Sustained-release injectables formed in situ and their potential use for veterinary products

The controlled drug delivery of hydrophilic and lipophilic drug substances via the parenteral route has gained increasing importance in the development of pharmaceutical dosage forms. In particular, the animal health industry has generated strong interest in long-term drug delivery for both companion and farm animals during the past few years. At present sustained-release injectables formed in situ for s.c./i.m. administration have become an attractive alternative to common slow release technologies such as microspheres or standard implants. In this context, technologies based on PLA/PLGA, sucrose acetate isobutyrate (SAIB) and the amphipathic molecules Poloxamer, glycerol monooleate or PEG-PLA-PEG copolymers, are discussed. Release periods from hours to months can be obtained by choosing one of these drug delivery technologies. The release times are strongly dependent on the biodegradation of the polymers and the physico-chemical properties of the drug substance used. Furthermore, the use of different solvents for the matrix-forming agents and the individual loading capacity are critically assessed. Additionally acceptance of the excipients for parenteral use by the regulatory authorities is closely considered. Scientific articles as well as patent publications are reviewed to give a wide overview of the existing approaches and their future potential for animal health products.