Therapeutical system for transdermal delivery of levonorgestrel
First Claim
1. A transdermal therapeutic system for transcutaneous administration of levonorgestrel and additional optional sex steroids over a period of up to seven days, wherein the system comprises a layer of a steroid-containing matrix composition disposed on a carrier film, said matrix composition comprising a solid solution of (a) a copolymer of ethyl acrylate and methyl methacrylate containing about 5% trimethylammonium ethyl methacrylate chloride as the sole (meth)acrylate copolymer, (b) about 20 weight percent to about 30 weight percent of one or more plasticizers selected from the group consisting of esters of weak organic acids, (c) an optional fatty acid ester, and (d) at least 2 weight percent of levonorgestrel and each optional sex steroid distributed in the matrix composition as a molecular dispersion, wherein the system contains at least one sex steroid hormone which had minimum thermal exposure, and wherein the system is free of an adhesive layer.
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Abstract
A stable therapeutical transdermal system for the transcutaneous delivery of levonorgestrel, alone or together with other sex steroid hormones, over a long time period is disclosed. A method of producing the transdermal system that avoids the use of solvents and avoids degradation of the steroid hormones also is disclosed.
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Citations
15 Claims
- 1. A transdermal therapeutic system for transcutaneous administration of levonorgestrel and additional optional sex steroids over a period of up to seven days, wherein the system comprises a layer of a steroid-containing matrix composition disposed on a carrier film, said matrix composition comprising a solid solution of (a) a copolymer of ethyl acrylate and methyl methacrylate containing about 5% trimethylammonium ethyl methacrylate chloride as the sole (meth)acrylate copolymer, (b) about 20 weight percent to about 30 weight percent of one or more plasticizers selected from the group consisting of esters of weak organic acids, (c) an optional fatty acid ester, and (d) at least 2 weight percent of levonorgestrel and each optional sex steroid distributed in the matrix composition as a molecular dispersion, wherein the system contains at least one sex steroid hormone which had minimum thermal exposure, and wherein the system is free of an adhesive layer.
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2. A transdermal therapeutic system for the transcutaneous administration of levonorgestrel over a period of up to seven days, wherein the system comprises a layer form of a levonorgestrel-containing matrix composition disposed on a carrier film, said matrix composition comprising (a) a copolymer of ethyl acrylate and methyl methacrylate containing about 5% trimethylammonium ethyl methacrylate chloride as the sole (meth)acrylate copolymer, (b) about 20 weight percent to about 30 weight percent of at least one plasticizer selected from the group consisting of esters of weak organic acids, (c) an optional fatty acid ester, and (d) at least 2 weight percent of levonorgestrel distributed in the matrix composition in a molecularly dispersed form, wherein the levonorgestrel had minimum thermal exposure, and wherein the system is free of an adhesive layer.
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15. A transdermal therapeutic system for the transcutaneous administration of levonorgestrel and additional optional sex steroids over a period of up to seven days, wherein the system comprises a layer form of a levonorgestrel-containing matrix composition disposed on a carrier film, said matrix composition consisting essentially of (a) a copolymer of ethyl acrylate and methyl methacrylate containing about 5% trimethylammonium ethyl methacrylate polymer as the sole (meth)acrylate copolymer, (b) about 20 weight percent to about 30 weight percent of at least one plasticizer selected from the group consisting of esters of weak organic acids, (c) an optional fatty acid ester, and (d) at least 2 weight percent of levonorgestrel distributed in the matrix composition in a molecularly dispersed form, wherein the levonorgestrel had minimum thermal exposure, and wherein the system is free of an adhesive layer,
said system prepared by a method comprising: -
(a) forming a solid mixture comprising the levonorgestrel, optional sex steroids, and the ethyl acrylate and methyl methacrylate copolymer;
(b) forming a liquid mixture comprising at least one plasticizer and an optional fatty acid ester;
(c) continuously melt coextruding the solid mixture of step (a) and the liquid mixture of step (b) at a temperature sufficiently low and for a time sufficiently short to maintain the levonorgestrel in a nonmolten form to form the matrix composition, and continuously applying the matrix composition onto a protective film to a thickness of 0.02 to 4 mm; and
(d) applying a carrier film on a surface of the matrix composition opposite from the protective film.
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Specification