Claims for Patent: 7,459,151

Summary for Patent: 7,459,151

Title:	Phosphate-binding polymers for oral administration
Abstract:	Phosphate-binding polymers are provided for removing phosphate from the gastrointestinal tract. The polymers are orally administered, and are useful for the treatment of hyperphosphatemia.
Inventor(s):	Holmes-Farley; Stephen Randall (Arlington, MA), Mandeville, III; W. Harry (Lynnfield, MA), Whitesides; George M. (Newton, MA)
Assignee:	Genzyme Corporation (Cambridge, MA)
Application Number:	11/295,159
Patent Claims:	1. A method for removing phosphate from a patient in need thereof comprising orally administering to said patient a therapeutically effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition comprising a crosslinked, water insoluble polyallylamine copolymer wherein said crosslinked, water insoluble polyallylamine copolymer consists of a crosslinking agent and repeat units represented by the following structural formulae: ##STR00028## wherein n is an integer, and X.sup.- represents a negatively charged counterion. 2. The method of claim 1 wherein said polyallylamine copolymer is crosslinked with an epichlorohydrin crosslinking agent. 3. The method of claim 1 wherein the amount of said crosslinking agent is about 2% to about 20% by weight of the polyallylamine copolymer. 4. The method of claim 2 wherein the amount of said crosslinking agent is about 2% to about 20% by weight of the polyallylamine copolymer. 5. The method of claim 1 wherein said pharmaceutical composition further comprises one or more carriers. 6. The method of claim 2 wherein said pharmaceutical composition further comprises one or more carriers. 7. The method of claim 4 wherein said pharmaceutical composition further comprises one or more carriers. 8. The method of claim 1 wherein X.sup.- represents chloride. 9. The method of claim 4 wherein X.sup.- represents chloride. 10. The method of claim 6 wherein X.sup.- represents chloride. 11. A method of decreasing the serum phosphate level of a patient in need thereof comprising orally administering to said patient a therapeutically effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition comprising a crosslinked, water insoluble polyallylamine copolymer wherein said crosslinked, water insoluble polyallylamine copolymer consists of a crosslinking agent and repeat units represented by the following structural formulae: ##STR00029## wherein n is an integer, and X.sup.- represents a negatively charged counterion. 12. The method of claim 11 wherein said polyallylamine copolymer is crosslinked with an epichlorohydrin crosslinking agent. 13. The method of claim 11 wherein the amount of said crosslinking agent is about 2% to about 20% by weight of the polymer. 14. The method of claim 12 wherein the amount of said crosslinking agent is about 2% to about 20% by weight of the polymer. 15. The method of claim 11 wherein said pharmaceutical composition further comprises one or more carriers. 16. The method of claim 12 wherein said pharmaceutical composition further comprises one or more carriers. 17. The method of claim 14 wherein said pharmaceutical composition further comprises one or more carriers. 18. The method of claim 11 wherein X.sup.- represents chloride. 19. The method of claim 14 wherein X.sup.- represents chloride. 20. The method of claim 16 wherein X.sup.- represents chloride.