SUSTAINED RELEASE INTRAOCULAR IMPLANTS AND METHODS FOR PREVENTING RETINAL DYSFUNCTION

• US 20080131372A1
• Filed: 10/29/2007
• Published: 06/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Allergan, Inc. (Canada) (Abbvie Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Allergan, Inc. (Canada) (Abbvie Incorporated)
• Inventors: Hughes, Patrick M., Wheeler, Larry A., Donn, Rosy Sheng, Huang, Glenn T., Burke, James, Lin, Ton, Zhang, Kai-Ming
• Granted Patent: US 8,293,210 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 424/9.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/498 Pyrazines or piperazines ortho- and peri-condensed with carbocyclic ring systems, e.g. quinoxaline, phenazine
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 47/34 Macromolecular compounds obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds, e.g. polyesters, polyamino acids, polysiloxanes, polyphosphazines, copolymers of polyalkylene glycol or poloxamers A61K47/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/0051 Ocular inserts, ocular implants
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 27/02 Ophthalmic agents
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 27/16 Otologicals

Abstract

Biocompatible intraocular implants include an alpha-2 adrenergic receptor agonist and a polymer associated with the alpha-2 adrenergic receptor agonist to facilitate release of the alpha-2 adrenergic receptor agonist into an eye for an extended period of time. The alpha-2 adrenergic receptor agonist may be associated with a biodegradable polymer matrix, such as a matrix of a two biodegradable polymers. The implants may be placed in an eye to prevent the occurrence of one or more ocular conditions, or to reduce one or more symptoms of an ocular condition, such as an ocular neurosensory disorder and the like.

Claims

1-27. -27. (canceled)

28. A method of treating a retinal dysfunction in an eye of a patient, comprising the step of placing a biodegradable intraocular implant in an eye of the patient, the implant comprising an alpha-2 adrenergic receptor agonist associated with a biodegradable polymer matrix that releases drug at a rate effective to sustain release of an amount of the alpha-2 adrenergic receptor from the implant to provide an amount of the alpha-2 adrenergic receptor agonist effective to prevent or reduce a symptom of a retinal dysfunction.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the method is effective to treat a retinal neurosensory dysfunction.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein the method is effective to treat an ocular condition selected from the group consisting of:

retinitis pigmentosa, Leber'"'"'s congenial amaurosis, retinal degeneration, Usher syndrome, Bardet-Biedl syndrome, rod-cone dystrophy, choroideremia, gyrate-atrophy, and Stargardt'"'"'s disease.

31. The method of claim 28, wherein the implant is placed in the posterior of the eye.

32. The method of claim 28, wherein the implant is placed in the eye with a trocar.

33. The method of claim 28, wherein the implant is placed in the eye with a syringe.

34. The method of claim 28, further comprising a step of administering a therapeutic agent in addition to the alpha-2 adrenergic receptor agonist to the patient.

35. The method of claim 28, wherein the alpha-2 adrenergic receptor agonist is selected from the group consisting of brimonidine, salts thereof, and mixtures thereof.

36. The method of claim 28, wherein the retinal neuronal function includes a measurement of an electroretinogram.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the placement of the implant in the eye of the patient is effective to increase the amplitude of at least one of a B-wave, and A-wave, or a 30 Hz flicker of the electroretinogram.

38. The method of claim 36, wherein the alpha-2 adrenergic receptor agonist is effective for at least two weeks after placement the eye.