SUSTAINED RELEASE INTRAOCULAR IMPLANTS AND METHODS FOR PREVENTING RETINAL DYSFUNCTION

• US 20080260832A1
• Filed: 06/19/2008
• Published: 10/23/2008
• 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., Burke, James, Lin, Ton, Zhang, Kai-Ming, Huang, Glenn, Werhner, Orilla C., Donn, Rosy S., Escobar, Maria
• Granted Patent: US 8,609,144 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 424/486
• 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 microspheres and 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 treat or to prevent the occurrence of one or more ocular conditions, to reduce one or more symptoms of an ocular condition, such as an ocular neurosensory disorder and the like, to enhance normal retinal function and/or to lower intraocular pressure.

Claims

1. A method for enhancing normal retinal neuronal function comprising the step of intravitreal administration of an ophthalmic composition comprising microspheres of an alpha-2 adrenergic receptor agonist associated with a biodegradable polymer matrix.

2. A method for reducing intraocular pressure comprising the step of intravitreal administration of an ophthalmic composition comprising microspheres of an alpha-2 adrenergic receptor agonist associated with a biodegradable polymer matrix.

3. A method of treating a retinal dysfunction in an eye of a patient, comprising the step of intravitreal administration of biodegradable intraocular microspheres, the microspheres comprising an alpha-2 adrenergic receptor agonist associated with a biodegradable polymer matrix that releases alpha-2 adrenergic receptor effective to prevent or reduce a symptom of a retinal dysfunction.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the method is effective to treat a retinal neurosensory dysfunction.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the method is effective to treat an ocular condition selected from the group consisting of:

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

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the alpha-2 adrenergic receptor agonist is selected from the group consisting of brimonidine, salts thereof, and mixtures thereof.

7. A method for enhancing normal retinal neuronal function and reducing intraocular pressure without significantly obscuring vision, the method comprising the step of intravitreal administration of an ophthalmic composition comprising microspheres of a brimonidine associated with a biodegradable polylactide polyglycolide copolymer polymer matrix.