Patents Assigned to Alza
  • Patent number: 6077538
    Abstract: An opiate analgesic composition and a non-opiate analgesic composition are disclosed for delivering an analgesic in either embodiment to a patient in need of relief from pain. The analgesics are present optionally with a nonionic surfactant and with an osmotic composition comprising a carbonate or bicarbonate for delivering the opiate analgesic and non-opiate analgesic from a dosage form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2000
    Assignee: Alza Corporation
    Inventors: Sonya Merrill, Atul D. Ayer, Paul M. Hwang, Anthony L. Kuczynski, Nils W. Ahlgren, Deborah J. Johnson
  • Patent number: 6071508
    Abstract: A method is provided for preparing drug formulations suitable for electrotransport drug delivery. The drug to be delivered, present in salt form, is contacted with an ion exchange material prior to incorporation into the reservoir (26) of an electrotransport delivery system (10). In this way, the drug salt is partially or completely neutralized. This technique is useful for adjusting the pH of the drug formulation without incorporating extraneous materials, e.g., competing ions or the like, into the reservoir (26).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Assignee: Alza Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas Owen Murdock
  • Patent number: 6071305
    Abstract: The invention relates to a directional drug delivery stent which includes an elongated or tubular member having a cavity containing a biologically active agent. In one embodiment, the active agent is diffused from the reservoir directly to the walls of a body lumen, such as a blood vessel, through directional delivery openings arranged on an outer surface of the elongated member. Another variation of the stent includes an osmotic engine assembly for controlling the delivery of the active agent from the reservoir. The drugs which may be applied by the directional delivery stent include, but are not limited to, steroids, anti-inflammatory agents, restenosis preventing drugs, anti-thrombotic drugs, and tissue growth regulating drugs. The invention also relates to a method of using the directional drug delivery stent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Assignee: Alza Corporation
    Inventors: James E. Brown, Wouter E. Roorda
  • Patent number: 6068850
    Abstract: This invention relates to stable liquid aqueous formulations of peptide compounds at high concentrations. These stable formulations comprise at least about 10% peptide in water. They may be stored at elevated temperatures for long periods of time and are especially useful in implantable delivery devices for long term delivery of drug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: Alza Corporation
    Inventors: Cynthia L. Stevenson, Sally A. Tao, Steven J. Prestrelski, James B. Eckenhoff, deceased, Jeremy C. Wright, John J. Leonard, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6066619
    Abstract: This invention relates to stable non-aqueous protic formulations of peptide compounds. These stable formulations comprise peptide in non-aqueous protic solvent. They may be stored at elevated temperatures for long periods of time and are especially useful in implantable delivery devices for long term delivery of drug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2000
    Assignee: Alza Corporation
    Inventors: Cynthia L. Stevenson, Sally A. Tao, Steven J. Prestrelski, James B. Eckenhoff, Jeremy C. Wright, John J. Leonard, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6057374
    Abstract: An electrotransport drug-containing composition is provided. The composition includes a drug to be delivered through a body surface (eg, skin) of a patient, and a permeation enhancer which is solid or semisolid at temperatures typically encountered during storage of pharmaceuticals (eg, temperatures up to at least about 25.degree. C.). The composition of the invention may be applied from a device 10 suitable for electrotransport delivery. A method for increasing electrotransport agent delivery rate and reducing body surface resistance relies on applying the composition of the invention to the body surface, and applying an electric current through the composition and the body surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2000
    Assignee: Alza Corporation
    Inventors: James A. Huntington, Michel Cormier
  • Patent number: 6051251
    Abstract: A method for loading a therapeutic compound having a cis diol moiety into pre-formed liposomes is described. The method includes adding to a suspension of liposomes (i) the compound to be loaded into the liposomes and (ii) a boronic acid compound, thereby achieving accumulation of the compound within the liposomes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2000
    Assignee: Alza Corporation
    Inventors: Samuel Zalipsky, Paul S. Uster, George Z. Zhu
  • Patent number: 6050988
    Abstract: A device (2) comprising a sheet member (6) having a plurality of microprotrusions (4) extending from a bottom edge (5) for penetrating the skin of a patient. The sheet member (6) when in use being oriented in an approximately perpendicular relation to the patient's skin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2000
    Assignee: ALZA Corporation
    Inventor: Michael G. Zuck
  • Patent number: 6049733
    Abstract: An electrotransport apparatus using dispersed ion exchange material (19,83) is disclosed. The ion exchange material (19,83) may be dispersed in either the donor electrode assembly (10), the counter electrode assembly (10) or both electrode assemblies. The dispersed ion exchange material (83) comprises mobile ionic species (84-2) and substantially immobile ionic species (P). The dispersed ion exchange material (83, 84-2) interacts with competitive species (86) generated during electrotransport to render those species substantially immobile (87). Electrotransport devices exhibiting reduced polarization are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2000
    Assignee: ALZA Corporation
    Inventors: J. Bradley Phipps, Lyn C. Moodie, J. Richard Gyory, Felix Theeuwes
  • Patent number: 6039977
    Abstract: Pharmaceutical hydrogel formulations containing polyvinyl alcohol are provided. The formulations may serve as rug reservoirs in electrotransport drug delivery systems or passive transdermal systems, or they may be used in a variety of other types of dosage forms, e.g., capsules, suppositories, aerosols, and the like. With these formulations, there is virtually no syneresis encountered upon long term storage, an advantage that derives from selecting the quantity of polyvinyl alcohol in the gel to correspond to the polymer's degree of hydrolysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2000
    Assignee: Alza Corporation
    Inventors: Subramanian S. Venkatraman, Thomas O. Murdock, Stephanus Pudjijanto
  • Patent number: 6036973
    Abstract: A dosage form is disclosed for administering 10 ng to 1200 mg tacrine to a patient in need of tacrine therapy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2000
    Assignee: ALZA Corporation
    Inventors: George V. Guittard, Jerry D. Childers, Patrick S.-L. Wong, Fernando E. Gumucio, David J. Kidney
  • Patent number: 6035234
    Abstract: An electrotransport device (10) for delivering therapeutic agents includes an adjustable voltage boost multiple controller (100, 200) for boosting the voltage from a power source (102, 202) to a working voltage V.sub.w having a value just sufficient to provide the desired therapeutic current level I.sub.I through the electrodes (108, 112), at least one of which contains the therapeutic agent to be delivered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2000
    Assignee: Alza Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas A. Riddle, Larry A. McNichols, John D. Badzinski
  • Patent number: 6034101
    Abstract: A dosage form and a method are disclosed and claimed for administering a drug in a sustained and constantly ascending rate per unit time to provide an intended therapeutic effect while concomitantly lessening the development of unwanted effects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2000
    Assignee: ALZA Corporation
    Inventors: Suneel K. Gupta, Diane R. Guinta, Carol A. Christopher, Samuel R. Saks
  • Patent number: 6024721
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a mixing system for an active agent delivery device. The device comprises an elongate tubular member having first and second ends and a mixing system. The mixing system enables the entire dose of active agent to be entrained in a liquid. In use, liquid is drawn into the first end of the device, the mixing system mixes the liquid and active agent within the device and the active agent entrained in the liquid is drawn out of the second end of the member and into the patient's mouth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2000
    Assignee: ALZA Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick S.-L. Wong, Stephen S. Hwang, Vincent J. Ferrari
  • Patent number: 6020000
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an active agent dosage form that is useful for the prolonged delivery of an active agent formulation to a fluid environment of use. The active agent dosage form is a matrix that has an insoluble material circumscribing a portion of the surface of the matrix. The invention is also directed to a method of making the active agent dosage form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2000
    Assignee: ALZA Corporatiton
    Inventors: Patrick S.-L. Wong, David Emil Edgren, Liang C. Dong, Vincent Joseph Ferrari
  • Patent number: 6008187
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a pharmaceutical formulation of a therapeutic polypeptide together with a permeation-enhancing mixture of sodium salicylate and an oil to provide enhanced absorption of the polypeptide through the wall of the gastrointestinal tract, and particularly of the colon, after oral administration, the amount of oil being from about 10 wt % to about 30 wt %, preferably from about 15 wt % to about 25 wt %, of the total formulation and the amount of sodium salicylate being from about 70 wt % to about 90 wt %, preferably from about 75 wt % to about 85 wt %, of the total formulation. The polypeptide may be non-lyophilized. The pharmaceutical formulation is characterized as a solid, which provides a convenient and improved format for handling and storage and for the preparation of oral dosage forms (such as pills, capsules and delivery vessels) containing a homogeneous mixture of ingredients.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1999
    Assignee: Alza Corporation
    Inventors: Heechung Yang, Vu Anh Nguyen, Liang C. Dong, Patrick S. L. Wong
  • Patent number: 6007837
    Abstract: An improved process for manufacturing transdermal drug delivery devices and devices made therefrom. The invention provides a heat equilibration process for the manufacture of drug delivery devices which eliminates the need to preload the body contacting layer with a drug. The method has particular application in the manufacture of transdermal drug delivery devices including a drug reservoir comprising drug in excess of saturation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1999
    Assignee: Alza Corporation
    Inventors: David J. Enscore, Patricia S. Campbell, Diane Nedberge, Richard D. Frame
  • Patent number: 6004578
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to the transdermal administration of at least one drug together with a suitable amount of a permeation enhancer comprising monoalkyl ethers of polyethyleneglycol and their alkyl or aryl carboxylic acid esters and carboxymethyl ethers. The invention includes a transdermal drug delivery device comprising a matrix adapted to be placed in drug- and- permeation enhancer- transmitting relation with a skin site. The matrix contains sufficient amounts of the permeation enhancer and drug, in combination, to continuously administer drug to the systemic circulation of a patient at a therapeutically effective rate. The invention is also directed to compositions and methods for transdermal administration of at least one drug together with a permeation enhancer of this invention, alone or in combination with other enhancers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1999
    Assignee: ALZA Corporation
    Inventors: Eun Soo Lee, Su II Yum
  • Patent number: 6004309
    Abstract: Methods for conducting operation of an electrode arrangement are described. The methods generally concern use of an electrode reservoir containing both a first electrode and a secondary electrode. A system for practicing the methods is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1999
    Assignee: Alza Corporation
    Inventor: Joseph B. Phipps
  • Patent number: 6001390
    Abstract: Composition of matter for application to a body surface or membrane to administer pergolide by permeation through the body surface or membrane, the composition comprising pergolide to be administered, at a therapeutically effective rate, alone or in combination with a permeation enhancer or mixture. Also disclosed are drug delivery devices containing the pergolide or pergolide and enhancer composition and methods for the transdermal administration of the pergolide and pergolide/enhancer composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1999
    Assignee: Alza Corporation
    Inventors: Su I Yum, Melinda K. Nelson, Patricia S. Campbell