BUPRENORPHINE EXTENDED-RELEASE PHARMACEUTICAL FORMS

Abstract

An injectable pharmaceutical composition comprising a solution of 3-acyl-buprenorphine or a pharmaceutical salt thereof in a biocompatible organic solvent, wherein the injectable pharmaceutical composition exhibits a sustained release profile lasting for more than one week when injected into a patient. The acyl group is an alkylcarbonyl group and an alkyl portion of the alkylcarbonyl group is straight chain, branched chain, having 1-20 carbon atoms. The biocompatible organic solvent is N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, ethyl acetate, ethanol, butanol, 2-butanol, isobutanol, isopropanol, glycerin, benzyl benzoate, dimethyl sulfoxide, N,N-dimethylacetamide, propylene glycol, dimethyl glycol, benzyl alcohol, or a combination of two or more thereof.