Water soluble paclitaxel derivatives

Abstract

Disclosed are water soluble compositions of paclitaxel and docetaxel formed by conjugating the paclitaxel or docetaxel to a water soluble polymer such as poly-glutamic acid, poly-aspartic acid or poly-lysine. Also disclosed are methods of using the compositions for treatment of tumors, auto-immune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis. Other embodiments include the coating of implantable stents for prevention of restenosis.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A conjugate comprising an anti-tumor drug and a water-soluble polymer, wherein said water-soluble polymer is a copolymer comprising an amino acid polymer and polyethylene glycol.  
     
     
         2 . The conjugate of  claim 1 , wherein said amino acid polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyglutamate, polyaspartate and polylysine.  
     
     
         3 . The conjugate of  claim 2 , wherein said amino acid polymer is polylysine.  
     
     
         4 . A conjugate comprising an anti-tumor drug and a water-soluble polymer, wherein said water-soluble polymer is a copolymer comprising polylysine and polyethylene glycol and said anti-tumor drug is selected from the group consisting of paclitaxel, docetaxel, etoposide, teniposide, camptothecin and epothilone.  
     
     
         5 . The conjugate of  claim 4 , wherein said anti-tumor drug is paclitaxel.  
     
     
         6 . The conjugate of  claim 4 , wherein said anti-tumor drug is docetaxel.  
     
     
         7 . The conjugate of  claim 4 , wherein said anti-tumor drug is camptothecin.  
     
     
         8 . The conjugate of  claim 4 , wherein said anti-tumor drug is epothilone.  
     
     
         9 . The conjugate of  claim 4 , wherein said anti-tumor drug is etoposide.  
     
     
         10 . The conjugate of  claim 4 , wherein said anti-tumor drug is teniposide.