Delivery of therapeutic agents

A pharmacologically acceptable composition of matter for the time dependent liberation of a therapeutic agent in vivo, the composition consisting essentially of:

• a biologically degradable polymeric slab;
• a non-polymer bound, homogeneously dispersed therapeutic agent physically entrapped in said polymeric slab;
• and
• an enzyme included at a concentration within the polymeric slab which degrades said slab in the presence of moisture to facilitate the controlled release of entrapped therapeutic agent at a rate which is a function of the concentration of the enzyme in the slab.

A deliver device for the transdermal administration of a therapeutic agent, said device comprising:

• a polymeric slab having a side for dermal contact;
• a non-polymer bound, homogeneously dispersed therapeutic agent physically entrapped in said polymeric slab;
• at least one moisture activated enzyme included within the slab at a concentration which provides for the controlled release of the therapeutic agent;
• and
• a means for holding the device in dermal contact,
• wherein the therapeutic agent is released at a rate which is a function of the concentration of the enzyme within the slab.

A delivery device for the transdermal administration of a therapeutic agent, said device comprising:

• a poly(DL-lactide) polymeric slab having a side for dermal contact;
• a non-polymer bound, homogeneously dispersed therapeutic agent physically entrapped in said poly(DL-lactide) polymeric slab;
• proteinase K included with the slab, which degrades the polymeric slab in the presence of moisture to release the therapeutic agent;
• and
• a means for holding the device in dermal contact selected from the group consisting of:
• an adhesive;
• an elastic band;
• and
• a bandaging tape,
• wherein the therapeutic agent is released at a rate which is a function of the concentration of the enzyme within the slab.