Abstract: According to one aspect of the invention, medical devices are provided which contain the following: (a) an interior region that contains at least one degradation promoting agent and (b) an exterior region disposed over the interior region that contains at least one biodegradable polymer and at least one therapeutic agent.

Abstract: A block or graft copolymer includes a first block, and a second block different from the first block, wherein the first block is a poly(lactide-glycolide) copolymer. The polymers may be formulated in compositions with drug components for use in coating medical devices such as stents. Different blocks of the block or graft copolymer degrade in the body at different rates. The drug release profile from the coating is a combination the individual release rates of the different blocks and so can be controlled by controlling the selection and relative amounts of the respective blocks.

Abstract: A block or graft copolymer includes a first block, and a second block different from the first block, wherein the first block is a poly(lactide-glycolide) copolymer. The polymers may be formulated in compositions with drug components for use in coating medical devices such as stents. Different blocks of the block or graft copolymer degrade in the body at different rates. The drug release profile from the coating is a combination the individual release rates of the different blocks and so can be controlled by controlling the selection and relative amounts of the respective blocks.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the present invention, medical devices are provided which comprise: (a) a substrate, (b) an inner bioerodable polymeric layer over the substrate that comprises (i) 80 wt % or more of an amorphous biodegradable polymeric component and (ii) 20 wt % or less of a therapeutic agent component, and (c) an outer bioerodable polymeric layer over the inner bioerodable polymeric layer that comprises (i) 80 wt % or more of an amorphous biodegradable polymeric component and (ii) 20 wt % or less of a therapeutic agent component. The compositions of the inner and outer layers differ such that the outer layer has a bioerosion rate that is faster than that of the inner layer.

Abstract: According to one aspect of the invention, medical devices are provided which contain the following: (a) an interior region that contains at least one degradation promoting agent and (b) an exterior region disposed over the interior region that contains at least one biodegradable polymer and at least one therapeutic agent.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the present invention, implantable or insertable medical devices are provided, which contain one or more biodegradable polymeric regions. These biodegradable polymeric regions, in turn, contain one or more polymers, at least one of which is a biodegradable copolymer that includes: (a) one or more amorphous polymer blocks that display a glass transition temperature below 37° C. and (b) one or more amorphous polymer blocks displaying a glass transition temperature above 37° C.

Abstract: An oral delivery system for Class II drugs that have low oral bioavailability due to their insolubility in water and slow dissolution kinetics and method for making such a drug delivery system are disclosed herein. The formulation may be a controlled release or immediate release formulation. The immediate release formulation contains a Class II drug, together with a hydrophobic polymer, preferably a bioadhesive polymer. In one embodiment, the drug and polymer are co-dissolved in a common solvent. The solution is formed into small solid particles by any convenient method, particularly by spray drying. The resulting particles contain drug dispersed as small particles in a polymeric matrix. The particles are stable against aggregation, and can be put into capsules or tableted for administration. The controlled release formulations contain a BCS Class II drug and a bioadhesive polymer. The controlled release formulations may be in the form of a tablet, capsules, mini-tab, microparticulate, or osmotic pump.