Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation

Glen S Kwon

Hyunah Cho

Marcus L Forrest

Yu Tong Tam

Sandro Mecozzi

John Samuel

Afsaneh Lavasanifar

Pawel Waldemar Zbyszynski

Nathan Sandbo

Ho-Chul Shin

Bianca R Tomasini-Johansson

Ksenija Bernau

Bong K Yoo

The present technology relates generally to oligolactic acid conjugates of paclitaxel, rapamycin, selumetinib, and other anticancer agents, micelle compositions containing such conjugates and methods of preparing and using such compositions to treat various cancers. Specifically, there are provided oligolactic acid conjugates wherein the oligolactic acid comprises 2 to 24 lactic acid subunits and is attached through an ester linkage to the oxygen of the 7-hydroxyl of the paclitaxel or paclitaxel derivative, the 40-hydroxyl of the rapamycin or rapamycin derivative, and the 2'-hydroxyl of the selumetinib or selumetinib derivative. Compositions comprising water and a micelle comprising a polylactic acid-containing polymer and the oligolactic acid conjugate may be readily prepared. Methods of inhibiting or killing cancer cells and treating paclitaxel, rapamycin, and/or selumetinib cancers are also provided.

Oligolactic acid conjugates and micelles with enhanced anticancer efficacy

Described herein is a mono-end PEGyated functional upstream domain (FUD), pharmaceutical compositions, and its use to inhibit fibrosis such as organ fibrosis, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and fibrosis associated with cancer. Also included are methods of probing for injured or repairing tissue in an individual in need thereof using the mono-end PEGyated-FUD.

Compositions and methods for the inhibition of fibrosis

The invention provides a drug delivery system for a combination of therapeutic agents. The system includes a water soluble biodegradable ABA-type triblock copolymer that possesses thermosensitive gelation properties. The system can form a stable thermogel that includes a combination of therapeutic agents including, for example, rapamycin, paclitaxel, and 17-AAG. After administration to a subject, the drugs are released at a controlled rate from the thermogel, which biodegrades into non-toxic components. The polymer system can also function to increase the solubility and stability of drugs in the composition.

Thermogel formulation for combination drug delivery

Hydrophobic drugs become more practical for treatments by being encapsulated in micelle compositions for increasing solubility. Micelle compositions may include an excipient tocopherol and/or prodrug formulations of the drug. Micelles extend the time period the drug remains in the micelles to improve drug circulation time and thereby drug delivery. Hydrophobic drugs for micelle encapsulation may include rapamycin, geldanamycin, and paclitaxel. Administration of these micelle compositions does not require Cremophor EL or Tween 80, avoiding serious side effects associated with these products which would previously accompany such drug administration.

Micelle composition of polymer and passenger drug

The invention provides biocompatible micelles loaded with one or more active agents. The micelles can encapsulate anticancer drugs such as gossypol, and combinations of drugs, such as gossypol and paclitaxel, gossypol and 17-AAG, gossypol and cyclopamine, gossypol, paclitaxel, and 17-AAG, and gossypol, paclitaxel, and cyclopamine. The micelle compositions provide effective solubilization of difficult to solubilize drug combinations without the need for additional surfactants that can be toxic to patients. Thus, the invention provides stable and biocompatible drug formulations that improve bioavailability without causing toxicity.

Micelles for the solubilization of gossypol

The present invention provides semi-fluorinated block copolymers and related methods of synthesizing and using semi-fluorinated block copolymers for drug delivery and drug formulation applications. Semi-fluorinated block copolymers of this aspect of the invention include block copolymers having discrete hydrophilic, fluorophilic and hydrophobic structural domains that are capable of forming supramolecular structures in aqueous solutions, such as micelles, for encapsulating hydrophobic and/or fluorophilic therapeutic agents. Encapsulation by semi-fluorinated block copolymers of the present invention allows for enhanced solubilization and stabilization of hydrophobic and/or fluorophilic therapeutic agents relative to conventional drug delivery compositions and methods.

Semi-fluorinated block copolymers for delivery of therapeutic agents

The invention provides active agents, such as paclitaxel, rapamycin, or 17-DMAG, encapsulated by safe poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(lactic acid) ('PEG-b-PLA') micelles. The compositions provide effective solubilization of drug combinations, such as paclitaxel, rapamycin, and 17-DMAG, as well as others described herein. A significant advantage of PEG-b-PLA as a carrier is that it is less toxic than Cremophor&#xae; EL or DMSO, which are used in currently known compositions. Additionally, PEG-b-PLA micelles are easier to handle than DMSO and they do not possess a foul odor, which is a problem with formulations currently in clinical trials. Accordingly, the invention provides stable and biocompatible drug formulations that improve bioavailability without causing toxicity. It was also found that larger doses of individual drugs in micelle formulations can be administered compared to non-micelle formulations.

Micelle encapsulation of a combination of therapeutic agents

The invention provides active agents, such as paclitaxel, rapamycin, or 17-AAG, encapsulated by safe poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(lactic acid) ('PEG-b-PLA') micelles. The compositions provide effective solubilization of drug combinations, such as paclitaxel, rapamycin, and 17-AAG, as well as others described herein. A significant advantage of PEG-b-PLA as a carrier is that it is less toxic than Cremophor&#xae; EL or DMSO, which are used in currently known compositions. Additionally, PEG-b-PLA micelles are easier to handle than DMSO and they do not possess a foul odor, which is a problem with formulations currently in clinical trials. Accordingly, the invention provides stable and biocompatible drug formulations that improve bioavailability without causing toxicity. It was also found that larger doses of individual drugs in micelle formulations can be administered compared to non-micelle formulations.

Micelle encapsulation of therapeutic agents

The invention provides active agents, such as paclitaxel, rapamycin, or 17-AAG, encapsulated by safe poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(lactic acid) ('PEG-b-PLA') micelles. The compositions provide effective solubilization of drug combinations, such as paclitaxel, rapamycin, and 17-AAG, as well as others described herein. A significant advantage of PEG-b-PLA as a carrier is that it is less toxic than Cremophor&#xae; EL or DMSO, which are used in currently known compositions. Additionally, PEG-b-PLA micelles are easier to handle than DMSO and they do not possess a foul odor, which is a problem with formulations currently in clinical trials. Accordingly, the invention provides stable and biocompatible drug formulations that improve bioavailabilty without causing toxicity. It was also found that larger doses of individual drugs in micelle formulations can be administered compared to non-micelle formulations.

Provided are methods and compositions for reducing the toxicity of certain hydrophobic therapeutic agents, especially polyene antibiotics, in particular, Amphotericin B (AmB), and therapeutics such as paclitaxel, tamoxifen, an acylated prodrug or an acylated cis-platin, by incorporating these agents within micelles comprising an amphiphilic block-forming copolymer. Where the polyene is amphotericin B, desirably the spacer is an alkyl molecule of aabout 2 to about 8 carbon atoms, desirably 6 carbon atoms, and the core is an N-alkyl molecule of about 8 to about 28 carbon atoms, desirably 12 to 22 carbon atoms, advantageously, 12 to 18 carbon atoms, and as specifically embodied, 18 carbon atoms (stearate moiety). For the formulation of a larger polyene, the spacer and core are proportionately larger than those for amphotericin B. As specifically exemplified herein, the polymer backbone is a PEO of about 270 units with about 10-30 core-forming PLAA subunits, and advantageously about 14-24. Desirably the stearate moiety has a substitution level on the copolymer from about 35 percent to about 70 percent.

Methods and compositions for polyene antibiotics with reduced toxicity

The present invention provides a novel formulation of nystatin for parenteral administration to treat systemic fungal infections. The formulation avoids the toxicity and solubility problems of prior art nystatin formulations.

Growing community of inventors

Waunakee, WI, United States of America

Glen S Kwon