Polymorphism of NCX4016, an NO-releasing derivative of acetylsalicylic acid

NCX4016 [2-acetoxybenzoic acid 3'-(nitrooxymethyl)phenyl ester] is a recently developed nitrooxy-derivative of aspirin with improved antiinflammatory, analgesic, and antithrombotic activity as well as increased gastrointestinal safety. Systematic polymorphic screening performed with different solvents and preparation methods resulted in the identification of two polymorphs, designated Forms I and II. They were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, powder X-ray diffraction, thermal analyses, and infrared spectroscopy; the crystal structure of polymorph I was solved by single-crystal X-ray analysis and compared with that of aspirin. Finally, intrinsic dissolution rate studies and calculations according to the melting data method were performed to assess the thermodynamic relationship between the two polymorphs.