Alza Corporation

Alfred A Amkraut

Michel J Cormier

Philip W Ledger

Jane E Shaw

Agusto B Martins

Heechung Yang

Jean P Marty

Felix T Theeuwes

Armand P Neukermans

Michel J N Cormier

Barry Block

A percutaneous agent delivery or sampling device comprising a sheet having a plurality of microblades for piercing and anchoring to the skin for increasing transdermal flux of an agent and for improving the attachment of the device to the skin.

Device and method for enhancing transdermal flux of agents being delivered or sampled

Compositions and methods for the oral administration of drugs and other active agents are provided. The compositions comprise an active agent carrier particle attached to a binding moiety which binds specifically to a target molecule present on the surface of a mammalian enterocyte. The binding moiety binds to the target molecule with a binding affinity or avidity sufficient to initiate endocytosis or phagocytosis of the particulate active agent carrier so that the carrier will be absorbed by the enterocyte. The active agent will then be released from the carrier to the host's systemic circulation. In this way, degradation of degradation-sensitive drugs, such as polypeptides, in the intestines can be avoided while absorption of proteins and polypeptides from the intestinal tract is increased.

Compositions and methods for the oral delivery of active agents

The present invention is directed to the transdermal administration of methyl nicotinate and an irritating or sensitizing drug. The invention includes a transdermal drug delivery device comprising a matrix adapted to be placed in irritating/sensitizing drug- and methyl nicotinate-transmitting relation with the skin site. The matrix contains sufficient amounts of irritating/sensitizing drug and of methyl nicotinate, in combination, to continuously administer to the skin for a predetermined period of time the drug to provide an effective therapeutic result. The invention is also directed to a method for either 1) preventing or reducing the irritation caused by an irritating drug or 2) preventing or reducing sensitization from occurring, as well as reducing or eliminating pain and discomfort occurring during the elicitation phase after sensitization has already been induced.

Reduction or prevention of skin irritation or sensitization during

A method and means for reducing sensitization or irritation caused by transdermally delivered drugs, wherein one or more metabolic modulators is coadministered with a sensitizing or irritating drug.

Method for reducing sensitization or irritation in transdermal drug

A method of preventing sensitization in transdermal drug delivery by the inclusion of a corticosteroid, which will be coextensively coadministered with the sensitizing agent.

Prevention of contact allergy by coadministration of a corticosteroid

A method of preventing sensitization in transdermal drug delivery by the inclusion of a corticosteroid, which will be co-extensively coadministered with the sensitizing agent.

The present invention provides a method of reducing or preventing skin irritation of a weak base drug by inhibiting the accumulation of the drug in the lysosomes. The drug is irritating to humans, i.e., the drug is susceptible to inducing skin or mucosa irritation in a human when the drug is transdermally administered to the human at a therapeutically effective rate. Irritation reduction or prevention is induced by coadministering to the skin or mucosa of the human:

Reduction or prevention of skin irritation by drugs

The present invention is directed to a method of reducing or preventing skin sensitization by inhibiting the immunological processing of a sensitizing drug as an antigen. The drug is sensitizing to humans, i.e., the drug is susceptible to inducing skin or mucosa sensitization in a human when the drug is transdermally administered to the human at a therapeutically effective rate. Skin sensitization reduction or prevention is induced by coadministering to the skin or mucosa of the human:

Reduction or prevention of sensitization to drugs

A method of inducing immune tolerance to a drug which is normally sensitizing to humans when applied to human skin or mucosa is provided. The sensitizing drug is continuously and co-extensively administered to a selected skin or mucosa site with the corticosteroid. Preferably, the corticosteroid is hydrocortisone or an ester thereof. The corticosteroid is administered to the selected skin or mucosa site at a rate and for a period of time sufficient to induce tolerance to the drug. Thereafter, the drug can be administered to the human, without administering any corticosteroid, without danger of inducing sensitization to the drug in the human.

Inducing skin tolerance to a sensitizing drug

A method of preventing sensitization in transdermal drug delivery by the inclusion of a corticosteroid, which wll be co-extensively coadministered with the sensitizing agent.

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Palo Alto, CA, United States of America

Alfred A Amkraut