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AssigneeSouthern Research
InventorsThomas R. Tice, Jay K. Staas, Teresa M. Ferrell, Peter Markland
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An injectable slow-release partial opioid agonist or opioid antagonist formulation is provided comprising a partial opioid agonist or opioid antagonist in a poly(D,L-lactide) excipient with a small amount of residual ethyl acetate. Upon intramuscular injection of the composition, a partial opioid agonist or opioid antagonist is released in a controlled manner over an extended period of time. The composition finds use in the treatment of heroin addicts and alcoholics to reduce consumption of the abused substances. Of particular interest are the drugs buprenorphine, methadone and naltrexone.
A microparticle composition comprising a buprenorphine free base in an amount in the range of 10 to 70 weight %, poly(D,L-lactide) as a excipient, and less than about 3 weight % ethyl acetate, capable of providing a physiologically effective level of to reduce the consumption of heroin and/or alcohol when administered intramuscularly in a mammal over a period of about 28 days, at least 90 weight % of said microparticle composition comprising microparticles having a diameter in the range of 20 to 125 μm.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.