Sustained release poloxamer containing pharmaceutical compositions

Abstract

A thermo-reversible thermoplastic pharmaceutical composition, comprising a botulinum toxin and a biocompatible poloxamer which provides thermoreversibility to the composition and additionally stabilizes the botulinum toxin, is described. The pharmaceutical composition can be administered to a patient as a liquid, and gels after administration into a sustained release drug delivery system from which the biologically active botulinum toxin is released over a multi-day period thereby localizing the drug as a depot and controlling release to enhance the therapeutic effect per dose.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A thermoreversible, thermoplastic, pharmaceutical composition consisting of: (a) a biologically active botulinum toxin, and; (b) a thermoplastic poloxamer, wherein the thermoreversible, thermoplastic, pharmaceutical composition is transitionable from a low viscosity liquid solution for easy passage through a needle prior to administration by injection to a patient to a gel after administration. 
     
     
         2 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 1 , wherein the poloxamer is a poloxamer 407. 
     
     
         3 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 1 , wherein the biologically active botulinum toxin is a botulinum toxin type A. 
     
     
         4 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 1 , wherein the biologically active botulinum toxin is a botulinum toxin type B. 
     
     
         5 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 1 , wherein the biologically active botulinum toxin is a neurotoxic component of a botulinum toxin. 
     
     
         6 . A method for treating a medical or cosmetic condition, the method comprising the step of administering to a patient a thermoreversible, thermoplastic, pharmaceutical composition consisting of a biologically active botulinum toxin and a thermoplastic poloxamer,
 wherein the thermoreversible, thermoplastic, pharmaceutical composition is transitionable from a low viscosity liquid solution for easy passage through a needle prior to administration by injection to a patient to a gel after administration.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the thermoplastic poloxamer is a poloxamer 407. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein treating the medical or cosmetic condition comprises treating at least one of glabellar lines, nasolabial lines, crows feet, marionette lines and horizontal lines of the forehead. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein treating the medical or cosmetic condition comprises treating at least one of overactive bladder, hyperhidrosis, benign prostatic hyperplasia and a dystonia. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising the step of placing a cooling or heating element over an area of administration before or after the administration step to warm or cool the area in order to decrease or increase the viscosity of the administered pharmaceutical composition, in situ, in the patient. 
     
     
         11 . A method for treating a medical or cosmetic condition, the method comprising the steps of:
 administering to a patient a thermo-reversible thermoplastic, pharmaceutical composition consisting a biologically active botulinum toxin and a thermoreversible, thermoplastic poloxamer,   wherein the poloxamer stabilizes the botulinum toxin so that the botulinum toxin retains biological activity upon release of the botulinum toxin from the pharmaceutical composition in vivo;   and wherein the thermo-reversible, thermoplastic, pharmaceutical composition is transitionable from a low viscosity liquid solution for easy passage through a needle prior to administration by injection to a patient to a gel after administration.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the poloxamer is a poloxamer 407. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein treating the medical or cosmetic condition comprises administration to at least one of glabellar lines, nasolabial lines, crows feet, marionette lines and horizontal lines of the forehead.