Phosphate-binding polymers for oral administration

A method for removing phosphate from a patient by ion exchange comprising orally administering to said patient a therapeutically effective amount of a composition comprising at least one polymer characterized by a repeat unit having the formula ##STR30## or a copolymer thereof, wherein n is an integer, and each R.sub.1 and R.sub.2, independently, is H, an unsubstituted alkyl, alkylamino, or aryl group, or a substituted alkyl, alkylamino or aryl group, wherein the substituents are selected from the group consisting of quaternary ammonium, amino, hydroxy, alkoxy, carboxamide, sulfanamide, halogen, alkyl, aryl, hydrazine, guanidine, urea and carboxylic acid ester;

• and each X is an exchangeable negatively charged counterion.

A method for removing phosphate from a patient by ion exchange comprising orally administering to said patient a therapeutically effective amount of a composition comprising at least one polymer characterized by a repeat unit having the formula ##STR31## or a copolymer thereof, wherein n is an integer, each R.sub.1 and R.sub.2, independently, is H, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group containing 1 to 20 carbon atoms, wherein the substituents are selected from the group consisting of quaternary ammonium, amino, hydroxy, alkoxy, carboxamide, sulfonamide, halogen, alkyl, aryl, hydrazine, urea and carboxylic acid ester.

A method for removing phosphate from a patient by ion exchange comprising orally administering to said patient a therapeutically effective amount of a composition comprising at least one polymer characterized by a repeat unit having the formula ##STR32## or a copolymer thereof, wherein n is an integer, each R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3, independently, is H, an unsubstituted C.sub.1 -C.sub.20 -alkyl, alkylamino, or aryl group, or a substituted C.sub.1 -C.sub.20 -alkyl, alkylamino or aryl group, wherein the substituents are selected from the group consisting of quaternary ammonium, amino, hydroxy, alkoxy, carboxamide, sulfonamide, halogen, alkyl, aryl, hydrazine, guanidine, urea and carboxylic acid ester, and each X.sup.- is an exchangeable negatively charged counterion.

A method for removing phosphate from a patient by ion exchange, comprising orally administering to said patient a therapeutically effective amount of a composition comprising at least one hydrophilic cross-linked aliphatic amine polymer.