Mannkind Corporation

Pharmaceutical Discovery Corporation

Argent Electric, Inc.

Albireo Pharma, Inc.

Cta Bio Services, Inc.

Biodel Inc.

Robert Feldstein

Solomon S Steiner

Trent A Poole

Per B Fog

Roderike Pohl

Gregory S Shen

Christopher A Rhodes

Michael Crick

Huiling Lian

Ming Li

Cohava Gelber

Robert Hauser

Charles Dexter Powers, Jr

Bruce J Albala

John Glass

A formulation composed of a sugar such as glucose and a surfactant such as myristoyl lysophosphocholine (LMPC) has been designed to stabilize both hydrophilic and hydrophobic portions of the glucagon molecule, under prolonged physiological conditions, in a formulation that is sufficiently similar to the pH and osmolarity of plasma so as not to induce or to minimize site irritation. The combination of a simple sugar and an surfactant stabilizes the glucagon molecule in an aqueous solution for seven days at 37&#xb0; C.

Stabilized glucagon solutions

Described is a dry powder inhaler comprising an intake section; a mixing section, and a mouthpiece.

Unit dose capsules and dry powder inhaler

A dry powder inhaler having improved aerodynamic properties for diluting, dispersing, and metering drug particles for increasing the efficiency of pulmonary drug delivery to a patient is described. The inhaler comprises, in general, a housing having an air intake, an air flow-control/check-valve, a mixing section and a mouthpiece. A cartridge loaded with a single dose of medicament can be installed in the mixing section.

Unit dose cartridge and dry powder inhaler

Drug delivery to the pulmonary system has been achieved by encapsulation of the drug to be delivered in microparticles having a size range between 0.5 and ten microns, preferably in the range of two to five microns, formed of a material releasing drug at a pH of greater than 6.4. In a preferred embodiment, the drug delivery system is based on the formation of diketopiperazine microparticles which are stable at a pH of 6.4 or less and unstable at pH of greater than 6.4, or which are stable at both acidic and basic pH, but which are unstable at pH between about 6.4 and 8. Other types of materials can also be used, including biodegradable natural and synthetic polymers, such as proteins, polymers of mixed amino acids (proteinoids), alginate, and poly(hydroxy acids). In another embodiment, the microparticles have been modified to effect targeting to specific cell types and to effect release only after reaching the targeted cells.

Method for drug delivery to the pulmonary system

Described are dry powder inhalers comprising an intake section, a mixing section and a mouthpiece. The mixing section can accommodate a capsule having a top keying portion and containing a dry powder medicament. The top keying portion of the capsules may fit within complementary keying structures in inhaler mixing sections.

Described are dry powder inhalers composing an intake section, a mixing section and a mouthpiece. The mixing section can accommodate a capsule having a top keying portion and containing a dry powder medicament. The top keying portion of the capsules may fit within complementary keying structures in inhaler mixing sections.

Improved methods for forming fine particles of a material have been developed, wherein the method steps include dissolving the material in a solvent to form a dilute solution, immobilizing the dilution solution, and then removing the solvent to yield particles of the material. Methods of immobilizing the dilute solution include freezing, gelation, and chelation. In a preferred embodiment, the immobilized solvent is removed by lyophilization, i.e. reducing the ambient pressure while avoiding application of sufficient heat to power a phase transition. Essentially any material and solvent for the material can be used in the methods described herein. Proteins and peptides in an aqueous solvent are the preferred systems.

Methods for fine powder formation

Described are capsules to contain a drug for use in an inhaler. The capsules may be two-part capsules where each half has apertures which may correspond to apertures in the other half. The first half fits snugly within the second half and the two halves may be rotated around their longitudinal axes with respect to each other to produce unlocked and locked positions. In the unlocked position, at least one aperture in the first half aligns with at least one aperture in the second half, which permits introduction of a medicament. In the locked position, at least two apertures in the first half align with at least two apertures in the second half, allowing air to pass through the capsule, releasing the medicament contained therein. Each capsule may have a unique key on each half that only fits with a particular inhaler or identifies the medicament contained therein.

Unit dose capsules for use in a dry powder inhaler

A lighting fixture provides a substantially uniform line of light (bar of light) for illumination or signage. It uses a linear array of LEDs (light-emitting diodes) which are relatively efficient, long-lasting and resistant to damage from vibration. The LEDs are arranged within a reflective shell within the fixture and one or more elongated cylindrical focusing lenses are positioned at a specific distance in front of the LEDs to focus the light into a line of light. A focusing lens may also be the protective window of the reflective shell.

Linear light using LEDs

An electronic control system especially for non-linear loads, such as high pressure sodium (HPS) lamps, includes an active power factor correction circuit (APFC). The system provides a power factor correction of above 0.95; total harmonic distortion (THD) below 5%; lamp crest factor (LCF) close to unity; efficient power consumption and reliable open circuit voltage (OCV) under all power line conditions. A ballast would include integrated circuits (ICs) and a four-arm transistor bridge which is directly driven by integrated circuits. The bridge generates reversal of polarity to the load. An approximate average current feedback is derived from a load current. A resistor divider in parallel with the load provides voltage feedback. The average current feedback and voltage feedback are added together to provide an approximation of power consumed by the load, without the complex circuitry required for a true power feedback of current multiplied by voltage. That composite feedback signal is transmitted to the integrated circuit (IC) which compares it with an internal reference voltage and which adjusts the IC output to minimize the error.

Electronic ballast with closed loop control using composite current and voltage feedback and method thereof

Compositions containing biologically active molecules encapsulated in self-assembling, diketopiperazine microspheres (TECHNOSPHEREs&#x2122;) and methods for making and administering such compositions are described herein. The compositions can be used to immunize individuals against agents of biological warfare. The biologically active molecules include atropine, antibodies, antigens, and antibiotics. The compositions can be placed in an inhalation device for self-administration. Pulmonary delivery of TECHNOSPHERE&#x2122; encapsulated atropine, antibodies, vaccines, and antibiotics provides an accelerated onset of immunity to the targeted disease. Furthermore, the TECHNOSPHERE&#x2122; encapsulated atropine, antibodies, vaccines, and antibiotics are stable formulations, suitable for stockpiling, rapid dissemination and mass treatment.

Growing community of inventors

Yonkers, NY, United States of America

Robert Feldstein