10 - 10.sup.3 colony forming units, at temperatures in the range of 20.degree.-25.degree. C.). As can be seen from the experimental section, sodium calcium edetate has some advantages over other additives but disodium edetate is exceptional. Accordingly, most preferably the edetate is disodium edetate.

Typically the edetate will be present in the compositions of the present invention in a molar concentration (with respect to the EDTA free acid) in the range 3.times.10.sup.-5 to 9.times.10.sup.-4. Preferably the edetate is present in the range 3.times.10.sup.-5 to 7.5.times.10.sup.-4, for example in the range 5.times.10.sup.-5 to 5.times.10.sup.-4 and more preferably in the range 1.5.times.10.sup.-4 to 3.0.times.10.sup.-4 most preferably about 1.5.times.10.sup.-4.

A composition of the present invention typically comprises from 0.1 to 5%, by weight, of propofol. Preferably the composition comprises from 1 to 2% by weight of propofol and, in particular, about 1% or about 2%.

In another aspect of the invention propofol alone is emulsified with water by means of a surfactant. It is preferred that propofol is dissolved in a water-immiscible solvent prior to emulsification.

The water-immiscible solvent is suitably present in an amount that is up to 30% by weight of the composition, more suitably 5-25%, preferably 10-20% and in particular about 10%.

A wide range of water-immiscible solvents can be used in the compositions of the present invention. Typically the water-immiscible solvent is a vegetable oil, for example soy bean, safflower, cottonseed, corn, sunflower, arachis, castor or olive oil. Preferably the vegetable oil is soy bean oil. Alternatively, the water-immiscible solvent is an ester of a medium or long-chain fatty acid for example a mono-, di-, or triglyceride; or is a chemically modified or manufactured material such as ethyl oleate, isopropyl myristate, isopropyl palmitate, a glycerol ester or polyoxyl hydrogenated castor oil. In a further alternative the water-immiscible solvent may be a marine oil, for example cod liver or another fish-derived oil. Suitable solvents also include fractionated oils for example fractionated coconut oil or modified soy bean oil. Furthermore, the compositions of the present invention may comprise a mixture of two or more of the above water-immiscible solvents.

Propofol, either alone or dissolved in a water-immiscible solvent, is emulsified by means of a surfactant. Suitable surfactants include synthetic non-ionic surfactants, for example ethoxylated ethers and esters and polypropylene-polyethylene block co-polymers, and phosphatides for example naturally occurring phosphatides such as egg and soya phosphatides and modified or artificially manipulated phosphatides (for example prepared by physical fractionation and/or chromatography), or mixtures thereof. Preferred surfactants are egg and soya phosphatides.

The composition of the present invention is suitably formulated to be at physiologically neutral pH, typically in the range 6.0-8.5, if necessary by means of alkali such as sodium hydroxide.

The composition of the present invention may be made isotonic with blood by the incorporation of a suitable tonicity modifier for example glycerol.

The composition of the present inventions are typically sterile aqueous formulations and are prepared according to conventional manufacturing techniques using for example aseptic manufacture or terminal sterilisation by autoclaving.

The compositions of the present invention are useful as anaesthetics which includes sedation and induction and maintenance of general anaesthesia. Accordingly in another aspect the present invention provides a method of producing anaesthesia (including sedation and induction and maintenance of general anaesthesia) in a warm-blooded animal, including humans, which comprises administering parenterally a sterile aqueous pharmaceutical composition which comprises an oil-in-water emulsion in which propofol, either alone or in a water-immiscible solvent, is emulsified with water and stabilised by means of a surfactant and which further comprises an effective amount of edetate.

Dosage levels of propofol for producing general anaesthesia, both induction (for example about 2.0-2.5 mg/kg for an adult) and maintenance (for example about 4-12 mg/kg/hr), and for producing a sedative effect (for example 0.3-4.5 mg/kg/hr), may be derived from the substantial literature on propofol. Furthermore the anaesthetist and/or physician would modify the dose to achieve the desired effect in any particular patient, in accordance with normal skill in the art.

The advantages referred to above for including edetate in propofol compositions apply also to intravenous fat emulsions which typically are administered, to patients in need thereof, over periods of a day or more. Intravenous fat emulsions (also known as parenteral nutrition emulsions) are administered, usually by infusion, to patients having requirements for additional calories and adequate nutrition, by oral or other means, is not desirable or is not possible. Intravenous fat emulsions typically maintain a positive nitrogen balance and provide an adequate source of energy (e.g. as fat), vitamins and trace elements. Such emulsions are used typically in intensive care environments but also in other hospital and domestic settings. Examples of such intravenous fat emulsions include Intralipid (marketed by Pharmacia), Lipofundin (Braun) and Travamulsion (Baxter). Intralipid, Lipofundin and Travamulsion are all trademarks.

Accordingly in another aspect, the present invention provides an intravenous fat emulsion which comprises an amount of edetate sufficient to prevent significant growth of microorganisms for at least 24 hours. In particular the present invention provides a sterile, aqueous composition for parenteral administration which comprises an oil-in-water emulsion in which a water-immiscible solvent is emulsified with water and stabilised by means of a surfactant and which further comprises an amount of edetate sufficient to prevent significant growth of microorganisms for at least 24 hours.

Furthermore, it has been proposed that various drugs may be administered in oil-in-water emulsions, for example see U.S. Pat. No. 4,168,308. Accordingly in a further aspect, the present invention provides a sterile, aqueous composition for parenteral administration which comprises an oil-in-water emulsion containing a therapeutic or pharmaceutical agent, in which the agent, either alone or dissolved in a water-immiscible solvent, is emulsified with water and stabilised by means of a surfactant and which further comprises an amount of edetate sufficient to prevent significant growth of microorganisms for at least 24 hours.

Suitable therapeutic or pharmaceutical agents are those capable of being administered parenterally in an oil-in-water emulsion. Typically such agents are lipophilic compounds and may for example be antifungal agents, anaesthetics, antibacterial agents, anti-cancer agents, anti-emetics, agents acting on the central nervous system such as diazepam, steroids, barbiturates and vitamin preparations. In particular the present invention relates to such oil-in-water emulsions which typically are administered, to patients in need thereof, over periods of a day or more.

Comments herein relating to typical and preferred propofol compositions of this invention and the preparation thereof apply mutatis mutandis to intravenous fat emulsions and to oil-in-water emulsions containing a therapeutic or pharmaceutical agent.

Experimental

Preparation

All processing stages are carried out under Nitrogen and weights refer to weight in the final volume.

A sterile aqueous oil-in-water emulsion for parenteral administration is prepared as follows:

1. An aqueous phase is prepared from glycerol (2.25% by weight), disodium edetate dihydrate (0.0055% by weight), sodium hydroxide (typically 60 mgL.sup.-1) and Water for Injections. This mixture is stirred and taken to a temperature of approximately 65.degree. C.

2. The aqueous phase is passed through a filter to remove particulate matter and transferred to a mixing vessel.

3. In parallel to the above, an oil phase is prepared from soy bean oil (10.0% by weight), propofol (1.0% by weight) and egg phosphatide (1.2% by weight) in a vessel. The mixture is stirred at a temperature of approximately 75.degree. C. until all ingredients are dissolved.

4. The mixture is passed through a filter to remove particulate matter and added to the aqueous phase via a static mixer.

5. The contents of the mixing vessel are stirred and maintained at a temperature of approximately 65.degree. C. This mixture is then circulated through a high pressure homogeniser and cooler (heat exchange system) until the required globule size mean globule size of approximately 250 nanometres! is achieved.

6. The resultant oil-in-water emulsion is cooled and transferred into a filling vessel.

7. The emulsion is then filtered and filled into containers under nitrogen and autoclaved.

The final filtered emulsion may be filled into containers of various volumes for example ampoules (20 ml), vials (50 ml and 100 ml) and pre-filled syringes. ##STR1##

An oil-in-water emulsion containing 2% (by weight) of propofol may be prepared in a similar manner using the following quantities of ingredients:

Further oil-in-water emulsions containing 1% (by weight) of propofol may be prepared in a similar manner using the following quantities of ingredients:

Biological Activity

The formulations are administered parenterally to groups of 10 male mice (18-22 g) at a dose of 5-40 mg/kg. Sedation and anaesthesia are observed dependent on dose.

Microbiological Activity (Comparative)

Formulations containing various additives were prepared by adding a concentrated aqueous solution of the additive to the commercially available oil-in-water formulation of propofol (1%) (Diprivan: Trade Mark of Zeneca Ltd). The pH of these formulations was approximately 7.5.

Broth cultures of four standard USP (United States Pharmacopeia) preservative efficacy test organisms were added to these test formulations at approximately 200 colony forming units per ml. The test formulations were incubated at 30.degree. C. and tested for viable counts after 24 and 48 hours.

Results

Formulation with sodium metabisulphite (0.1%)

Discolouration of the formulation occurred showing chemical instability.

Formulation with sodium sulphite (0.1%)

Formulation with hydroxybenzoates (0.2% methyl/0.02% propyl)

Formulation with sodium calcium edetate (0.1%)

Formulation with disodium edetate dihydrate (0.1%)

pH approximately

Microbiological Activity (Further Comparative Results)

Washed suspensions of four standard USP (United States Pharmacopeia) preservative efficacy test organisms were added to these test formulations at approximately 100 colony forming units per ml. The test formulations were incubated at 25.degree. C. and tested for viable counts after 24 and 48 hours in duplicate; both results are reported.

`Diprivan` (1% propofol)

Formulation with disodium edetate dihydrate (0.0055%)

The above formulation has been further assessed against other relevant organisms.

In a similar manner, microbiological data have been obtained for the corresponding formulation containing 2% propofol.

Intravenous fat emulsion

comprising soy bean oil (10%), egg phosphatide (1.2%), glycerol (2.25%), sodium hydroxide (qs) and Water for

Intravenous fat emulsion (as above) with disodium edetate dihydrate (0.0055%)

ND: No organisms detected on the 1 ml pour plates

The above formulation has been further assessed against other relevant organisms.

The test organisms identified above are Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538, Escherichia coli ATCC 8739, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 9027 and Candida albicans ATCC 10231.

In a preferred embodiment the present invention provides a sterile pharmaceutical composition which comprises an oil-in-water emulsion in which propofol, dissolved in a water-immiscible solvent, is emulsified with water and stabilised by means of a surfactant, and which further comprises an amount of edetate sufficient to prevent a no more than 10-fold increase in growth of each of Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538, Escherichia coli ATCC 8739, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 9027 and Candida albicans ATCC 10231 for at least 24 hours as measured by a test wherein a washed suspension of each said organism is added to a separate aliquot of said composition at approximately 50 colony forming units per ml, at a temperature in the range 20.degree.-25.degree. C., said aliquots are incubated at 20.degree.-25.degree. C. and are tested for viable counts after 24 hours.

Claims

What we claim is:

1. A method for producing anaesthesia in a warm-blooded animal which comprises parenterally administering to said animal in need thereof an anaesthetically effective amount of a sterile pharmaceutical composition which comprises an oil-in-water emulsion in which propofol dissolved in a water-immiscible solvent is emulsified with water and stabilised by means of a surfactant, and which composition further comprises an amount of edetate sufficient to prevent a no more than 10-fold increase in growth of each of Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538, Escherichia coli ATCC 8739, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 9027 and Candida albicans ATCC 10231 for at least 24 hours as measured by a test wherein a washed suspension of each said organism is added to a separate aliquot of said composition at approximately 50 colony forming units per ml, at a temperature in the range 20.degree.14 25.degree. C., whereafter said aliquots are incubated at 20.degree.-25.degree. C. for 24 hours and thereafter tested for viable counts of said organism, said amount of edetate being no more than 0.1% by weight of said composition.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the edetate is disodium edetate.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein said sterile pharmaceutical composition comprises up to about 30% by weight of water-immiscible solvent.

4. The method according to claim 3 wherein said sterile pharmaceutical composition comprises from about 10% to about 20% by weight of water-immiscible solvent.

5. The method according to claim 1 wherein the water-immiscible solvent is a vegetable oil or ester of a fatty acid.

6. The method according to claim 5 wherein the vegetable oil is soy bean oil.

7. The method according to claim 1 wherein the surfactant is a naturally occurring phosphatide.

8. The method according to claim 7 wherein the phosphatide is egg phosphatide or soya phosphatide.

9. The method according to claim 1 wherein the pH of said sterile pharmaceutical composition is between about 6.0 and about 8.5.

10. The method according to claim 9 wherein said sterile pharmaceutical composition additionally comprises sodium hydroxide.

11. The method according to claim 1 wherein said sterile pharmaceutical composition is isotonic with blood.

12. The method according to claim 11 wherein said sterile pharmaceutical composition is made isotonic with blood by incorporation of glycerol.

13. The method according to claim 1 wherein said sterile pharmaceutical composition comprises from about 1% to about 2% by weight of propofol.

14. The method according to claim 13 wherein said sterile pharmaceutical composition contains about 1% by weight of propofol.

15. The method according to claim 13 wherein said sterile pharmaceutical composition contains about 2% by weight of propofol.

16. A method for producing anaesthesia in a warm-blooded animal which comprises parenterally administering to said animal in need thereof an anaesthetically effective amount of a sterile pharmaceutical composition which comprises an oil-in-water emulsion in which propofol dissolved in a water-immiscible solvent is emulsified with water and stabilised by means of a surfactant, and which composition further comprises an amount of edetate wherein the amount of edetate is a molar concentration in the range of from 3.times.10.sup.-5 to 9.times.10.sup.-4.

17. The method according to claim 16 wherein the molar concentration of edetate in said sterile pharmaceutical composition is within the range of from 3.times.10.sup.-5 to 7.5.times.10.sup.-4.

18. The method according to claim 17 wherein the molar concentration of edetate in said sterile pharmaceutical composition is within the range of from 1.5.times.10.sup.-4 to 3.0.times.10.sup.-4.

19. The method according to claim 18 wherein the molar concentration of edetate in said sterile pharmaceutical composition is about 1.5.times.10.sup.-4.

20. The method according to any one of claim 16 to 19 wherein the source of edetate is disodium edetate.

21. The method according to claim 16 wherein said sterile pharmaceutical composition comprises up to about 30% by weight of water-immiscible solvent.

22. The method according to claim 21 wherein said sterile pharmaceutical composition comprises from about 10% to about 20% by weight of water-immiscible solvent.

23. The method according to any one of claim 16 to 19 wherein the water-immiscible solvent is a vegetable oil or ester of a fatty acid.

24. The method according to claim 23 wherein the vegetable oil is soy bean oil.

25. The method according to any one of claim 16 to 19 wherein the surfactant is a naturally occurring phosphatide.

26. The method according to claim 25 wherein the phosphatide is egg phosphatide of soya phosphatide.

27. The method according to any one of claim 16 to 19 wherein the pH of said sterile pharmaceutical composition is between about 6.0 and about 8.5.

28. The method according to claim 27 wherein said sterile pharmaceutical composition additionally comprises sodium. hydroxide.

29. The method according to any one of claim 16 to 19 wherein said sterile pharmaceutical composition is isotonic with blood.

30. The method according to claim 29 wherein said sterile pharmaceutical composition is made isotonic with blood by incorporation of glycerol.

31. The method according to any one of claim 16 to 19 wherein said sterile pharmaceutical composition comprises from about 1% to about 2% by weight of propofol.

32. The method according to claim 31 wherein said sterile pharmaceutical composition contains about 1% by weight propofol.

33. The method according to claim 31 wherein said sterile pharmaceutical composition contains about 2% by weight of propofol.

34. The method according to any one of claim 1 and 16 wherein said sterile pharmaceutical composition comprises: a) about 1% by weight of propofol, b) about 10% by weight of soy bean oil, c) about 1.2% by weight of egg phosphatide, d) about 2.25% by weight of glycerol, e) about 0.005% by weight of disodium edetate, f) sodium hydroxide g) water to 100%.

35. The method according to any one of claim 1 and 16 wherein said sterile pharmaceutical composition comprises: a) about 2% by weight of propofol, b) about 10% by weight of soy bean oil, c) about 1.2% by weight of egg phosphatide, d) about 2.25% by weight of glycerol, e) about 0.005% by weight of disodium edetate, f) sodium hydroxide g) water up to 100%.

36. A method for producing anaesthesia in a warm-blooded animal which comprises parenterally administering to said animal in need thereof an anaesthetically effective amount of a sterile pharmaceutical composition which comprises an oil-in-water emulsion in which propofol is emulsified with water and stabilised by means of a surfactant, and which composition further comprises an amount of edetate sufficient to prevent a no more than 10-fold increase in growth of each of Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538, Escherichia coli ATCC 8739, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 9027 and Candida albicans ATCC 10231 for at least 24 hours as measured by a test wherein a washed suspension of each said organism is added to a separate aliquot of said composition at approximately 50 colony forming units per ml, at a temperature in the range 20.degree.-25.degree. C., whereafter said aliquots are incubated at 20.degree.-25.degree. C. for 24 hours and thereafter tested for viable counts of said organism, said amount of edetate being no more than 0.1% by weight of said composition.

37. A method for producing anaesthesia in a warm-blooded animal which comprises parenterally administering to said animal in need thereof an anaesthetically effective amount of a sterile pharmaceutical composition which comprises an oil-in-water emulsion in which propofol is emulsified with water and stabilised by means of a surfactant, and which composition further comprises an amount of edetate wherein the amount of edetate is a molar concentration in the range of from 3.times.10.sup.-5 to 9.times.10.sup.-4.

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