Title: Drug-delivery device comprising certain polymeric materials for controlled release of drug

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Claims: What is claimed is:

1. A shape retaining implant for releasing drug formed of a copolymer compatible with body tissue, the improvement wherein the implant is formed of a matrix of ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer containing drug, said drug mixed throughout the copolymer which has a vinyl acetate content of 4 to 80% by weight, a melt index of about 0.1 to 1000 grams per ten minutes, is permeable to the passage of the drug by diffusion, and capable of releasing a therapeutically effective amount of drug to body tissue at a predetermined and controlled rate over a prolonged period of time.

2. The implant of claim 1, wherein said ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer has a vinyl acetate content of about 4 to 50% by weight and a melt index of about 0.5 to 100 grams per 10 minutes.

3. The implant of claim 1, wherein said ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer has a vinyl acetate content of about 4 to 40% by weight and a melt index of about 0.15 to 25 grams per 10 minutes.

4. The implant of claim 1, wherein the ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer has a vinyl acetate content of 4 to 50% and a frequency of acetoxy groups on the polyethylene backbone of 1/150 to 1.8.

5. The implant of claim 1, wherein the ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer has a density of about 0.920 to 0.980 and a vinyl acetate content of 4 to 50%.

6. The implant of claim 1, wherein the copolymer contains from about 250 nanograms to 5 grams of drug capable of diffusion through said polymeric material in a therapeutically effective amount over a prolonged period of time.

7. The implant of claim 1, wherein the copolymer is a cylinder shaped body.

8. The implant of claim 1, wherein the copolymer contains diethylstilbestrol that is released in a therapeutically effective amount over a prolonged period of time.

9. A method for administering a pharmaceutically acceptable drug to an animal which method comprises placing an implant shaped, sized and adapted for placement in the animal and formed of a non-toxic copolymer material, the improvement wherein the implant is a matrix of ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer containing a dosage unit amount of drug selected from the group consisting of locally acting and systemically acting drugs mixed therethrough and capable of dissolving in and diffusing through the copolymer at a controlled rate over a prolonged period of time, said copolymer having a vinyl acetate content of 4 to 80% by weight, a melt index of 0.1 to 1000 grams per 10 minutes and permeable to the passage of drug which drug passes through the ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer in a therapeutically effective amount to produce the local or systemic action in the animal.

Other info:

Inventors: Higuchi, Takeru (Lawrence, KS, US)
Hussain, Anwar (Lawrence, KS, US)

Application Number: 582353
Filing Date: 1975-05-30
Publication_date: 1978-01-17
Assignee: Alza Corporation (Palo Alto, CA)
Primary Class(es): 424/432 424/422, 424/427
Other Classes:
US Patent Ref:

3011949	Dec, 1961	Bilotti	424/48.
3710795	Jan, 1973	Higuchi et al.	128/260.
3737521	Jun, 1973	Born	424/22.
3854480	Dec, 1974	Zaffaroni	128/260.

Other Refs: 1,505,267

Dec, 1967	FR.

Primary Examiner: Rose, Shep K.
Assistant Examiner:
Attorney: Sabatine; Paul L., Goldby; Steven D.