US007867986B2 (12) United States Patent (10) Patent No.: US 7,867,986 B2 Houze (45) Date of Patent: Jan. 11, 2011 (54) ENHANCED DRUG DELIVERY IN 5,780,050 A 7/1998 Jain et al. TRANSIDERMAL SYSTEMS 5,811,117 A 9, 1998 Hashimoto et al. 5,849,729 A * 12/1998 Zoumas et al. .............. 514,169 (75) Inventor: David Houze, Coconut Grove, FL (US) 5,898,032 A 4/1999 Hodgen 5,958,446 A * 9/1999 Miranda et al. ............. 424/448 (73) Assignee: Noven Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Miami, 6,024,974 A 2, 2000 Li FL (US) 6,143,319 A 11/2000 Meconi et al. (*) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this patent is extended or adjusted under 35 (21) Appl. No.: 10/330,361 FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS (22) Filed: Dec. 30, 2002 CL 49-95 1, 1994 (65) Prior Publication Data US 2003/O152615A1 Aug. 14, 2003 (Continued) Related U.S. Application Data OTHER PUBLICATIONS (63) Continuation of application No. 09/948,107, filed on M.D. Mashkovsky, The Medicaments, Guidelines for Medical Doc Sep. 7, 2001, now abandoned. tors, vol. 1, 2001, 2 pgs... translation provided. (60) Provisional application No. 60/298,381, filed on Jun. (Continued) 18, 2001. Primary Examiner San-ming Hui (51) Int. Cl. 74) Attorney,V, AgAgent, or Firm—Foleyy & Lardner LLP A6 IK3I/56 (2006.01) (52) U.S. Cl. ...................................................... S14/171 (57) ABSTRACT (58) Field of Classification Search ................. 514/170, 514/171, 180 See application file for complete search history. A composition for transdermal administration resulting from an admixture includes: a therapeutically effective amount of (56) References Cited a pharmaceutically active agent that includes a corresponding U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS steroid and a steroid derivative; and a carrier for the pharma ceutically active agent. The Steroid and the corresponding 4,529,601 A 7/1985 Broberg et al. steroid derivative are present in a weight ratio of 10:1 to 1:10 4.585,452 A * 4, 1986 Sablotsky ................... 424/449 steroid: corresponding steroid derivative. In a preferred 4,906, 169 A 3, 1990 Chien et al. embodiment ratio is 6:1 to 1:6. In a preferred embodiment, the 5,422,119 A 6/1995 Casper 5,474,783 A 12/1995 Miranda et al. corresponding Steroid derivative is a steroid ester. In another 5,633,242 A 5, 1997 Oettel et al. preferred embodiment, the carrier is a polymer that includes 5,656,386 A 8, 1997 Scherer et al. a pressure-sensitive adhesive. 5,711,962 A 1/1998 Cordes et al. 5,770.219 A * 6/1998 Chiang et al. ............... 424/448 33 Claims, 3 Drawing Sheets -- CombiPatch"Estradiol -OH- Combipatch"NETA, - A - Ex. Estradiol - Ex. 1 NET-NetA 48 time Hours) US 7,867,986 B2 Page 2 U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS Office Action issued on Apr. 5, 2010 by the Examiner in U.S. Appl. No. 1 1/979.263 (US 2008/0167280). 6,149,935 A 11/2000 Chiang et al. 6,153,216 A 11/2000 Cordes et al. Office Action issued on Jul. 17, 2009 by the Examiner in U.S. Appl. 6,221,383 B1 4/2001 Miranda et al. No. 1 1/979.263 (US 2008/0167280). 6,303,141 B1 10/2001 Fischer et al. Office Action issued on Feb. 25, 2009 by the Examiner in U.S. Appl. 7,456,159 B2 11/2008 Houze et al. No. 1 1/979.263 (US 2008/0167280). 2003. O152613 A1 8, 2003 Houze Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences Decision issued on Mar. 2003. O152614 A1 8, 2003 Houze 16, 2010 by the Examiner in U.S. Appl. No. 10/330,360 (US 2003/ 2008.0167280 A1 7/2008 Houze et al. 0152614). 2008.0167365 A1 7/2008 Houze et al. Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences Decision issued on Mar. 16, 2010 by the Examiner in U.S. Appl. No. 10/330,279 (US 2003/ FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS 0152613). CL 50-96 1, 1995 Notice of Allowance issued on May 1, 2008 by the Examiner in U.S. EP O 279 977 8, 1988 Appl. No. 10/330,281 (US 7456,159). EP O 294 601 B1 1, 1993 Office Action issued on Sep. 10, 2007 by the Examiner in U.S. Appl. WO WO90,06736 A1 6, 1990 No. 10/330,281 (US 7456,159). WO WO94, 16709 A1 8, 1994 Office Action issued on Feb. 8, 2007 by the Examiner in U.S. Appl. WO WO 98.51283 A1 11, 1998 No. 10/330,281 (US 7456,159). WO WO99, 15156 4f1999 Office Action issued on Jun. 14, 2006 by the Examiner in U.S. Appl. WO WO99, 1515.6 A1 4f1999 No. 10/330,281 (US 7456,159). WO WO99,66907 A1 12/1999 Office Action issued on Dec. 30, 2005 by the Examiner in U.S. Appl. WO WOO1/O2015 A1 1, 2001 No. 10/330,281 (US 7456,159). OTHER PUBLICATIONS Office Action issued on Jun. 29, 2005 by the Examiner in U.S. Appl. No. 10/330,281 (US 7456,159). Examiners Report issued Nov. 2008 in Chilean Patent Application No. 1332-2002. * cited by examiner U.S. Patent Jan. 11, 2011 Sheet 1 of 3 US 7,867,986 B2 - O - CombiPatch"Estradiol -O- CombiPatch"NETA - A - Ex. 1 Estradiol - A - Ex. 1 NET+NETA Time (Hours) FIGURE 1 U.S. Patent Jan. 11, 2011 Sheet 2 of 3 US 7,867,986 B2 - - CE2-1 NET A CE2-2 NETA -O EX2 NET-NETA O 24 48 72 96 time (hours) FIGURE 2 U.S. Patent Jan. 11, 2011 Sheet 3 of 3 US 7,867,986 B2 - A - Testoderm - O - Ex. 3 Testosterone - A - Ex. 3 Testosterone acetate - H Ex. 3 Total O 12 24 36 48 60 72 Time (hours) FIGURE 3 US 7,867,986 B2 1. 2 ENHANCED DRUG DELVERY IN tion, there are some applications where it is desirable to have TRANSIDERMAL SYSTEMS a greater crystal inhibiting effect. This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 09/948,107, filed Sep. 7, 2001, which claims priority to U.S. 5 Provisional Application No. 60/298,381, filed Jun. 18, 2001. One object of the invention is to overcome the disadvan BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION tages of the known art described above. Another object of the invention is to provide a transdermal drug delivery system 1. Field of the Invention 10 that has an improved flux of steroid compared to a system of The present invention relates to transdermal drug delivery equal size. Still another object of the invention is to provide a systems. In particular, the present invention relates to trans composition that has reduced, or no, crystal formation in the dermal drug delivery systems for delivering Steroids, and to transdermal drug delivery system. methods of making and using the same. In accomplishing the foregoing and other objects, there has 2. Description of the Related Art 15 been provided according to one aspect of the present inven The use of a transdermal drug delivery system, for example tion a composition, preferably a dermal composition, result a pressure-sensitive adhesive containing a medicament, namely, a drug, as a means for administering therapeutically ing from an admixture that includes: a therapeutically effec effective amounts of the medicament is well known. Such tive amount of a pharmaceutically active agent that includes a known delivery systems involve incorporation of a medica steroid and a corresponding steroid derivative that provides a ment into a carrier Such as a polymeric and/or a pressure source of therapeutically active steroid; and a carrier for the sensitive adhesive formulation or otherforms of carriers. The pharmaceutically active agent, wherein the steroid and Ste pressure-sensitive adhesive must adhere effectively to the roid derivative are present in a weight ratio of 10:1 to 1:10 skin and permit migration of the medicament from the carrier steroid: steroid derivative. In a preferred embodiment, the through the skin and into the bloodstream of the patient. 25 steroid derivative is a steroid ester. In another preferred Steroids such as estradiol and norethindrone are especially embodiment the carrier is a polymer that includes a pressure well known for use in transdermal drug delivery systems, in sensitive adhesive. particular, as hormone replacement therapy. These steroids may be administered singularly, such as the estradiol trans According to another aspect of the invention, there has dermal drug delivery system sold under the trademark 30 been provided a method of making a composition described Vivelle(R) and Vivelle-Dot TMmanufactured by Noven Pharma above that includes forming a mixture of the steroid, corre ceuticals, Inc. of Miami, Fla. See also U.S. Pat. No. 6,221, sponding steroid derivative and carrier. Preferably, the carrier 383. Alternatively, two or more steroids may be administered is a polymer and the method further includes: forming the together, Such as the estradiol/norethindrone acetate transder 35 blend into a polymer matrix; and drying the polymer matrix to mal drug delivery system sold under the trademark Combi remove volatile solvents to form the composition. Patch(R) also manufactured by Noven Pharmaceuticals. See According to another aspect of the invention, there has also U.S. Pat. No. 6,221,383. See also U.S. Pat. No. 5,474, been provided a method of treating a human oran animal with 783. a therapeutically effective amount of a pharmaceutically Transdermal drug delivery systems with more than one 40 drug are generally more difficult to formulate in view of active agent, that includes the steps of applying to the skin of different interactions with each drug and the carrier, excipi an animal or human being, the composition described above; ents, etc., even the other drug present.