Drug delivery method
AssigneeRegents of the University of Minnesota
InventorsRonald A. Siegel, James Cloyd, Tate Winter, Mamta Kapoor
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Abstract
The present invention relates to a new drug delivery strategy based on prodrug conversion, in which a water-soluble prodrug and its converting enzyme are co-delivered and at a point of administration such as the nasal or buccal mucosa. Enzymatic conversion of the prodrug produces drug in concentrations exceeding the drug's thermodynamic solubility, or saturation level. The supersaturated drug crosses the mucosal membrane quickly, as a result of its high thermodynamic activity, prior to crystallization. This strategy is particularly useful when fast action is required, for example in preventing or responding rapidly to Status Epilepticus (SE) or other central nervous system conditions such as migraine.
Claims12
A method for transporting a compound across the mucosal membrane of a mammal in need thereof, comprising administering to the mammal
- (a) a composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of a water-soluble precursor of the compound and an effective amount of an enzyme that converts said water-soluble precursor to said compound or
- (b) a first composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of a water-soluble precursor of the compound and a second composition comprising an effective amount of an enzyme that converts said water-soluble precursor to said compound,
- wherein the precursor is converted to the compound and wherein the compound is transported across the mucous membrane.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.