IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,539,274
Granted Patent B2
US 12,539,274 · App. 17/344,039 · Granted Feb 3, 2026

Zinc meloxicam complex microparticle multivesicular liposome formulations and processes for making the same

Inventors: Louie Daniel Garcia (San Diego, CA); Stephanie Kurz (San Diego, CA); Soroush Ardekani (San Diego, CA); Kathleen Dunne Albright Los (San Diego, CA); Katherine Stone (San Diego, CA); Ernest G. Schutt (San Diego, CA); Vladimir Kharitonov (San Diego, CA)
Assignee: Pacira Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
A61K9/1277A61K9/0019A61K9/127A61K31/5415A61K31/555A61K47/24A61P29/00
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,539,274
App. No.
17/344,039
Granted
Feb 3, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure are related to multivesicular liposome formulations encapsulating zinc meloxicam complex microparticles. Methods of making the zinc meloxicam complex microparticles and administering the zinc meloxicam complex microparticles encapsulated in multivesicular liposome formulations and their use as medicaments are also provided.

Claims (19)

1 . A unilamellar or multilamellar liposome formulation of zinc meloxicam complex microparticles, wherein the zinc meloxicam complex has the formula Zn(MLX) 2 or Zn(MLX) 2 ·4H 2 O, wherein the zinc meloxicam complex microparticles have a median particle diameter of about 0.2 μm to about 10 μm, wherein at least a portion of the zinc meloxicam complex microparticles are encapsulated in the unilamellar or multilamellar liposomes formed by one or more lipids or surfactants, and wherein the zinc meloxicam complex is produced by mixing a first aqueous solution comprising a zinc salt and a second aqueous solution comprising meloxicam at room temperature, wherein the pH of the first solution is from about 4.5 to about 6.0, and wherein the pH of the second solution is from about 7.5 to about 10.0.

2 . A multivesicular liposome formulation of zinc meloxicam complex microparticles, wherein the zinc meloxicam complex has the formula Zn(MLX) 2 or Zn(MLX) 2 ·4H 2 O, wherein the zinc meloxicam complex microparticles have a median particle diameter of about 0.2 μm to about 10 μm, wherein at least a portion of the zinc meloxicam complex microparticles are encapsulated in the multivesicular liposomes formed by one or more lipids or surfactants, and wherein the zinc meloxicam complex is produced by mixing a first aqueous solution comprising a zinc salt and a second aqueous solution comprising meloxicam at room temperature, wherein the pH of the first solution is from about 4.5 to about 6.0, and wherein the pH of the second solution is from about 7.5 to about 10.0.

3 . The formulation of claim 2 , wherein the zinc meloxicam complex has the formula Zn(MLX) 2 .

4 . A method of treating pain or inflammation comprising administering a multivesicular liposome formulation of zinc meloxicam complex microparticles of claim 2 to a subject in need thereof.

5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the formulation is administered by intravenous, intraperitoneal, intraarticular, intramuscular, subcutaneous, intraocular, or intrathecal injection, administered by wound infiltration or instillation, or administered topically.

6 . A process for preparing zinc meloxicam complex microparticles, comprising mixing a first aqueous solution comprising a zinc salt and a second aqueous solution comprising meloxicam, wherein the pH of the first solution is from about 4.5 to about 6.0, and wherein the pH of the second solution is from about 7.5 to about 10.0, wherein the zinc meloxicam complex has the formula Zn(MLX) 2 or Zn(MLX) 2 ·4H 2 O, and wherein he zinc meloxicam complex microparticles have a median particle diameter of about 0.2 μm to about 10 μm.

7 . The process of claim 6 , wherein the pH of the first solution is from about 5.0 to about 5.5.

8 . The process of claim 6 , wherein the pH of the second solution is from about 8.0 to about 9.0.

9 . The process of claim 6 , wherein the mixing forms a zinc meloxicam complex microparticle suspension having a pH of about 5.0 to about 7.1.

10 . The process of claim 6 , wherein said process forms zinc meloxicam complex microparticles having a median particle diameter of about 2 μm or less.

11 . The process of claim 6 , wherein said process forms zinc meloxicam complex microparticles having a median particle diameter of about 1 μm to about 10 μm.

12 . The process of claim 6 , wherein the first solution and the second solution are sterile, and further wherein said process is performed in a sterile environment.

13 . The process of claim 6 , wherein the zinc meloxicam complex microparticles comprise microcrystalline zinc meloxicam.

14 . The process of claim 13 , wherein the microcrystals exist in a crystalline form exhibiting 20 peaks in an XRPD spectrum of about 6.3, about 10.3, about 12.5, about 13.7, about 16.9, about 23.1, about 23.3, about 25.3, about 26.3, about 31.3, about 39.9, and about 42.4 degrees.

15 . The formulation of claim 2 , wherein the zinc meloxicam complex microparticles have a median particle diameter of about 2 μm or less.

16 . The formulation of claim 1 , wherein the zinc meloxicam complex microparticles have a median particle diameter of about 2 μm or less.

17 . The formulation of claim 1 , wherein the zinc meloxicam complex has the formula Zn(MLX) 2 .

18 . A method of treating pain or inflammation comprising administering a unilamellar or multilamellar liposome formulation of zinc meloxicam complex microparticles of claim 1 to a subject in need thereof.

19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the formulation is administered by intravenous, intraperitoneal, intraarticular, intramuscular, subcutaneous, intraocular, or intrathecal injection, administered by wound infiltration or instillation, or administered topically.

Assignments (5)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 2, 2026
From: LOS, KATHLEEN DUNNE ALBRIGHT; GARCIA, LOUIE DANIEL; KURZ, STEPHANIE; STONE, KATHERINE; SCHUTT, ERNEST GEORGE; KHARITONOV, VLADIMIR; ARDEKANI, SOROUSH
To: PACIRA PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
Reel/Frame 073353/0772 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 4, 2025
From: PACIRA PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 071814/0792 →
CONFIRMATORY GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN UNITED STATES PATENTS Recorded Mar 31, 2023
From: PACIRA CRYOTECH, INC.; PACIRA PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.; PACIRA THERAPEUTICS, INC. (F/K/A FLEXION THERAPEUTICS, INC.)
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 063214/0108 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Mar 31, 2023
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: PACIRA CRYOTECH, INC.; PACIRA PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.; PACIRA THERAPEUTICS, INC. (F/K/A FLEXION THERAPEUTICS, INC.)
Reel/Frame 063213/0864 →
SUPPLEMENTAL CONFIRMATORY GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN UNITED STATES PATENTS Recorded Dec 14, 2021
From: PACIRA CRYOTECH, INC.; PACIRA PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.; FLEXION THERAPEUTICS, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 058516/0636 →
Continuity (4)
Division 16919741 · Jul 2, 2020
Division 15816916 · Nov 17, 2017
Provisional Application 62424274 · Nov 18, 2016
Related Publication 20210299047A1 · Sep 30, 2021
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