MACROMOLECULE-CONTAINING SUSTAINED RELEASE INTRAOCULAR IMPLANTS AND RELATED METHODS

摘要

Biocompatible intraocular drug delivery systems include a non-neurotoxic macromolecule therapeutic agent and a polymeric component in the form of an implant, a microparticle, a plurality of implants or microparticles, and combinations thereof. The macromolecule therapeutic agent is released in a biologically active form, the example, the therapeutic agent may retain its three dimensional structure when released into an eye of a patient, or the therapeutic agent may have an altered three dimensional structure but retain its therapeutic activity. The therapeutic agent may be selected from the group consisting of ant-angiogenesis agents, ocular hemorrhage treatment agents, non-steroidal ant-inflammatory agents, growth factor inhibitors (such as VEGF inhibitors), growth factors, cytokines, antibodies, oligonucleotide aptamers, siRNA molecules and antibiotics. The implants may be placed in an eye to treat or reduce the occurrence of one or more ocular conditions, such as retinal damage, including glaucoma and proliferative vitreoretinopathy among others.