Alza Corporation

Depomed, Inc.

Iolab Corporation

Wisys Technology Foundation, Inc.

Novascan, Inc.

Depomed Systems, Inc.

John W Shell

Robert M Gale

Takeru Higuchi

Anwar A Hussain

Jenny Louie-Helm

Bret Berner

Micheline Markey

William David Gregory

Moshe Morrie Altmejd

Christopher William Gregory

Paul Richard Voith

Jong Lim

A method for characterizing tissues within a subject as cancerous or non-cancerous includes determining the electrical properties of the subject. The electrical properties of the subject are fit to a model and a specific range of a set of characteristic frequencies of each tissue is then calculated. Each tissue is finally characterized as cancerous or non-cancerous if the specific range of the set of characteristic frequencies inside or outside, respectively, a pre-determined spread of characteristic frequencies.

Method for detecting both pre-cancerous and cancerous tissues

One embodiment of the present application sets forth a method for detecting cancerous cells in a sample of excised tissue. The method includes a first subset of electrodes included in an electrode array measuring, at a first operating frequency, a first impedance of a first section of the sample. The method also includes computing a first Cole relaxation frequency for the first section of the sample based on the first impedance. The method also includes determining that the first section of the sample contains cancerous cells based on the first Cole relaxation frequency.

Techniques for detecting cancerous cells in excised tissue samples using impedance detection

Controlled release oral dosage forms are provided for the continuous, sustained administration of a pharmacologically active agent to the upper gastrointestinal tract of a patient in whom the fed mode as been induced. The majority of the agent is delivered, on an extended release basis, to the stomach, duodenum and upper regions of the small intestine, with drug delivery in the lower gastrointestinal tract and colon substantially restricted. The dosage form comprises a matrix of a biocompatible, hydrophilic, erodible polymer with an active agent incorporated therein, wherein the polymer is one that both swells in the presence of water and gradually erodes over a time period of hours, with swelling and erosion commencing upon contact with gastric fluid, and drug release rate primarily controlled by erosion rate.

Gastric retentive oral dosage form with restricted drug release in the lower gastrointestinal tract

Drugs intended for absorption in the stomach or upper intestinal tract are administered in oral drug delivery systems in conjunction with any of various substances that have been discovered to function as potent agents for inducing the fed mode. By inducing the onset of the fed mode, these agents cause the stomach to prolong its retention of the drug delivery system, which is either large enough to be retained in the stomach during the fed mode or swells or expands to such a size upon ingestion. The fed mode inducing agents include the following compounds and their salts: glycine and glycylglycine, xylitol and related sugar alcohols, sodium and other metal docusates, &#x3b2;-casomorphins, &#x3b1;-lipoic acid and similarly structured acids, 2,2-diaryl-4-(4'-aryl-4&#x2032;-hydroxypipendino)butyramides, arginine, Trp-Trp, alkylpyridinium halides, dihydroxybenzoic acids, and potent sweeteners such as aspartame, aspartic acid, acesulfame, and stevioside.

Pharmacological inducement of the fed mode for enhanced drug administration to the stomach

Drugs are formulated as unit oral dosage forms by incorporating them into polymeric matrices comprised of hydrophilic polymers that swell upon imbibition of water to a size that is large enough to promote retention of the dosage form in the stomach during the fed mode. The oral formulation is designed for gastric retention and controlled delivery of an incorporated drug into the gastric cavity, and thus administered, the drug is released from the matrix into the gastric fluid by solution diffusion. The swollen polymeric matrix, having achieved sufficient size, remains in the gastric cavity for several hours if administered while the patient is in the fed mode, and remains intact long enough for substantially all of the drug to be released before substantial dissolution of the matrix occurs. The swelling matrix lowers the accessibility of the gastric fluid to the drug and thereby reduces the drug release rate. This process, together with diffusion retardation by selection of specific polymers, polymer molecular weights, and other variables, results in a sustained and controlled delivery rate of the drug to the gastric cavity.

Extending the duration of drug release within the stomach during the fed mode

Controlled-release oral drug dosage forms that comprise a tablet or capsule containing a plurality of particles of a solid-state drug dispersed in a swellable/erodible polymer, such as poly(ethylene oxide) are described. Once ingested, the tablet or capsule disintegrates to disperse the particles within the stomach where they imbibe water to cause them to swell and promote retention in fed-mode-induced patients. As the gastric-retained dosage form gradually erodes, the drug is released in a controlled manner to the stomach for treatment of local disorders, and to the upper gastrointestinal tract where it becomes available for absorption in a controlled and therapeutic manner. Drug-containing vesicles, such as liposomes or nanoparticles or enteric-coated drug particles, can also be delivered to the gastrointestinal tract in a controlled manner using the gastric-retentive dosage forms of the present invention.

Gastric-retentive, oral drug dosage forms for the controlled-release of

Sustained release oral drug dosage forms that comprise a tablet or capsule containing a plurality of particles of a solid-state drug dispersed in alkyl cellulose such as hydroxyethylcellulose or hydroxypropylcellulose. Once ingested the tablet or capsule disintegrates to disperse the particles into the stomach where they imbibe water to cause them to swell and also to become slippery, thus enhancing their retention in the stomach. Imbibed water from the gastric fluid dissolves the drug entrapped in the particles and the resulting solution diffuses from the dispersed particles, assuring that no solid drug, which with some drugs is more irritating, contacts the mucosal tissue. A number of embodiments of the dosage form utilizing different drugs are exemplified and the benefits are explained. Aspirin is one example.

Alkyl-substituted cellulose-based sustained-release oral drug dosage

Lowering of intraocular pressure, e.g. in the treatment of glaucoma is carried out by administering a phosphodiesterase inhibitor to a patient. Particular ophthalmic pharmaceutical compositions are disclosed for topical application to the eye.

Treatment of glaucoma using phosphodiesterase inhibitors

Sustained-release oral drug-dosage forms that release drug in solution at a rate controlled by the solubility of the drug are described. The dosage form comprises a tablet or capsule which comprises a plurality of particles of a dispersion of a limited solubility drug in a hydrophilic, water-swellable, crosslinked polymer that maintains its physical integrity over the dosing lifetime but thereafter rapidly dissolves. Once ingested, the particles swell to promote gastric retention and permit the gastric fluid to penetrate the particles, dissolve drug and leach it from the particles, assuring that drug reaches the stomach in the solution state which is less injurious to the stomach than solid-state drug.

Sustained-release oral drug dosage form

An ocular insert and an ocular composition are disclosed. The insert and the composition comprises a steroid in two different forms.

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Hillsborough, CA, United States of America

John W Shell