Anterior chamber drug-eluting ocular implant

Abstract

Disclosed herein are drug delivery ocular implants comprising an elongate outer shell having a proximal end, and distal end and being shaped to define an interior lumen, at least one therapeutic agent positioned within the lumen, wherein the outer shell has at least a first thickness, the outer shell comprises one or more regions of drug release, and the implant is dimensioned for implantation within the anterior chamber of the eye.

1 .- 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . A drug delivery ocular implant comprising:
 an outer shell having an open proximal end and a distal end, the outer shell being shaped to define an interior cavity;   at least one therapeutic agent positioned within the interior cavity;   a material covering the open proximal end, the material of increased permeability to the at least one therapeutic agent relative to a permeability of the outer shell; and   a retention protrusion is configured to retain the implant within an irido-corneal angle of an eye.   
     
     
         23 . The implant of  claim 22 , wherein the retention protrusion comprises at least one ridge. 
     
     
         24 . The implant of  claim 22 , wherein the at least one orifice is positioned on the proximal end of the outer shell. 
     
     
         25 . The implant of  claim 22 , wherein the retention protrusion is positioned on the distal end of the outer shell. 
     
     
         26 . The implant of  claim 22 , wherein the permeability of the material is configured to module a release rate of the at least one therapeutic agent. 
     
     
         27 . The implant of  claim 22 , wherein the at least one therapeutic agent comprises one or more of prostaglandins, prostaglandin analogs, alpha-blockers, beta-blockers and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         28 . The implant of  claim 27 , wherein said at least one therapeutic agent is selected from the group consisting of: latanoprost, travoprost, timolol, and brimonidine. 
     
     
         29 . The implant of  claim 22 , wherein the therapeutic agent is an anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) drug. 
     
     
         30 . The implant of  claim 29 , wherein the anti-VEGF drug is selected from the group consisting of: ranibizumab (LUCENTIS™), bevacizumab (AVASTIN™), pegaptanib (MACUGEN™), sunitinib, and sorafenib. 
     
     
         31 . The implant of  claim 22 , wherein the retention protrusion is configured to anchor to an ocular tissue. 
     
     
         32 . The drug delivery ocular implant of  claim 31 , wherein the ocular tissue comprises the sclera. 
     
     
         33 . The implant of  claim 22 , wherein the implant is configured to elute the at least one therapeutic agent through the material for targeted delivery to the anterior chamber of the eye. 
     
     
         34 . The implant of  claim 22 , wherein the implant is shaped and sized so as to be suitable for implantation within the anterior chamber of the eye. 
     
     
         35 . The implant of  claim 22 , wherein the outer shell is biodegradable. 
     
     
         36 . The implant of  claim 22 , wherein the material is biodegradable.