Claims for Patent: 8,252,329

Summary for Patent: 8,252,329

Title:	Bioadhesive drug formulations for oral transmucosal delivery
Abstract:	Bioadhesive drug formulations that adhere to an oral mucosal membrane of a subject are provided together with single dose applicators and devices for delivering the drug formulations to the oral mucosa, and methods for using the same.
Inventor(s):	Tzannis; Stelios (Newark, CA), Hamel; Larry (Mountain View, CA), Palmer; Pamela (San Francisco, CA), Schreck; Thomas (Portola Valley, CA), Poutiatine; Andrew I. (San Anselmo, CA)
Assignee:	Acelrx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Redwood City, CA)
Application Number:	11/825,251
Patent Claims:	1. A bioadhesive tablet for sublingual administration to a subject, comprising: (a) from about 2.5 to about 100 micrograms of sufentanil, expressed as the base; and (b) a bioadhesive material, wherein said bioadhesive material is present at 2-30% by weight and provides for adherence to the oral mucosa of said subject, and said tablet has a volume of from about 0.1 microliters to about 50 microliters, wherein after administration of said tablet to said subject, said tablet provides a minimal saliva response and minimal swallowing of sufentanil; and at least 55% of drug delivery of sufentanil occurs via the oral transmucosal route. 2. The tablet according to claim 1, wherein said tablet becomes a hydrogel upon contact with an aqueous fluid. 3. The tablet according to claim 1, wherein said tablet is an eroding tablet wherein upon contact with an aqueous fluid, the surface of the tablet hydrates and erodes, without formation of a hydrogel. 4. The tablet according to claim 1, wherein upon contact with an aqueous fluid said tablet disintegrates and forms a film. 5. The tablet according to claim 1, wherein dissolution of said tablet is independent of pH. 6. The tablet according to claim 5, wherein dissolution of said tablet is independent of pH over a pH range of about 4 to 8. 7. A single dose applicator (SDA) comprising a tablet according to claim 1, wherein said SDA is a syringe. 8. A drug dispensing device comprising the tablet according to claim 1, wherein said drug dispensing device is effective to check user identification and provide a lockout period between dose dispenses. 9. The tablet according to claim 1, wherein said tablet has a volume of from about 0.5 to about 10.0 microliters. 10. The tablet according to claim 1, wherein said tablet has a volume of from about 1.0 to about 25 microliters. 11. The tablet according to claim 1, wherein said tablet has a volume of from about 3.0 to about 15.0 microliters. 12. The tablet according to claim 1, wherein said tablet comprises 10 micrograms of sufentanil, expressed as the base. 13. The tablet according to claim 1, wherein said tablet comprises 15 micrograms of sufentanil, expressed as the base. 14. The tablet according to claim 1, wherein said tablet has a thickness of from 0.5 to 3.0 mm. 15. The tablet according to claim 1, wherein said tablet disintegrates over a period of 10-30 minutes following sublingual administration to said subject. 16. The tablet according to claim 1, wherein a single or repeated oral transmucosal administration to a subject results in a bioavailability of greater than 70%. 17. The tablet according to claim 1, wherein said tablet further comprises one or more excipients that affect both tablet disintegration kinetics and drug release from said tablet. 18. The tablet according to claim 17, wherein said one or more excipients that affect tablet disintegration kinetics and drug release from said tablet is crosslinked sodium carboxy methylcellulose. 19. The tablet according to claim 1, wherein following administration, said tablet adheres to the oral mucosa of said subject throughout the period of drug delivery. 20. The tablet according to claim 17, wherein a single or repeated oral transmucosal administration to a subject results in a bioavailability of greater than 70%. 21. The SDA according to claim 7, wherein said SDA is effective to accurately place said tablet in the sublingual space. 22. The SDA according to claim 21, wherein said tablet remains dry in said SDA prior to dispensing, at which point a single tablet is dispensed from the SDA into the mouth of said subject. 23. The drug dispensing device according to claim 8, wherein said drug dispensing device is effective to accurately place said tablet in the sublingual area. 24. The drug dispensing device according to claim 23, wherein said tablet remains dry in the drug dispensing device prior to dispensing, at which point a single tablet is dispensed from the drug dispensing device into the mouth of said subject. 25. The drug dispensing device according to claim 23, wherein said drug dispensing device further comprises a user interface wherein dosage history can be transferred to another device, computer or network. 26. The bioadhesive tablet according to claim 1, wherein said tablet exhibits an attachment force of from 0.03 to 0.18 N/cm.sup.2 to a porcine mucosa substrate in vitro.