Patents Assigned to ALZA Corporation
  • Transdermal drug delivery devices having coated microprotrusions
    Publication number: 20090186147
    Abstract: Methods are provided for preparation of a coating on one or more microprojections of a microprojection array using wetting agents either as a pretreatment of the microprojection surfaces or incorporated in the coating formulation along with the active agent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2008
    Publication date: July 23, 2009
    Applicant: Alza Corporation
    Inventors: Michel J.N. Cormier, Wendy A. Young, Juanita A. Johnson, Peter E. Daddona, Mahmoud Armeri
  • Apparatus and method for transdermal delivery of parathyroid hormone agents
    Patent number: 7556821
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for transdermally delivering a biologically active agent comprising a delivery system having a microprojection member (or system) that includes a plurality of microprojections (or array thereof) that are adapted to pierce through the stratum corneum into the underlying epidermis layer, or epidermis and dermis layers. In one embodiment, the PTH-based agent is contained in a biocompatible coating that is applied to the microprojection member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: Alza Corporation
    Inventors: Mahmoud Ameri, Michel J. N. Cormier, Yuh-Fun Maa, Marika Kamberi, Peter Daddona
  • Microprojection Array Immunization Patch and Method
    Publication number: 20090143724
    Abstract: Skin patches (20) having a microprojection array (10), a reservoir (18) containing an antigenic agent and an immune response augmenting adjuvant, and methods of using same to vaccinate animals (e.g., humans) is disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, the microprojection arrays (10) are composed of a photoetched and micro-punched titanium foil (14). The microprojections (12) are coated with a liquid formulation containing a vaccine antigen and an adjuvant such as glucosaminyl muramyl dipeptide, dried, and applied to skin of the animal to be vaccinated using an impact applicator. The microprojections (12) create superficial pathways through the stratum corneum to facilitate permeation of antigenic agent and adjuvant. Antigen dose and depth of penetration can be controlled. This technology has broad applicability for a wide variety of therapeutic vaccines to improve efficacy, and convenience of use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2009
    Publication date: June 4, 2009
    Applicant: Alza Corporation
    Inventors: Michel J.N. Cormier, James A. Matriano, Peter E. Daddona, Juanita A. Johnson, Wendy A. Young
  • Transdermal sustained release drug delivery
    Publication number: 20090136554
    Abstract: Provided herein are microprojections and microprojection arrays for delivering biologically active agents. Also provided herein are compositions suitable for coating such microprojections and microprojection arrays.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2008
    Publication date: May 28, 2009
    Applicant: Alza Corporation
    Inventors: Mahmoud Ameri, Yuh-Fun Maa
  • Transdermal drug delivery devices having coated microprotrusions
    Patent number: 7537795
    Abstract: A device (12) and method are provided for percutaneous transdermal delivery of a potent pharmacologically active agent. The agent is dissolved in water to form an aqueous coating solution having an appropriate viscosity for coating extremely tiny skin piercing elements (10). The coating solution is applied to the skin piercing elements (10) using known coating techniques and then dried. The device (12) is applied to the skin of a living animal (e.g., a human), causing the microprotrusions (10) to pierce the stratum corneum and deliver a therapeutically effect dose of the agent to the animal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: Alza Corporation
    Inventors: Michel J. N. Cormier, Wendy A. Young, Kofi Nyam, Peter E. Daddona
  • Anodic Reservoir for Electrotransport of Cationic Drug
    Publication number: 20090105634
    Abstract: An electrotransport system for delivery of a cationic drug. The system has a donor anodic reservoir having an insoluble biocompatible polymeric anion source embedded in the reservoir. The anion source has precipitating anions that can precipitate out metal ions generated from sacrificial metal of the anode during electrotransport.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2008
    Publication date: April 23, 2009
    Applicant: ALZA Corporation
    Inventors: Rama V. Padmanabhan, Joseph Bradley Phipps, Janardhanan Anand Subramony
  • Methods and apparatus for determining formulation orientation of multi-layered pharmaceutical dosage forms
    Patent number: 7521067
    Abstract: Rapid and accurate determination of the formulation orientation of multi-layer capsule-shaped tablets with respect to different internal formulation layers proximate to the opposite narrow and rounded ends of the tablets is required. By including an appropriate color scheme in multi-layer osmotic tablets, detection of the formulation orientation is achieved by detecting the color at a spot location on a side of the tablet corresponding to one or another formulation layer or to one or another interface of two formulation layers depending on the formulation orientation of the tablet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: Alza Corporation
    Inventors: Johan H Geerke, Steven F. Stone
  • Formulation and dosage form for increasing oral bioavailability of hydrophilic macromolecules
    Publication number: 20090087484
    Abstract: A formulation and dosage form for enhancing the bioavailability of orally administered hydrophilic macromolecules includes a permeation enhancer, a hydrophilic macromolecule, and a carrier such as a nonionic surfactant that exhibits in-situ gelling properties. The formulation is delivered within the GI tract as a liquid having at least some affinity for the surface of the GI mucosal membrane. Once released, it is believed that the liquid formulation spreads across one or more areas of the surface of the GI mucosal membrane, where the carrier of the formulation then transitions into a bioadhesive gel in-situ. As a bioadhesive gel, the formulation presents the hydrophilic macromolecule and the permeation enhancer at the surface of the GI mucosal membrane at concentrations sufficient to increase absorption of the hydrophilic macromolecule through the GI mucosal membrane over a period of time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Applicant: ALZA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Liang C. DONG, Patrick S. L. WONG, Vu A. NGUYEN, Si-Hong Alicia Yum, Anthony C. CHAO, Peter E. Daddona
  • Static Diffusion Cell for Diffusion Sampling Systems
    Publication number: 20090075323
    Abstract: A new design for a static diffusion cell for use in a diffusion sampling apparatus to be used in conjunction with automated or manual sampling is disclosed. The diffusion cell of present invention provides to an improved and efficient diffusion assay system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2008
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Applicant: ALZA Corporation
    Inventors: Hua Yang, Delphine Caroline Imbert
  • Electrotransport Agent Delivery Method and Apparatus
    Publication number: 20090036822
    Abstract: An electrotransport device for delivering or sampling an agent through a body surface by electrotransport, the device having a housing including an upper, exterior housing portion and a lower housing portion, the housing enclosing electronic components, and at least one hydratable or hydrated reservoir containing water or an at least partially aqueous solution of the agent. At least a portion of the housing is composed of an ethylene-octene copolymer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2008
    Publication date: February 5, 2009
    Applicant: ALZA Corporation
    Inventors: Lothar W. Kleiner, Wendy A. Young
  • Preparation of macromolecular conjugates by four-component condensation reaction
    Patent number: 7476725
    Abstract: Polymer-biomolecule conjugates are prepared, generally in a site-specific or -selective manner, by a four-component condensation reaction. The method may be used to prepare conjugates having two polymer molecules attached at a single site on a biomolecule. The conjugates are typically water soluble and have beneficial pharmacological properties, such as reduced immunogenicity and increased circulation time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2009
    Assignee: Alza Corporation
    Inventor: Samuel Zalipsky
  • Static diffusion cell for diffusion sampling systems
    Patent number: 7470535
    Abstract: A new design for a static diffusion cell for use in a diffusion sampling apparatus to be used in conjunction with automated or manual sampling is disclosed. The diffusion cell of present invention provides to an improved and efficient diffusion assay system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: ALZA Corporation
    Inventors: Hua Yang, Delphine Caroline Imbert
  • Method and apparatus for reducing the incidence of tobacco use
    Patent number: 7455654
    Abstract: An apparatus for transdermally delivering a nicotine-based agent to a tobacco or nicotine user comprising a microprojection member having a plurality of microprojections that are adapted to pierce the stratum corneum of the tobacco user, the microprojection member having a biocompatible coating disposed thereon that includes a nicotine-based agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Assignee: Alza Corporation
    Inventors: Michel J. N. Cormier, Robert M. Gale, Andrew G. Scott
  • Methods for inhibiting decrease in transdermal drug flux by inhibition of pathway closure
    Patent number: 7438926
    Abstract: This invention relates to a method for inhibiting a decrease in the transdermal flux of an agent that is being transdermally delivered or sampled over a prolonged period of time wherein the delivery or sampling involves disrupting at least the stratum corneum layer of the skin to form pathways through which the agent passes. The desired result is achieved by co-delivering or co-sampling the agent with an amount of at least one anti-healing agent wherein the amount of the anti-healing agent is effective in inhibiting a decrease in the agent transdermal flux compared to when the delivery or sampling of the agent is done under substantially identical conditions except in the absence of the anti-healing agent(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Alza Corporation
    Inventors: Michel Cormier, Juanita Johnson, Wei Qi Lin, James Matriano, Peter Daddona
  • Method and apparatus for coating skin piercing microprojections
    Patent number: 7435299
    Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for selectively applying an agent-containing liquid coating to extremely tiny skin piercing microprojections (10). The coating solution is applied to the skin piercing microprojections (10) using a coating technique which selectively coats only the skin piercing microprojections (10) and not the substrate (12) from which the microprojections (10) extend, and then dried. The coating method includes providing an agent-containing coating liquid and conveying the liquid to a liquid holding surface having a coating transfer region. The depth of the coating liquid at the coating transfer region is precisely controlled. The microprojections are then immersed to a predetermined level in the coating liquid. The liquid that coats the microprojections (10) is then dried to form a solid agent-containing coating on the microprojections (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: ALZA Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph C. Trautman, Cedric T. Wright, Michel J.N. Cormier
  • Drug delivery and method having coated microprojections incorporating vasoconstrictors
    Publication number: 20080226687
    Abstract: A device and method are provided for percutaneous transdermal delivery of a biologically active agent. The coating formulation containing the biologically active agent and a vasoconstrictor is applied to the skin piercing elements using known coating techniques and then dried. The device is applied to the skin of a living animal, causing the microprojections to pierce the stratum corneum and to deliver an effective dose of the biologically active agent and vasoconstrictor to the animal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2008
    Publication date: September 18, 2008
    Applicant: Alza Corporation
    Inventors: Michel Cormier, James Matriano, WeiQi Lin, Wendy Young
  • Apparatus and method for piercing skin with microprotrusions
    Patent number: 7419481
    Abstract: A method and device are described for applying a microprotrusion member (44) including a plurality of microprotrusions (90) to the stratum corneum with impact. The method and device are used to improve transport of an agent across the skin for agent delivery or sampling. The applicator (10, 60, 80) causes the microprotrusion member (44) to impact the stratum corneum with a certain amount of impact determined to effectively pierce the skin with the microprotrusions (90). The preferred applicator (10, 60, 80) impacts the stratum corneum with the microprotrusion member (44) with an impact of at least 0.05 joules per cm2 of the microprotrusion member (44) in 10 msec or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: ALZA Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph C. Trautman, Richard L. Keenan, Ahmad P. Samiee, WeiQi Lin, Michel J. N. Cormier, James A. Matriano, Peter E. Daddona
  • Osmotic delivery system flow modulator apparatus and method
    Patent number: 7407500
    Abstract: An osmotic delivery system flow modulator assembly, an osmotic delivery system with a flow modulator assembly, and a method of assembling an osmotic delivery system. The osmotic delivery system flow modular assembly includes a body having a hole located through the body and communicating two opposing ends of the body. The use of the osmotic delivery system flow modulator assembly lessens the chance that air or gas pockets will form in the enclosure of the osmotic delivery system during assembly of the system. Because less air is within the osmotic delivery system, performance of the system is enhanced. Use of the flow modulator assembly also lessens the chance that beneficial agent will be wasted during assembly of the osmotic delivery system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: ALZA Corporation
    Inventors: Lewis L. Peterson, Fred H. Maruyama, Houdin Dehnad, Lawton Hom, Kevin S. Ly, Craig R. Davis, John R. Peery
  • Dosage Form Comprising Therapeutic Formulation
    Publication number: 20080181944
    Abstract: A dosage form is disclosed comprising a semipermeable walled container that houses a capsule, which capsule comprises a drug formulation, a piston, and an osmotic composition. The dosage form delivers the drug formulation through a passageway at a controlled rate over a sustained-release period of time up to 24 hours.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2008
    Publication date: July 31, 2008
    Applicant: ALZA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Liang-Chang Dong, Patrick S.L. Wong, Vincent Joseph Ferrari, Steven Espinal
  • Skin-adhering drug delivery patch
    Patent number: D588274
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Assignee: ALZA Corporation
    Inventors: Wanda Dent, Johannes N. Gaston, Douglas J. Vanornum