Cross-linked polyester-based depot systems for sustained drug delivery: determining the relationship between composition, properties and performance

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There are currently more than 20 pharmaceutical products that include implantable, insertable or injectabledrug delivery systems that are formed from the copolymer poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) and providesustained release of drug therapy over time. The sustained drug release that is achieved with a singleadministration, eliminates the need for daily or weekly drug administrations and as a result has a profoundlypositive impact on a patient's quality of life, patient compliance and leads to significant reductions in healthcare costs. These products are currently used to treat critical medical conditions including diabetes,endometriosis, prostate cancer and schizophrenia. While PLGA-based systems have provided a deliverysolution to many drugs, it is clear, a new polymeric delivery system is needed to meet the needs of thepharmaceutical industry. Given that each drug is unique in terms of its physico-chemical properties and thatpolymer-drug interaction and compatibility are key metrics that influence the performance of polymericdelivery formulations there is no single polymer that can serve as a universal material for formulation of alldrugs. For this reason, Pendant Biosciences (a Canadian company) has patented, and in collaboration with theAllen laboratory filed an additional provisional patent application, on a flexible polymer platform that includesrecognized building blocks that produce cross-linked biocompatible systems for prolonged delivery of a widerange of drugs. If successful, the proposed research will result in (1) identification of a lead drug-polymerproduct for development by Pendant Biosciences; (2) a 'tool-box' of biocompatible polymer materials tofacilitate drug-delivery research in academic and industrial settings and (3) increased scientific awareness ofthe physical and chemical metrics responsible for the performance of a drug-polymer combination product.