Claims for Patent: 7,767,223

Summary for Patent: 7,767,223

Title:	Methods for reducing or preventing transplant rejection in the eye and intraocular implants for use
Abstract:	Methods for reducing or preventing transplant rejection in the eye of an individual are described, comprising: a) performing an ocular transplant procedure; and b) implanting in the eye a bioerodible drug delivery system comprising an immunosuppressive agent and a bioerodible polymer.
Inventor(s):	Wong; Vernon G. (Menlo Park, CA)
Assignee:	Allergan, Inc. (Irvine, CA)
Application Number:	11/180,079
Patent Claims:	1. An intraocular, bioerodible drug delivery system comprising a steroid effective in preventing or reducing neovascularization in an eye prone to neovascularization, and a bioerodible polymer selected from the group consisting of hydroxyaliphatic carboxylic acids, and polysaccharides, thereby forming an implant for placement in the interior of an eye prone to neovascularization, wherein: (a) the steroid is dexamethasone and comprises about 50% to 80% of the weight of the drug delivery system; (b) the drug delivery system is configured for placement in the vitreous, wherein the system is effective in releasing the dexamethasone into the eye over a period of at least about 8 weeks. 2. The drug delivery system of claim 1, wherein the steroid is the sole active ingredient for preventing or reducing the neovascularization. 3. The drug delivery system of claim 1, wherein the bioerodible polymer comprises a polymer of D-lactic acid. 4. The drug delivery system of claim 1, wherein the bioerodible polymer comprises a polymer of L-lactic acid. 5. The drug delivery system of claim 1, wherein the bioerodible polymer comprises a polymer of racemic lactic acid. 6. The drug delivery system of claim 1, wherein the bioerodible polymer comprises a polymer of glycolic acid. 7. The drug delivery system of claim 1, wherein the bioerodible polymer comprises a polymer of polycaprolactone. 8. The drug delivery system of claim 1, wherein the bioerodible polymer comprises a calcium alginate. 9. The drug delivery system of claim 1, wherein the bioerodible polymer comprises a polymer of carboxymethylcellulose esters. 10. The drug delivery system of claim 1, wherein the bioerodible polymer comprises a polymer of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose. 11. An intraocular, bioerodible drug delivery system comprising particles of dexamethasone and a polylactic acid polyglycolic acid (PLGA) copolymer, wherein the system is effective in releasing the dexamethasone into the eye over a period of at least about 5 days, and wherein the intraocular, bioerodible drug delivery system is a single pellet or a single extruded filament, and wherein: (a) the dexamethasone comprises about 50% to 80% of the weight of the drug delivery system; and (b) the drug delivery system is configured for placement in the vitreous, wherein the system is effective in releasing the dexamethasone into the eye over a period of at least about 8 weeks. 12. The system of claim 11, wherein the system is effective in releasing the dexamethasone into the eye over a period of at least about 9 weeks. 13. The system of claim 11, wherein the system is effective in releasing the dexamethasone into the eye over a period of at least about 10 weeks. 14. The system of claim 11, wherein the system is effective in releasing the dexamethasone into the eye over a period of at least about 12 weeks. 15. The system of claim 11, wherein the system is effective in releasing the dexamethasone into the eye over a period of up to about 6 months. 16. The system of claim 11, wherein the system is effective in releasing the dexamethasone into the eye over a period of up to about 1 year. 17. An intraocular, bioerodible drug delivery system comprising a drug effective in preventing or reducing edema in an eye prone to edema, and a bioerodible polymer, wherein: (a) the drug is dexamethasone and comprises about 50% to 80% of the weight of the drug delivery system; and (b) the drug delivery system is configured for placement in the vitreous, wherein the system is effective in releasing the dexamethasone into the eye over a period of at least about 8 weeks. 18. The drug delivery system of claim 17, wherein the dexamethasone is the sole active ingredient for preventing or reducing the edema. 19. An intraocular, bioerodible drug delivery system comprising a steroid effective in preventing or reducing neovascularization in an eye prone to neovascularization, and a bioerodible polymer selected from the group consisting of hydroxyaliphatic carboxylic acids, and polysaccharides, thereby forming an implant for placement in the interior of an eye prone to neovascularization, wherein: (a) the steroid is dexamethasone and comprises about 50% to 80% of the weight of the drug delivery system; (b) the drug delivery system is configured for placement in the vitreous, and; (c) the drug delivery system is effective in releasing the drug into the eye over a period of at least about 8 weeks. 20. The drug delivery system of claim 19, wherein the steroid is the sole active ingredient for preventing or reducing the neovascularization. 21. The drug delivery system of claim 19, wherein the bioerodible polymer comprises a polymer of D-lactic acid, L-lactic acid, or racemic lactic acid. 22. The drug delivery system of claim 19, wherein the bioerodible polymer comprises a polymer of glycolic acid. 23. The drug delivery system of claim 19, wherein the bioerodible polymer comprises a polymer of polycaprolactone. 24. The drug delivery system of claim 19, wherein the bioerodible polymer comprises a calcium alginate. 25. The drug delivery system of claim 19, wherein the bioerodible polymer comprises a polymer of carboxymethylcellulose esters. 26. The drug delivery system of claim 19, wherein the bioerodible polymer comprises a polymer of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose.