Formulations and methods for the controlled release of active drug substances

1. A tablet for oral delivery of oxycodone, the tablet comprising:

a) a matrix composition having a cylindrical shape with two ends, wherein each of the two ends is optionally tapered, the length of the matrix is in the range of 7.5 to 15 mm, the matrix composition comprises (i) oxycodone and (ii) at least one polyglycol, and the matrix composition exhibits a release rate of the oxycodone from the matrix in ethanol that is equal to or lower than the release rate of the oxycodone from the matrix in water; and

b) a coating substantially surrounding the matrix composition and having one or two openings exposing at least one surface of the matrix composition, the coating being substantially impermeable to an aqueous medium,

wherein the tablet provides controlled release of the oxycodone over an interval of 24 hours,

wherein the tablet provides a C min reached no earlier than 18 hours after last administration and

wherein the tablet is resistant to isolation of the oxycodone by any of crushing of the tablet, melting of the tablet, and ethanol extraction.

2. The tablet according to claim 1 , wherein the area of the cross section of the matrix is in the range of 1 to 75 mm 2 .

3. The tablet according to claim 1 , wherein the area of the cross section of the matrix is at least 20 mm 2 .

4. The tablet according to claim 1 , wherein the length of the matrix is selected from the group consisting of 8 to 15 mm, 8 to 10 mm, and 9 to 9.5 mm.

5. The tablet according to claim 1 , wherein the length of the matrix is selected from the group consisting of 7.5 to 12 mm, 7.5 to 10 mm, and 7.5 to 8 mm.

6. The tablet according to claim 1 , wherein the coating comprises two openings each exposing one end of the matrix.

7. The tablet according to claim 1 , wherein a therapeutically effective response is achieved over the entire interval between administrations.

8. The tablet according to claim 1 , wherein the tablet provides a steady state trough of oxycodone that is selected from the group consisting of at least 20%, at least 30%, at least 40%, and at least 50% of steady state C max .

9. The tablet according to claim 1 , wherein the tablet provides a steady state trough of oxycodone that is in a range selected from the group consisting of 30 to 80% of steady state C max and 40 to 80% of steady state C max .

10. The tablet according to claim 1 , wherein the tablet provides controlled release of oxycodone such that a 2 nd point where a plasma concentration of oxycodone of 50% of steady state C max is reached is at a time selected from the group consisting of no earlier than 4 hours and no earlier than 12 hours after last administration.

11. The tablet according to claim 1 , wherein a 1 st point where a plasma concentration of oxycodone of 50% of steady state C max is reached is in the range of 0.5 to 2.5 hours after last administration.

12. The tablet according to claim 1 , wherein the tablet provides controlled release of oxycodone in a manner that results in a MRT selected from the group consisting of at least 11 hours and at least 15 hours.

13. The tablet according to claim 1 , wherein the tablet provides controlled release of oxycodone in a manner that results in a T max selected from the group consisting of 3 to 6 hours and 4 to 6 hours after last administration to a steady state individual.

14. The tablet according to claim 1 , wherein the tablet provides a protraction index selected from the group consisting of at least 0.20 and at least 0.30.

15. The tablet according to claim 1 , wherein the tablet delivers sufficient oxycodone in a controlled manner over a 24-hour period to achieve pain relief over a 24-hour period.

16. The tablet according to claim 1 , wherein each dosage of the oxycodone is in the range of 10 to 500 mg.

17. The tablet according to claim 1 , wherein the polyglycol is a water soluble crystalline or semi-crystalline polymer.

18. The tablet according to claim 1 , comprising at least one polyglycol that is a homopolymer.

19. The tablet according to claim 1 , comprising at least one polyglycol that is a copolymer.

20. The tablet according to claim 1 , wherein the total concentration of the at least one polyglycol included in the matrix composition is selected from the group consisting of 5 to 99% w/w, 15 to 95% w/w, 30 to 90% w/w, 30 to 85% w/w, 30 to 80% w/w, 40 to 80% w/w, 45 to 75% w/w, 40 to 50% w/w, 45 to 50% w/w, 60 to 85% w/w, 60 to 80% w/w, and 70 to 75% w/w.

21. The tablet according to claim 18 , wherein the at least one polyglycol is a polyethylene glycol and/or a polyethylene oxide.

22. The tablet according to claim 21 , wherein the polyethylene glycol and/or polyethylene oxide has a molecular weight selected from the group consisting of 20,000 to 700,000 daltons, 20,000 to 600,000 daltons, 35,000 to 500,000 daltons, 35,000 to 400,000 daltons, 35,000 to 300,000 daltons, 50,000 to 300,000 daltons, 200,000 daltons, and 300,000 daltons.

23. The tablet according to claim 1 , wherein the matrix comprises at least two different polyglycols, wherein the different polyglycols are selected from the group consisting of polyethylene oxides.

24. The tablet according to claim 23 , wherein one polyethylene oxide has an average molecular weight in the range of 150,000 to 250,000 daltons and the other polyethylene oxide has an average molecular weight in the range of 250,000 to 350,000 daltons.

25. The tablet according to claim 18 , wherein the concentration of homopolymer in the matrix composition is selected from the group consisting of 5 to 90% w/w, 20 to 85% w/w, 20 to 75% w/w, 20 to 70% w/w, 20 to 40% w/w, 30 to 85% w/w, 30 to 75% w/w, 30 to 50% w/w, 30 to 40% w/w, 30 to 35% w/w, 31 to 33% w/w, 50 to 85% w/w, 60 to 80% w/w, 70 to 80% w/w, 70 to 75% w/w, and 71 to 73% w/w.

26. The tablet according to claim 19 , wherein the copolymer is a poloxamer that has an average molecular weight selected from the group consisting of 2,000 to 30,000 daltons, 2,000 daltons to 20,000 daltons, 4,000 daltons to 18,000 daltons, and 6,000 daltons to 10,000 daltons.

27. The tablet according to claim 19 , wherein the matrix comprises one or more copolymers selected from the group consisting of poloxamers.

28. The tablet according to claim 27 , wherein the matrix comprises only one poloxamer and has a length selected from the group consisting of 7.5 to 15 mm and of 7.5 to 10 mm.

29. The tablet according to claim 19 , wherein the concentration of copolymer in the matrix composition is selected from the group consisting of 0 to 30% w/w, 1 to 20% w/w, 2 to 10% w/w, 2 to 5% w/w, 5 to 30% w/w, 5 to 20% w/w, and 5 to 15% w/w.

30. The tablet according to claim 1 , wherein the coating is insoluble in an aqueous medium.

31. The tablet according to claim 1 , wherein the coating comprises one or more polymers selected from the group consisting of starch based polymers, cellulose based polymers, synthetic polymers, and biodegradable polymers.

32. The tablet according to claim 1 , wherein the coating comprises one or more polymers selected from the group consisting of ethyl cellulose grade 20, ethyl cellulose grade 100, polylactic acid (PLA), Cornpack 200, polycaprolactone, PEO 7000000, and polyhydroxybuturate.

33. The tablet according to claim 1 , wherein the coating comprises an ethyl cellulose selected from an ethyl cellulose of grade 20 and an ethyl cellulose of grade 100.

34. The tablet according to claim 1 , wherein the coating comprises one or more biodegradable polymers, selected from the group consisting of polylactic acid and polycaprolactone.

35. The tablet according to claim 1 , wherein the coating comprises at least 85% polymers, and wherein the polymers are selected from the group consisting of biodegradable polymers and cellulose based polymers.

36. The tablet according to claim 1 , wherein the coating comprises one or more plasticizers.

37. The tablet according to claim 1 , wherein the tablet is formed by injection molding or extrusion.