Claims for Patent: 11,253,504

Summary for Patent: 11,253,504

Title:	Compositions of a polyorthoester and an aprotic solvent
Abstract:	Delivery systems and compositions comprised of a biodegradable polyorthoester polymer, an aprotic solvent, and a drug are described. The solvent is selected to modulate release of drug from the composition, where, in some embodiments, the solvent is rapidly released after administration and provides a corresponding rapid rate of drug release. Alternatively, in other embodiments, the solvent is slowly released from the composition after its administration, and provides a correspondingly slow rate of drug release.
Inventor(s):	Ottoboni; Thomas B. (Belmont, CA), Girotti; Lee Ann Lynn (San Bruno, CA)
Assignee:	Heron Therapeutics, Inc. (San Diego, CA)
Application Number:	16/514,860
Patent Claims:	1. A method of treating or preventing pain in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering to the subject a a delivery system, wherein the delivery system comprises: a polyorthoester; dimethyl sulfoxide in which the polyorthoester is miscible to form a single phase; and bupivacaine dispersed or solubilized in the single phase; wherein the polyorthoester is a polyorthoester of Formula III; ##STR00042## where A is R.sup.1 or R.sup.3, R* is C1-4 alkyl, n ranges from 5 to 1000, R.sup.1 is: ##STR00043## p and q are integers that vary from between about 1 to 20 and the average number of p or the average of the sum of p and q is between 1 and 7; R.sup.3 and R.sup.6 are each independently: ##STR00044## x is an integer of 0-10; R.sup.5 is H or methyl, and the fraction of A units that are of formula R.sup.1 is between 0 and 25 mole percent. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein bupivacaine is dispersed in the single phase. 3. The method of claim 1, wherein bupivacaine is solubilized in the single phase. 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the delivery system has a viscosity of less than about 10,000 cP at 37.degree. C. 5. The method of claim 1, where the polyorthoester has a molecular weight between about 1,000 and 10,000 daltons. 6. The method of claim 1, wherein bupivacaine is in an amount of about 1-20 percent by weight of the delivery system. 7. The method of claim 1, wherein bupivacaine is in an amount of about 2-5 percent by weight of the delivery system. 8. The method of claim 1, wherein dimethyl sulfoxide is in an amount of about 10-60 percent by weight of the delivery system. 9. The method of claim 1, wherein dimethyl sulfoxide is in an amount of about 10-20 percent by weight of the delivery system. 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the polyorthoester is in an amount of about 50-80 percent by weight of the delivery system. 11. The method of claim 1, wherein the method reduces or prevents pain in the subject. 12. The method of claim 1, wherein the administering comprises administering the composition locally. 13. The method of claim 1, wherein the administering comprises administering the composition intrathecally, at a nerve, into the epidural space, or to a surgical wound. 14. The method of claim 1, wherein the administering comprises administering the composition regionally. 15. The method of claim 1, wherein the administering comprises administering the composition as a nerve block or as a sensory block.