Alkermes Controlled Therapeutics, Inc.

Alkermes Controlled Therapeutics, Inc. II

Alkermes, Inc.

Paul F Herbert

Michael S Healy

Mark A Tracy

Paul A Burke

Noemi Chaparro

John D Herberger

J Michael Ramstack

Thomas J Atkins

Azar M Hazrati

Gregory C Troiano

Douglas M Bissonnette

Jan Strobel

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for filtering and drying a product. In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus comprises a container having a plurality of porous walls and a plurality of solid walls that divide the container into a plurality of product chambers, a plurality of vacuum chambers, and, preferably, a plurality of heat transfer chambers. Each product chamber shares at least one porous wall with an adjacent vacuum chamber. Each product chamber preferably shares at least one solid wall with an adjacent heat transfer chamber. According to the method of the present invention, a product is introduced into the product chambers, where the product is held while a substance is filtered from the product through the porous walls and the product is dried by reducing the pressure in the vacuum chambers and the product chambers. In a preferred embodiment of the method, a heat transfer fluid flows through the heat transfer chambers to facilitate keeping the product frozen and/or to facilitate faster drying of the product.

Method and apparatus for filtering and drying a product

The present invention relates to a method for forming microparticles of a material from microdroplets of a solution, wherein the solution comprises the material dissolved in a solvent. The method includes the steps of directing the microdroplets into a freezing zone, wherein the freezing zone is surrounded by a liquified gas, and wherein the microdroplets freeze. The frozen microdroplets are then mixed with a liquid non-solvent, whereby the solvent is extracted into the non-solvent, thereby forming the microparticles.

Production scale method of forming microparticles

The present invention relates to a polymer-based sustained release device, and methods of forming and using the device for the sustained release of an active agent. The improved method of the invention for forming a polymer-based sustained release device comprises forming a polymer/active agent solution by mixing a polymer, a continuous phase, and an active agent. The continuous phase can comprise one or more polymer solvents, a polymer solvent/polymer non-solvent mixture, or a polymer solvent/active agent non-solvent mixture. When the continuous phase comprises a polymer solvent/active agent non-solvent, the active agent can also be present as a microparticulate rather than in solution. The continuous phase is then removed from the polymer/active agent solution, thereby forming a solid polymer/active agent matrix.

Methods for fabricating polymer-based controlled release devices

The present invention relates to a polymer-based sustained release device, and methods of forming and using the device for the sustained release of an active agent. The improved method of the invention for forming a polymer-bases sustained release device comprises forming a polymer/active agent solution by mixing a polymer, a continuous phase, and an active agent. The continuous phase can comprise one or more polymer solvents, a polymer solvent/polymer non-solvent mixture, or a polymer solvent/active agent non-solvent mixture. When the continuous phase comprises a polymer solvent/active agent non-solvent, the active agent can also be present as a microparticulate rather than in solution. The continuous phase is then removed from the polymer/active agent solution, thereby forming a solid polymer/active agent matrix.

The present invention relates to a method for forming microparticles of a material from microdroplets of a solution, wherein the solution comprises the material dissolved in a solvent. The method includes the steps of directing the microdroplets into a freezing zone, whereby the microdroplets freeze. The frozen microdroplets are then contacted with a liquid non-solvent to extract the solvent into the non-solvent, thereby forming the microparticles.

A process for preparing biodegradable microparticles comprising a biodegradable polymeric binder and a biologically active agent. A first phase, comprising the active agent and the polymer, and a second phase are pumped through a static mixer into a quench liquid to form microparticles containing the active agent. Preferably, a blend of at least two substantially non-toxic solvents, free of halogenated hydrocarbons, is used to dissolve or disperse the agent and dissolve the polymer.

Preparation of biodegradable microparticles containing a biologically

Disclosed herein is a process for preparing biodegradable microparticles comprising a biodegradable polymeric binder and a biologically active agent, wherein a blend of at least two substantially non-toxic solvents, free of halogenated hydrocarbons, is used to dissolve or disperse the agent and dissolve the polymer. The solvent blend containing the agent and polymer is dispersed in an aqueous solution to form microdroplets. The resulting emulsion is then added to an extraction medium preferably containing at least one of the solvents of the blend, whereby the rate of extraction of each solvent is controlled, whereupon the biodegradable microparticles containing the biologically active agent are formed.

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Wayland, MA, United States of America

Paul F Herbert