Elan Corporation

In certain cases immediate release of drug is undesirable.  A delay of drug action may be required for a variety of reasons.  Chronotherapy is an example of when drug release may be programmed to occur after a prolonged interval following administration.  Elan’s drug delivery technology can be tailored to release drug after a predetermined delay. The CODAS drug delivery system enables a delayed onset of drug release, resulting in a drug release profile that more accurately compliments circadian patterns.

CODAS Product Development
Elan’s Verelan® PM represents a commercialized product using the CODAS technology.  The Verelan PM formulation was designed to begin releasing Verapamil approximately four to five hours post ingestion.  This delay in release is introduced by the level of release controlling polymer applied to the drug loaded beads.  The release controlling polymer is a combination of water soluble and water insoluble polymers.  As water from the gastrointestinal tract comes in contact with the polymer coat beads, the water soluble polymer slowly dissolves and the drug diffuses through the resulting pores in the coating.  The water insoluble polymer continues to act as a barrier, maintaining the controlled release of the drug.

When taken at bedtime, this controlled onset extended release delivery system enables a maximum plasma concentration of Verapamil in the morning hours, when blood pressure normally rises from its overnight low.

Advantages of CODAS Technology

The CODAS technology gives rise to attributes that directly benefit individual drugs:

• delivery profile designed to compliment the circadian pattern of blood pressure
• controlled onset, extended release delivery system
• rate of release essentially independent of pH, posture and food
• “sprinkle” dosing by opening the capsule and sprinkling the contents on food.