Transdermal iontophoretic delivery of piperazinyl-2(3H)-benzoxazolone compounds

1. An iontophoretic method for the delivery of at least one compound of the formula

wherein R is

methyl, ethyl, ethyl substituted with one or more fluorine atoms, or cyclo-(C 3-7 )-alkylmethyl optionally substituted with one or more fluorine atoms, or a benzyl, 2-pyridylmethyl, 3-pyridylmethyl or 4-pyridylmethyl radical optionally substituted with one or more substituents which are the same or different and are independently chosen from

halogen, hydroxyl, cyano, amino, mono-C 1-3 -alkylamino, di-C 1-3 -alkylamino, C 1-3 -alkoxy, CF 3 , OCF 3 , SCF 3 , C 1-4 -alkyl, C 1-3 -alkylsulfonyl amino, phenyl, furanyl and thienyl and wherein said substituents phenyl, furanyl and thienyl are optionally substituted with 1-3 moieties which are the same or different and are chosen from

hydroxy, halogen, C 1-4 -alkoxy, C 1-4 -alkyl, cyano, aminocarbonyl, mono-C 1-4 -alkylaminocarbonyl and di-C 1-4 -alkylaminocarbonyl;

at least one prodrug thereof, at least one pharmaceutically acceptable salt of either of the foregoing, or a mixture of any of the foregoing,

wherein the method comprises:

(a) applying a transdermal device to the skin of a living body, wherein the transdermal device comprises a reservoir comprising the at least one compound of formula I as set forth above and optionally a pharmaceutically acceptable electrolyte;

(b) causing current to flow through the skin so as to iontophoretically deliver to the living body the at least one compound of formula I as set forth above.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein R is methyl, ethyl, ethyl substituted with one or more fluorine atoms, or cyclo-(C 3-7 )-alkylmethyl optionally substituted with one or more fluorine atoms, or a benzyl, 2-pyridylmethyl, 3-pyridylmethyl or 4-pyridylmethyl radical, which radicals are optionally substituted with one or more substituents that are alike or different and are independently chosen from

halogen, hydroxyl, cyano, amino, mono-C 1-3 -alkylamino, di-C 1-3 -alkylamino, C 1-3 -alkoxy, CF 3 , OCF 3 , SCF 3 , C 1-4 -alkyl, and C 1-3 -alkylsulfonyl amino.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein a constant current is caused to flow.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein a variable current is caused to flow.

5. The method according to claim 4 , wherein an increasing current is caused to flow.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one compound of formula I is delivered to the living body at a flux rate ranging from about 50 μg per hour to about 4000 μg per hour.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one compound of formula I comprises 7-(4-methyl-1-piperazinyl)-2(3H)-benzoxazolone, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, or a mixture of the foregoing.

8. The method according to claim 7 , wherein the at least one compound of formula I comprises (7-(4-methyl-1-piperazinyl)-2(3H)-benzoxazolone) monohydrochloride.

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one compound of formula I comprises 7-(4-benzyl-1-piperazinyl)-2(3H)-benzoxazolone, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, or a mixture of the foregoing.

10. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the at least one compound of formula I comprises (7-(4-benzyl-1-piperazinyl)-2(3H)-benzoxazolone) monomethanesulphonate.

11. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the current flows through the skin at a current density ranging from about 0.001 mA/cm 2 to about 1.0 mA/cm 2 .

12. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the reservoir comprises the at least one compound of formula I in a composition at an initial concentration ranging from about 0.1 mg/ml to about 90 mg/ml.

13. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the reservoir comprises the at least one compound of formula I in a composition, and the pH of the composition ranges from about 3.5 to about 7.5.

14. The method according to claim 1 , wherein an amount ranging from about 0.1 mg to about 100 mg of the compound of formula I is delivered through the skin during step (b).

15. The method according to claim 1 wherein the current is caused to flow for a time period ranging from about 10 minutes to about 24 hours.

16. The method according to claim 7 , wherein the method is applied to a human for the treatment or prophylaxis of Parkinson's disease or restless leg syndrome.

17. The method according to claim 16 , wherein the compound of formula I comprises 7-(4-methyl-1-piperazinyl)-2(3H)-benzoxazolone monohydrochloride.

18. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the method is applied to a human for the treatment or prophylaxis of Parkinson's disease or restless leg syndrome.

19. The method according to claim 18 , wherein the compound of formula I comprises 7-(4-benzyl-1-piperazinyl)-2(3H)-benzoxazolone monohydrogenmesylate.

20. An iontophoretic system for the delivery of at least one compound of formula I through skin,

the compound of formula I having the structure:

wherein R is

methyl, ethyl, ethyl substituted with one or more fluorine atoms, or cyclo-(C 30.7 )-alkylmethyl optionally substituted with one or more fluorine atoms, or a benzyl, 2-pyridylmethyl, 3-pyridylmethyl or 4-pyridylmethyl radical optionally substituted with one or more substituents which are alike or different and are independently chosen from

halogen, hydroxyl, cyano, amino, mono-C 1-3 -alkylamino, di-C 1-3 -alkylamino, C 1-3 -alkoxy, CF 3 , OCF 3 , SCF 3 , C 1-4 -alkyl, C 1-3 -alkylsulfonyl amino, phenyl, furanyl and thienyl and wherein said substituents phenyl, furanyl and thienyl are optionally substituted with 1-3 moieties which are alike or different and are chosen from hydroxy, halogen, C 1-4 -alkoxy, C 1-4 -alkyl, cyano, aminocarbonyl, mono-C 1-4 -alkylaminocarbonyl and di-C 1-4 -alkylaminocarbonyl;

at least one prodrug thereof, at least one pharmaceutically acceptable salt of either of the foregoing,

or a mixture of any of the foregoing,

wherein the iontophoretic system comprises:

(a) a transdermal delivery device attachable to the skin, the device comprising a first electrode and a second electrode, and a reservoir capable of comprising a compound of the formula I as set forth above, and optionally a pharmaceutically acceptable electrolyte, in electrical communication with the first and second electrodes, and

(b) means for connecting an electrical power source to the first and second electrodes.

21. The iontophoretic system of claim 20 , further comprising a membrane capable of closing the reservoir.

22. The iontophoretic system of claim 20 , wherein the compound of formula I comprises 7-(4-methyl-1-piperazinyl)-2(3H)-benzoxazolone or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

23. The iontophoretic system of claim 20 , wherein the compound of formula I comprises 7-(4-benzyl-1-piperazinyl)-2(3H)-benzoxazolone or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

24. The iontophoretic system of claim 20 , wherein the reservoir comprises the compound of formula I and optionally a pharmaceutically acceptable electrolyte in a composition having a pH ranging from about 3.5 to about 7.5.

25. The iontophoretic system of claim 20 , wherein the compound of formula I is present in the reservoir in a composition at a concentration ranging from about 0.1 to about 90 mg/ml.

26. A kit comprising

(1) an iontophoretic system for the delivery of a compound through skin, comprising

(a) a transdermal delivery device attachable to the skin, the device including a first electrode and a second electrode, and a reservoir able to contain a composition of an active compound, and

(b) a electrical power source connected to the first and second electrodes, and

(2) one or more cartridges comprising a compound of formula I

wherein R is

methyl, ethyl, ethyl substituted with one or more fluorine atoms, or cyclo-(C 3-7 )-alkylmethyl optionally substituted with one or more fluorine atoms, or a benzyl, 2-pyridylmethyl, 3-pyridylmethyl or 4-pyridylmethyl radical optionally substituted with one or more substituents which are alike or different and are independently chosen from

halogen, hydroxyl, cyano, amino, mono-C 1-3 -alkylamino, di-C 1-3 -alkylamino, C 1-3 -alkoxy, CF 3 , OCF 3 , SCF 3 , C 1-3 -alkyl, C 1-3 -alkylsulfonyl amino, phenyl, furanyl and thienyl and wherein said substituents phenyl, furanyl and thienyl are optionally substituted with 1-3 moieties which are alike or different and are chosen from

hydroxy, halogen, C 1-4 -alkoxy, C 1-4 -alkyl, cyano, aminocarbonyl, mono-C 1-4 -alkylaminocarbonyl and di-C 1-4 -alkylaminocarbonyl;

at least one prodrug thereof, at least one pharmaceutically acceptable salt of either of the foregoing, or a mixture of any of the foregoing,

and optionally a pharmaceutically acceptable electrolyte.

27. A cartridge capable of filling or refilling an iontophoretic system for the delivery of a compound through skin, the cartridge comprising at least one compound of formula I

wherein R is

methyl, ethyl, ethyl substituted with one or more fluorine atoms, or cyclo-(C 3-7 )-alkylmethyl optionally substituted with one or more fluorine atoms, or a benzyl, 2-pyridylmethyl, 3-pyridylmethyl or 4-pyridylmethyl radical optionally substituted with one or more substituents which are alike or different and are independently chosen from

halogen, hydroxyl, cyano, amino, mono-C 1-3 -alkylamino, di-C 1-3 -alkylamino, C 1-3 -alkoxy, CF 3 , OCF 3 , SCF 3 , C 1-4 -alkyl, C 1-3 -alkylsulfonyl amino, phenyl, furanyl and thienyl and wherein said substituents phenyl, furanyl and thienyl are optionally substituted with 1-3 moieties which are alike or different and are chosen from hydroxy, halogen, C 1-4 -alkoxy, C 1-4 -alkyl, cyano, aminocarbonyl, mono-C 1-4 -alkylaminocarbonyl and di-C 1-4 -alkylaminocarbonyl;

at least one prodrug thereof, at least one pharmaceutically acceptable salt of either of the foregoing, or a mixture of any of the foregoing,

and optionally a pharmaceutically acceptable electrolyte.

28. The cartridge according to claim 27 , wherein the at least one compound of formula I comprises 7-(4-methyl-1-piperazinyl)-2(3H)-benzoxazolone or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

29. The cartridge according to claim 27 , wherein the at least one compound of formula I is present in the cartridge in a composition at a concentration ranging from about 0.1 to about 90 mg/ml.