BIODEGRADABLE POLYMER ENCAPSULATED SEROTONIN RECEPTOR ANTAGONIST AND METHOD FOR PREPARING THE SAME

A new class of biodegradable pharmaceutical compositions useful as sustained release medicamentous compositions, including methods of making and methods of using these compositions, are described and claimed. The method of making these compositions includes the steps of: a) dry mixing of a pharmaceutically active molecule with a biodegradable polymer; b) melt extruding the mixture to form a solid solution of the active molecule in the polymer, and c) pulverizing the solid solution to form microparticles such that they can be formed into injectable formulations. Preferred embodiments include pharmaceutical compositions of polylactide-co-glycolide and (+)-.alpha.-(2,3-dimethoxyphenyl)-1-[2-(4-fluorophenyl)ehtyl]-4- piperidinemethanol (active ingredient) and a method for its formation. These compositions release the active ingredient at a steady rate over a period of days to weeks. The active ingredient antagonizes the effects of serotonin at the 5HT2A receptor and are useful in treating various conditions such as, for example, psychoses including schizophrenia, obsessive compulsive disorder, sleep disorder, depression, anorexia, anxiety , drug addiction and bipolar disorders.