METHODS AND DEVICES FOR THE SUSTAINED RELEASE OF MULTIPLE DRUGS

• US 20080248017A1
• Filed: 05/22/2008
• Published: 10/09/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, The General Hospital Corporation (Mass General Brigham, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Inventors: Langer, Robert S., Ron, Eyal S., Crowley, William F.
• Granted Patent: US 7,838,024 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 424/94.4
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 6/08 Pessaries, i.e. devices worn in the vagina to support the uterus, remedy a malposition or prevent conception , e.g. combined with devices protecting against contagion
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 6/142 Wirelike structures, e.g. loops, rings, spirals
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 2300/00 Mixtures or combinations of active ingredients, wherein at least one active ingredient is fully defined in groups A61K31/00 - A61K41/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/565 not substituted in position 17 beta by a carbon atom, e.g. estrane, estradiol
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/57 substituted in position 17 beta by a chain of two carbon atoms, e.g. pregnane or progesterone
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 38/09 Luteinising hormone-releasing hormone [LHRH] , i.e. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone [GnRH]; Related peptides
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 45/06 Mixtures of active ingredients without chemical characterisation, e.g. antiphlogistics and cardiaca
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/0036 Devices retained in the vagina or cervix for a prolonged period, e.g. intravaginal rings, medicated tampons, medicated diaphragms
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/0056 Mouth soluble or dispersible forms; Suckable, eatable, chewable coherent forms; Forms rapidly disintegrating in the mouth; Lozenges; Lollipops; Bite capsules; Baked products; Baits or other oral forms for animals
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 15/00 Drugs for genital or sexual disorders for disorders of sex hormones A61P5/24; Contraceptives
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 15/02 for disorders of the vagina
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 15/18 Feminine contraceptives
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 5/24 of the sex hormones
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 5/30 Oestrogens

Abstract

The invention relates to an drug delivery device and a method for delivering multiple drugs over a prolonged period of time. The drug delivery device has two or more unitary segments comprising a drug-permeable polymeric substance, wherein at least one of the segments further comprises a pharmaceutically active agent. The invention also relates to a method for the treatment of a benign ovarian secretory disorder in a female mammal, a method of contraception, and a method of relieving the symptoms associated with menopausal, perimenopausal and post-menopausal periods in a woman.

Claims

1. A drug delivery system for the simultaneous release of two or more drugs, which system comprises two or more unitary segments, wherein each unitary segment comprises a mixture of a drug-permeable polymeric substance and a drug.

2. The drug delivery system of claim 1, wherein at least two of the segments comprise a different drug.

3. The drug delivery system of claim 1, wherein the drug-permeable polymeric substance is a thermoplastic polymer.

4. The drug delivery system of claim 3, wherein the thermoplastic polymer is an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer.

5. The drug delivery system of claim 1, wherein the drug is a hormone replacement steroid.

6. The drug delivery system of claim 1, wherein the drug is a contraceptive agent.

7. The drug delivery device of claim 1, wherein the drug is selected from the group consisting of selected from the group consisting of:

interferon, anti-angiogenesis factors, growth factors, hormones, enzymes, transferases, hydrolases, lysases, isomerases, proteases, ligases and oxidoreductases, enzyme inhibitors, steroids, anti-cancer drugs and antibiotics.

8. The drug delivery device of claim 1, wherein the drug is selected from the group consisting of:

growth hormone, polysaccharides, antigens, and antibodies.