IP Library Granted Patent US 9,132,125
Granted Patent B2
US 9,132,125 · App. 14/557,570 · Granted Sep 15, 2015

Benzoic acid, benzoic acid derivatives and heteroaryl carboxylic acid conjugates of hydrocodone, prodrugs, methods of making and use thereof

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,132,125
App. No.
14/557,570
Granted
Sep 15, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

The presently described technology provides compositions comprising aryl carboxylic acids chemically conjugated to hydrocodone (morphinan-6-one, 4,5-alpha-epoxy-3-methoxy-17-methyl) to form novel prodrugs/compositions of hydrocodone, including benzoates and heteroaryl carboxylic acids, which have a decreased potential for abuse of hydrocodone. The present technology also provides methods of treating patients, pharmaceutical kits and methods of synthesizing conjugates of the present technology.

Claims (30)

1. A composition comprising acetaminophen and a conjugate, wherein the conjugate is benzoate-hydrocodone (Bz-HC) having the following structure:

2. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the conjugate is used to treat narcotic or opioid abuse; to reduce narcotic or opioid withdrawal; to treat moderate to severe pain; to reduce oral, intranasal or intravenous drug abuse; or to provide oral, intranasal or parenteral drug abuse resistance.

3. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the conjugate exhibits an improved AUC and rate of release over time when compared to unconjugated hydrocodone over the same time period; exhibits less variability in the oral PK profile when compared to unconjugated hydrocodone; or has reduced side effects when compared with unconjugated hydrocodone.

4. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the conjugate is provided in a dosage form selected from the group consisting of: a tablet, a capsule, a caplet, a suppository, a troche, a lozenge, an oral powder, a solution, an oral film, a thin strip, a slurry, and a suspension.

5. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the conjugate is provided in an amount sufficient to provide a therapeutically bioequivalent AUC when compared to unconjugated hydrocodone.

6. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the conjugate is provided in an amount sufficient to provide a therapeutically bioequivalent AUC and C max when compared to an equivalent molar amount of unconjugated hydrocodone.

7. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the conjugate is provided in an amount sufficient to provide a therapeutically bioequivalent AUC and a lower C max when compared to an equivalent molar amount of unconjugated hydrocodone.

8. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the conjugate is a salt.

9. The composition of claim 8 , wherein the salt is a hydrochloride/chloride.

10. The composition of claim 1 , further comprising a biologically acceptable carrier.

11. The composition of claim 1 , wherein upon administration, active hydrocodone is released from the conjugate through first-pass metabolism.

12. A method for treating pain in an individual in need thereof comprising the step of orally administering a pharmaceutically effective amount of a composition comprising acetaminophen and a conjugate, wherein the conjugate is benzoate-hydrocodone (Bz-HC) having the following structure:

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the conjugate exhibits an improved AUC and rate of release over time when compared to unconjugated hydrocodone over the same time period; exhibits less variability in the oral PK profile when compared to unconjugated hydrocodone; or has reduced side effects when compared with unconjugated hydrocodone.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the composition is provided in a dosage form selected from the group consisting of: a tablet, a capsule, a caplet, a suppository, a troche, a lozenge, an oral powder, a solution, an oral film, a strip, a slurry, and a suspension.

15. The method of claim 12 , wherein the conjugate is provided in an amount sufficient to provide a therapeutically bioequivalent AUC when compared to unconjugated hydrocodone.

16. The method of claim 12 , wherein the conjugate is provided in an amount sufficient to provide a therapeutically bioequivalent AUC and C max when compared to an equivalent molar amount of unconjugated hydrocodone.

17. The method of claim 12 , wherein the conjugate is provided in an amount sufficient to provide a therapeutically bioequivalent AUC and a lower C max when compared to an equivalent molar amount of unconjugated hydrocodone.

18. The method of claim 12 , wherein the composition is used for treating pain mediated by binding of an opioid primarily to μ opioid receptors of the patient.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the conjugate binds reversibly to the μ opioid receptors of the patient.

20. The method of claim 18 , wherein the conjugate binds reversibly to the μ opioid receptors of the patient without a CNS depressive effect.

21. The method of claim 12 , wherein the composition also reduces narcotic or opioid abuse.

22. The method of claim 12 , wherein the composition also reduces narcotic or opioid withdrawal.

23. The method of claim 12 , wherein the composition also reduces oral, intranasal or intravenous narcotic or opioid abuse.

24. The method of claim 12 , wherein the composition also provides oral, intranasal or parenteral non corticoid opioid abuse resistance.

25. A pharmaceutical kit comprising a specified amount of individual doses in a package containing a pharmaceutically effective amount of acetaminophen and a conjugate, wherein the conjugate is benzoate-hydrocodone (Bz-HC) having the following structure:

26. The pharmaceutical kit of claim 25 , wherein the kit further comprises instructions for use of the kit in a method for treating pain.

27. The pharmaceutical kit of claim 25 , wherein the kit further comprises instructions for use of the kit in a method for treating narcotic or opioid withdrawal symptoms.

28. The pharmaceutical kit of claim 25 , wherein the kit further comprises instructions for use of the kit in a method for reducing narcotic or opioid abuse.

29. The pharmaceutical kit of claim 25 , wherein the specified amount of individual doses comprise from about 1 to about 100 individual dosages.

30. The pharmaceutical kit of claim 25 , wherein the individual doses comprise at least about 0.5 mg of the conjugate.

Assignments (4)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 13, 2026
From: ALTER DOMUS (US) LLC
To: ZEVRA THERAPEUTICS, INC.
Reel/Frame 075080/0907 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 8, 2024
From: ZEVRA THERAPEUTICS, INC.
To: ALTER DOMUS (US) LLC
Reel/Frame 067040/0637 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 23, 2024
From: KEMPHARM, INC.
To: ZEVRA THERAPEUTICS, INC.
Reel/Frame 066664/0108 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 28, 2015
From: MICKLE, TRAVIS; GUENTHER, SVEN; MICKLE, CHRISTAL; CHI, GUOCHEN; KANSKI, JAROSLAW; MARTIN, ANDREA K.; BERA, BINDU
To: KEMPHARM, INC.
Reel/Frame 034828/0656 →