Over-coated product including consumable center and medicament

• US 20020110581A1
• Filed: 01/09/2002
• Published: 08/15/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: WM Wrigley Jr Company (Mars Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: WM Wrigley Jr Company (Mars Incorporated)
• Inventors: Matulewicz, Leonard, Wokas, William J., Ream, Ronald L.
• Application Number:
  US10/044,113
• Publication Number:
  US 20020110581A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 424/440
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/0058 Chewing gums non-medicinal aspects, preparing chewing gum A23G4/00; chewing gum for care of the teeth or oral cavity, e.g. with breath freshener A61Q11/00

Abstract

Methods and products for delivering a medicament or agent to an individual are provided as well as methods for producing the product. The product includes a coating having a medicament or agent. The medicament or agent is present within the coating that surrounds a consumable center. By chewing the product, the medicament or agent is released from the product within the buccal cavity.

Claims

1. A method for delivering a medicament to an individual comprising the steps of:

providing a product that includes a consumable center and a coating that substantially surrounds the consumable center, the coating containing a medicament and comprising at least 50% by weight of the product; and

placing the product in the mouth of the individual and causing the medicament to be released from the product into the buccal cavity of the individual.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the coating includes a high-intensity sweetener.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the high-intensity sweetener is chosen from the group consisting of aspartame, sucralose, saccharin, and acesulfame-k.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the coating is produced by alternating layers of a powder and a syrup onto the tableted center.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the consumable center is selected from the group consisting of a gummi confectionary, hard confectionary, confectionary starch, compressible saccharides, and compressible sugar alcohols.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the medicament is chosen from the group consisting of:

analgesics;

muscle relaxants;

antibiotics;

antivirals;

antihistamines;

decongestants;

anti-inflammatories;

antacids;

psychotherapeutic agents;

insulin;

vitamins;

minerals;

nutraceuticals;

nutritional supplements;

diuretics;

vitamins;

minerals;

anesthetics;

antitussives;

bioengineered pharmaceuticals; and

cardiovascular agents.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the coating has a polished finish.

8. A product including a medicament comprising:

a consumable center; and

a coating including a medicament that surrounds the consumable center, the coating comprising at least 50% by weight of the product.

9. The product of claim 8 wherein the medicament is chosen from the group consisting of:

analgesics;

muscle relaxants;

antibiotics;

antivirals;

stimulants;

antihistamines;

decongestants;

anti-inflammatories;

antacids;

psychotherapeutic agents;

insulin;

vitamins;

minerals;

nutaceuticals;

nutritional supplements;

diuretics;

vitamins;

minerals;

anesthetics;

antitussives;

bioengineered pharmaceuticals; and

cardiovascular agents.

10. The product of claim 8 wherein the coating includes a taste masking agent.

11. The product of claim 10 wherein the taste masking agent is chosen from the group consisting of:

zinc gluconate, ethyl maltol, glycine, acesulfame-k, aspartame;

saccharin;

fructose;

xylitol;

isomalt;

maltitol;

spray dried licorice root;

glycerrhizine;

sodium gluconate;

glucono delta-lactone;

ethyl vanillin;

dextrose;

sucralose;

vanillin; and

ethyl maltol.

12. The product of claim 10 wherein the taste masking agent comprises approximately 30% to about 99% by weight of the coating.

13. The product of claim 8 wherein the coating includes approximately 0.1% to about 5% by weight of a high-intensity sweetener chosen from the group consisting of aspartame, sucralose, saccharine, and acesulfame-k.

14. The product of claim 8 wherein the consumable center is selected from the group consisting of hard confectioneries, gummi confectionaries, confectionary starches, and compressible excipients.

15. The product of claim 8 wherein the coating does not have a shellac layer.

17. The product of claim 16 wherein the medicament is chosen from the group consisting of:

analgesics;

muscle relaxants;

antibiotics;

antivirals;

stimulants;

antihistamines;

decongestants;

anti-inflammatories;

antacids;

psychotherapeutic agents;

insulin;

vitamins;

minerals;

nutraceuticals;

nutritional supplements;

diuretics;

vitamins;

minerals;

anesthetics;

antitussives;

bioengineered pharmaceuticals; and

cardiovascular agents.

18. The product of claim 16 wherein the consumable center is selected from the group consisting of hard confectionaries, gummi confectionaries, confectionary starches, and compressible excipients.

19. The product of claim 16 wherein a taste masking agent comprises approximately 30% to about 99% by weight of the coating.

20. The product of claim 16 wherein the coating includes approximately 0.1% to about 5% by weight of a high-intensity sweetener chosen from the group consisting of aspartame, sucralose, saccharine, and acesulfame-k.

16. A product including a medicament comprising:

a consumable tableted center; and

a coating that at least substantially surrounds the consumable tableted center and includes a medicament the coating comprising at least 50% of the product by weight.

21. A method of delivering a medicament comprising the steps of:

providing a product having a consumable center and a coating that substantially surrounds the center, the center comprising at least one compressible excipient and the coating including a medicament and comprising at least 50% by weight of the product; and

chewing the product to release the medicament into a buccal cavity of an individual chewing the product.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the medicament is chosen from the group consisting of:

analgesics;

muscle relaxants;

antibiotics;

antivirals;

antihistamines;

decongestants;

anti-inflammatories;

antacids;

psychotherapeutic agents;

nutriceuticals;

nutritional supplements;

diuretics;

vitamins;

minerals;

anesthetics;

antitussives;

bioengineered pharmaceuticals; and

cardiovascular agents.

23. The product of claim 21 wherein the consumable center is selected from the group consisting of hard confectionaries, gummi confectionaries, confectionary starches, and compressible excipients.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein the coated product comprises at least 50% by weight syrup and powder coating.

26. The method of claim 24 wherein the tableted consumable center includes at least one compressible excipient chosen from the group consisting of saccharides and sugar alcohols.

27. The method of claim 24 wherein the coating includes a high-intensity sweetener.

28. The method of claim 24 wherein the agent is a medicament.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein the medicament is chosen from the group consisting of:

analgesics;

muscle relaxants;

antibiotics;

antivirals;

antihistamines;

decongestants;

anti-inflammatories;

antacids;

psychotherapeutic agents;

insulin;

vitamins;

minerals;

nutraceuticals;

nutritional supplements;

diuretics;

vitamins;

minerals;

anesthetics;

antitussives;

bioengineered pharmaceuticals; and

cardiovascular agents.

30. The method of claim 24 wherein at least two alternating layers are coated on to the tableted consumable center.

31. The method of claim 24 wherein the powder comprises at least 70% by weight of the coating.

24. A method of manufacturing a product containing an agent comprising the steps of:

preparing a center by tableting a consumable product to produce a tableted consumable center; and

coating the tableted consumable center by placing alternating layers of a powder and a syrup on the center to create a coated product, at least one of the powder or syrup layers including at least one agent.

32. A method of delivering a medicament comprising the steps of:

providing a product including a consumable center having a predefined shape and a coating that surrounds the center that includes a medicament; and

chewing the product for a sufficient time to cause a majority of the medicament to be absorbed by a buccal cavity of the consumer.

33. The method of claim 32 wherein the product comprises at least 50% by weight syrup and powder coating.

34. The method of claim 32 wherein the medicament is chosen from the group consisting of:

analgesics;

muscle relaxants;

antibiotics;

antivirals;

antihistamines;

decongestants;

anti-inflammatories;

antacids;

psychotherapeutic agents;

insulin;

vitamins;

minerals;

nutraceuticals;

nutritional supplements;

diuretics;

vitamins;

minerals;

anesthetics;

antitussives;

bioengineered pharmaceuticals; and

cardiovascular agents.

35. The method of claim 32 wherein the coating includes a high-intensity sweetener.