Claims for Patent: 10,592,168

Summary for Patent: 10,592,168

Title:	Injectable flowable composition comprising buprenorphine
Abstract:	The present invention is directed to a buprenorphine sustained release delivery system capable of delivering buprenorphine, a metabolite, or a prodrug thereof for a duration of about 14 days to about 3 months. The buprenorphine sustained release delivery system includes a flowable composition and a solid implant for the sustained release of buprenorphine, a metabolite, or a prodrug thereof. The implant is produced from the flowable composition. The buprenorphine sustained release delivery system provides in situ 1-month and 3-month release profiles characterized by an exceptionally high bioavailability and minimal risk of permanent tissue damage and typically no risk of muscle necrosis.
Inventor(s):	Norton; Richard L. (Fort Collins, CO), Watkins; Andrew (Fort Collins, CO), Zhou; Mingxing (Fort Collins, CO)
Assignee:	INDIVIOR UK LIMITED (Hull, GB)
Application Number:	16/693,726
Patent Claims:	1. A method for treating opioid dependence in a subject in need thereof, the method comprising administering to the subject by subcutaneous injection a therapeutically effective amount of an injectable flowable pharmaceutical composition comprising: (i) 10 wt % to about 50 wt % of buprenorphine in the form of a free base or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt; (ii) about 5 wt % to about 70 wt % of a poly(lactide-co-glycolide) copolymer; and (iii) N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, wherein the method produces (a) buprenorphine plasma concentration levels in the subject from about 1.82 ng/mL to about 12.1 ng/mL for about 28 days; (b) buprenorphine plasma concentration levels in the subject from about 2.18 ng/mL to about 3.26 ng/mL from the third day to the twenty-fourth day after the first injection; and/or (c) a twenty-four hour buprenorphine burst release in the subject of less than 10%. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the method produces buprenorphine plasma concentration levels in the subject from about 1.82 ng/mL to about 12.1 ng/mL for about 28 days. 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the method produces buprenorphine plasma concentration levels in the subject from about 2.18 ng/mL to about 3.26 ng/mL from the third day to the twenty-fourth day after the first injection. 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the method produces a twenty-four hour buprenorphine burst release in the subject of less than 10%. 5. The method of claim 1, comprising subcutaneously administering the composition once every twenty-eight days. 6. The method of claim 1, comprising subcutaneously administering the composition once per month. 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the composition comprises from 10 wt % to about 30 wt % of the buprenorphine. 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the composition comprises from about 15 wt % to about 20 wt % of the buprenorphine. 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the composition comprises about 18 wt % of the buprenorphine. 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the buprenorphine is in the form of the free base. 11. The method of claim 1, wherein the composition comprises from about 3 mg to about 900 mg of the buprenorphine free base. 12. The method of claim 1, wherein the composition comprises 300 mg of the buprenorphine free base. 13. The method of claim 1, wherein the composition comprises from about 15 wt % to about 70 wt % of the poly(lactide-co-glycolide) copolymer. 14. The method of claim 1, wherein the poly(lactide-co-glycolide) copolymer is a 50/50, 55/45, 60/40, 65/35, 70/30, 75/25, 80/20, 85/15, 90/10, or 95/5 poly(lactide-co-glycolide) copolymer. 15. The method of claim 1, wherein the poly(lactide-co-glycolide) copolymer is a 50/50 poly(lactide-co-glycolide) copolymer. 16. The method of claim 1, wherein the poly(lactide-co-glycolide) copolymer has a carboxy terminal group. 17. The method of claim 1, wherein the poly(lactide-co-glycolide) copolymer has an average molecular weight from about 5,000 Daltons to about 20,000 Daltons. 18. The method of claim 1, wherein the composition is a solution. 19. The method of claim 1, wherein the composition transforms in situ into an implant by contact with water, a bodily fluid, or other aqueous medium. 20. The method of claim 1, wherein the composition has a volume from about 0.10 mL to about 2.0 mL. 21. The method of claim 1, wherein the composition comprises about 30 wt % to about 70 wt % of a biocompatible organic liquid comprising: (i) N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone and (ii) glycerin, propylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, or a combination of two or more thereof. 22. The method of claim 1, wherein the composition comprises about 18 wt % of buprenorphine free base, about 32 wt % of a poly(lactide-co-glycolide) copolymer; and about 50 wt % of N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone.