Grupo Ferrer Internacional has been granted a patent for a method of treating epilepsy and seizures using an inhaled condensation aerosol of alprazolam. The method involves oral administration of alprazolam in the form of a condensation aerosol using an inhalation device, effectively stopping ongoing seizures. GlobalData’s report on Grupo Ferrer Internacional gives a 360-degree view of the company including its patenting strategy. Buy the report here.
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According to GlobalData’s company profile on Grupo Ferrer Internacional, Human telomerase RT biomarker was a key innovation area identified from patents. Grupo Ferrer Internacional's grant share as of September 2023 was 50%. Grant share is based on the ratio of number of grants to total number of patents.
Inhaled alprazolam aerosol for treating epilepsy/seizures
A recently granted patent (Publication Number: US11717479B2) describes a method for treating ongoing epileptic seizures using alprazolam administered in the form of a condensation aerosol. The method involves oral administration of alprazolam using an inhalation device that heats an alprazolam composition to form a vapor, which then cools to create a condensation aerosol. This method is specifically designed for subjects with predictable seizure evolution who have ongoing seizures that have not yet progressed to status epilepticus.
The patent claims specify various aspects of the method. Claim 1 states that the method stops the ongoing seizure, while Claim 2 clarifies that the ongoing seizure can be a prolonged focal (partial) seizure or a generalized seizure. Claim 3 further specifies that the generalized seizure can be absence seizures or myoclonic seizures. The dosage of alprazolam is mentioned in Claim 4, which states that it can be administered in a dose of 1-2 mg.
The patent also describes the process of producing the condensation aerosol in detail. Claim 5 explains that the aerosol is produced by forming a film of the alprazolam composition on a heat-conductive, impermeable substrate, heating the substrate to at least 300°C for complete vaporization of the film within 500 ms, and then cooling the vapor to produce aerosol particles containing the alprazolam composition.
Other claims highlight specific scenarios and conditions in which the method can be applied. For example, Claim 9 states that alprazolam can be self-administered by the subject during a prolonged focal seizure without impairment of consciousness or awareness. Claim 14 mentions that alprazolam can be self-administered by the subject after the onset of one or more symptoms of an epileptic seizure, while Claim 15 suggests that alprazolam can be administered with the assistance of a caregiver.
The patent also includes details about the characteristics of the condensation aerosol and the inhalation device used. Claims 19 and 20 specify that at least 80% of the aerosol particles should have a size of less than 5 µm, and the bioavailability of alprazolam should be about 90-110% or more of that achieved with intravenous administration. Claims 21-26 describe the features of the inhalation device, including being hand-held, single-dose, disposable, and breath-activated.
Overall, this patent presents a method for treating ongoing epileptic seizures using alprazolam in the form of a condensation aerosol, administered orally through an inhalation device. The method is designed for subjects with predictable seizure evolution and offers potential benefits in stopping ongoing seizures quickly and effectively.
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GlobalData Patent Analytics tracks bibliographic data, legal events data, point in time patent ownerships, and backward and forward citations from global patenting offices. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies
