Intravaginal rings with insertable drug-containing core

Abstract

Disclosed is a vaginal ring intended for the release of at least one drug over a prolonged time period. The vaginal ring contains a ring body made of a first polymeric material having at least one hollow internal channel defining an opening to the exterior of said body and which channel is adapted to receive a drug-containing core through said opening, and an intravaginally administerable drug-containing core disposed in the channel. The core is positioned in the vaginal ring body suitably prior to use in order to substantially avoid initial bursts of drug into the tissues of the subject and resultant side effects such as nausea and vomiting. The core contains a pharmaceutically effective amount of at least one intravaginally administerable drug dispersed in a second polymeric material. The first and second polymeric materials may be the same or different. Representative drugs include contraceptive agents and other steroidal substances for use in hormone replacement therapy. Also disclosed are methods for preparing the vaginal rings, kits for assembling the vaginal rings, and methods of using the vaginal rings to achieve intravaginal delivery of drugs to a female.