CA2221096C - Skin permeation enhancer compositions comprising glycerol monolaurate and lauryl acetate - Google Patents

Abstract

Compositions, devices, and methods for trans-dermal administration of an active agent are dis-closed using a novel dual permeation enhancer mix-ture comprising lauryl acetate and a monoglyceride, preferably glycerol monolaurate. The dual perme-ation enhancer mixture comprising lauryl acetate is a potent permeation enhancer and provides stable sys-tems which are more readily characterized.

Description

, SKIN PERMEATION ENHANCER COMPOSITIONS

s This application is related to U.S. Patent Serial No. 5,789,991, filed 7 June 7, 1995, assigned to ALZA Corporation, for which the benefit, of the 8 earlier filing date is claimed.

12 This invention relates to the transdermal delivery of agents or other 13 biologically active agents and more particularly to methods and compositions ia for enhancing the percutaneous absorption of agents or other agents when incorporated in transdermal agent delivery systems or devices. More 16 particularly, this invention relates to the transdermal delivery of agents 17 utilizing a novel dual permeation enhancer comprising glycerol monolaurate 18 and lauryl acetate.

DESCRIPTION OF TERMS

22 As used herein, the term "transdemnal" means percutaneous delivery 23 of an agent through skin or mucosal tissue into the circulation by topical 24 application.
As used herein, the term "therapeutically effective" amount or rate 26 refers to the amount or rate of agent or active agent needed to achieve a 27 desired therapeutic result.

1 As used herein, the phrase "predetermined area of skin" refers to a 2 defined area of intact unbroken skin or mucosal tissue. That area is usually in 3 the range of about 5 cm2 to about 100 cm2.

4 As used herein, the term "monoglyceride" refers to a monoglyceride of =
a fatty acid or a mixture of monoglycerides of fatty acids, or mixtures thereof 6 with other materials in which the monoglyceride component comprises at 7 least 50% by weight, and includes, for example, glycerol monolaurate, 8 glycerol monooleate, and glycerol monolinoleate.
9 As used herein, "glycerol monolaurate" refers to glycerol monolaurate itself or a mixture of glycerides wherein glycerol monolaurate is present in the 11 greatest amount.
12 As used herein, "glycerol monooleate" refers to glycerol monooleate 13 itself or a mixture of glycerides wherein glycerol monooleate is present in the 14 greatest amount.
As used herein, "glycerol monolinoleate" refers to glycerol 16 monolinoleate itself or a mixture of glycerides wherein glycerol monolinoleate 17 is present in the greatest amount.
18 As used herein, the phrase "water absorbing polymer" refers to a 19 hydrophilic polymer being able to absorb water and includes, but is not limited to, polyvinyl pyrrolidones, polyvinyl alcohol, and polyaminoacrylates.

24 The transdermal route of parenteral delivery of drugs provides many advantages, and transdermal systems for delivering a wide variety of drugs or 26 other beneficial agents are described in U.S. Patent Nos. 3,598,122;
27 3,598,123; 3,731,683; 3,797,494; 4,286,592; 4,314,557; 4,379,454;
28 4,435,180; 4,559,222; 4,568,343; 4,573,999; 4,588,580; 4,645,502; =

1 4,704,282; 4,816,258; 4,849,226; 4,908,027; 4,943,435; and 5,004,610, for 2 example. In many cases, agents which would appear to be ideal candidaies s for transdermal delivery are found to have such low permeability through a intact skin that they cannot be delivered in therapeutically effective amounts s from reasonably sized devices.
6 In an effort to increase skin permeability so th-at agents can be 7 delivered in therapeutically effective amounts at therapeutically effective a rates, it has been proposed to pretreat the skin with various chemicals 9 or to concurrently deliver the agent ih the presence of a permeation enhancer. Various materials have been suggested for this, as described >> in U.S. Patent Nos. 3,472,931; 3,527,864; 3,896,238; 3,903,256; 3,952,099;
12 4,046,886; 4,130,643; 4,130,667; 4,299,826; 4,335,115; 4,343,798;
13 4,379,454; 4,405,616; 4,746,515; 4,788,062; 4,820,720; 4,863,738;
114 4,863,970; and 5,378,730; British Pat. No. 1,011,949; and ldson, is "Percutaneous Absorption," J. Pharm. Sci. (1975) 64:901-924.
1s To be considered useful, a permeation enhancer should have the 17 ability to enhance the permeability of the skin for at least one and preferably ,s a significant number of agents. More importantly, it should be abie to 19 enhance the skin permeability such that the agent delivery rate from a reasonably sized system (preferably 5-50cm2) is at therapeutic levels.
21 Additionally, the enhancer when applied to the skin surface, shouid be non-22 toxic, non-irritating on prolonged exposure and under occlusion, and non-23 sensitizing on repeated exposure. Preferably, it should be odorless and 24 capable of delivering agents without producing burning or tingling sensations.

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a= a e w=== s e s s o ~
= = = = o : = =
o e a = = = .', .!
o f = + e o s e= == == == r 1 It is often difficult to predict which compounds will work as permeation 2 enhancers and which permeation enhancers will work for particular agents.
3 In systemic drug delivery applications, a compound that enhances the 4 permeability of one agent or a family of agents may not necessarily enhance the permeability of another agent or family of agents. Therefore, the 6 usefulness of a particular compound as a permeation enhancer must be 7 analyzed carefully.
8 U.S. Patent No. 4,954,487 and European Patent Application 0 043 738 9 disclose pharmaceutical compositions containing a penetrating vehicle consisting essentially of a C, -C a diol compound and a cell envelope 11 disordering compound. Lauryl acetate is disclosed as a suitable cell 12 envelope disordering compound.
13 U.S. Patent No. 5,026,556 discloses a composition for the transdermal 14 delivery of buprenorphine comprising an amount of buprenorphine in a carrier comprising a polar solvent material selected from the group consisting of 16 C3-C q diols, C3 -C6 triols, and mixtures thereof; and a polar lipid material 17 selected from the group consisting of fatty alcohol esters, fatty acid esters, 18 and mixtures thereof. Lauryl acetate is disclosed as a suitable polar lipid 19 material.
U.S. Patent No. 5,149,538 discloses the transdermal delivery of an 21 opioid. Preferred permeation enhancers are saturated and unsaturated zz fatty alcohols, fatty alcohol esters, or fatty acids having 8-18 carbon atoms. _ 23 While it is known in the art to combine permeation enhancers, this 24 invention utilizes a novel combination of dodecyl acetate (lauryl acetate) and 2s glycerol monolaurate (GML), and the combined effect is a significant and 26 surprising improvement over use of GML or lauryl acetate alone.
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AMENDED SHEET
IPEA/FP

3 It has been found that GML, known to enhance agent permeation 4 in vi r, does not exhibit a good in vitro / in vivo correlation. Results derived 5 from in vivo testing using GML as a permeation enhancer have not been 6 found to be as consistent as the results from in vi rQ tests. Cosolvents such 7 as lauryl lactate, ethyl lactate, and myristyl lactate all have the potential to a effectively enhance agent permeation when combined with GML. However, s these combinations of cosolvents and GML perforrn inconsistently from one lot of formulations to another.
11 According to this invention, we believe that this inconsistent 12 performance can be attributed to the fact that these cosolvents are not 13 obtainable at a high degree of purity. The lauryl lactate used in the Examples 14 that follow, for example, was obtained as two different mixtures:
Ceraphyl.31 ~
or a purer lauryl lactate (both from ISP Van Dyk, Bellevue, NJ). C.eraphyl.31 16 is a mixture of 50.6% lauryl lactate, 19.1 % myristyl lactate, 8.8% lauryl 17 alcohol, 8.3% paimityl lactate, 3.7% stearyl lactate, and 3.5% myristyl alcohol.
18 The purer lauryl lactate is available as a mixture of 82.8% lauryl lactate, 19 11 % lauryl lactyllactate, and 4% 1-dodecanol.
In addition to the problem of inconsistent performance, the failure to 21 obtain a cosolvent at a high degree of purity also niakes it difficult to 22 characterize the system in which the mixture is used. Therefore, cosolvents -x-23 such as Ceraphyl 31 may not be usable in products subject to regulatory 24 review.
According to this invention, lauryl acetate, a cosolvent obtainable.at a 26 high degree of purity, has been found to reduce or eliminate the problems of 27 inconsistency and characterization.

*Trade-mark 5a According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a composition of matter for transdermally delivering a biologically active agent at a therapeutically effective rate by permeation through a body surface or membrane comprising, in combination: (a) a biologically active agent; and (b) a dual permeation enhancer comprising 1-40 wt% lauryl acetate and 1-40 wt% of a monoglyceride, wherein the agent and permeation enhancer are dispersed within a carrier.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a pressure sensitive adhesive composition for the transdermal administration of a biologically active agent comprising by weight: (a) 0.1-30%
of a biologically active agent; (b) 30-90% of a pressure sensitive adhesive; (c) 1-40% of a permeation enhancer comprising lauryl acetate, a monoglyceride or mixture of monoglycerides of fatty acids, or a mixture thereof.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a device for the transdermal administration of an agent at a therapeutically effective rate by permeation through a body surface or membrane, comprising: (a) an agent reservoir comprising an agent and a permeation-enhancing amount of a permeation enhancer mixture comprising lauryl acetate and a monoglyceride; and (b) means for maintaining the reservoir in agent- and permeation enhancer-transmitting relation with the body surface or membrane.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a device for the transdermal administration of an agent at a therapeutically effective rate by permeation through a body surface or membrane, comprising: (a) a first reservoir comprising an agent and a 5b dual permeation enhancer comprising 1-40 wt% lauryl acetate and 1-40 wt% of a monoglyceride; (b) a second reservoir comprising an additional amount of the permeation enhancer mixture; (c) a rate controlling membrane between the first and second reservoirs; (d) a backing behind the skin distal surface of the first reservoir; and (e) means for maintaining the reservoir in agent- and permeation enhancer-transmitting relation with the body surface or membrane.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a device for the transdermal administration of a biologically active agent at a therapeutically effective rate comprising: (a) a backing layer, and (b) an agent reservoir matrix comprising a polymeric blend comprising by weight: (i) 40-90% of a silicone adhesive, (ii) 1-30% of a water absorbing polymer, (iii) 0.1-30% agent, (iv) a permeation enhancer comprising 1-30% of a monoglyceride and 1-30% lauryl acetate.

According to yet a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided use of an agent and a permeation enhancing amount of a permeation enhancer mixture comprising lauryl acetate and a monoglyceride, in the transdermal delivery of the agent at a therapeutically effective rate, for treating a subject :in need thereof.

According to still a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided use of an agent and a permeation enhancing amount of a permea---ion enhancer mixture comprising lauryl acetate and a monoglyceride, in the manufacture of a medicament, for treating a subject in need thereof.

1 Accordingly, the present invention provides a composition of matter 2 for application to a body surface or membrane to deliver at least one agent, 3 at a therapeutically effective rate, by permeation through the body surface or 4 membrane, comprising at least one agent and a permeation-enhancing 5 amount of lauryl acetate and a monoglyceride or mixture of monoglycerides of 6 a fatty acid. The invention further provides a method for the transdermal 7 coadministration of a agent at a therapeutically effective rate together with a 8 skin permeation-enhancing amount of lauryl acetate and a monoglyceride or 9 mixture of monoglycerides of a fatty acid. The monoglyceride is preferably glycerol monolaurate.
11 It is accordingly an aspect of this invention to provide a permeation 12 enhancer composition for use in transdermal compositions, methods, and 13 devices which provides for the transdermal coadministration of an agent 14 at a therapeutically effective rate with improved in vivo efficacy.
It is another aspect of this invention to provide a permeation enhancer 16 composition for use in transdermal compositions, methods, and devices 17 comprising a monoglyceride and a cosolvent wherein the cosolvent is stable 18 and obtainable at a high degree of purity, thus resulting in systems which are 19 more readily characterized.
It is yet another aspect of this invention to provide a permeation 21 enhancer composition for use in transdermal compositions, methods, and 22 devices which provides consistent results from one lot of formulations to 23 another.
24 These and other aspects and advantages of this invention will be readily apparent from the following description with reference to the 26 accompanying figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

3 FIG. I is a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of a transdermal 4 therapeutic agent delivery device which may be used in accordance with the present invention.
6 FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a 7 transdermal therapeutic agent delivery device which may be used in 8 accordance with the present invention.
9 FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of yet another embodiment of a transdermal therapeutic agent delivery device which may be used in 11 accordance with this invention.
12 FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of another embodiment of a 13 transdermal therapeutic agent delivery device which may be used in 14 accordance with this invention.
FIG. 5 is a graph of the flux of alprazolam through human epidermis at 16 35 *C from systems using various enhancers.
17 FIG. 6 is a graph of the flux of alprazolam through human epidermis at 18 35 'C from systems using various concentrations of GML with lauryl acetate 19 or lauryl lactate.
FIG. 7 is a graph of the flux of testosterone through human epidermis 21 at 35 *C from systems using various concentrations of GML with lauryl acetate 22 or lauryl lactate.
23 FIG. 8 is a graph of the flux of oxybutynin through human epidermis 24 using various cosolvents for GML.
FIG. 9 is a graph of the flux of testosterone through human epidermis 26 at 35 *C using various formulations of GML with lauryl acetate.

~ MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

3 According to the invention, GML is combined with lauryl acetate 4 as a cosolvent to provide an improved permeation enhancer mixture.
Lauryl acetate, obtainable at 97-99% purity, is effective as a cosolvent for 6 GML and effectively enhances the permeation of various agents through the 7 skin. The combination of lauryl acetate and GML is a potent permeation 8 enhancer mixture which is non-irritating to the skin, provides consistent 9 results, and provides a system which is more readily characterized than other GMUcosolvent mixtures using cosolvents of lower purity.
11 In addition to its higher degree of purity, lauryl acetate also has greater 12 stability than lauryl lactate and can solubilize a larger amount of GML, thus it 13 may allow for a greater amount of GML to reach the skin. A preferred 14 permeation enhancer composition of this invention comprises lauryl acetate of about 97-99% purity together with GML. It is further preferable that the lauryl 16 acetate of at least 97% purity be used in combination with a monoglyceride 17 containing at least 50% of the principal monoglyceride component and having 18 a monoester content of at least 51 %.
19 It has now been found that a combination of GML and lauryl acetate can be used to effectively enhance the permeability of agents through body 21 surfaces and particularly through the skin. Specifically, it has been found that 22 GML and lauryl acetate enhance the permeability of the skin such that 23 therapeutically effective amounts of an agent can be delivered from 24 reasonably sized devices at therapeutically effective rates.
The system of the invention is preferably a transdermal agent delivery 26 device comprising a matrix adapted to be placed in agent- and permeation 27 enhancer-transmitting relation with the skin or mucosa. The system must 28 be of a size useful for the application of the agent and the enhancer to a 29 human body.

1 The utiiity of a GMVlauryl acetate dual permeation enhancer has been 2 demonstrated for a variety of different agents as seen in the Examples that 3 follow. It is believed that this invention has utility in connection with the a delivery of agents within the broad class normally delivered through body s surfaces and membranes, including skin. In general, this includes 6 therapeutic agents in all of the major areas, including, ACE inhibitors, 7 adenohypophoseal hormones, adrenergic neurori blocking agents, 8 adrenocortical steroids, inhibitors of the biosynthesis of adrenocortical 9 steroids, alpha-adrenergic agonists, alpha-adrenergic antagonists, selective alpha-two-adrenergic agonists, analgesics, antipyretics and anti-inflammatory >> agents, androgens, local and general anesthetics, antiaddictive agents, 12 antiandrogens, antiarrhythmic agents, antiasthmatic agents, anticholinergic 13 agents, anticholinesterase agents, anticoagulants, antidiabetic agents, 14 antidiarrheal agents, antidiuretic, antiemetic and prokinetic agents, is antiepileptic agents, antiestrogens, antifungal agents, antihypertensive i s agents, antimicrobial agents, antimigraine agents, antimuscarinic agents, 17 antineoplastic agents, antiparasitic agents, antiparkinson's agents, 18 antiplatelet agents, antiprogestins, antithyroid agents, antitussives, antiviral 19 agents, atypical antidepressants, azaspirodecanediones, barbituates, benzodiazepines, benzothiadiazides, beta-adrenergic agonists, beta-21 adrenergic antagonists, selective beta-one-adrenergic antagonists, selective 22 beta-two-adrenergic agonists, bile salts, agents affecting volume and 23 composition of body fluids, butyrophenones, agents affecting calcification, 24 calcium channel blockers, cardiovascular drugs, catecholamines and sympathomimetic drugs, cholinergic agonists, cholinesterase reactivators, 26 dermatological agents, diphenylbutylpiperidines, diuretics, ergot alkaloids, 27 estrogens, ganglionic blocking agents, ganglionic stimulating agents, 28 hydantoins, agents for control of gastric acidity and treatment of peptic 29 ulcers, hematopoietic agents, histamines, histamine antagonists, 1 5-hydroxytryptamine antagonists, drugs for the treatment of z hyperlipoproteinemia, hypnotics and sedatives, immunosupressive agents, 3 laxatives, methylxanthines, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, neuromuscular 4 blocking agents, organic nitrates, opiod analgesics and antagonists, s pancreatic enzymes, phenothiazines, progestins, prostagiandins, agents for 6 the treatment of psychiatric disorders, retinoids, sodium channel blockers, 7 agents for spasticity and acute muscle spasms, succinimides, thioxanthines, 8 thrombolytic agents, thyroid agents, tricyclic antidepressants, inhibitors of 9 tubular transport of organic compunds, drugs affecting uterine motility, 10 vasodilators, vitamins and the like.

11 Representative agents include, by way of' example bepridil, 12 diltiazem, felodipine, isradipine, nicardipine, nifedipine, nimodipine, 13 nitredipine, verapamil, dobutamine, isoproterenol, carterolol, labetalol, 14 levobunolol, nadolol, penbutolol, pindolol, propranolol, sotalol, timolol, is acebutolol, atenolol, betaxolol, esmolol, metoprolol, albuterol, bitolterol, ,s isoetharine, metaproterenol, pirbuterol, ritodrine, terbutaline, alclometasone, 17 aldosterone, amcinonide, beclomethasone dipropionate, betamethasone, 18 clobetasol, clocortolone, cortisol, cortisone, corticosterone, desonide, 19 desoximetasone, 11-desoxycorticosterone, 11-desoxycortisol, :o dexamethasone, diflorasone, fludrocortisone, flunisolide, fluocinolone, 21 fluocinonide, fluorometholone, flurandrenolide, halcinonide, hydrocortisone, medrysone, 6a-methylprednisolone, mometasone, paramethasone, 23 prednisolone, prednisone, tetrahydrocortisol, triamcinolone, benoxinate, 24 benzocaine, bupivacaine, chloroprocaine, cocaine, dibucaine, dyclonine, 2s etidocaine, lidocaine, mepivacaine, pramoxine, prilocaine, procaine, 25 proparacaine, tetracaine, alfentanil, choroform, clonidine, cyclopropane, zr desflurane, diethyl ether, droperidol, enflurane, etomidate, fentanyl, 2s halothane, isoflurane, ketamine hydrochloride, meperidine, methohexital, 29 methoxyflurane, morphine, propofol, sevoflurane, sufentanil, thiamylal, thiopental, acetaminophen, allopurinol, apazone., aspirin* auranofin, 2 aurothioglucose, coichicine, diclofenac, diflunisal, etodolac, fenoprofen, 3 flurbiprofen, gold sodium thiomalate, ibuprofen, indomethacin, ketoprofen, 4 meclofenamate, mefenamic acid, meselamine, methyl salicylate, nabumetone, naproxen, oxyphenbutazone, phenacetin, phenylbutazone, 6 piroxicam, salicylamide, salicylate, salicylic acid, saisalate, sulfasalazine, 7 sulindac, tolmetin, acetophenazine, chlorprornazine, fluphenazine, 8 mesoridazine, perphenazine, thioridazine, trifluorperazine, triflupromazine, s disopyramide, encainide, flecainide, indecainide, mexiletine, moricizine, phenytoin, procainamide, propafenone, quinidine, tocainide, cisapride, 11 domperidone, dronabinol, haloperidol, metoclopramide, nabilone, 12 prochlorperazine, promethazine, thiethylperazine, trimethobenzamide, 13 buprenorphine, butorphanol, codeine, dezocine, diphenoxylate, drocode, 14 hydrocodone, hydromorphone, levallorphan, ievorphanol, loperamide, meptazino(, methadone, nalbuphine, nalmefene, nalorphine, naloxone, 16 naltrexone, oxybutynin, oxycodone, oxymorphone, pentazocine, 17 propoxyphene, isosorbide dinitrate, nitroglycerin, theophylline, phenyiephrine, 18 ephidrine, pilocarpine, furosemide, tetracycline, chiorpheniramine, ketorolac, 19 bromocriptine, guanabenz, prazosin, doxazosin, and flufenamic acid.
Other representative agents include benzodiazepines, such as 21 alprazolam, brotizolam, chlordiazepoxide, clobazam, clonazepam, 22 clorazepate, demoxepam, diazepam, flumazenil, flurazepam, halazepam, 23 lorazepam, midazolam, nitrazepam, nordazepam, oxazepam, prazepam, 24 quazepam, temazepam, triazolam, and the like; an antimuscarinic agent such as anisotropine, atropine, clidinium, cyclopentolate, dicvclomine, flavoxate, 26 glycopyrrolate, hexocyciium, homatropine, ipratropium, isopropamide, 27 mepenzolate, methantheline, oxyphencyclimine, pirenzepine, propantheline, 28 scopolamine, telenzepine, tridihexethyl, tropicamide, and the like; an estrogen 29 such as chlorotrianisene, siethylstilbestrol, methyl estradiol, estrone, estrone *Trade-mark 1 sodium sulfate, estropipate, mestranol, quinestrol, sodium equilin sulfate, 2 17(i-estradiol (or estradiol), semi-synthetic estrogen derivatives such as the 3 esters of natural estrogen, such as estradiol-17R-.enanthate, estradiol-17p-4 valerate, estradiol-3-benzoate, estradiol-17R-undecenoate, estradiol 16, 17-hemisuccinate or estradiol-17R-cypionate, and the 17-alkylated estrogens, 6 such as ethinyl estradiol, ethinyl estradiol-3- isopropylsulphonate, and the 7 like; an androgen such as danazol, fluoxymesterone, methandrostenolone, 8 methyltestosterone, nandrolone, nandrolone decanoate, nandrolone 9 phenpropionate, oxandrolone, oxymetholone, stanozolol, testolactone, testosterone, testosterone cypionate, testosterone enanthate, testosterone 11 propionate, and the like; or a progestin such as ethynodiol diacetate, 12 gestodene, hydroxyprogesterone caproate, levonorgestrel, 13 medroxyprogesterone acetate, megestrol acetate, norethindrone, 14 norethindrone acetate, norethynodrel, norgestrel, progesterone, and the like.
Lauryl acetate has been demonstrated herein as a suitable cosolvent 16 for GML. Lauryl acetate may also be used as a cosolvent together with 17 other monoglycerides. Typically, monoglycerides have been available as a ,s mixture of monoglycerides of fatty acids with one monoglyceride being the 19 principal component, from which component the mixture derives its name.
For example, one commercial monoglyceride is 'E.merest 2421 glycerol 21 monooleate (Emery Division, Quantum Chemical Corp.), which is a mixture 22 of glycerol oieates with a glycerol monooleate content of 58% by weight and 23 a total monoesters content of 58% by weight.
24 Other examples of commercial monoglycerides are 'Myveroi 1899K
glycerol monooleate (Eastman Chemical Products) which has a glycerol 26 monooleate content of 61 % and a total monoesters content of 93%, 27 and Myveroi 1892K glycerol monolinoleate which has a glycerol 28 monolinoleate content of 68% and a minimum total monoesters content *Trade-mark 1 of 90%. The monoesters are chosen from those with from 10 to 20 carbon 2 atoms. The fatty acids may be saturated or unsaturated and include, 3 for example, lauric acid, myristic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid and 4 palmitic acid. Monoglyceride permeation enhancers include glycerol monooleate, glycerol monolaurate and glycerol monolinoleate, for example.
6 Transdermal agent delivery systems are typically maintained in 7 contact with the skin using an "in-line" contact adhesive, ie, a layer of 8 adhesive positioned between the agent reservoir of the delivery system and 9 the skin. Glycerol monooleate having a total monoesters content of less than about 65% interacts adversely with known adhesive materials to such an 11 extent that the adhesive cannot function to maintain a delivery device on the 12 skin. Therefore, when an in-line adhesive is present as a part of the device 13 of the invention so that a permeation enhancer must pass through the 14 adhesive, and when glycerol monooleate is utilized as the second permeation enhancer, the glycerol monooleate must have a total monoesters content of 16 at least 65%.
17 Administration of the agent according to the invention comprises 18 administering the agent at a therapeutically effective rate to an area of a body 19 surface (eg, skin) or membrane and simultaneously administering GML and lauryl acetate to the area of the body surface or membrane at rates which are 21 sufficient to substantially increase the permeability of the area to the agent 22 formulation.
23 According to the invention, the GML and lauryl acetate mixture and the 24 agent to be delivered are placed in agent- and permeation enhancer-transmitting relationship to the appropriate body surface, preferably in a 26 carrier therefor, and maintained in place for the desired period of time.
27 The agent and permeation enhancer mixture are typically dispersed within a 28 physiologically compatible matrix or carrier which may be applied directly to 1 the body surface or skin as an ointment, gel, cream, suppository or sublingual 2 or buccal tablet, for example, but are more preferably administered from 3 a transdermal therapeutic delivery device as more fully described below.
4 When used in the form of a liquid, ointment, cream, or gel applied directly 5 to the skin, it is preferable, although not required, to occlude the site of 6 administration. Such compositions can also contain other permeation 7 enhancers, stabilizers, dyes, diluents, pigments, vehicles, inert fillers, 8 excipients, gelling agents, vasoconstrictors, and other components of typical 9 compositions as are known to the art.
The GML/lauryl acetate dual permeation enhancer of this invention has 11 a permeation-enhancing effect on the transport of agents through body 12 surface tissues generally, in addition to the skin. However, because skin is 13 one of the most effective barriers to the permeation of agents into the body, 14 the effect of GML and lauryl acetate on skin permeation makes it extremely useful in transdermal delivery. The following description of embodiments of 16 the invention is therefore directed primarily to improving systemic delivery of 17 these agents by permeation through the skin.
18 One embodiment of a transdermal delivery device of the present 19 invention is illustrated in FIG. 1. In FIG. 1, device 1 is comprised of a agent-and permeation enhancer-containing reservoir ("agent reservoir") 2 which is 21 preferably in the form of a matrix containing the agent and the enhancer 22 dispersed therein. An impermeable backing layer 3 is provided adjacent one 23 surface of agent reservoir 2. Adhesive overlay 4 maintains the device I on 24 the skin and may be fabricated together with, or provided separately from, the remaining elements of the device. With certain formulations, the adhesive 26 overlay 4 may be preferable to an in-line contact adhesive, such as adhesive 27 layer 28 as shown in FIG. 3. Impermeable backing layer 3 is preferably 28 slightly larger than agent reservoir 2, and in this manner prevents the 1 materials in agent reservoir 2 from adversely interacting with the adhesive in 2 overlay 4. A strippable or removable liner 5 is also provided with device 1 3 and is removed just prior to application of device 1 to the skin.
4 Figure 2 illustrates another embodiment of the invention, device 10, 5 shown in placement on the skin 17. In this embodiment, the transdermal 6 agent delivery device 10 comprises multi-laminate agent 7 formulation/enhancer reservoir 11 having at least two zones 12 and 14.
8 Zone 12 consists of an agent reservoir substantially as described with respect 9 to FIG. 1. Zone 14 comprises a permeation enhancer reservoir which is 10 preferably made from substantially the same matrix as is used in zone 12.
11 Zone 14 comprises GML and lauryl acetate dispersed throughout and is 12 substantially free of any undissolved agent. A rate-controlling membrane 13 13 for controlling the release rate of the GMUlauryl acetate mixture from zone 14 to zone 12 is placed between the two zones. A rate-controlling membrane 15 (not shown) for controlling the release rate of the enhancer from zone 12 to 16 the skin may also optionally be utilized and would be present between the 17 skin 17 and zone 12.

18 The rate-controlling membrane 13 may be fabricated from permeable, 19 semipermeable or microporous materials which are known in the art to control the rate of agents into and out of delivery devices and having a permeability 21 to the permeation enhancer lower than the matrix material of zone 12.
22 Suitable materials include, but are not limited to, polyethylene, polyvinyl 23 acetate and ethylene vinyl acetate copolymers.
24 An advantage of the device described in FIG. 2 is that the agent-loaded zone 12 is concentrated at the skin surface rather than throughout the 26 entire mass of a combined agent and enhancer reservoir such as reservoir 2 .27 in FIG. 1. This reduces the amount of agent in the device while maintaining 28 an adequate supply of permeation enhancer.

1 Superimposed over the agent formulation/enhancer reservoir 11/12 2 of device 10 is an impermeable backing 15 and an adhesive overlay 16 3 as described above with respect to FIG. 1. In addition, a strippable liner 4 (not shown) would preferably be provided on the device prior to use as described with respect to FIG. 1 and removed prior to application of the 6 device 10 to the skin 17.
7 In the embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 2, the carrier or matrix material 8 has sufficient viscosity to maintain its shape without oozing or flowing.
9 If, however, the matrix or carrier is a low viscosity flowable material, the composition can be fully enclosed in a permeable or microporous 11 skin-contacting membrane, as known to the art from U.S. Patent 12 No. 4,379,454 (noted above), for example.
13 Another embodiment is illustrated in FIG. 3. Device 20 comprises an 14 agent reservoir 22 containing both the agent and the GMVlauryl acetate permeation enhancer. Reservoir 22 is preferably in the form of a matrix 16 containing the agent and the enhancer dispersed therein. Reservoir 22 is 17 sandwiched between a backing layer 24, which is preferably impermeable to 18 both the agent and the permeation enhancer mixture, and an in-line contact 19 adhesive layer 28. In FIG. 3, the agent reservoir 22 is formed of a material, such as a rubbery polymer, that is sufficiently viscous to maintain its shape.
21 The device 20 adheres to the surface of the skin 17 by means of the contact 22 adhesive layer 28. The adhesive for layer 28 should be chosen so that it is 23 compatible and does not interact with any of the agent or, in particular, 24 the GMVlauryl acetate permeation enhancer. The adhesive layer 28 may optionally contain enhancer and/or agent. A strippable liner (not shown) 26 is normally provided along the exposed surface of adhesive layer 28 and is 27 removed prior to application of device 20 to the skin 17. In an alternative 28 embodiment, a rate-controlling membrane (not shown) is present and the agent reservoir 22 is sandwiched between backing layer 24 and the 2 rate-controlling membrane, with adhesive layer 28 present on the skin-side of s the rate-controlling membrane.
4 Various materials suited for the fabrication of the various layers of the transdermal devices of FIGS. 1-3 are known in the art or are disclosed in the 6 aforementioned transdermal device patents.

a The matrix making up the agent I permeation enhancer reservoir of 9 Figures 1-3 can be a gel or a polymer. Suitable materials are compatible with the agent, GML or other monoglyceride, lauryl acetate, and any other 11 components in the system. Suitable matrix materials include, without 12 limitation, natural and synthetic rubbers or other polymeric material, thickened 13 mineral oil, or petroleum jelly, for example. The matrix is preferably polymeric 14 and is more preferably an anhydrous polymer. A preferred embodiment ,s according to this invention is fabricated from an ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) 16 copolymer, of the type described in U.S. Patent No. 4,144,317, and is 17 preferably selected from those EVAs having a vinyl acetate (VA) content in 1s the range of about 9 to 60%, preferably about 28 to 60% VA. Particularly 19 good results may be obtained using EVA of 40% vinyl. acetate content.
In addition to an agent and GMUlauryl acetate, which are essential to 21 the invention, the matrix, if needed, may also contain stabilizers, dyes, 22 pigments, inert fillers, tackifiers, excipients and other conventional 23 components of transdermal delivery devices as are known in the art.
24 Figure 4 depicts another preferred embodiment of the present invention. Device 30 includes a matrix 31 having agent and the GML / lauryl 26 acetate permeation enhancer mixture dispersed therein and can additionally 27 include a backing layer 32 to contain the agent and prevent its loss.
Matrix 31 28 also preferably, but not necessarily, contains a water absorbing polymer to 1 improve the long term wearability of the matrix system. A release liner 2 (not shown in Figure 4) may also be included and is removed prior to placing 3 the device onto the skin 17.
4 The matrix material 31 comprises a hydrophobic pressure sensitive adhesive and preferably comprises a polysiloxane adhesive. The water 6 absorbing polymers useful with the present invention are known in the art and 7 include, for example, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, cross-linked polyvinyl pyrrolidone, 8 polyaminoacrylates, and polyvinyl alcohol. Polyvinyl pyrrolidone is preferred.
9 The backing layer 32 is an elastomeric sheet or film that is substantially impermeable to the selected agent and permeation enhancers and has a 11 thickness of about 1 micrometer to 100 micrometers. Suitable backing 12 materials are known in the art and include, for example, low or medium 13 density polyethylene, polyproylene, polyesters, and silicone elastomers.
14 According to a preferred embodiment of the matrix system depicted in Figure 4, device 30 is prepared by extruding and calendering the adhesive 16 composition between two differential release substrates. One of these 17 release substrates is subsequently removed and the system is laminated to a 18 backing layer.
19 Hot melt processing of the adhesive composition is accomplished by adding to the polysiloxane adhesive, which is dissolved in a carrier solvent, 21 excipients which can plasticize the polysiloxane adhesive. This enables the 22 excipients to be finely mixed into the solution. The carrier solvent is 23 subsequently evaporated off, resulting in a pressure sensitive adhesive that 24 is already plasticized by the excipients. The adhesive can then be mixed with additional excipients, such as active agents and water absorbing 26 polymers, using blending equipment known in the art and subsequently 27 hot melt processed in manufacturing.

1 According to this preferred embodiment, the plasticizing excipients are 2 permeation enhancers which are capable of plasticizing the polysiloxane 3 adhesive to a much lower complex viscosity and significantly lower the 4 viscosity at time scales corresponding to process shear rates, typicaliy of s about 100 rad/sec. Suitable complex dynamic viscosities for the extrudable 6 adhesive composition range from 103 - 10' gm/cro sec (Poise), depending 7 upon the processingtemperature and shear rate. Glycerol monolaurate and a lauryl acetate are the preferred plasticizing excipients.
9 The amounts of the agent that are present in the therapeutic devices depicted in Figures 1-4 required to achieve a therapeutic effect depend on 11 many factors, such as the minimum necessary dosage of the particular agent;
12 the permeability of the matrix, of the adhesive layer and of the rate-controlfing 13 membrane, if present; and the period of time for which the device will be fixed 14 to the skin. There is, in fact, no upper limit to the maximum amounts of agent is present in the device. The minimum amount of each agent is determined by 16 the requirement that sufficient quantities of agent must be present in the 17 device to maintain the desired rate of release over the given period of 18 application.
19 The agent is generally dispersed through the matrix at a concentration in excess of saturation, i.e. at unit activity. The amount of excess is 21 determined by the intended useful life of the system. However, the agent 22 may be present at initial levels below saturation without departing from this rs invention. Generally, the agent may be present at initially subsaturated levels 24 when: 1) the skin flux of the agent is sufficiently low such that the reservoir agent depletion is slow and small; 2) non-constant delivery of the agent is zs desired or acceptable; and/or 3) saturation of the reservoir is achieved in use 27 due to migration of water into the reservoir from the skin, where water is 28 abundantly available.

1 The GML and lauryl acetate mixture is dispersed throughout the 2 matrix, preferably at a concentration sufficient to provide permeation--3 enhancing concentrations of enhancer in the reservoir throughout the 4 anticipated administration period.
5 In the present invention, the agent is delivered through the skin 6 or other body surface at a therapeutically effective rate (that is, a rate 7 that provides an effective therapeutic result) and the GML/lauryl acetate 8 dual permeation enhancer is delivered at a permeation-enhancing rate 9 (that is, a rate that provides increased permeability of the application site 10 to the agent) for a predetermined time period.
11 A preferred embodiment of the present invention is a device such as 12 that illustrated in FIG. 3 (either with or without a rate-controlling membrane) 13 wherein reservoir 22 comprises, by weight, 30- 80% polymer (preferably 14 EVA having a vinyl acetate content of 40%), 0.1-30% agent, 1-40% GML, 15 and 1-40% lauryl acetate. The in-line adhesive layer 28 comprises an 16 adhesive which is compatible with the permeation enhancer. A particularly 17 preferred embodiment is a device as described above wherein the 18 permeation enhancer mixture of glycerol monolaurate and lauryl acetate 19 comprises 20% GML and 12% lauryl acetate.

20 Another preferred embodiment of the present invention is a matrix 21 system such as that illustrated in Fig. 4 wherein the matrix comprises, 22 by weight, 40-90% polymer (preferably a polysiloxane adhesive), 0.1-25%

23 polyvinyl pyrrolidone, 0.1-30% agent, 1-30% GML, and 1-30% lauryl acetate.

24 The devices of this invention can be designed to effectively deliver a agent for an extended time period of up to 7 days or longer. Seven days 26 is generally the maximum time limit for application of a single device 27 because the skin site is adversely affected by a period of occlusion greater 28 than 7 days. Where it is desired to have agent delivery for greater than = = .. .. .. .. . =.==
2354CIP1 :..: : ::.. : ~:.. ; : .=
- = = = == = = = = = . === .
- = = = = = = = s = s =
= = == == s> ==ao =

1 7 days (such as, for example, when a hormone is being applied for a 2 contraceptive effect), when one devire has been in place on the skin for its 3 effective time period, it is replaced with a fresh device, preferably on a 4 different skin site.
The transdermal therapeutic devices of the present invention are 6 prepared in a manner known in the art, such as by those procedures, 7 for example, described in the transdermal device patents listed previously 8 herein. The following examples are offered to illustrate the practice of the s present invention.

13 The effect of various permeation enhancer mixtures on the transdermal 14 flux of alprazolam was studied. The agent/permeation enhancer reservoirs is were prepared by mixing ethylene vinyl acetate having a vinyl acetate content ,s of 40 percent ("EVA 40", USI Chemicals, Illinois) in an internal mixer 17 (Brabender type) until the EVA 40 pellets fused. Alprazolam, GML, glycerol 18 monooleate (GMO), lauryl acetate (Penta Intemational Corp., Livingston, NJ), 19 lauryl lactate, and myristyl lactate were then added as shown in Table 1.
2o The mixture was blended, cooled, and calendered to a 5 mil thick film.
21 The film was then laminated to a Medpar (3M, St. Paul, Mn) backing rz on-one side and an acrylate contact adhesive (3M Acrylic MSP 041991 P) 'za - on the opposite side. The laminate was then cut into 2.54 cm2 circles using a 24 steel punch.

,w .

AMENDED SHEET
IPEA/EP

;, -Agent/Permeation Enhancer Reservoir Composition (weight percent) FORMULATION WEIGHT PERCENT
Alprazolam/GMUlauryl acetate/EVA 40 15/20/12/53 Alprazolam/GMUlauryl lactate/EVA 40 15/20/12/53 Alprazolam/GMUlauryl lactate/EVA 40 15/13/27/45 Alprazolam/GMO/EVA 40 15/30/55 Alprazolam/GMO/lauryl lactate/EVA 40 15/20/12/53 Alprazolam/GMO/myristyl lactate/EVA 40 15/20/12/53 Circular pieces of human epidermis were mounted on the receptor 6 compartment of horizontal permeation cells with the stratum corneum facing 7 the donor compartment of the cell. The release liner of the laminate was 8 removed and the systems were centered over the stratum corneum side of 9 the epidermis. The donor compartment was then clamped with the receptor compartment. A known volume of receptor solution (20 ml, 0.01 M potassium ill phopsphate pH 6+ 2% isopropyl alcohol) was equilibrated at 35 *C and =12 placed in the receptor compartment. Air bubbles were removed from the '13 receptor compartment, the cell was capped and placed in a water bath =14 shaker at 35 C.
'15 At given time intervals, the entire receptor solution was removed from 16 the cells and replaced with an equal volume of fresh receptor solutions 17 previously equilibrated at 35 C. The receptor solutions are stored in capped 18 vials at 4'C until assayed for alprazolam content by high performance liquid 19 chromatography (HPLC). From the agent concentration and the volume of the receptor solutions, the area of permeation and the time interval, the flux of 21 the agent through the epidermis was calculated as follows: (agent 22 concentration x volume of receptor)/( area x time) = flux ( g/cm2 = hr).

1 The transdermal fluxes of the various systems is shown in Figure 5.
2 As demonstrated in Figure 5, the system comprising the GMUlauryl acetate 3 permeation enhancer mixture achieved the greatest flux of alprazolam 4 through skin.

8 The effect of GML and various cosolvents on the transdermal flux of 9 oxybutynin was determined. The agent/permeation enhancer reservoirs, having the compositions shown in Table 2, were prepared by the procedure 11 described in Example 1.

14 Agent/Permeation Enhancer Reservoir Composition (weight percent) AGENT RESERVOIR WEIGHT PERCENT
oxybutynin base/GMUEVA 25/20/55 oxybutynin base/GMUceraphyl 31/EVA 25/20/12/43 oxybutynin base/GML/lauryl lactate/EVA 25/20/12/43 oxybutynin base/GMUmethyl laurate/EVA 25/20/12/43 oxybutynin base/GMUlauryl acetate/EVA 25/20/12/43 16 The agent reservoirs were then laminated to a water vapor permeable 17 Sontara0 spun laced polyester backing (code 80632B, DuPont, Wilmington 18 DE) on one side and a I mil thick Celgard0 (Hoecsht Celanese, Charlotte, 19 NC) film tie layer (microporous polypropylene) on the other. The laminate was then cut into 1.98 cm2 circles using a steel punch. The punched systems 21 were then weighed and placed in a 35 C oven to equilibrate.

2354 ClP1 = = " " '= -" =" ""
. . . ,. o , , ===s s i=.= = 3as = = s = = = = = s a . = = = a = e = ~ = s = = e = = =o == o> ae =e a 1 The in vitro transdermal oxybutynin permeation rates through human 2 epidermis from the systems described above were determined. The systems 3 tested were masked so that none of the device, except for the skin contacting 4 surface, would be exposed to the receptor solution. For each system tested, the release liner was removed and the oxybutynin-releasing surface was 6 centered and placed against the stratum corneum side of a disc of human 7 epidermis which had been blotted dry just prior to use. The excess epidermis a was wrapped around the device.
9 The assembly was then attached to the flat side of a Teflon holder of a release rate rod using wire and nylon mesh. The rod with the system 11 attached was placed into a 50 cc test tube filled with a known volume of 12 receptor solution (0.05M phosphate solution, pH 6.0). Constant vertical 13 stirring was accomplished by attaching the rod to a crossrod connected to an 14 agitator that reciprocates the rod and system vertically in the test tube.
1s The receptor solution was maintained at 35 'C.
1s At given time intervals, the entire receptor solution was removed from 17 the test tube and replaced with an equal volume of fresh receptor solution 18 previously equilibrated at 35 C. The receptor solutions were stored in 19 capped vials and refrigerated until assayed for oxybutynin content by HPLC.
The transdermal flux of oxybutynin through human epidermis from 21 these systems is shown in Figure 8. As demonstrated in Figure 8, the 22 resultant skin flux of the GMUlauryl acetate formulation was greater than ra that of GML alone.

:V
AMENDED SHEET
IPEA/EP

' ' == " -..,. ; ... . .
= = : , = . . : : :' == .
r = = = a = , > = e = = == e== =o ==a= e 3 Systems comprising permeation enhancer mixtures of GMUlauryl 4 acetate were compared to systems comprising mixtures of GMUlauryl s lactate to observe the effect on the transdermal flux of alprazolam.
6 Agent/permeation enhancer reservoirs, having the compositions shown in 7 Table 3, were prepared by the procedures described in Example 1.
8 These reservoir formulations were then used in transdermal flux s studies using the same apparatus and procedures described in Example 1.
lo The effect of the concentration of GML, lauryl acetate, and lauryl lactate on 11 the flux of alprazolam through human epidermis from EVA 40 monoliths at 12 35 C is shown in Figure 6. As demonstrated in Figure 6, the GMUlauryl 13 acetate mixture provided a superior flux of alprazolam through skin of up to 14 three times that of a GMUlauryl lactate mixture. The 15/25 mixture of is GMUlauryl acetate reached steady state flux the quickest.

19 Agent/Permeation Enhancer Reservoir Composition (weight percent) FORMULATION WEIGHT PERCENT
Alprazolam/GMUlauryl acetate/EVA 40 15/20/12/53 Alprazolam/GMUlauryl acetate/EVA 40 15/13/27/45 Alprazolam/GMUlauryl acetate/EVA 40 15/15/25/45 Alprazolam/GMUlauryl lactate/EVA 40 15/20/12/53 Alprazolam/GMUlauryl lactate/EVA 40 15/13/27/45 Alprazolam/GMUlauryl lactate/EVA 40 15/15/25/45 Afprazolam/EVA 40 15/85 AMENDED SHEET
IPEA/i;P

. , , ,. , ,- .= ;
2354 CIP1 = _ ===o ==== c = ,=J s ==== = = = , = = a i o = = = = o a = s = = = ..

3 Agent/permeation enhancer reservoirs were prepared using the 4 procedure of Example 3, substituting testosterone for aiprazolam.
The composition of the agent reservoirs is shown in Table 4.
s s Agent/Permeation Enhancer Reservoir Composition (weight percent) FORMULATION WEIGHT PERCENT
Testosterone/GMUlauryl acetate/EVA 40 15/20/12/53 Testosterone /GMUlauryl acetate/EVA 40 15/13/27/45 Testosterone /GMUlauryl acetate/EVA 40 15/15/25/45 Testosterone /GMUIauryl lactate/EVA 40 15/20/12/53 Testosterone /GMUlauryl lactate/EVA 40 15/13/27/45 Testosterone /GMUlauryl lactate/EVA 40 15/15/25/45 Testosterone /EVA 40 15/85 11 The skin flux experiment described in Example 1 was repeated for 12 these systems, substituting 0.1 % phenol as the receptor solution. The effect 13 of the concentration of GML, lauryl acetate, and lauryl lactate on the flux of 14 testosterone through human epidermis from EVA 40 monoliths at 35 C is is shown in Figure 7.

AMENDED SHEET
IPEkIEP

wO 96/40259 PCTIUS96/08105 3 A matrix type system according to Figure 4 was prepared according 4 to the following procedure. GML and lauryl acetate were mixed in a polysiloxane adhesive solution (XT-4502, Dow Corning). In a separate s step, polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) (Povidone, ISP Van Dyk, Bellevue, NJ) 7 was dissolved in ethanol. Testosterone was then added to the ethanol/PVP
a solution and the resultant solution was mixed for approximately one hour.
9 This solution was then added to the GML / lauryl acetate / polysiloxane 113 solution. The resulting solution was heated to approximately 50 C
11 and mixed for a few hours until a fine white dispersion was obtained.
12 The dispersion was then cast onto a backing (CoTrans 9720, 3M) to a wet 1:5 thickness of about 10-17 mils. The solution was then heated in a drying 1a oven at 70 C for approximately one hour. The resulting cast was 3-5 mils 1:5 thick and was laminated to a release liner (FDC/PET, 3M - 1022) 2.5 cm2 16 circular pieces were then die cut and used in the in vitro skin flux experiments 17 according to Example 1. The compositions of the formulations made 1:s according to this procedure are shown in Table 5. Each of the formulations 19 contained testosterone at a concentration in the matrix in excess of 20 saturation.

2.>. TABLE 5 24 Matrix Composition (weight percent) FORMULATION WEIGHT PERCENT
GML/lauryl acetate/testosterone/polysiloxane 10/10/2/78 GMU lauryl acetate/PVP/testosterone/polysiloxane 10/10/10/2/68 GMUlauryl acetate/PVP/testosterone/polysiloxane 2/10/10/2/76 testosterone/EVA 40 2/98 . _, . .

' = '" > " ""' == = > = e e - .s= oi = a a = s e = =
= = =a == >> a. a. 9 , The skin flux experiment described in Example 1 was repeated for 2 these systems, substituting 0.1 % phenc; as the receptor solution. The effect s of the concentration of GML and lauryl acetate on the flux of testosterone 4 through human epidermis from matrix systems at 35 eC is shown in Figure 9.
As seen in Figure 9, formulations including GML and lauryl acetate resulted 6 in a 4-10 fold increase in flux over. the EVA 40 control without enhancers.

AMENDED SHEET
IPE U'~p

Claims (61)

CLAIMS:

1. A composition of matter for transdermally delivering a biologically active agent at a therapeutically effective rate by permeation through a body surface or membrane comprising, in combination:

(a) a biologically active agent; and (b) a dual permeation enhancer comprising 1-40 wt% lauryl acetate and 1-40 wt% of a monoglyceride, wherein the agent and permeation enhancer are dispersed within a carrier.

2. A composition according to claim 1 wherein the monoglyceride is glycerol monolaurate.

3. A composition according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the agent is present in an amount in excess of its saturation in the carrier.

4. A composition according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the lauryl acetate is at least 97 wt%
pure.

5. A pressure sensitive adhesive composition for the transdermal administration of a biologically active agent comprising by weight:

(a) 0.1-30% of a biologically active agent;
(b) 30-90% of a pressure sensitive adhesive;

(c) 1-40% of a permeation enhancer comprising lauryl acetate, a monoglyceride or mixture of monoglycerides of fatty acids, or a mixture thereof.

6. A composition according to claim 5 wherein the composition is a hot melt pressure sensitive adhesive.

7. A composition according to claim 5 or claim 6 having a viscosity within the range of 10 3 - 10 7 gm/cm sec (Poise).

8. A composition according to claim 7 having a viscosity within the range of 2 × 10 5 - 10 6 gm/cm sec (Poise).

9. A composition according to any one of claims 5 to 8 wherein the composition comprises 1-30% by weight glycerol monolaurate, 1-30% by weight lauryl acetate, and wherein the glycerol monolaurate and the lauryl acetate together are 1-40% by weight.

10. A composition according to any one of claims 5 to 9 further comprising 1-30% by weight of a water absorbing polymer.

11. A composition according to claim 10 wherein the water absorbing polymer is polyvinyl pyrrolidone.

12. A composition according to any one of claims 1 to 11 wherein the agent is alprazolam.

13. A composition according to any one of claims 1 to 11 wherein the agent is oxybutynin.

14. A composition according to any one of claims 1 to 11 wherein the agent is testosterone.

15. A device for the transdermal administration of an agent at a therapeutically effective rate by permeation through a body surface or membrane, comprising:

(a) an agent reservoir comprising an agent and a permeation-enhancing amount of a permeation enhancer mixture comprising lauryl acetate and a monoglyceride; and (b) means for maintaining the reservoir in agent- and permeation enhancer-transmitting relation with the body surface or membrane.

16. A device according to claim 15 further comprising a second agent reservoir having a second agent and a dual permeation enhancer comprising 1-40 wt% lauryl acetate and 1-40 wt% of a monoglyceride.

17. A device according to claim 15 or claim 16 wherein the monoglyceride is glycerol monolaurate.

18. A device according to any one of claims 15 to 17 wherein the means for maintaining the reservoir, the second reservoir or both the reservoir and the second reservoir, in agent- and permeation enhancer-transmitting relation with the body surface or membrane is a contact adhesive.

19. A device according to any one of claims 15 to 18 wherein the agent reservoir comprises:

(i) .1-30% by weight of an agent, (ii) 5-40% by weight lauryl acetate, (iii) 5-40% by weight glycerol monolaurate, and (iv) 30-60% by weight ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer.

20. A device according to claim 19 wherein the agent reservoir comprises 20% GML and 12% lauryl acetate.

21. A device according to any one of claims 15 to 20 wherein the lauryl acetate is at least 97 wt% pure.

22. A device for the transdermal administration of an agent at a therapeutically effective rate by permeation through a body surface or membrane, comprising:

(a) a first reservoir comprising an agent and a dual permeation enhancer comprising 1-40 wt% lauryl acetate and 1-40 wt% of a monoglyceride;

(b) a second reservoir comprising an additional amount of the permeation enhancer mixture;

(c) a rate controlling membrane between the first and second reservoirs;

(d) a backing behind the skin distal surface of the first reservoir; and (e) means for maintaining the reservoir in agent- and permeation enhancer-transmitting relation with the body surface or membrane.

23. A device according to claim 22 wherein the monoglyceride is glycerol monolaurate.

24. A device according to either of claim 22 or claim 23 wherein the lauryl acetate is at least 97 wt% pure.

25. A device for the transdermal administration of a biologically active agent at a therapeutically effective rate comprising:

(a) a backing layer, and (b) an agent reservoir matrix comprising a polymeric blend comprising by weight:

(i) 40-90% of a silicone adhesive, (ii) 1-30% of a water absorbing polymer, (iii) 0.1-30% agent, (iv) a permeation enhancer comprising 1-30% of a monoglyceride and 1-30% lauryl acetate.

26. A device according to claim 25 wherein the monoglyceride is glycerol monolaurate.

27. A device according to claim 25 or claim 26 wherein the water absorbing polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl pyrrolidone, polyvinyl alcohol, and polyaminoacrylates.

28. A device according to claim 27 wherein the water absorbing polymer is polyvinyl pyrrolidone.

29. A device according to any one of claims 25 to 28 wherein the silicone adhesive is a polysiloxane adhesive.

30. A device according to any one of claims 25 to 29 wherein the lauryl acetate is at least 97 wt% pure.

31. A device according to any one of claims 25 to 30 wherein the reservoir matrix comprises testosterone at or above saturation.

32. A device according to any one of claims 25 to 31 comprising 60-90% polysiloxane adhesive, 5-25% polyvinyl pyrrolidone, 1-15% testosterone, 1-20% glycerol monolaurate, and 1-20% lauryl acetate.

33. Use of an agent and a permeation enhancing amount of a permeation enhancer mixture comprising lauryl acetate and a monoglyceride, in the transdermal delivery of the agent at a therapeutically effective rate, for treating a subject in need thereof.

34. Use of an agent and a permeation enhancing amount of a permeation enhancer mixture comprising lauryl acetate and a monoglyceride, in the manufacture of a medicament, for treating a subject in need thereof.

35. A use according to claim 33 or claim 34 wherein the agent is alprazolam for treating a psychiatric disorder.

36. A use according to claim 33 or claim 34 wherein the agent is oxybutynin for treating a bladder disorder.

37. A use according to claim 33 or claim 34 wherein the agent is testosterone for treating absence or deficiency of endogenous testosterone.

38. A composition according to any one of claims 1 to 11 wherein the agent is an analgesic for treating pain.

39. A composition according to any one of claims 1 to 11 wherein the agent is an opioid analgesic for treating pain.

40. A composition according to any one of claims 1 to 11 wherein the agent is fentanyl for treating pain.

41. A composition according to any one of claims 1 to 11 wherein the agent is sufentanil for treating pain.

42. A composition according to any one of claims 1 to 11 wherein the agent is an antidiabetic agent for treating diabetes.

43. A composition according to any one of claims 1 to 11 wherein the agent is nandralone.

44. A composition according to any one of claims 1 to 11 wherein the agent is progesterone.

45. A composition according to any one of claims 1 to 11 wherein the agent is estradiol.

46. A use according to claim 33 or claim 34 wherein the agent is an analgesic for treating pain.

47. A use according to claim 33 or claim 34 wherein the agent is an opioid analgesic for treating pain.

48. A use according to claim 33 or claim 34 wherein the agent is fentanyl for treating pain.

49. A use according to claim 33 or claim 34 wherein the agent is sufentanil for treating pain.

50. A use according to claim 33 or claim 34 wherein the agent is an antidiabetic agent for treating diabetes.

51. A device according to any one of claims 15 to 30, wherein the agent is alprazolam.

52. A device according to any one of claims 15 to 30, wherein the agent is oxybutin.

53. A device according to any one of claims 15 to 30, wherein the agent is testosterone.

54. A device according to any one of claims 15 to 30, wherein the agent is nandralone.

55. A device according to any one of claims 15 to 30, wherein the agent is progesterone.

56. A device according to any one of claims 15 to 30, wherein the agent is estradiol.

57. A device according to any one of claims 15 to 30 wherein the agent is an analgesic.

58. A device according to any one of claims 15 to 30 wherein the agent is an opioid analgesic.

59. A device according to any one of claims 15 to 30 wherein the agent is fentanyl.

60. A device according to any one of claims 15 to 30 wherein the agent is sufentanil.

61. A device according to any one of claims 15 to 30 wherein the agent is an antidiabetic agent.