CPC A61K 9/0024 (2013.01) [A61K 31/445 (2013.01); A61K 47/34 (2013.01)] | 31 Claims |
1. A depot for treating postoperative pain, the depot comprising:
a therapeutic region including a biodegradable polymer, an analgesic, and a releasing agent, the therapeutic region having a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface, and an exposed sidewall between the first and second surfaces;
a first control region covering the first surface of the therapeutic region and having a thickness no greater than 1/50 of a thickness of the therapeutic region, the first control region comprising a biodegradable polymer; and
a second control region covering the second surface of the therapeutic region and having a thickness no greater than 1/50 of the thickness of the therapeutic region, the second control region comprising a biodegradable polymer,
wherein the analgesic constitutes at least 50% of a total weight of the depot, and
wherein, when the depot is implanted at a treatment site, the depot is configured to release the analgesic at the treatment site for a release duration of no less than 14 days, wherein the depot is configured to release the analgesic at a first rate for an initial period of the release duration and at a second rate for a subsequent period of the release duration, the second rate being slower than the first rate.
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