IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,447,158
Granted Patent B2
US 12,447,158 · App. 18/446,687 · Granted Oct 21, 2025

Liquid polymer delivery system for extended administration of drugs

Inventors: John Milton Downing (Fort Collins, CO); Vipin Saxena (Carol Stream, IL); John Middleton (Fort Collins, CO)
Assignee: Tolmar International Limited
A61K31/568A61K9/0019A61K9/0024A61K38/09A61K38/29A61K47/34A61K47/593A61P5/26A61K38/00
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,447,158
App. No.
18/446,687
Granted
Oct 21, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

Liquid polymer pharmaceutical compositions with a biodegradable liquid polyester that has a carboxylic acid end group, a biocompatible solvent, and an active pharmaceutical agent are useful for administration into the body to provide extended long term release of the drug.

Claims (25)

1. A method for treating a disease in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering into the body of the subject an extended release pharmaceutical composition comprising:

a biodegradable liquid polyester having a carboxylic acid end group; a biocompatible organic solvent or combination of solvents; and

an active pharmaceutical agent,

wherein:

the extended release pharmaceutical composition is formulated to release the active pharmaceutical agent for a period of one month or greater;

the extended release pharmaceutical composition is free of a polyester without a carboxylic acid end group; and

the biodegradable liquid polyester comprises lactide residues and monomer residues selected from the group consisting of caprolactone, trimethylene carbonate, and combinations thereof.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the carboxylic acid end group is formed from an initiator that is selected from the group consisting of GABA (gamma-amino butyric acid), GHB (gamma-hydroxybutyric acid), lactic acid, glycolic acid, citric acid, and undecylenic acid.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the biodegradable liquid polyester comprises at least about 50% lactide residues.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the biodegradable liquid polyester comprises about 75% lactide residues.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the monomer residues selected from the group consisting of caprolactone, trimethylene carbonate, and combinations thereof are in an amount less than about 50%.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the biodegradable liquid polyester comprises about 25% monomer residues selected from the group consisting of caprolactone, trimethylene carbonate, and combinations thereof.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the biodegradable liquid polyester is selected from the group consisting of 75:25 lactide:caprolactone and 75:25 lactide:trimethylene carbonate.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the biodegradable liquid polyester has a weight-average molecular weight between about 5 kDa and about 40 kDa.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the biocompatible organic solvent or combination of solvents is selected from the group consisting of N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP), 2-pyrrolidone, N-ethyl-2-pyrrolidone, N-cycylohexyl-2-pyrrolidone, N-hydroxyethyl-2-pyrrolidone, dimethyl acetamide, dimethyl formamide, acetic acid, lactic acid, ethanol, propanol, methyl lactate, ethyl lactate, methyl acetate, diethylene glycol monomethyl ether, glycofurol, glycerol formal, isopropylidene glycerol, dimethyl sulfoxide, ε-caprolactone, butyrolactone, propylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, glycerol, 1,3-butyleneglycol, methoxypolyethylene glycol, methoxypropylene glycol, acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, tetrahydrofuran and combinations thereof.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises between about 20 wt % and about 40 wt % of the biodegradable liquid polyester and between about 40 wt % and about 60 wt % of the biocompatible organic solvent or combination of solvents.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the active pharmaceutical agent is selected from the group consisting of a hydrophobic small molecule drug and a polymeric drug.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the biodegradable liquid polyester has a weight-average molecular weight between about 10 kDa and about 40 kDa.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the biodegradable liquid polyester has a weight-average molecular weight between about 15 kDa and about 40 kDa.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the extended release pharmaceutical composition is formulated to release the active pharmaceutical agent for a period of three months or greater.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein a duration of release of the active pharmaceutical agent from the composition is longer than a duration of release obtained from a composition comprising a biodegradable liquid polyester without a carboxylic acid end group.

16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the biodegradable liquid polyester comprises at least about 50% lactide residues and monomer residues selected from the group consisting of caprolactone, trimethylene carbonate, and combinations thereof.

17. The method of claim 1 , wherein the extended release pharmaceutical composition is administered to the body of the subject by injection.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the injected extended release pharmaceutical composition forms a biodegradable, non-solid implant in situ in the body of the subject.

19. The method of claim 1 , wherein the disease is selected from the group consisting of cancers, endocrine disorders, metabolic disorders, neurological disorders, psychological disorders, cardiovascular disorders, and autoimmune disorders.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 15, 2023
From: DOWNING, JOHN MILTON; SAXENA, VIPIN; MIDDLETON, JOHN
To: TOLMAR INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
Reel/Frame 064592/0225 →
Continuity (5)
Continuation 16995020 · Aug 17, 2020
Continuation 15749030
Provisional Application 62275407 · Jan 6, 2016
Provisional Application 62200198 · Aug 3, 2015
Related Publication 20240066039A1 · Feb 29, 2024
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