Sustained release polymer
AssigneeTolmar Therapeutics, Inc.
InventorRichard L. Dunn
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A polymer and a method for its preparation are provided. The polymer comprises poly(lactide), poly(lactide/glycolide) or poly(lactic acid/glycolic acid) segments bonded by ester linkages to both ends of an alkanediol core unit. The polymer is for use in a controlled release formulation for a medicament, preferably leuprolide acetate. The controlled release formulation is administered to a patient as a subcutaneous depot of a flowable composition comprising the polymer, a biocompatible solvent, and the medicament. Controlled release formulations comprising the polymer release leuprolide for treatment of prostate cancer patients over periods of 3-6 months.
Claims14
A polymer for use in manufacture of a controlled release formulation for a drug, comprising a structure of Formula I:
- wherein:
- Ra is an alkane diradical comprising about 4 to about 8 carbon atoms;
- Rb is hydrogen or methyl with the proviso that both Rb groups are identical;
- Rc is independently hydrogen or methyl with the proviso that both Rc groups are identical;
- each L/G independently comprises a lactide/glycolide copolymer segment;
- the polymer has substantially no titratable carboxylic acid groups, and
- the polymer has a weight average molecular weight of from about 6 kD to about 200 kD.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.