Biodegradable intravaginal devices

摘要

An intra vaginal device or insert for a target species mammal and of a kind capable of intra vaginal insertion, intra vaginal retention for a period of time and removal from the vaginal by a simple pulled withdrawal is disclosed. The device has or is a moulded mass of at least primarily one or both of poly (e or epsilon-caprolactone) and a mouldable biodegradable starch-like polysaccharide. The mass includes a pharmaceutical agent to be administered into the target species mammal by the intra vaginal route. The mass delivers the pharmaceutical agent intra vaginally during the retention period of time without degradation of the integrity of the mass yet the mass upon withdrawal and over time will degrade if left in the open. Despite the mass, the device as a whole is intra vaginally retainable by being resiliently conformable to allow insertion and thereafter to recover to a geometry to minimize spontaneous rejection from the vagina. In another embodiment, the mass includes therein sufficient progesterone therein such that for a target species, a blood serum level of progesterone of greater than 2ng/ml for a period of at least 5 days, can follow intra vaginal insertion thereof and wherein after removal the mass is in-vitro biodegradable.