The invention provides biodegradable implants sized for implantation in an ocular region and methods for treating medical conditions of the eye. The implants are formed from a mixture of hydrophilic end and hydrophobic end PLGA, and deliver active agents into an ocular region without a high burst release.

Effective treatments of pain for extended periods of time are provided. Through the administration of an effective amount of clonidine in a drug depot at or near a target site, one can relieve pain caused by diverse sources, including but not limited to spinal disc herniation (i.e. sciatica), spondilothesis, stenosis, discogenic back pain and joint pain. When appropriate drug depot formulations are provided within biodegradable polymers, this pain relief can be continued for at least fourteen days.

Provided is a biodegradable drug delivery composition comprising: (i) a mixture of at least three different block copolymers, wherein each block copolymer is: (a) a biodegradable triblock copolymer having the formula: A.sub.v-B.sub.w-A.sub.x wherein A is a polyester and B is polyethylene glycol and v and x are from 1 to 3,000 and w is from 3 to 300 and v=x or v≠x; or (b) a biodegradable diblock copolymer having the formula: C.sub.y-A.sub.z wherein A is a polyester and C is an end-capped polyethylene glycol and y=2 to 250 and z=1 to 3,000; and wherein the mixture comprises at least one (a) and at least one (b); and the weight ratio between (a) and (b) is 1:19 to 5:1; and for at least one of the copolymers according to (a) or (b) A is poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA); and (ii) at least one pharmaceutically active ingredient.

Effective treatments of pain that accompanies post-operative surgeries are provided. Through the administration of an effective amount of a combination of bupivacaine and clonidine at or near a target site, one can alleviate or prevent pain. This administration of bupivacaine and clonidine or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof is particularly useful following surgery.

An object of the present invention is to provide a pharmaceutical composition having abuse deterrent properties and thereby prevent the abuse of a pharmacologically active component by an abuser (abuse through snorting, abuse through injection, or abuse through snorting or injection of a temporarily extracted drug). The present invention provides a pharmaceutical composition having abuse deterrent properties that possesses both a physical barrier and a chemical barrier to being abused by an abuser, a method for producing the same and a method for using the same.

An intraocular active agent delivery device can include an active agent homogenously combined with a biodegradable active agent matrix such that the entire delivery device is homogenous. The homogenous delivery device can have a shape and size to fit within a lens capsule or ciliary sulcus of an eye and provide a therapeutically effective amount of the active agent to the eye. The biodegradable active agent matrix can be formulated to provide sustained release of the therapeutically effective amount of the active agent during a release period. In some examples, the active agent can include dexamethasone.

The present invention relates to dosage forms comprising a compressed blend of a biologically active ingredient, one or more polymers like a poly(a-hydroxy carboxylic acid) in which optionally is incorporated a glass transition modifying agent, and optional further ingredients, wherein the polymer or polymeric mixture has a specific glass transition temperature which causes the system to be in the glassy state at ambient conditions before administration and to be in the rubbery state under the physiological conditions to which the system is exposed after administration, resulting in pulsed release of said biologically active ingredient.

The invention is directed to pharmaceutical compositions such as tablets that exhibit delayed release properties when administered as either whole or half tablets. The invention is also directed to delayed release tablets comprising deferiprone for oral administration, for which twice daily administration is bioequivalent to the same daily dose of an immediate release tablet administered thrice daily. The invention is also directed to methods of making and using the same.

The present invention provides implants comprising a therapeutic drug and a polymer containing polylactic acid (PLA) and optionally polyglycolic acid (PGA). The present invention also provides methods of maintaining a therapeutic level of a drug in a subject, releasing a therapeutic drug at a substantially linear rate, and treating schizophrenia and other diseases and disorders, utilizing implants of the present invention.

Implants comprising an antimalarial agent such as decoquinate or another therapeutic drug are disclosed. The implants can be in the form of a complex comprising a drug, a lipid or lipids and optionally a polymer carrier. The present invention provides methods for preparing implants wherein the implants comprise decoquinate or another therapeutic drug, and a lipid or lipids such as cholesterol, monoglycerides, or diglycerides, and optionally a small percentage of a biocompatible polymer based on the total implant weight. The implants are useful for releasing a therapeutic drug at a constant level and maintaining a prophylactic or therapeutic level of the drug in a subject, for preventing a malarial infection or treating other diseases or disorders.