You're using a free limited version of DrugPatentWatch: Upgrade for Complete Access

Last Updated: December 12, 2025

Claims for Patent: 12,156,940


✉ Email this page to a colleague

« Back to Dashboard


Summary for Patent: 12,156,940
Title:Manufacturing of bupivacaine multivesicular liposomes
Abstract:Embodiments of the present disclosure relates to a new and improved large scale commercial manufacturing process of making bupivacaine multivesicular liposomes (MVLs). Batches of bupivacaine MVLs prepared by the new process have high yields, improved stabilities, and desired particle size distributions.
Inventor(s):Eran Levy, Jeffrey S. Hall, John J. Grigsby, Jr.
Assignee: Pacira Pharmaceuticals Inc
Application Number:US18/761,863
Patent Litigation and PTAB cases: See patent lawsuits and PTAB cases for patent 12,156,940
Patent Claims: 1. Batches comprising compositions of bupivacaine encapsulated multivesicular liposomes (MVLs), the composition comprising: bupivacaine residing inside a plurality of internal aqueous chambers of MVLs separated by lipid membranes, wherein the lipid membranes comprise 1, 2-dierucoylphosphatidylcholine (DEPC), 1, 2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phospho-rac-(1-glycerol) (DPPG) or a salt thereof, cholesterol, and tricaprylin; and an aqueous medium in which the bupivacaine encapsulated MVLs are suspended, wherein the aqueous medium also comprises unencapsulated bupivacaine; the total bupivacaine concentration in the composition is from 12 mg/mL to 17 mg/mL; wherein the batches are manufactured within a period of six months, and each of the batches has a volume of about 100 liters to about 300 liters; wherein each batch has a cumulative percentage release of bupivacaine from 46% to 71% at a 24-hour time point, measured from two to six aliquots of each batch using a rotator-facilitated in vitro release assay for at least 48 hours, after storage of the aliquots of each batch at 2° C. to 8° C. for about 12 months from batch manufacture date; and wherein an average rate of change in the cumulative percentage release of bupivacaine of the batches at the 24-hour time point is 0.05%/month to 0.5%/month after storage of the aliquots of each batch at 2° C. to 8° C. for about 12 months.

2. The batches of claim 1, wherein the average rate of change in the cumulative percentage release of bupivacaine at the 24-hour time point is 0.08%/month to 0.5%/month.

3. The batches of claim 2, wherein the average rate of change in the cumulative percentage release of bupivacaine at the 24-hour time point is 0.1%/month to 0.4%/month.

4. The batches of claim 1, wherein each batch has a cumulative percentage release of bupivacaine from 60% to 85% at a 48-hour time point, and the average rate of change in the cumulative percentage release of bupivacaine at the 48-hour time point is −0.3%/month to 0.33%/month.

5. The batches of claim 4, wherein the average rate of change in the cumulative percentage release of bupivacaine at the 48-hour time point is −0.2%/month 0.03% month.

6. The batches of claim 5, wherein the average rate of change in the cumulative percentage release of bupivacaine at the 48-hour time point is from −0.18%/month to 0.28%/month.

7. The batches of claim 1, wherein the batches are manufactured within a period of 3 months.

8. The batches of claim 1, wherein the batches are manufactured within a period of 30 days.

9. The batches of claim 1, wherein the average rate of change in the cumulative percentage release of bupivacaine is based on three batches, and one batch is manufactured 10 or more days apart from at least one other batch.

10. The batches of claim 1, wherein the average rate of change in the cumulative percentage release of bupivacaine is based on two batches, and one batch is manufactured 10 or more days apart from the other batch.

11. The batches of claim 1, wherein the cumulative percentage release of bupivacaine of each batch is measured as the average of six aliquots from each batch.

12. The batches of claim 1, wherein each aliquot has a cumulative percentage release of bupivacaine from 36% to 81% at the 24-hour time point, and a cumulative percentage release of bupivacaine from 50% to 95% at the 48-hour time point.

13. The batches of claim 1, wherein the batches are manufactured within a period of 3 months, wherein the average rate of change in the cumulative percentage release of bupivacaine is based on three batches, and one batch is manufactured 10 or more days apart from at least one other batch, and wherein the cumulative percentage release of bupivacaine of each batch is measured as the average of six aliquots from each batch.

14. The batches of claim 1, wherein the batches are manufactured within a period of 30 days, wherein the average rate of change in the cumulative percentage release of bupivacaine is based on two batches, and one batch is manufactured 10 or more days apart from the other batch, and wherein the cumulative percentage release of bupivacaine of each batch is measured as the average of six aliquots from each batch.

15. The batches of claim 2, wherein the batches are manufactured within a period of 3 months, wherein the average rate of change in the cumulative percentage release of bupivacaine is based on three batches, and one batch is manufactured 10 or more days apart from at least one other batch, and wherein the cumulative percentage release of bupivacaine of each batch is measured as the average of six aliquots from each batch.

16. The batches of claim 2, wherein the batches are manufactured within a period of 30 days, wherein the average rate of change in the cumulative percentage release of bupivacaine is based on two batches, and one batch is manufactured 10 or more days apart from the other batch, and wherein the cumulative percentage release of bupivacaine of each batch is measured as the average of six aliquots from each batch.

17. The batches of claim 3, wherein the batches are manufactured within a period of 3 months, wherein the average rate of change in the cumulative percentage release of bupivacaine is based on three batches, and one batch is manufactured 10 or more days apart from at least one other batch, and wherein the cumulative percentage release of bupivacaine of each batch is measured as the average of six aliquots from each batch.

18. The batches of claim 3, wherein the batches are manufactured within a period of 30 days, wherein the average rate of change in the cumulative percentage release of bupivacaine is based on two batches, and one batch is manufactured 10 or more days apart from the other batch, and wherein the cumulative percentage release of bupivacaine of each batch is measured as the average of six aliquots from each batch.

19. Batches comprising compositions of bupivacaine encapsulated multivesicular liposomes (MVLs), the composition comprising: bupivacaine residing inside a plurality of internal aqueous chambers of MVLs separated by lipid membranes, wherein the lipid membranes comprise 1, 2-dierucoylphosphatidylcholine (DEPC), 1, 2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phospho-rac-(1-glycerol) (DPPG) or a salt thereof, cholesterol, and tricaprylin; and an aqueous medium in which the bupivacaine encapsulated MVLs are suspended, wherein the aqueous medium also comprises unencapsulated bupivacaine; the total bupivacaine concentration in the composition is from 12 mg/mL to 17 mg/mL; wherein the batches are manufactured within a period of six months, and each of the batches has a volume of about 100 liters to about 300 liters; wherein each batch has a cumulative percentage release of bupivacaine from 60% to 85% at a 48-hour time point, measured from two to six aliquots of each batch using a rotator-facilitated in vitro release assay for at least 48 hours, after storage of the aliquots of each batch at 2° C. to 8° C. for about 12 months from batch manufacture date; and wherein an average rate of change in the cumulative percentage release of bupivacaine of the batches at the 48-hour time point is −0.18%/month to 0.33%/month after storage of the aliquots of each batch at 2° C. to 8° C. for about 12 months.

20. The batches of claim 19, wherein the average rate of change in the cumulative percentage release of bupivacaine at the 48-hour time point is −0.15%/month to 0.30%/month.

21. The batches of claim 20, wherein the average rate of change in the cumulative percentage release of bupivacaine at the 48-hour time point is from −0.12%/month to 0.28%/month.

22. The batches of claim 19, wherein the batches are manufactured within a period of 3 months.

23. The batches of claim 19, wherein the batches are manufactured within a period of 30 days.

24. The batches of claim 19, wherein the average rate of change in the cumulative percentage release of bupivacaine is based on three batches, and one batch is manufactured 10 or more days apart from at least one other batch.

25. The batches of claim 19, wherein the average rate of change in the cumulative percentage release of bupivacaine is based on two batches, and one batch is manufactured 10 or more days apart from the other batch.

26. The batches of claim 19, wherein the cumulative percentage release of bupivacaine of each batch is measured as the average of six aliquots from each batch.

27. The batches of claim 19, wherein each aliquot has a cumulative percentage release of bupivacaine from 36% to 81% at a 24-hour time point, and a cumulative percentage release of bupivacaine from 50% to 95% at the 48-hour time point.

28. The batches of claim 19, wherein the batches are manufactured within a period of 3 months, wherein the average rate of change in the cumulative percentage release of bupivacaine is based on three batches, and one batch is manufactured 10 or more days apart from at least one other batch, and wherein the cumulative percentage release of bupivacaine of each batch is measured as the average of six aliquots from each batch.

29. The batches of claim 20, wherein the batches are manufactured within a period of 3 months, wherein the average rate of change in the cumulative percentage release of bupivacaine is based on three batches, and one batch is manufactured 10 or more days apart from at least one other batch, and wherein the cumulative percentage release of bupivacaine of each batch is measured as the average of six aliquots from each batch.

30. The batches of claim 21, wherein the batches are manufactured within a period of 3 months, wherein the average rate of change in the cumulative percentage release of bupivacaine is based on three batches, and one batch is manufactured 10 or more days apart from at least one other batch, and wherein the cumulative percentage release of bupivacaine of each batch is measured as the average of six aliquots from each batch.

Make Better Decisions: Try a trial or see plans & pricing

Drugs may be covered by multiple patents or regulatory protections. All trademarks and applicant names are the property of their respective owners or licensors. Although great care is taken in the proper and correct provision of this service, thinkBiotech LLC does not accept any responsibility for possible consequences of errors or omissions in the provided data. The data presented herein is for information purposes only. There is no warranty that the data contained herein is error free. We do not provide individual investment advice. This service is not registered with any financial regulatory agency. The information we publish is educational only and based on our opinions plus our models. By using DrugPatentWatch you acknowledge that we do not provide personalized recommendations or advice. thinkBiotech performs no independent verification of facts as provided by public sources nor are attempts made to provide legal or investing advice. Any reliance on data provided herein is done solely at the discretion of the user. Users of this service are advised to seek professional advice and independent confirmation before considering acting on any of the provided information. thinkBiotech LLC reserves the right to amend, extend or withdraw any part or all of the offered service without notice.