IP Library Granted Patent US 12,178,918
Granted Patent B2
US 12,178,918 · App. 18/755,045 · Granted Dec 31, 2024

Muco-adhesive, controlled release formulations of levodopa and/or esters of levodopa and uses thereof

Inventors: Ann Hsu (Hayward, CA); Liang Dong (Hayward, CA); Amy Ding (Hayward, CA); Suneel Gupta (Hayward, CA)
Assignee: Impax Laboratories, LLC
A61K9/4808A61K9/0053A61K9/1652A61K9/5026A61K9/5042A61K9/5073A61K31/198A61K31/216A61K45/06Y02A50/30
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,178,918
App. No.
18/755,045
Granted
Dec 31, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

The invention provides an oral solid formulation comprising (a) a controlled release component comprising a core comprising levodopa, wherein the core is coated with a muco-adhesive coating and the muco-adhesive coating is externally coated with an enteric coating; and (b) an immediate release component comprising levodopa. The invention further provides a method for making and using the oral solid formulation.

Claims (38)

1. A multiparticulate controlled release levodopa solid oral dosage form comprising:

(i) one or more immediate release levodopa granules; and

(ii) one or more controlled release levodopa particles comprising:

(a) a spheronized core comprising levodopa and at least one pharmaceutically acceptable excipient selected from the group consisting of a binder, a filler, a wetting agent, and mixtures thereof;

(b) a rate controlling coating surrounding the spheronized core wherein the rate controlling coating comprises a rate controlling material;

(c) a muco-adhesive coating surrounding the rate controlling coating wherein the muco-adhesive coating comprises a muco-adhesive material capable of forming a positive ionic charge at pHs present in a human gastro-intestinal tract; and

(d) an enteric coating surrounding the muco-adhesive coating wherein the enteric coating comprises an enteric material.

2. The dosage form of claim 1 , wherein the rate controlling material comprises a rate controlling polymer selected from the group consisting of cellulose acetate, ethyl cellulose, and a mixture thereof.

3. The dosage form of claim 1 , wherein the muco-adhesive material comprises a cationic muco-adhesive polymer.

4. The dosage form of claim 3 , wherein the cationic muco-adhesive polymer is an amino methacrylate copolymer.

5. The dosage form of claim 4 , wherein the amino methacrylate copolymer is poly(butyl methacrylate-co-(2-dimethylaminoethyl) methacrylate-co-methyl methacrylate).

6. The dosage form of claim 1 , wherein the spheronized core is a spheronized bead.

7. The dosage form of claim 6 , wherein the spheronized bead has a size of between 0.8 to 1.2 mm.

8. The dosage form of claim 7 , wherein the spheronized bead coated with the rate controlling coating, the muco-adhesive coating, and the enteric coating passes through a mesh screen size of 16 or less and is retained on a mesh screen size of at least 18.

9. The dosage form of claim 1 , wherein the controlled release levodopa particles do not include carbidopa.

10. The dosage form of claim 1 , wherein the immediate release levodopa granules comprise levodopa and carbidopa.

11. A multiparticulate controlled release levodopa solid oral dosage form comprising:

one or more controlled release levodopa particles comprising:

(a) a core comprising levodopa and at least one pharmaceutically acceptable excipient selected from the group consisting of a binder, a filler, a wetting agent, and mixtures thereof;

(b) a rate controlling coating surrounding the core wherein the rate controlling coating comprises a rate controlling material;

(c) a muco-adhesive coating surrounding the rate controlling coating wherein the muco-adhesive coating comprises a muco-adhesive material capable of forming a positive ionic charge at pHs present in a human gastro-intestinal tract; and

(d) an enteric coating surrounding the muco-adhesive coating wherein the enteric coating comprises an enteric material.

12. The dosage form of claim 11 , wherein the rate controlling material is a rate controlling polymer selected from the group consisting of cellulose acetate, ethyl cellulose, and a mixture thereof.

13. The dosage form of claim 11 , wherein the muco-adhesive material comprises a cationic muco-adhesive polymer.

14. The dosage form of claim 13 , wherein the cationic muco-adhesive polymer is an amino methacrylate copolymer.

15. The dosage form of claim 14 , wherein the amino methacrylate copolymer is poly(butyl methacrylate-co-(2-dimethylaminoethyl) methacrylate-co-methyl methacrylate).

16. The dosage form of claim 11 , wherein the core is a bead.

17. The dosage form of claim 16 , wherein the bead has a size of between 0.8 to 1.2 mm.

18. The dosage form of claim 17 , wherein the bead coated with the rate controlling coating, the muco-adhesive coating and the enteric coating passes through a mesh screen size of 16 or less and is retained on a mesh screen size of at least 18.

19. The dosage form of claim 11 further comprising an immediate release component comprising levodopa and carbidopa and the controlled release levodopa particles do not include carbidopa.

20. A multiparticulate controlled release levodopa solid oral dosage form comprising:

(i) an immediate release component comprising one or more immediate release levodopa granules; and

(ii) a controlled release component comprising one or more controlled release levodopa particles comprising:

(a) a spheronized core comprising levodopa and (b) a muco-adhesive coating surrounding the spheronized core wherein the muco-adhesive coating comprises a muco-adhesive material capable of forming a positive ionic charge at pHs present in a human gastro-intestinal tract, and wherein ratio of levodopa in the controlled release component:levodopa in the immediate release component is about 3:1.

21. The dosage form of claim 20 , wherein the dosage form provides an in vivo levodopa plasma profile following oral administration of the multiparticulate formulation to a human subject under fasting conditions comprising:

(a) a levodopa plasma concentration corresponding to a maximum levodopa plasma concentration (C max ) occurring within 6 hours after administration of the multiparticulate formulation;

(b) a time to reach 50% C max of less than one hour after administration of the multiparticulate formulation; and

(c) wherein the in vivo plasma level of levodopa is maintained at 50% C max or above for at least 5.0 hours after administration of the multiparticulate formulation.

Assignments (3)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 22, 2025
From: AMNEAL PHARMACEUTICALS LLC; IMPAX LABORATORIES, LLC
To: TRUIST BANK, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 072321/0852 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 1, 2025
From: AMNEAL PHARMACEUTICALS LLC; IMPAX LABORATORIES, LLC
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 071905/0166 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 1, 2025
From: AMNEAL PHARMACEUTICALS LLC; IMPAX LABORATORIES, LLC; GEMINI LABORATORIES, LLC
To: WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 072312/0127 →
Continuity (10)
Continuation 18131715 · Apr 6, 2023
Continuation 17959681 · Oct 4, 2022
Continuation 17372434 · Jul 10, 2021
Continuation 17148320 · Jan 13, 2021
Continuation 16573634 · Sep 17, 2019
Continuation In Part 16360936 · Mar 21, 2019
Continuation 15092086 · Apr 6, 2016
Continuation In Part PCTUS2014059554 · Oct 7, 2014
Provisional Application 61887762 · Oct 7, 2013
Related Publication 20240350417A1 · Oct 24, 2024
Cited By (1)
US 12,691,074