EP0368409A3 — Compositions for the transdermal delivery of buprenorphine salts

USPTO Abstract

Compositions for the transdermal delivery of buprenorphine salts comprising a safe and effective amount of a pharmaceutically-acceptable buprenorphine salt in a carrier comprising: (a) a polar solvent material selected from the group consist­ ing of C₃-C₄ diols, C₃-C₆ triols, and mixtures thereof; and (b) a polar lipid material selected from the group consisting of fatty acids, fatty alcohols, fatty alcohol esters, fatty acid esters, and mixtures thereof; wherein said polar solvent material and said polar lipid material are present in a weight ratio of solvent material:lipid material of from about 60:40 to about 99:1. Preferably, the polar solvent material is propylene glycol, and the polar lipid material is a C₁₂- C₁₈ fatty alcohol, a C₁₂-C₁₈ fatty acid, or an ester of a C₈-C₁₂ fatty alcohol or fatty acid. Particularly preferred polar lipid materials include oleic acid, lauryl alcohol, methyl laurate and methyl caprylate. The ratio of polar solvent material to polar lipld material is preferably from about 90:10 to about 98:2.