Ophthalmic compositions and methods for treating ophthalmic conditions

Abstract

Compositions, and methods of using such compositions, useful for placement, for example injection, into the interior of human or animal eyes are provided. Such compositions include a therapeutic component, such as one or more corticosteroids, a biocompatible polymeric component, and a solvent component. The composition is in a fluid form before placement in the interior of an eye, and becomes less fluid after the composition is placed in the eye to form an extended or delayed release drug delivery element or system. The drug delivery element is formed by the dissipation of the solvent from the composition when the composition is placed in the interior of an eye. One example of a composition includes triamcinolone acetonide as a therapeutic agent. A method of treating an ophthalmic condition, or otherwise improving or enhancing vision of a patient, comprises placing the fluid composition in the interior of the eye. The method may be practiced by injecting the fluid composition into the interior of the eye.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Application No. 60 / 587,092, filed Jul. 12, 2004, the content of which in its entirety is hereby incorporated by reference.BACKGROUND [0002] The present invention relates to ophthalmic compositions that are delivered to the interior of an eye of a human or animal. More particularly, the invention relates to ophthalmically acceptable compositions including one or more therapeutic agents. Such compositions are advantageously intraocularly placed into the interior of an eye and form solid or semi-solid drug delivery elements in situ that are effective in providing extended or delayed release of the therapeutic agent or agents into the eye. [0003] Steroids, for example corticosteroids, among other agents, are utilized to treat a wide variety of ophthalmic diseases that affect the posterior segment of an eye. Examples of some diseases treated with corticosteroids include: central retinal vein...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0011] New compositions and methods for treating ophthalmic conditions of eyes of humans or animals are provided. The present compositions are highly suitable for intraocular administration into the interior of an eye and provide therapeutic effects to the eye, which may be effective in stabilizing, enhancing or improving a patient's vision.

[0012] In one broad embodiment, an ophthalmic composition comprises a therapeutic component, a biocompatible polymeric component, and a solvent component. The solvent component is effective in maintaining the polymeric component in a fluid state. For example, the composition may be a liquid. The liquid may be a suspension or a solution, that is, the therapeutic component may be provided as particles in suspension, or the therapeutic component may be solubilized in a solution. The fluid composition when placed in the interior of an eye becomes less fluid and forms a solid or semi-solid drug delivery element, which is effective in releasing the therapeutic component for extended periods of time. The composition may be used in a method to enhance or improve vision of a patient by treating one or more ophthalmic conditions.

[0014] The composition is effective, after being placed into the interior of the eye, to form a delayed release composition, such as a drug delivery element, effective to delay or extend the release of the corticosteriod component in the eye relative to intraocular placement of a substantially identical composition without the polymeric component.

Problems solved by technology

However, systemic administration of steroids is often associated with side effects that are often too substantial for ophthalmic use.

As such, permeation of compounds into the RPE is quite limited.

Thus, regardless of the administration route, penetration of a therapeutic agent through the outer blood-retinal barrier is limited.

To overcome these limitations extremely high and potentially toxic doses of drugs are frequently used.

Unfortunately, side effects from the existing triamcinolone acetonide formulation often include endophthalmitis as well as retinal toxicity from the benzyl alcohol preservative.