Abstract:
Disclosed are pharmaceutical products for providing pulses of at least one pharmaceutically active ingredient from a patient's stomach, or from a subsequent gastrointestinal site proximal thereto, for absorption thereof at a site(s) more distal in the gastrointestinal tract than the patient's stomach, or than the subsequent gastrointestinal site proximal thereto. The product comprises first, second, and third pharmaceutical dosage forms, each of which comprises at least one pharmaceutically active agent and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The product is formulated such that at least two of the first, second, and third pharmaceutical dosage forms further comprise means for providing temporary gastric-retention of the at least two of the first, second, and third pharmaceutical dosage forms within the patient's stomach, or at the subsequent gastrointestinal site proximal thereto.
Abstract:
Polymers with improved bioadhesive properties and methods for improving bioadhesion of polymers have been developed. A compound containing an aromatic group which contains one or more hydroxyl groups is grafted onto a polymer or coupled to individual monomers. In one embodiment, the polymer is a biodegradable polymer. In another embodiment, the monomers may be polymerized to form any type of polymer, including biodegradable and non-biodegradable polymers. In some embodiments, the polymer is a hydrophobic polymer. In the preferred embodiment, the aromatic compound is catechol or a derivative thereof and the polymer contains reactive functional groups. In the most preferred embodiment, the polymer is a polyanhydride and the aromatic compound is the catechol derivative, DOPA. These materials display bioadhesive properties superior to conventional bioadhesives used in therapeutic and diagnostic applications. These bioadhesive materials can be used to fabricate new drug delivery or diagnostic systems with increased residence time at tissue surfaces, and consequently increase the bioavailability of a drug or a diagnostic agent. In a preferred embodiment, the bioadhesive material is a coating on a controlled release oral dosage formulation and/or forms a matrix in an oral dosage formulation.
Abstract:
Disclosed are pharmaceutical products for providing pulses of at least one pharmaceutically active ingredient from a patient's stomach, or from a subsequent gastrointestinal site proximal thereto, for absorption thereof at a site(s) more distal in the gastrointestinal tract than the patient's stomach, or than the subsequent gastrointestinal site proximal thereto. The product comprises first, second, and third pharmaceutical dosage forms, each of which comprises at least one pharmaceutically active agent and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The product is formulated such that at least two of the first, second, and third pharmaceutical dosage forms further comprise means for providing temporary gastric-retention of the at least two of the first, second, and third pharmaceutical dosage forms within the patient's stomach, or at the subsequent gastrointestinal site proximal thereto.
Abstract:
Bioadhesive macrosphere delivery systems (“BDDS”) having prolonged gastric retention time due to bioadhesion rather than physical density or size are described. In general, the macrospheres have diameters that are greater than 200 microns, more preferably greater than 500 microns. The bioadhesive macrospheres are released in the stomach where they reside in close proximity to the gastric mucosa for a prolonged period of time. Increased residence of BDDS in the upper GI can lead to increased systemic absorption of drug in the preferred site of systemic absorption, namely the upper GI tract (upper to mid-jejunum). The BDDS may be engineered either as a capsule with drug delivery controlled by a diffusion-limited membrane or degradable shell, or as a solid matrix system with drug delivery controlled by a combination of diffusion and polymer degradation kinetics.
Abstract:
An oral delivery system for Class II drugs that have low oral bioavailability due to their insolubility in water and slow dissolution kinetics and method for making such a drug delivery system are disclosed herein. The formulation may be a controlled release or immediate release formulation. The immediate release formulation contains a Class II drug, together with a hydrophobic polymer, preferably a bioadhesive polymer. In one embodiment, the drug and polymer are co-dissolved in a common solvent. The solution is formed into small solid particles by any convenient method, particularly by spray drying. The resulting particles contain drug dispersed as small particles in a polymeric matrix. The particles are stable against aggregation, and can be put into capsules or tableted for administration. The controlled release formulations contain a BCS Class II drug and a bioadhesive polymer. The controlled release formulations may be in the form of a tablet, capsules, mini-tab, microparticulate, or osmotic pump. Enhancement of oral uptake of the drug from use of bioadhesive polymers occurs through (1) increased dissolution kinetics due to stable micronization of the drug, (2) rapid release of the drug from the polymer in the GI tract; and (3) prolonged GI transit due to bioadhesive properties of the polymers. The combination of these effects allows the preparation of a compact, stable dosage form suitable for oral administration of many class II drugs.