Drug – bio-affecting and body treating compositions – Preparations characterized by special physical form – Capsules
Patent
1987-02-18
1988-09-27
Page, Thurman K.
Drug, bio-affecting and body treating compositions
Preparations characterized by special physical form
Capsules
424451, 424454, 424462, 206528, 2065246, 2065247, A61K 948
Patent
active
047740922
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to devices and methods for the therapeutic treatment of animals and in particular to the oral administration of therapeutic agents to animals.
The therapeutic treatment of non-human animals, such as for example, cattle, sheep, horses, goats, pigs, cats and dogs, parallels that of humans in many respects both in types of conditions and diseases. However, the methods of administering therapeutic agents to such animals are frequently different from those used with humans. Thus, for example, cattle and sheep which graze on particular pastures and acquire trace element deficiencies are of necessity given a supplemental diet comprising trace element material since removal to better pastures is frequently impossible or too costly. Similarly, such animals cannot be removed from exposure to environments which lead to infections with varied endoparasites and must therefore be treated while under continuing exposure to infection. In such cases, new methods of administration of therapeutic agents have been developed to overcome difficulties of administration. Typically whole herds of animals must be treated in a short space of time to keep labour costs low, and slow release compositions may need to be employed to avoid the repetitive doses commonly used with humans. Again, the animals referred to above have particular physical charateristics and behaviour which make them less amenable to handling and dosing than humans. In some cases physiological differences may affect the type and method of treatment and this is particularly so in the case of ruminants as will be explained hereinafter.
Thus the oral methods of administration of liquid and solid therapeutic agents to humans, namely, liquids or syrups, tablets and capsules have had to be substantially modified for use with animals. Liquids, for example, are commonly administered to animals by a drench gun comprising a long tube so that the liquid enters at a point beyond the oral cavity and is thus not readily expectorated.
Gelatin capsules are at present widely used in the administration of therapeutic agents to both human and non-human animals.
While gelatin capsules are economic to produce on a commercial scale their use in administration to non-human animals has given rise to problems. The gelatin capsules are difficult to administer to animals, particularly ruminant animals.
The properties of the gelatin renders this procedure difficult since the capsules readily become limp on exposure to moisture (rain, saliva etc). Consequently it is difficult to administer such capsules by means of dosing guns commonly used in the art. Gelatin capsules rapidly become limp when exposed to animal saliva which tends to accumulate in such guns. Furthermore, softening of the capsules often results in premature bursting and release of the therapeutic agent so that the agent is not properly delivered. This problem is further exacerbated if the capsule filling is heavy.
In general, animals to be treated with the capsules have to be securely held by the doser who must place the gelatin capsule behind the tongue of the animal to prevent regurgitation and expectoration. Even with small animals such as cats and dogs the administration of gelatin capsules is difficult.
Heavy boluses or bullets have been used as alternatives to such capsules, and these are usually designed for a particular therapeutic agent, often with controlled release as a critical factor.
We have found that capsules of high molecular weight poly (ethylene oxide), for example poly (ethylene oxide) of molecular weight in the range 500,000 to 4,000,000, are more rigid than gelatin capsules and overcome some of the problems associated with the moisture sensitivity of gelatin capsules.
However although high molecular weight poly (ethylene oxide) capsules have some advantages over conventional capsules, poly (ethylene oxide) is difficult to form into capsules and is a comparatively expensive material.
It is an object of our invention to provide an inexpensive capsule which may be economically produced
REFERENCES:
patent: 3149038 (1964-09-01), Jeffries
patent: 3379554 (1968-04-01), Brindamour
patent: 4428926 (1984-01-01), Keith
patent: 4431965 (1984-02-01), Keith et al.
Horne L. R.
ICI Australia Limited
Page Thurman K.
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