Intrauterine system for use in medical treatment

Abstract

An intrauterine system is disclosed for use in the treatment of dysfunctional uterine bleeding; menorraghia; dysmenorrhoea; endometriosis; uterine fibroids; climacteric complaints; osteoporosis; and urogenital atrophy. The system is formed by a frame defining an interior space for receipt of a deposit of a therapeutically effective dose of a biologically active compound. The frame has an open structure allowing access to a substantial part of an outer surface of the deposit, and the deposit has a rate controlling structure that controls a rate of release of the compound within the uterus. One or more retention elements are provided on the frame for retaining the frame within the uterus of a female mammal.

1 - 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . A method of treating a medical condition selected from the group consisting of dysfunctional uterine bleeding; menorraghia; dysmenorrhoea; endometriosis; uterine fibroids; climacteric complaints; osteoporosis; and urogenital atrophy comprising administering to a patient in need thereof a deposit of a therapeutically effective dose of a biologically active compound, wherein the deposit is substantially form stable and is not eroded during use; a frame defining an interior space for receipt of the deposit, the frame having an open structure that extends longitudinally along the frame; and wherein the frame is surrounding the deposit while allowing access to a substantial part of an outer surface of the deposit; and one or more retention elements for retaining the frame within the uterus of a female mammal. 
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein the frame is generally flexible and interacts with the deposit to form a mechanical structure having a bending stiffness greater than the sum of that of the frame and deposit taken individually. 
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein the deposit is a rod shaped deposit located in a stem portion of the frame, and the deposit has a bending stiffness that is greater than that of the stem portion of the frame itself. 
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein the deposit comprises a polymer matrix core surrounded by a rate controlling membrane. 
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein the compound is a hormone, an anti-hormone or a hormone with a mixed profile such as a partial agonist, a partial antagonist, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         25 . The method according to  claim 24 , wherein the hormone, anti-hormone or hormone with a mixed profile comprises a progesterone receptor agonist, a progesterone receptor antagonist, or a mixed-profile progesterone receptor ligand. 
     
     
         26 . The method according to  claim 25 , wherein the mixed-profile progesterone receptor ligand is a selective progesterone receptor modulator (SPRM). 
     
     
         27 . The method according to  claim 24 , wherein the hormone, anti-hormone or hormone with a mixed profile comprises an estrogen receptor agonist, an estrogen receptor antagonist, or a mixed-profile estrogen receptor ligand. 
     
     
         28 . The method according to  claim 27 , wherein the mixed-profile estrogen receptor ligand is a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM). 
     
     
         29 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein the compound has estrogen receptor modulating activity and is selected from the group consisting of 17beta-estradiol, estriol, conjugated equine estrogens, estrogen receptor alpha selective agonists alone or in combination with a progestogen, tamoxifen or active metabolites thereof, fulvestrant, compounds blocking the new formation of estradiol. 
     
     
         30 . The method according to  claim 29 , wherein the compounds blocking the new formation of estradiol are aromatase inhibitors selected from the group consisting of anastrozole, letrozole and exemestane. 
     
     
         31 . The method according to  claim 24 , wherein the hormone, anti-hormone or hormone with a mixed profile comprises a compound with androgen receptor modulating activity selected form the group consisting of an androgen receptor agonist, an androgen receptor antagonist and a mixed-profile androgen receptor ligand. 
     
     
         32 . The system method to  claim 20 , wherein the therapeutically effective dose of a biologically active compound comprises a non-hormonal compound. 
     
     
         33 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein the therapeutically effective dose of a biologically active compound comprises a non-steroidal hormone. 
     
     
         34 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein the frame has an open structure allowing access to at least 50% of the outer surface of the deposit.