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 injectable**drug delivery systems that are formed from the copolymer poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) and provide**sustained release of drug therapy over time. The sustained drug release that is achieved with a single**administration, eliminates the need for daily or weekly drug administrations and as a result has a profoundly**positive impact on a patient's quality of life, patient compliance and leads to significant reductions in health**care 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 delivery**solution to many drugs, it is clear, a new polymeric delivery system is needed to meet the needs of the**pharmaceutical industry. Given that each drug is unique in terms of its physico-chemical properties and that**polymer-drug interaction and compatibility are key metrics that influence the performance of polymeric**delivery formulations there is no single polymer that can serve as a universal material for formulation of all**drugs. For this reason, Pendant Biosciences (a Canadian company) has patented, and in collaboration with the**Allen laboratory filed an additional provisional patent application, on a flexible polymer platform that includes**recognized building blocks that produce cross-linked biocompatible systems for prolonged delivery of a wide**range of drugs. If successful, the proposed research will result in (1) identification of a lead drug-polymer**product for development by Pendant Biosciences; (2) a 'tool-box' of biocompatible polymer materials to**facilitate drug-delivery research in academic and industrial settings and (3) increased scientific awareness of**the physical and chemical metrics responsible for the performance of a drug-polymer combination product.