DOSAGE FORM FOR INTRA-ARTICULAR INJECTION COMPRISING COLCHICINE FOR USE IN THE TREATMENT OF CRYSTAL-AND NON-CRYSTAL ASSOCIATED ACUTE INFLAMMATORY ARTHRITIS

The present invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition under the form of a suspension comprising controlled release microparticles comprising colchicine, suitable for intra-articular injection into a joint, for use in the treatment of crystal-associated and non-crystal associated acute inflammatory arthritis, in particular a crystal-associated arthropathy attacks or flares or acute forms of tendinitis and capsulitis, wherein the microparticles have a mean particle size greater than 10 µm, wherein the time required to release 80% by weight of the colchicine in the microparticles lies between 1 day and 15 days, wherein the colchicine is present in a concentration ranging from 0.05 to 5 mg per ml of suspension and wherein the pharmaceutical composition has a volume ranging from 0.1 ml to 5 ml.It also relates to a formulation under the form of a powder comprising controlled release microparticles comprising colchicine and a polymeric matrix, wherein the percentage weight ratio between the colchicine and the total weight of the microparticles ranges 1 to 35% by weight.It further relates to a pharmaceutical composition under the form of a sterile and injectable suspension suitable for an intra-articular injection, obtained by mixing a formulation under the form of a powder according to the invention, with an aqueous injection vehicle.