Claims for Patent: 8,231,900

Summary for Patent: 8,231,900

Title:	Small-volume oral transmucosal dosage
Abstract:	Small-volume oral transmucosal dosage forms or NanoTabs.RTM. comprising a predetermined amount of a pharmaceutically active drug are provided. Exemplary applications include use of the NanoTabs.RTM. to administer a drug for the treatment of acute, post-operative or breakthrough pain.
Inventor(s):	Palmer; Pamela (San Francisco, CA), Schreck; Thomas (Portola Valley, CA), Tzannis; Stelios (Newark, CA), Hamel; Larry (Mountain View, CA), Poutiatine; Andrew I. (San Anselmo, CA)
Assignee:	Acelrx Pharmaceutical, Inc. (Redwood City, CA)
Application Number:	11/974,092
Patent Claims:	1. A single dose of sufentanil, provided as a small volume solid tablet for oral transmucosal administration to a subject, comprising: from about 0.25 micrograms (mcg) to 200 micrograms sufentanil, wherein; a) said solid tablet is bioadhesive and adheres to the oral mucosa of said subject, b) said solid tablet is a substantially homogeneous composition and has a volume of less than 30 microliters (mcl); and wherein complete erosion of said solid tablet is evident by visual examination only after a time selected from the group consisting of about 5 minutes, about 10 minutes and about 15 minutes; and c) after administration of said solid tablet to said subject, said solid tablet provides a minimal saliva response and minimal swallowing of sufentanil; at least 55% of drug delivery of sufentanil occurs via the oral transmucosal route; said solid tablet provides a T.sub.max of from about 19.8 minutes to about 60 minutes; and said tablet provides a T.sub.max with a coefficient of variation of less than 40%. 2. The bioadhesive solid tablet according to claim 1, wherein said solid tablet has a volume of less than 10 mcl. 3. The bioadhesive solid tablet according to claim 1, wherein said oral transmucosal administration is sublingual administration. 4. The bioadhesive solid tablet according to claim 1, wherein said oral transmucosal administration is buccal administration. 5. The bioadhesive solid tablet according to claim 1, comprising from about 2.5 micrograms to 100 micrograms of sufentanil. 6. The bioadhesive solid tablet according to claim 5, wherein said solid tablet comprises a dose of sufentanil selected from the group consisting of 5 micrograms, 10 mcg, 15 mcg, 20 mcg, 30 mcg, 40 mcg, 50 mcg, 60 mcg, 70 mcg, 80 mcg and 100 mcg. 7. The bioadhesive solid tablet according to claim 1, wherein the erosion time of said solid tablet is about 10 minutes. 8. The bioadhesive solid tablet according to claim 6, wherein a single oral transmucosal administration of said solid tablet to a subject results in a bioavailability of greater than 65%. 9. The bioadhesive solid tablet according to claim 6, wherein a single oral transmucosal administration of said solid tablet to a subject results in a bioavailability of greater than 75%. 10. The bioadhesive solid tablet according to claim 6, wherein a single oral transmucosal administration of said solid tablet to a subject results in a bioavailability of greater than 85%. 11. The bioadhesive solid tablet according to claim 1, wherein at least 55% of the total amount of drug in said solid tablet is absorbed via the oral transmucosal route. 12. The bioadhesive solid tablet according to claim 11, wherein at least 60% of the total amount of drug in said solid tablet is absorbed via the oral transmucosal route. 13. A drug delivery device comprising the bioadhesive solid tablet according to claim 1. 14. A bioadhesive solid tablet according to claim 1, wherein when subjected to an in vitro dissolution test in a Type II USP dissolution apparatus, at least 75% of the total amount of sufentanil in said solid tablet is released within 10 minutes. 15. A drug delivery device comprising the bioadhesive solid tablet according to claim 14. 16. A bioadhesive solid tablet according to claim 1, wherein sufentanil is provided as sufentanil citrate.