Claims for Patent: 8,557,283

Summary for Patent: 8,557,283

Title:	Controlled release formulations of levodopa and uses thereof
Abstract:	The current invention provides a controlled release oral solid formulation of levodopa comprising levodopa, a decarboxylase inhibitor, and a carboxylic acid. Also provided by this invention is multiparticulate, controlled release oral solid formulations of levodopa comprising: i) a controlled release component comprising a mixture of levodopa, a decarboxylase inhibitor and a rate controlling excipient; ii) a carboxylic acid component; and iii) an immediate release component comprising a mixture of levodopa and a decarboxylase inhibitor.
Inventor(s):	Hsu; Ann (Los Altos Hills, CA), Kou; Jim H. (San Jose, CA), Alani; Laman Lynn (Fort Worth, TX)
Assignee:	Impax Laboratories, Inc. (Hayward, CA)
Application Number:	13/711,248
Patent Litigation and PTAB cases:	See patent lawsuits and PTAB cases for patent 8,557,283
Patent Claims:	1. A method of reducing motor fluctuations in a patient suffering from Parkinson's disease comprising administering to the patient an effective amount of a controlled release oral solid formulation of levodopa comprising: (a) levodopa; (b) a decarboxylase inhibitor; and (c) a carboxylic acid that is not (a) or (b); wherein the carboxylic acid of (c) is in a distinct bead from (a) or (b) thereby providing a plasma concentration of levodopa effective to reduce motor fluctuations in the patient. 2. A method of reducing off time in a patient suffering from Parkinson's disease comprising administering to the patient an effective amount of a controlled release oral solid formulation of levodopa comprising: (a) levodopa; (b) a decarboxylase inhibitor; and (c) a carboxylic acid that is not (a) or (b); wherein the carboxylic acid of (c) is in a distinct bead from (a) or (b) thereby providing a plasma or serum concentration of levodopa effective to reduce off time in the patient. 3. A method of increasing on time in a patient suffering from Parkinson's disease comprising administering to the patient an effective amount of a controlled release oral solid formulation of levodopa comprising: (a) levodopa; (b) a decarboxylase inhibitor; and (c) a carboxylic acid that is not (a) or (b); wherein the carboxylic acid of (c) is in a distinct bead from (a) or (b) thereby providing a plasma or serum concentration of levodopa effective to increase on time in the patient. 4. A method of reducing time to `on` in a patient suffering from Parkinson's disease by reducing off time by the method of claim 2. 5. A method of enhancing dopamine levels in a subject suffering from a disease associated with reduced or impaired dopamine levels comprising administering to a subject an effective amount of a controlled release oral solid formulation of levodopa comprising: (a) levodopa; (b) a decarboxylase inhibitor; and (c) a carboxylic acid that is not (a) or (b); wherein the carboxylic acid of (c) is in a distinct bead from (a) or (b) thereby providing a plasma or serum concentration of levodopa effective to enhance dopamine levels in the subject suffering from a disease associated with reduced or impaired dopamine levels. 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the disease is Parkinson's disease. 7. A method of providing a therapeutically effective and stable median blood plasma level of levodopa in a subject by enhancing the dopamine levels by the method of claim 5. 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the blood plasma level does not fluctuate more than 40% between 0.5 hours after administration and six hours after administration. 9. A method of reducing time to `on` in a patient suffering from Parkinson's disease by increasing on time by the method of claim 3.