Compounds and methods for lowering the abuse potential and extending the duration of action of a drug

Abstract

The abuse potential of a bioavailable drug such as an opiate analgesic agent is reduced and its duration of action is extended by converting it to a poorly absorbed ester prodrug or other prodrug derivative prior to formulation. Unlike many existing sustained release formulations of active pharmaceutical agents wherein an active pharmaceutical agent can be released by chewing, crushing, or otherwise breaking tablets or capsule beads containing the active pharmaceutical agent, such mechanical processing of tablets or capsule beads containing a prodrug of this invention neither releases the active drug nor compromises the controlled conversion of prodrug to drug. Moreover, tablets and capsule beads containing prodrugs of this invention or other drugs can be formulated with a sufficient amount of a thickening agent such as hydroxypropylmethylcellulose or carboxymethylcellulose to impede inappropriate intravenous and nasal administration of formulations that are not indicated for these modes of administration.

1 . A prodrug comprising an opiate covalently linked to a substituent, wherein the prodrug has a lower binding affinity to a μ opoid receptor than a non-linked opiate, and wherein the opiate is selected from the group consisting of oxymorphone; morphine; nalbuphine; butorphanol; nalorphine; hydrocodone; pentazocine; and hydromorphone.  
   
   
       2 . The prodrug of  claim 1 , wherein the substituent is  
     
       
         
         
             
             
         
       
       wherein R D  is the opiate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof  
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein R D  is the opiate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.  
     
   
   
       3 . The prodrug of  claim 1 , wherein the substituent is  
     
       
         
         
             
             
         
       
       wherein R D  is the opiate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.  
     
   
   
       4 . The prodrug of  claim 1 , wherein the substituent is  
     
       
         
         
             
             
         
       
       wherein R D  is the opiate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.  
     
   
   
       5 . The prodrug of  claim 1 , wherein the substituent is  
     
       
         
         
             
             
         
       
       wherein R D  is the opiate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof,  
       wherein R1 is selected from the group consisting of: 
 a. hydrogen;  
 b. C 1-4  alkyl unsubstituted or substituted with CH 3  or C 3-7  cycloalkyl, or amino or guanidino or amidino or carboxy or acetamido or carbamyl or sulfonate, or phosphate or phosphonate;  
 c. C 1-4  alkoxy;  
 d. methylenedioxy;  
 e. hydroxy;  
 f. carboxy;  
 g. sulfonate;  
 h. C 3-7  cycloalkyl;  
 i. aryl, unsubstituted or substituted with guanidino, amidino, carboxy, acetamido, carbamyl, sulfonate, phosphate, or phosphonate; and  
 j. benzyl, unsubstituted or substituted with guanidino, amidino, carboxy, acetamido, carbamyl, sulfonate, phosphate, or phosphonate.  
 
     
   
   
       6 . The prodrug of  claim 1 , wherein the substituent is  
     
       
         
         
             
             
         
       
       wherein R D  is the opiate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.  
     
   
   
       7 . The prodrug of  claim 1 , wherein the substituent is  
     
       
         
         
             
             
         
       
       wherein R D  is the opiate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.  
     
   
   
       8 . The prodrug of  claim 1 , wherein the substituent is  
     
       
         
         
             
             
         
       
       wherein R D  is the opiate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.  
     
   
   
       9 . The prodrug of  claim 1 , wherein the substituent is  
     
       
         
         
             
             
         
       
       wherein R D  is the opiate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.  
     
   
   
       10 . The prodrug of  claim 1 , wherein the substituent is  
     
       
         
         
             
             
         
       
       wherein R D  is the opiate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof,  
       wherein R 1  is selected from the group consisting of: 
 a. hydrogen;  
 b. C 1-4  alkyl unsubstituted or substituted with CH 3  or C 3-7  cycloalkyl, or amino or guanidino or amidino or carboxy or acetamido or carbamyl or sulfonate, or phosphate or phosphonate;  
 c. C 1-4  alkoxy;  
 d. methylenedioxy;  
 e. hydroxy;  
 f. carboxy;  
 g. sulfonate;  
 h. C 3-7  cycloalkyl;  
 i. aryl, unsubstituted or substituted with guanidino, amidino, carboxy, acetamido, carbamyl, sulfonate, phosphate, or phosphonate; and  
 j. benzyl, unsubstituted or substituted with guanidino, amidino, carboxy, acetamido, carbamyl, sulfonate, phosphate, or phosphonate.  
 
     
   
   
       11 . The prodrug of  claim 1 , wherein the substituent is  
     
       
         
         
             
             
         
       
       wherein R D  is the opiate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof,  
       wherein R1 is selected from the group consisting of: 
 a. hydrogen;  
 b. C 1-4  alkyl unsubstituted or substituted with CH 3  or C 3-7  cycloalkyl, or amino or guanidino or amidino or carboxy or acetamido or carbamyl or sulfonate, or phosphate or phosphonate;  
 c. C 1-4  alkoxy;  
 d. methylenedioxy;  
 e. hydroxy;  
 f. carboxy;  
 g. sulfonate;  
 h. C 3-7  cycloalkyl;  
 i. aryl, unsubstituted or substituted with guanidino, amidino, carboxy, acetamido, carbamyl, sulfonate, phosphate, or phosphonate; and  
 j. benzyl, unsubstituted or substituted with guanidino, amidino, carboxy, acetamido, carbamyl, sulfonate, phosphate, or phosphonate.  
 
     
   
   
       12 . The prodrug of  claim 1 , wherein the substituent is  
     
       
         
         
             
             
         
       
       wherein R D  is the opiate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.