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Eligard

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ELIGARD®
(leuprolide acetate) for Injectable Suspension 7.5 mg, 22.5 mg, 30 mg, 45 mg

DRUG DESCRIPTION

ELIGARD® is a sterile polymeric matrix formulation of leuprolide acetate for subcutaneous injection. It is designed to deliver leuprolide acetate at a controlled rate over a one-, three-, four- or six-month therapeutic period.

Leuprolide acetate is a synthetic nonapeptide analog of naturally occurring gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH or LH-RH) that, when given continuously, inhibits pituitary gonadotropin secretion and suppresses testicular and ovarian steroidogenesis. The analog possesses greater potency than the natural hormone. The chemical name is 5-oxo-L-prolyl-L- histidyl-L-tryptophyl-L-seryl-L-tyrosyl-D-leucyl-L-leucyl-L-arginyl-N-ethyl-L-prolinamide acetate (salt) with the following structural formula:

ELIGARD (leuprolide acetate) structural formula illustration

ELIGARD® is prefilled and supplied in two separate, sterile syringes whose contents are mixed immediately prior to administration. The two syringes are joined and the single dose product is mixed until it is homogenous. ELIGARD® is administered subcutaneously, where it forms a solid drug delivery depot.

One syringe contains the ATRIGEL® Delivery System and the other contains leuprolide acetate. ATRIGEL® is a polymeric (non-gelatin containing) delivery system consisting of a biodegradable poly (DL-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGH or PLG) polymer formulation dissolved in a biocompatible solvent, N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP).

Refer to Table 1 for the delivery system composition and constituted product formulation for each ELIGARD® product.

Table 1 - ELIGARD® Delivery System Composition and Constituted Product Formulation

    ELIGARD®
7.5 mg
ELIGARD®
22.5 mg
ELIGARD®
30 mg
ELIGARD®
45 mg
  Polymer PLGH PLG PLG PLG
Polymer description Copolymer containing
carboxyl endgroups
Copolymer with hexanediol Copolymer with hexanediol Copolymer with hexanediol
ATRIGEL®
Delivery
System Syringe
Polymer DL- lactide to Glycolide Molar Ratio 50:50 75:25 75:25 85:15
Constituted Product Polymer delivered 82.5 mg 158.6 mg 211.5 mg 165 mg
NMP delivered 160.0 mg 193.9 mg 258.5 mg 165 mg
Leuprolide acetate delivered 7.5 mg 22.5 mg 30 mg 45 mg
Approximate Leuprolide free base equivalent 7.0 mg 21 mg 28 mg 42 mg
Approximate administered formulation weight 250 mg 375 mg 500 mg 375 mg
Approximate injection volume 0.25 mL 0.375 mL 0.5 mL 0.375 mL

Brand Name: Eligard
Generic Name: Leuprolide Acetate

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