Abstract: A taste-masked rapidly dispersible dosage form of topiramate is provided. Wax coated particles of topiramate are included within a porous bound matrix. The topiramate retains its taste-masked form after dispersion in the mouth of a subject even though the particles are not coated with a polymeric material. The dosage form disperses in saliva or water in less than 2 min even though it has a high content of wax. It can be used to treat diseases or disorders that are therapeutically responsive to topiramate or a derivative thereof.

Abstract: A high dose rapidly dispersing three-dimensionally printed dosage form comprising a high dose of levetiracetam in a porous matrix that disperses in water within a period of less than about 10 seconds is disclosed. Also disclosed are methods of preparing the dosage form and of treating a condition, disease or disorder that is therapeutically responsive to levetiracetam.

Abstract: Polymers and compositions, collectively “bioadhesive materials”, with improved bioadhesive properties have been developed. One or more compounds comprising: a) an aromatic moiety comprising two or more hydroxyl substituents, methoxy substituents, substituents hydrolyzable to hydroxyl substituents, or a combination thereof, and b) a primary or secondary amino moiety are either covalently attached to a polymer or are physically mixed with a polymer to form a bioadhesive material. These bioadhesive materials can be used, for example, to fabricate new drug delivery or diagnostic systems with increased residence time at tissue surfaces, and consequently increase the bioavailability of a drug or a diagnostic agent.

Abstract: Polymers and compositions, collectively “bioadhesive materials”, with improved bioadhesive properties have been developed. One or more compounds comprising: a) an aromatic moiety comprising two or more hydroxyl substituents, methoxy substituents, substituents hydrolyzable to hydroxyl substituents, or a combination thereof, and b) a primary or secondary amino moiety are either covalently attached to a polymer or are physically mixed with a polymer to form a bioadhesive material. These bioadhesive materials can be used, for example, to fabricate new drug delivery or diagnostic systems with increased residence time at tissue surfaces, and consequently increase the bioavailability of a drug or a diagnostic agent.

Abstract: The invention relates to the improvement in the treatment of certain neural disorders/diseases, such as Parkinson's disease and other motor disorders. The invention relates to drug compositions and dosage forms comprising said drug composition; methods of manufacturing the drug compositions and dosage forms; and methods of treatment, comprising administering the drug composition and dosage form to an individual. In certain embodiments, the drug compositions and dosage forms comprise carbidopa and levodopa in a formulation suitable for once-daily administration.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a drug delivery system, in which a drug containing core, either alone or coated with a rate controlling membrane system, is enveloped on its circumference by an optionally bioadhesive coating, thereby yielding a monolithic system that allows for drug release in a regulated manner.

Abstract: Bioadhesives coatings increase the gastrointestinal retention time of orally-ingested medicaments. Certain bioadhesive coatings producing a fracture strength of at least 100 N/m2, as measured on rat intestine, when applied to at least one surface of a pharmaceutical dosage form for oral delivery of a drug, result in a gastrointestinal retention time of at least 4 hours in a fed beagle dog model, during which the drug is released from the dosage form. Multi-layer tablets, particularly those including hydrophobic excipients, are useful in administering hygroscopic and/or deliquescent drugs. In addition, varying the amount of drug in multi-layer tablets allows the release rate of the drug to be controlled.

Abstract: The invention relates to the improvement in the treatment of certain neural disorders/diseases, such as Parkinson's disease and other motor disorders. One aspect of the invention relates to drug compositions and dosage forms comprising said drug composition. Another aspect of the invention relates to methods of manufacturing the drug compositions and dosage forms. Another aspect of the invention relates to methods of treatment, comprising administering the drug composition and dosage form to an individual.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a bioadhesive drug delivery system (BIOadhesive Rate controlled Oral Dosage (BIOROD) formulation) in which a drug containing core either alone or coated with a rate controlling membrane system is enveloped on its circumference by a bioadhesive coating, thereby yielding a monolithic system that allows for drug release in a regulated manner. Also described herein are polymers with improved bioadhesive properties and methods for improving bioadhesion of polymers.

Abstract: The invention relates to the improvement in the treatment of certain neural disorders/diseases, such as Parkinson's disease and other motor disorders. One aspect of the invention relates to drug compositions and dosage forms comprising said drug composition. Another aspect of the invention relates to methods of manufacturing the drug compositions and dosage forms. Another aspect of the invention relates to methods of treatment, comprising administering the drug composition and dosage form to an individual.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to pharmaceutical compositions that allow for once-daily or alternate day dosage forms of topiramate. The proposed delayed/extended release single dosage form is equivalent to the immediate-release multiple dose daily regimen, and upon administration, provides steady state blood levels of topiramate. Formulations with increased bioavailability and improved pharmacokinetics are disclosed. A once-a-day administration of topiramate is advantageous over the multiple dose regimen both in terms of patient compliance and reduced adverse events, thus providing better treatment of the conditions for which the topiramate is indicated.

Abstract: Solid oral dosage formulations, such as tablet, mini-tab, multiparticulates or osmotic delivery systems, are coated with a mucoadhesive polymeric coating or formed of a mucoadhesive polymer to increase oral bioavailability of Biopharmaceutical Classification System (BCS) Class I drugs. Representative BCS I drugs include valacyclovir, gabapentin, furosemide, levodopa, metformin, and ranitidine HCl. The inclusion of mucoadhesives in the solid oral dosage form brings the dosage form into close proximity with the target epithelium and facilitates diffusion of drug into intestinal tissue. The mucoadhesive polymer may be either dispersed in the matrix of the tablet or applied as a direct compressed coating to the solid oral dosage form. Preferred mucoadhesive polymers include poly(adipic)anhydride “P(AA)” and poly(fumaric-co-sebacic)anhydride “P(FA:SA)”.

Abstract: The invention relates to the improvement in the treatment of certain neural disorders/diseases, such as Parkinson's disease and other motor disorders. One aspect of the invention relates to drug compositions and dosage forms comprising said drug composition. Another aspect of the invention relates to methods of manufacturing the drug compositions and dosage forms. Another aspect of the invention relates to methods of treatment, comprising administering the drug composition and dosage form to an individual.

Abstract: The invention relates to the improvement in the treatment of certain neural disorders/diseases, such as Parkinson's disease and other motor disorders. One aspect of the invention relates to drug compositions and dosage forms comprising said drug composition. Another aspect of the invention relates to methods of manufacturing the drug compositions and dosage forms. Another aspect of the invention relates to methods of treatment, comprising administering the drug composition and dosage form to an individual.

Abstract: A composite formulation has been developed for selective, high efficacy delivery to specific regions of the mouth and gastrointestinal tract. The formulation is typically in the form of a tablet or capsule, which may include microparticles or beads. The formulation uses bioadhesive and controlled release elements to direct release to specific regions, where the drug is absorbed in enhanced amounts relative to the formulation in the absence of the bioadhesive and/or controlled release elements. This is demonstrated by an example showing delivery of gabapentin with a greater area under the curve (“AUC”) relative to the FDA reference immediate release drug, i.e., the AUC of the composite bioadhesive formulation is greater than 100% of the AUC of the immediate release drug. In the preferred embodiments, the formulation includes drug to be delivered, controlled release elements, and one or more bioadhesive elements.

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.

Abstract: Polymers with improved bioadhesive properties and methods for improving bioadhesion of polymers have been developed. A compound containing an aromatic group which contains one or more hydroxyl groups is grafted onto a polymer or coupled to individual monomers. In one embodiment, the polymer is a biodegradable polymer. In another embodiment, the monomers may be polymerized to form any type of polymer, including biodegradable and non-biodegradable polymers. In some embodiments, the polymer is a hydrophobic polymer. In the preferred embodiment, the aromatic compound is catechol or a derivative thereof and the polymer contains reactive functional groups. In the most preferred embodiment, the polymer is a polyanhydride and the aromatic compound is the catechol derivative, DOPA. These materials display bioadhesive properties superior to conventional bioadhesives used in therapeutic and diagnostic applications.

Abstract: Compositions containing particles of biologically active agents with sizes in the micron and submicron range and methods for making and using such particles are described herein. In the preferred embodiment the biologically active agents are peptides, proteins, nucleic acid molecules, or hydrophilic synthetic molecules. The particles have a size ranging from an average diameter of about 100 nm to about 2000 nm, preferably about 200 nm to 600 nm. Optionally the biologically active agents contain a polymeric coating. The particles are formed by adding a biologically active agent to an aqueous solution, mixing a nonsolvent that is miscible with water with the aqueous solution, and precipitating particles of the biologically active agents out of the nonsolvent: aqueous solution combination. The nonsolvent is typically a C1 to C6 alcohol, preferably a C2 to a C5 alcohol. In the preferred embodiment, the nonsolvent is tert-butyl alcohol.

Abstract: Bioadhesive macrosphere delivery systems (“BDDS”) having prolonged gastric retention time due to bioadhesion rather than physical density or size are described. In general, the macrospheres have diameters that are greater than 200 microns, more preferably greater than 500 microns. The bioadhesive macrospheres are released in the stomach where they reside in close proximity to the gastric mucosa for a prolonged period of time. Increased residence of BDDS in the upper GI can lead to increased systemic absorption of drug in the preferred site of systemic absorption, namely the upper GI tract (upper to mid-jejunum). The BDDS may be engineered either as a capsule with drug delivery controlled by a diffusion-limited membrane or degradable shell, or as a solid matrix system with drug delivery controlled by a combination of diffusion and polymer degradation kinetics.

Abstract: A process for preparing nanoparticles, microparticles and nanoencapsulated products using the PIN process is provided. The invention involves using additives to reduce the aggregation or coalescence of the PIN nanoparticles, microparticles, or nanoencapsulated products during their formation and collection and to facilitate the recovery of said nanoparticles, microparticles, or nanoencapsulated products.