Sustained release intraocular implants and methods for preventing retinal dysfunction

• US 8,425,929 B2
• Filed: 04/30/2004
• Issued: 04/23/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Allergan, Inc. (Canada) (Abbvie Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Allergan, Inc. (Canada) (Abbvie Incorporated)
• Inventors: Huang, Glenn T., Burke, James, Hughes, Patrick M., Zhang, Kai-Ming, Lin, Ton, Wheeler, Larry A., Donn, Rosy Sheng
• Primary Examiner(s): ZISKA, SUZANNE E
• Application Number:
  US10/837,143
• Publication Number:
  US 20050244479A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,280 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 424/428
• 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. A biodegradable intraocular implant consisting of:

a) a first polylactide polymer having a molecular weight of about 14 kD and an inherent viscosity of about 0.3 dl/g;

b) a second polylactide polymer having a molecular weight of about 63.3 kD and an inherent viscosity of about 1.0 dl/g; and

c) brimonidine tartrate in an amount of about 20% by weight of the implant;

wherein the ratio of first polylactide polymer to second polylactide polymer in the implant is 1;

1, 2;

1, or 3;

1; and

wherein the implant is i) a solid, rod-shaped implant formed by an extrusion process and ii) structured to be placed in the vitreous of the eye.

2. A method of treating a retinal dysfunction in an eye of a patient, comprising the step of placing the biodegradable intraocular implant of claim 1 in an eye of the patient to provide an amount of brimonidine effective to reduce a symptom of a retinal dysfunction.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the method is effective to treat a retinal neurosensory dysfunction.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the implant is placed in the vitreous of the eye.