Claims for Patent: 6,348,210

Summary for Patent: 6,348,210

Title:	Methods for transdermal drug administration
Abstract:	Adhesive transdermal drug delivery devices may be removed and subsequently reapplied to an area of skin if the adhesive has an initial adhesive/skin bond strength sufficient to maintain said transdermal drug delivery device on the skin to which it is applied for the entire predetermined administration period; and an adhesive/skin bond strength upon replacement on the skin after removal therefrom which is adequate to retain the device on the skin for the balance of the administration period.
Inventor(s):	Gale; Robert Martin (Los Altos, CA)
Assignee:	Alza Corporation (Mountain View, CA)
Application Number:	09/438,574
Patent Claims:	1. A method for transdermal administration of a drug through non-scrotal skin over a predetermined administration period comprising: a) placing a transdermal drug delivery device containing the drug and having an adhesive surface for maintaining the device on non-scrotal skin of an individual; b) removing said device from the skin prior to the expiration of said period; and c) reapplying said device on the non-scrotal skin of the individual; d) wherein said adhesive surface is formed from an adhesive formulation that provides (i) an initial adhesive/skin bond strength sufficient to maintain said transdermal drug delivery device on the non-scrotal skin to which it is applied for the entire predetermined administration period and (ii) an adhesive/skin bond strength upon replacement on non-scrotal skin sufficient to retain said device for the balance of said administration period. 2. The method of claim 1 wherein said initial bond strength is less than 195 gm/cm. 3. The method of claim 2 wherein the initial bond strength is at least about 95 gm/cm. 4. The method of claim 2 wherein said adhesive formulation is a non-cross-linked adhesive formulation. 5. The method of claim 4 wherein the non-cross-linked adhesive polymer is polyisobutylene (PIB). 6. The method according to claim 1 wherein the adhesive surface comprises a mixture of low molecular weight polyisobutylene (LMW PIB) and high molecular weight polyisobutylene (HMW PIB). 7. A method according to claim 6 wherein the low molecular weight polyisobutylene (LMW PIB) has a molecular weight of about 15,000-50,000 and the high molecular weight polyisobutylene (HMW PIB) has a molecular weight of about 990,000-1,6000,000. 8. A method according to claim 7 wherein the adhesive further comprises a plasticizer. 9. A method according to claim 8 wherein high molecular weight polyisobutylene (HMW PIB)/low molecular weight polyisobutylene (LMW PIB)/plasticizer ratio is: 0.75-1.25/1-1.5/1.5-2.5. 10. The method of claim 2 wherein the adhesive/skin bond strength on replacement is at least 72% of said initial bond strength. 11. The method of claim 10 when the adhesive/skin bond strength on replacement is at least 85% of said initial bond strength. 12. The method of claim 3 wherein said adhesive/skin bond strength on replacement is at least 72% of said initial bond strength. 13. The method of claim 12 wherein the adhesive/skin bond strength on replacement is at least 85% of said initial bond strength. 14. The method of claim 9 wherein the plasticizer is selected from the group consisting of mineral oil and polybutene. 15. The method of claim 1 wherein said drug is testosterone. 16. The method of claim 3 wherein said drug is testosterone. 17. The method of claim 13 wherein said drug is testosterone.