Pellet implant system for immediate and delayed release of antiparasitic drug

• US 6,645,192 B2
• Filed: 09/30/1998
• Issued: 11/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Eli Lilly and Company
• Original Assignee: Ivy Animal Health, Inc. (Elanco Animal Health, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kenison, Dale C., Spurlin, Stanford R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Casler, Brian L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sirmons, Kevin C.
• Application Number:
  US09/163,646
• Publication Number:
  US 20010049489A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,868 Days
• Field of Search: 604/890.1, 604/891.1, 604/48, 604/502, 604/506, 604/59, 604/60-64, 604/93, 424/422-426, 424/438, 424/457, 424/408
• US Class Current: 604/506
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/0024 Solid, semi-solid or solidifying implants, which are implanted or injected in body tissue compositions for intravenous administration, normal injectable solutions or dispersions for, e.g. subcutaneous administration A61K9/0019; brain implants A61K9/0085; (coated) prostheses, catheters or stents A61L
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/1635 obtained by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds, e.g. polyvinyl pyrrolidone, poly(meth)acrylates
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/1652 Polysaccharides, e.g. alginate, cellulose derivatives; Cyclodextrin homeopathic globules A61K9/1623
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 37/0069 Devices for implanting pellets, e.g. markers or solid medicaments for introducing of radioactive sources for interstitial radiation therapy, i.e. brachytherapy A61N5/1027
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 33/10 Anthelmintics
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 33/14 Ectoparasiticides, e.g. scabicides

Abstract

A parasiticidal pellet system which delivers both immediate and long term control of parasite infestation in an animal as part of a single implant procedure. The system includes an implanter apparatus for subcutaneously implanting parasiticidal pellets in an animal through the bore of a hypodermic needle which is operably coupled to a pellet magazine, and a plurality of pellets sized to be implanted through the needle and positioned in the magazine for selective alignment of a pellet with the needle. The pellets include at least one immediate release parasiticidal agent first dose pellet and at least one extended release parasiticidal agent dose second pellet. The combined pellets are packaged in the magazine in sequential order for simultaneous delivery of an immediate dose and an extended dose as part of a single injection.

Claims

1. A method for providing immediate and long term control of parasite infestation in an animal;

said method comprising;

(a) providing an implanter apparatus for implanting parasiticidal pellets in an animal'"'"'s ear through a bore of a hypodermic needle which is operably coupled to a pellet magazine;

(b) loading the pellet magazine with at least one immediate release parasiticidal agent pellet dose and at least one extended release parasiticidal agent pellet dose wherein each parasiticidal agent pellet dose separately comprises from about 25-175 mg of at least one parasiticidal agent and wherein said immediate release pellet dose is configured to release substantially all of said parasiticidal agent present therein into said animal;

(c) inserting the hypodermic needle under the skin of an animal'"'"'s ear and injecting said at least one immediate release pellet dose and said at least one extended release pellet dose; and

(d) withdrawing the hypodermic needle from under the skin of the animal'"'"'s ear thereby leaving said at least one immediate release pellet dose and said at least one extended release pellet dose beneath the skin of the animal'"'"'s ear.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein said immediate release and said extended release parasiticidal agent pellet doses separately comprise a parasiticidal agent selected from the group consisting of avermectins, milbemycins, milbemycin oximes, fenbendazoles, lufenerons, derivatives and mixtures thereof.

3. The method according to claim 2 wherein said parasiticidal agent comprises an avermectin selected from the group consisting of ivermectin, doramectin, moxidectin, eprinomectrin, abamectin, derivatives and mixtures thereof.

4. The method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of providing a plurality of discrete pellet doses.

5. The method according to claim 4 further comprising the step of providing at least one discrete immediate release dose in a first pellet and at least one discrete extended release dose in a second pellet.

6. The method according to claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

(a) inserting the hypodermic needle under the skin of an animal'"'"'s ear and injecting said at least one immediate release pellet dose;

(b) maintaining the hypodermic needle in place under the skin of the animal; and

(c) sequentially injecting said at least one extended release pellet dose.

7. In a method of administering a subcutaneous implant to an animal, the improvement comprising the step of injecting an implant for retention under the skin of an animal'"'"'s ear, said implant comprising an immediate release parasiticidal agent dose and an extended release parasiticidal agent dose in a single injection wherein each parasiticidal agent pellet separately comprises from about 25-175 mg of at least one parasiticidal agent and wherein said immediate release pellet dose is configured to release substantially all of said parasiticidal agent present therein into said animal.

8. A method for providing immediate and sustained parasiticide release in an animal comprising the steps of;

(a) providing an implanter apparatus for implanting pharmaceutical pellets in an animal through a bore of a hypodermic needle which is operably coupled to a pellet magazine;

(b) loading the pellet magazine with an immediate release parasiticidal agent pellet dose and an extended release parasiticidal agent pellet dose wherein each parasiticidal agent pellet dose separately comprises from about 25-175 mg of at least one parasiticidal agent and wherein said immediate release pellet dose is configured to release substantially all of said parasiticidal agent present therein into said animal;

(c) inserting the hypodermic needle under the skin of the animal'"'"'s ear and selectively injecting the immediate release pellet dose;

(d) simultaneously with the step of paragraph (c) also injecting the extended release parasiticidal agent pellet dose; and

(e) withdrawing the hypodermic needle from under the skin of the animal while leaving both of said immediate release and extended release doses beneath the skin of the animal'"'"'s ear.