Ophthalmic compositions and methods for treating ophthalmic conditions

Abstract

Compositions, and methods of using such compositions, useful for placement, for example injection, into the interior of human or animal eyes are provided. Such compositions include a therapeutic component, such as one or more corticosteroids, a biocompatible polymeric component, and a solvent component. The composition is in a fluid form before placement in the interior of an eye, and becomes less fluid after the composition is placed in the eye to form an extended or delayed release drug delivery element or system. The drug delivery element is formed by the dissipation of the solvent from the composition when the composition is placed in the interior of an eye. One example of a composition includes triamcinolone acetonide as a therapeutic agent. A method of treating an ophthalmic condition, or otherwise improving or enhancing vision of a patient, comprises placing the fluid composition in the interior of the eye. The method may be practiced by injecting the fluid composition into the interior of the eye.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A method of treating an ocular condition, the method comprising placing into the interior of the eye of a human or animal an ophthalmic composition comprising a tyrosine kinase inhibitor present in a therapeutically effective amount and a biocompatible polymeric component, wherein the ophthalmic composition is administered as a liquid and becomes a semi-solid or gelatinous polymer matrix after placement in the interior of the eye and wherein the ophthalmic composition is placed into the interior of the eye by suprachoroidal or subconjunctival injection. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the ocular condition is retinal degeneration. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the retinal degeneration is selected from the group consisting of Non-Exudative Age Related Macular Degeneration (ARMD), Exudative Age Related Macular Degeneration (ARMD), wet macular degeneration, Choroidal Neovascularization, Diabetic Retinopathy, Acute Macular Neuroretinopathy, Central Serous Chorioretinopathy, Cystoid Macular Edema, Diabetic Macular Edema; combinations thereof and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the ophthalmic composition further comprises an ophthalmically compatible solvent component. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the ophthalmically compatible solvent component is selected from the group consisting of dimethyl sulfoxide, methyl-2-pyrrolidone, 2-pyrrolidone, C.sub.2 to C.sub.6 alkanols, propylene glycol, acetone, alkyl esters such as methyl acetate, ethyl acetate, ethyl lactate, alkyl ketones such as methyl ethyl ketone, dialkylamides such as dimethylformamide, dimethyl sulfoxide, dimethyl sulfone, tetrahydrofuran, cyclic alkyl amides such as caprolactam, decylmethylsulfoxide, oleic acid, propylene carbonate, aromatic amides such as N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide, 1-dodecylazacycloheptan-2-one, combinations thereof and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the biocompatible polymeric component is selected from the group consisting of polylactides, polyglycolides, polycaprolactomes, polyanhydrides, polyamides, polyurethanes, polyesteramides, polyorthoesters, polydioxanones, polyacetals, polyketals, polycarbonates, polyorthoesters, polyphosphazenes, polyhydroxybutyrates, polyhydroxyvalerates, polyalkylene oxalates, polyalkyene succinates, poly(malic acid), poly(amino acids), poly(methyl vinyl ether), poly(maleic anhydride), polylactic acid, polyglycolic acid, polylactic acid/glycolic acid, chitin, chitosan, copolymers thereof, combinations thereof and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the ophthalmic composition further comprises a pore-forming agent. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the pore-forming agent is selected from the group consisting of sucrose, dextrose, sodium chloride, sodium carbonate, hydroxypropylcellulose, carboxymethylcellulose, polyethylene glycol, polyvinylpyrollidone, combinations thereof and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the ophthalmic composition further comprises a therapeutic agent. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the therapeutic agent comprises anti-inflammatory agents, retinoids, prostaglandins, tyrosine kinase inhibitors, adrenoreceptor agonists or antagonists, dopaminergic agonists, cholinergic agonists, carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, guanylate cyclase activators, cannabinoids, endothelin, adenosine agonists, antianagiogenic compounds, angiostatic compounds, neuroprotectants, and the like and mixtures thereof. The therapeutic component may also include, analgesics, or antipyretics; antihistamines, antibiotics, beta blockers, anti-neoplastic agents, immunosupressive agents, antiviral agents, antioxidants, combinations thereof, or mixtures thereof.