IP Library Granted Patent US 8,501,215
Granted Patent B2
US 8,501,215 · App. 10/628,984 · Granted Aug 6, 2013

Injectable multimodal polymer depot compositions and uses thereof

Inventors: Guohua Chen (Sunnyvale, CA); Paul Houston (Hayward, CA); Lothar Kleiner (Los Altos, CA); Jeremy Wright (Los Altos, CA)
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,501,215
App. No.
10/628,984
Granted
Aug 6, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

Injectable depot compositions are provided that include a polymer matrix having a plurality of bioerodible, biocompatible polymers wherein each polymer of the plurality of polymers has a specified average molecular weight, and the polymer matrix has a broad molecular weight distribution of the plurality of polymers; a solvent having a miscibility in water of less than or equal to 7 wt % at 25° C., in an amount effective to plasticize the polymer and form a gel therewith; and a beneficial agent. The compositions have substantially improved shear thinning behavior and reduced injection force, rendering the compositions readily implanted beneath a patient's body surface by injection.

Claims (73)

1. An injectable depot composition comprising:

(a) a polymer matrix comprising a plurality of bioerodible, biocompatible lactic acid-based polymers, wherein a first of said plurality of polymers is a low molecular weight (LMW) polymer having a weight average molecular weight ranging from about 3000 to about 10,000 and a second is a high molecular weight (HMW) polymer having a weight average molecular weight of greater than about 30,000, the polymer matrix having a bimodal molecular weight distribution of the plurality of polymers;

(b) a solvent having a miscibility in water of less than or equal to 7% at 25° C., in an amount effective to plasticize the plurality of polymers and form a gel therewith, wherein the solvent is a solvent selected from the group consisting of aromatic alcohols, esters of aromatic acids, aromatic ketones, and mixtures thereof; and

(c) a beneficial agent dissolved or dispersed in the gel.

2. An injectable depot composition comprising:

(a) a polymer matrix comprising a plurality of bioerodible, biocompatible lactic acid-based polymers, wherein a first of said plurality of polymers is a low molecular weight (LMW) polymer having a weight average molecular weight ranging from about 3000 to about 9000, a second is a high molecular weight (HMW) polymer having a weight average molecular weight greater than 30,000, and a third is a medium molecular weight (MMW) polymer having a weight average molecular weight ranging from 10,000 to 30,000, the polymer matrix having a multimodal molecular weight distribution of the plurality of polymers;

(b) a solvent having a miscibility in water of less than or equal to 7% at 25° C., in an amount effective to plasticize the plurality of polymers and form a gel therewith, wherein the solvent is a solvent selected from the group consisting of aromatic alcohols, esters of aromatic acids, aromatic ketones, and mixtures thereof; and

(c) a beneficial agent dissolved or dispersed in the gel.

3. The injectable depot composition of claim 1 , wherein the polymer matrix comprises about 20 wt % to about 90 wt % of the low molecular weight (LMW) polymer.

4. The composition of claim 1 , wherein each polymer is a copolymer of lactic acid and glycolic acid.

5. The composition of claim 1 , comprising about 5 wt % to about 90 wt % of the biodegradable, biocompatible lactic acid-based polymers.

6. The composition of claim 5 , comprising about 25 wt % to about 80 wt % of the biodegradable, biocompatible lactic acid-based polymers.

7. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the solvent has a miscibility in water of less than or equal to 5 wt % at 25° C.

8. The composition of claim 7 , wherein the solvent has a miscibility in water of less than or equal to 3 wt % at 25° C.

9. The composition of claim 8 , wherein the solvent has a miscibility in water of less than or equal to 1 wt % at 25° C.

10. The composition of claim 9 , wherein the solvent has a miscibility in water of less than or equal to 0.5 wt % at 25° C.

11. The injectable depot composition of claim 1 , wherein the solvent is an aromatic alcohol that has the structural formula (I)

Ar-(L) n -OH  (I)

in which Ar is a substituted or unsubstituted aryl or heteroaryl group, n is zero or 1, and L is a linking moiety.

12. The composition of claim 11 , wherein Ar is monocyclic aryl or heteroaryl, n is 1, and L is lower alkylene optionally containing at least one heteroatom.

13. The composition of claim 12 , wherein Ar is monocyclic aryl and L is lower alkylene.

14. The composition of claim 13 , wherein Ar is phenyl and L is methylene.

15. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the ester of an aromatic acid is a lower alkyl ester or an aralkyl ester of benzoic acid.

16. The composition of claim 15 , wherein the ester of an aromatic acid is benzyl benzoate and the lower alkyl ester of an aromatic acid is ethyl benzoate.

17. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the solvent is a mixture of an aromatic alcohol and an ester of an aromatic acid.

18. The composition of claim 17 , wherein the ratio of the aromatic alcohol to the ester of the aromatic acid is in the range of about 1% to about 99% by weight.

19. The composition of claim 18 , wherein the ratio of the aromatic alcohol to the ester of the aromatic acid is in the range of about 10% to about 90% by weight.

20. The composition of claim 19 , wherein the ratio of the aromatic alcohol to the ester of the aromatic acid is in the range of about 20% to about 80% by weight.

21. An injectable depot composition for systemic delivery of a beneficial agent to a subject in a controlled manner comprising:

(a) a polymer matrix comprising a plurality of bioerodible, biocompatible lactic acid-based polymers, wherein a first of said plurality of polymers is a low molecular weight (LMW) polymer having a weight average molecular weight ranging from about 3000 to about 9000, a second is a high molecular weight (HMW) polymer having a weight average molecular weight greater than 30,000, and a third is a medium molecular weight (MMW) polymer having a weight average molecular weight ranging from 10,000 to 30,000, the polymer matrix having a multimodal molecular weight distribution of the plurality of polymers;

(b) a solvent having a miscibility in water of less than or equal to 7% at 25° C., in an amount effective to plasticize the plurality of polymers and form a gel therewith, wherein the solvent is a solvent selected from the group consisting of aromatic alcohols, esters of aromatic acids, aromatic ketones, and mixtures thereof; and

(c) a beneficial agent dissolved or dispersed in the gel.

22. An injectable depot composition for sustained delivery of a beneficial agent to a subject comprising:

(a) a polymer matrix comprising a plurality of bioerodible, biocompatible lactic acid-based polymers, wherein a first of said plurality of polymers is a low molecular weight (LMW) polymer having a weight average molecular weight ranging from about 3000 to about 9000, a second is a high molecular weight (HMW) polymer having a weight average molecular weight greater than 30,000, and a third is a medium molecular weight (MMW) polymer having a weight average molecular weight ranging from 10,000 to 30,000, the polymer matrix having a multimodal molecular weight distribution of the plurality of polymers;

(b) a solvent having a miscibility in water of less than or equal to 7% at 25° C., in an amount effective to plasticize the plurality of polymers and form a gel therewith, wherein the solvent is a solvent selected from the group consisting of aromatic alcohols, esters of aromatic acids, aromatic ketones, and mixtures thereof; and

(c) a beneficial agent dissolved or dispersed in the gel, wherein the beneficial agent is delivered systemically in a controlled manner over a duration of one year.

23. An injectable depot composition for local delivery of a beneficial agent to a subject in a controlled manner comprising:

(a) a polymer matrix comprising a plurality of bioerodible, biocompatible lactic acid-based polymers, wherein a first of said plurality of polymers is a low molecular weight (LMW) polymer having a weight average molecular weight ranging from about 3000 to about 9000, a second is a high molecular weight (HMW) polymer having a weight average molecular weight greater than 30,000, and a third is a medium molecular weight (MMW) polymer having a weight average molecular weight ranging from 10,000 to 30,000, the polymer matrix having a multimodal molecular weight distribution of the plurality of polymers;

(b) a solvent having a miscibility in water of less than or equal to 7% at 25° C., in an amount effective to plasticize the plurality of polymers and form a gel therewith, wherein the solvent is a solvent selected from the group consisting of aromatic alcohols, esters of aromatic acids, aromatic ketones, and mixtures thereof; and

(c) a beneficial agent dissolved or dispersed in the gel.

24. An injectable depot composition for sustained delivery of a beneficial agent to a subject comprising:

(a) a polymer matrix comprising a plurality of bioerodible, biocompatible lactic acid-based polymers, wherein a first of said plurality of polymers is a low molecular weight (LMW) polymer having a weight average molecular weight ranging from about 3000 to about 9000, a second is a high molecular weight (HMW) polymer having a weight average molecular weight greater than 30,000, and a third is a medium molecular weight (MMW) polymer having a weight average molecular weight ranging from 10,000 to 30,000, the polymer matrix having a multimodal molecular weight distribution of the plurality of polymers;

(b) a solvent having a miscibility in water of less than or equal to 7% at 25° C., in an amount effective to plasticize the plurality of polymers and form a gel therewith, wherein the solvent is a solvent selected from the group consisting of aromatic alcohols, esters of aromatic acids, aromatic ketones, and mixtures thereof; and

(c) a beneficial agent dissolved or dispersed in the gel, wherein the beneficial agent is delivered locally in a controlled manner over a duration of up to one year.

25. The injectable depot composition of any one of claims 21 , 22 , 23 or 24 , wherein the solvent is an aromatic alcohol.

26. The injectable depot composition of claim 25 , wherein the polymer matrix comprises about 20 wt % to about 90 wt % of the low molecular weight (LMW) polymer.

27. The composition of claim 24 , wherein each polymer is a copolymer of lactic acid and glycolic acid.

28. The composition of claim 24 , comprising about 5 wt % to about 90 wt % of the biodegradable, biocompatible lactic acid-based polymers.

29. The composition of claim 28 , comprising about 25 wt % to about 80 wt % of the biodegradable, biocompatible lactic acid-based polymers.

30. The composition of claim 25 , wherein the solvent has a miscibility in water of less than or equal to 5 wt % at 25° C.

31. The composition of claim 30 , wherein the solvent has a miscibility in water of less than or equal to 3 wt % at 25° C.

32. The composition of claim 31 , wherein the solvent has a miscibility in water of less than or equal to 1 wt % at 25° C.

33. The composition of claim 32 , wherein the solvent has a miscibility in water of less than or equal to 0.5 wt % at 25° C.

34. The injectable depot composition of claim 25 , wherein the aromatic alcohol has the structural formula (I)

Ar-(L) n -OH  (I)

in which Ar is a substituted or unsubstituted aryl or heteroaryl group, n is zero or 1, and L is a linking moiety.

35. The composition of claim 34 , wherein Ar is monocyclic aryl or heteroaryl, n is 1, and L is lower alkylene optionally containing at least one heteroatom.

36. The composition of claim 35 , wherein Ar is monocyclic aryl and L is lower alkylene.

37. The composition of claim 36 , wherein Ar is phenyl and L is methylene.

38. The composition of claim 25 , wherein the ester of the aromatic acid is a lower alkyl ester or an aralkyl ester of benzoic acid.

39. The composition of claim 38 , wherein the ester of the aromatic acid is benzyl benzoate and the lower alkyl ester of an aromatic acid is ethyl benzoate.

40. The composition of claim 25 , wherein the solvent is a mixture of the aromatic alcohol and the ester of the aromatic acid.

41. The composition of claim 40 , wherein a ratio of the aromatic alcohol to the ester of the aromatic acid is in the range of about 1% to about 99% by weight.

42. The composition of claim 41 , wherein the ratio of the aromatic alcohol to the ester of the aromatic acid is in the range of about 10% to about 90% by weight.

43. The composition of claim 42 , wherein the ratio of the aromatic alcohol to the ester of the aromatic acid is in the range of about 20% to about 80% by weight.

44. A kit for administration of a beneficial agent to a subject comprising:

(a) a polymer matrix comprising a plurality of bioerodible, biocompatible lactic acid-based polymers, wherein a first of said plurality of polymers is a low molecular weight (LMW) polymer having a weight average molecular weight ranging from about 3000 to about 9000, a second is a high molecular weight (HMW) polymer having a weight average molecular weight greater than 30,000, and a third is a medium molecular weight (MMW) polymer having a weight average molecular weight ranging from 10,000 to 30,000, the polymer matrix having a multimodal molecular weight distribution of the plurality of polymers;

(b) a solvent having a miscibility in water of less than or equal to 7% at 25° C., in an amount effective to plasticize the plurality of polymers and form a gel therewith, wherein the solvent is a solvent selected from the group consisting of aromatic alcohols, esters of aromatic acids, aromatic ketones, and mixtures thereof;

(c) a beneficial agent dissolved or dispersed in the gel; and optionally, one or more of the following:

(d) an emulsifying agent;

(e) a pore former;

(f) a solubility modulator for the beneficial agent, optionally associated with the beneficial agent; and

(g) an osmotic agent, wherein at least the beneficial agent, optionally associated with the solubility modulator, is maintained separated from the solvent until a time of administration of the beneficial agent to a subject.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 15, 2008
From: ALZA CORPORATION
To: DURECT CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 021241/0336 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 60399832 · Jul 31, 2002
Related Publication 20040022859A1 · Feb 5, 2004