Claims for Patent: 9,717,799

Summary for Patent: 9,717,799

Title:	Drug-containing implants and methods of use thereof
Abstract:	The present invention provides implants comprising a therapeutic drug and a polymer containing polylactic acid (PLA) and optionally polyglycolic acid (PGA). The present invention also provides methods of maintaining a therapeutic level of a drug in a subject, releasing a therapeutic drug at a substantially linear rate, and treating schizophrenia and other diseases and disorders, utilizing implants of the present invention.
Inventor(s):	Steven Siegel, Karen Winey
Assignee:	University of Pennsylvania Penn
Application Number:	US14/540,828
Patent Claims:	1. A controlled release composition, said composition comprising a therapeutic drug and a polymer, said polymer comprising polylactic acid (PLA) and optionally polyglycolic acid (PGA) in a PLA:PGA molar ratio between 50:50 and 100:0, wherein said therapeutic drug is present in an amount of about 10%-60% of the mass of said composition, wherein said therapeutic drug is risperidone or 9-OH-risperidone, and wherein said composition maintains a therapeutic level of said therapeutic drug over a period ranging from about 1 month to about 6 months upon subcutaneous placement into a subject. 2. The composition of claim 1, wherein said drug is present in an amount of about 40%. 3. The composition of claim 1, wherein said drug is present in an amount of about 30%. 4. The composition of claim 1, wherein said drug is present in an amount of about 20%. 5. The composition of claim 1, wherein said drug is present in an amount of about 10%. 6. The composition of claim 1, wherein said polymer is present in an amount of about 20-90%. 7. The composition of claim 1, wherein said polymer is a biodegradable polymer. 8. The composition of claim 1, wherein said polymer is present in an amount of about 20%. 9. The composition of claim 1, wherein said polymer is present in an amount of about 30%. 10. The composition of claim 1, wherein said polymer is present in an amount of about 40%. 11. The composition of claim 1, wherein said composition exhibits an inherent viscosity ranging from about 0.2 dl/g to about 0.9 dl/g. 12. A biodegradable composition comprising a therapeutic drug and a polymer, said polymer comprising polylactic acid (PLA) and optionally polyglycolic acid (PGA), wherein said therapeutic drug is present in an amount of about 10%-60% of the mass of said composition, wherein said therapeutic drug is risperidone or 9-OH-risperidone, and wherein said composition maintains a therapeutic level of said therapeutic drug over a period ranging from about 1 month to about 6 months and said composition is of a shape suitable for tolerability in the subcutaneous space of a subject.