From the EUPENN Clinical Trials Group, Center for Experimental
Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pa
(S.C.K., F.C.-L., G.A.F.); Clinical Development, Emisphere Technologies, Inc,
Hawthorne, NY (R.A.B., R.K.A.); and Harris Laboratories, Lincoln, Neb (J.K.).
Correspondence to Garret A. FitzGerald, MD, Center for Experimental Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Room 905, Stellar-Chance Laboratories, 422 Curie Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6100. E-mail garret{at}spirit.gcrc.upenn.edu
Methods and ResultsIncreases in activated partial
thromboplastin time (aPTT), anti-factors IIa and Xa, and tissue factor
pathway inhibitor (TFPI) concentrations were detected when
normal volunteers were dosed with 10.5 g SNAC/20 000 IU heparin
by gavage in some subjects. For the entire group, 30 000 IU SNAC and
heparin elevated TFPI from 74.9±7.6 to 254.2±12.3 mg/mL
(P<0.001) 1 hour after dosing
(P<0.001). Similar changes occurred in anti-factor IIa
and anti-factor Xa. aPTT rose from 28±0.5 to 42.2±6.3 seconds 2 hours
after dosing (P<0.01). No significant changes in vital
signs, physical examination, ECGs, or clinical laboratory values were
observed. Neither 30 000 IU heparin alone nor 10.5 g SNAC alone
altered the hemostatic parameters. Emesis was associated
with 10.5 g SNAC. A taste-masked preparation of SNAC 2.25 g
was administered orally with heparin 30 000 to 150 000 IU. Both aPTT
and anti-factor Xa increased with escalating doses of heparin. This
preparation was well tolerated.
ConclusionsHeparin, administered orally in combination with the
delivery agent SNAC, produces significant elevations in 4 indexes of
anticoagulant effect in healthy human volunteers. These results
establish the feasibility of oral delivery of anticoagulant doses of
heparin in humans and may have broader implications for the absorption
of macromolecules.
Heparin is not absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract, presumably
because of its size and ionic repulsion from negatively charged
epithelial tissue.9 As such, it has poor oral
bioavailability and is administered parenterally,
either by continuous or intermittent infusion or by deep subcutaneous
injection. Thus, parenteral heparin is usually replaced by the orally
active anticoagulant warfarin for long-term outpatient therapy.
However, the specific adverse effects of warfarin and pharmacokinetic
interactions involving this highly protein-bound drug may limit its
practical utility.10 Low-molecular-weight
heparins may be self-administered by patients after hospital discharge.
This approach does not require intensive monitoring and has established
clinical efficacy, at least over short periods.7
Given this observation, continuation of heparin therapy with an oral
dosage form might prove to be a clinically attractive alternative.
Although thrombin generation may persist during parenteral heparin
administration,11 abrupt cessation of therapy may
result in a rebound increase in thrombin generation and reactivation of
clinical syndromes of vascular occlusion.12
Several recent attempts to develop effective nonparenteral heparin
formulations have been reported but have met with limited
success.13 14 15 16 17 18 19 We have synthesized delivery
agents based on N-acylated
We now report that SNAC facilitated the gastrointestinal absorption of
heparin in healthy volunteers, at tolerated doses, with no change in
glucose or insulin levels. Furthermore, 4 indexes of anticoagulant
effect were prolonged into the range associated with clinical utility
by the SNAC-heparin solution. These observations suggest the potential
for development of an orally available heparin preparation for clinical
investigation.
In the third study, the oral administration of a taste-masked
SNAC-heparin solution was evaluated. SNAC and heparin were formulated
into a sugar syrup containing other sweeteners and flavors. The syrup
was administered orally from unit dose vials at a dose volume of 30 mL.
In this study, a fixed, lower dose (2.25 g) of SNAC was used with
escalating doses (30 000, 60 000, 90 000, and 150 000 IU) of
heparin. Before oral dosing, 14 volunteers (12 men) were administered
heparin 10 000 IU SC. The aPTT was measured before and 0.33, 0.67, 1,
1.5, 2, and 4 hours after dosing. Volunteers were excluded from the
study if the aPTT was prolonged >2.5 times control.
Subjects satisfying all inclusion and exclusion criteria for the
studies were admitted to the clinical research unit the evening before
dosing. All subjects were provided with standardized meals and snacks
throughout the study periods. Subjects were not allowed food or
beverages containing xanthine-related agents during the 12-hour period
before dosing. Alcohol intake was prohibited during the 24-hour
predosing period and throughout the study. Vital signs and oral
temperature were recorded at screening; immediately before each
dose; and 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, and 24 hours after each dose. Glucose and
insulin were measured 5 minutes before dosing and at 1 and 2 hours
after dosing for each study period.
For the first 2 studies, dosing solutions were compounded on each study
day, according to a predetermined randomization scheme provided by the
research pharmacist. Individual dosing solutions were labeled by the
pharmacy with the subject's initials, study number, and study day and
date. The test solutions were composed of SNAC (Emisphere Technologies)
and/or heparin sodium USP (Scientific Protein Laboratories, 166.9 USP
U/mg) in 25% vol/vol aqueous propylene glycol. The vehicle control was
25% vol/vol aqueous propylene glycol. In these studies, all oral doses
were administered by gavage through a 16F, Levin-type seamless stomach
tube, which had been shown to be compatible with the dosing solution.
Delivery into the stomach was designed to standardize dosing to the
site of absorption. After an overnight fast, the subjects were
administered 70 mL dosing solution via the stomach tube. In the third
study, a formulated, taste-masked, oral SNAC-heparin solution was
administered. Both the study physician and the subject were blinded as
to which preparation was being administered. Similarly, the
analyses were performed without knowledge of patient name, sex,
or treatment.
Prothrombin time (PT), aPTT, AT III, and triglycerides were
determined before dosing and at 2 and 4 hours after dosing in groups 2
and 3 of study 1. Arachidonic acidinduced
platelet aggregation was measured before and 2 hours after dosing
as previously described.26 Blood samples were
drawn 30, 15, and 5 minutes before dosing and 0.33, 0.67, 1, 1.5, 2, 4,
and 8 hours after dosing. Samples taken 30 minutes before and 1, 2, and
4 hours after dosing were analyzed for TFPI. Supplementary
blood and urine samples for safety determination, including hematology
(complete blood count, platelets), PT, aPTT, and urinalysis
(dipstick), were collected 24 hours after dosing. In the third study,
aPTT was measured before and 0.5, 1, 2, 4, and 24 hours after dosing.
Anti-factor Xa was determined before and 0.08, 0.17, 0.33, 0.5, 0.67,
1.0, 1.33, 1.67, 2.0, 4.0, 6.0, and 8.0 hours after dosing.
Analytical Procedures
Anti-factor Xa activity was determined with a chromogenic
substrate by use of a kit from Diagnostica. The assay has a
coefficient of variation of <4% at a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.1
IU/mL. Values reported <0.1 IU/mL were generated from a standard curve
by use of lower concentration standards. Anti-factor IIa activity was
determined with a kit from Kabi Diagnostics. The
coefficient of variation is <5% at an LOD of 0.05 IU/mL. TFPI
concentrations were determined by use of an ELISA (American
Diagnostic, Inc). The LOD for this assay is 0.5 ng/mL. The
intra-assay coefficient of variation is <5%. A subset of samples
subjected to a previous freeze/thaw cycle was also assayed for TFPI.
These data, however, were considered of qualitative value only.
Data Management
Neither heparin nor SNAC induced significant changes in serum
chemistry, glucose, insulin, hematology, or urinalysis. There were no
trends observed for any dosing group. The PT, AT III levels, and
triglycerides remained normal throughout the study.
Measures of anticoagulant effect were unaltered by SNAC alone (group 1)
or by escalating doses of SNAC with 10 000 IU heparin. Specifically,
TFPI did not change significantly from levels before (69.7±12.8 ng/mL)
to 2 hours (79.9±8.8 ng/mL) and 4 hours (78.7±14.2 ng/mL) after
10.5 g SNAC alone. Similarly, anti-factor IIa and Xa levels were
undetectable before or after 10.5 g SNAC. Administration of
20 000 and 30 000 IU heparin with the 10.5 g SNAC altered the
indexes of anticoagulant effect. aPTT increased significantly
(P<0.01) from a control level of 28.0±0.5 to 42.2±6.3
seconds 2 hours after dosing (Figure 1A
In the second study, TFPI levels were unaltered in any of the 4
subjects when 30 000 IU heparin was administered orally via
nasogastric tube but without SNAC (Table 2
In the third study, 4 of 12 subjects were excluded from further dosing
for safety reasons, because their aPTT response to heparin 10 000 IU
SC exceeded baseline values by a factor of
There were no clinically important adverse events in 111 dosings in the
34 subjects. Nausea was reported after 29 of the 111 dosing events.
Excluding the vehicle and heparin control groups (16 doses), nausea
appeared to be unrelated to SNAC or heparin dosages. Emesis occurred
after 14 of the 111 doses and was associated with higher SNAC dose
levels only in study 1 (Table 1
Preclinical data from cynomolgus macaques suggested that SNAC at high
doses may lower fasting blood sugar.22 There was
no evidence, as assessed by glucose and insulin, of a hypoglycemic
response to SNAC in any individual at any dosing level. However,
administration of a large volume (70 mL) of this unformulated solution
to fasting volunteers in the initial study did produce digestive
symptoms, most commonly nausea. These accounted for more than half the
reported side effects. Twelve of the 30 subjects who received SNAC in
combination with an anticoagulant dose of heparin in the first study
reported gastrointestinal discomfort. Of the 30 subjects, 13
experienced mild emesis and 1 reported moderate emesis at this SNAC
dose level. This last event was considered dose limiting. Although
tolerated, SNAC has a bitter taste as an unformulated solution.
To address the issue of gastrointestinal intolerance, we developed a
taste-masked preparation. Furthermore, we reduced the dose of SNAC to
2.25 g while evaluating the pharmacodynamic efficacy of increasing
doses of heparin when the preparation was administered per os rather
than by gavage. Given the interindividual variability in response to
heparin, we wished to bias our experience against including those
individuals most sensitive to heparin, for safety reasons. Thus, we
excluded 5 of the 12 volunteers whose aPTT was prolonged by
This study establishes the feasibility of oral heparin delivery in
humans. Both unfractionated and low-molecular-weight heparins have been
demonstrated to be efficacious in the prevention of thrombotic venous
and arterial disease.1 2 3 4 5 6 7 31
Furthermore, nonanticoagulant properties of heparin may also reduce
cardiovascular risk.32 Long-term
therapy with subcutaneous administration of low-molecular-weight
heparins is being evaluated currently in comparison with long-term oral
warfarin therapy in the prevention of postoperative venous
thrombosis.4 Indeed, long-term subcutaneous
administration of specific ATs may prove even more efficacious than
low-molecular-weight heparins.33 Although
further modifications of drug delivery are desirable for clinical
application, the present observations raise the possibility of
extended oral dosing with heparins or specific
ATs.34 35 They may also have a broader relevance
to the absorption of macromolecules in general.
Received January 30, 1998;
revision received May 15, 1998;
accepted June 16, 1998.
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Merlini PA, Ardissino D, Bauer KA, Oltrona L, Pezzano
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Theroux P, Waters D, Lam J, Juneau M, McCans J.
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18.
Artmann C, Roding J, Ghyczy M, Pratzel HG. Liposomes
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Jacques LB, Hiebert LM, Wice SM. Evidence from
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20.
Leone-Bay A, Santiago N, Achan D, Chaudhary K, DeMorin
F, Falzarano L, Haas S, Kalbag S, Kaplan D, Lercara C, O'Toole D,
Rivera T, Rosado C, Sarubbi D, Vuocolo E, Wang NF, Milstein S, Baughman
RA. N-acylated
21.
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© 1998 American Heart Association, Inc.
Clinical Investigation and Reports
Oral Delivery of Anticoagulant Doses of Heparin
A Randomized, Double-Blind, Controlled Study in Humans
![]()
Abstract
Top
Abstract
Introduction
Methods
Results
Discussion
References
BackgroundParenteral
heparin is the anticoagulant of choice in hospitalized patients.
Continued anticoagulation is achieved by subcutaneous administration of
low-molecular-weight heparin or with an orally active anticoagulant
such as warfarin. An oral heparin formulation would avoid the
inconvenience of subcutaneous injection and the unfavorable drug
interactions and adverse events associated with warfarin. A candidate
delivery agent, sodium
N-[8(-2-hydroxybenzoyl)amino]caprylate (SNAC), was
evaluated with escalating oral heparin doses in a randomized,
double-blind, controlled clinical study for safety, tolerability, and
effects on indexes of anticoagulation.
Key Words: heparin anticoagulants oral administration
![]()
Introduction
Top
Abstract
Introduction
Methods
Results
Discussion
References
Heparin, a naturally occurring
glycosaminoglycan, is a potent
inhibitor of blood coagulation, primarily through formation
of a protease inhibitory complex with antithrombin (AT)
III.1 2 3 Parenteral administration of heparin has
been shown to prevent venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism
in patients undergoing surgery.1 4 5 It has also
been shown to prevent peripheral arterial
embolism and reduce the incidence of myocardial infarction and death in
patients with unstable angina.6 7 Heparin has
been suggested to improve outcome in acute ischemic
stroke.8 Heparin is composed of glucosamine and
either L-iduronic acid or D-glucuronic acid in
chains of variable length, having a molecular weight range of 5000
to 30 000. It is sulfated and highly acidic.4 5 6 7 8
Fractionated, low-molecular-weight heparins have also established
clinical efficacy.3 4 5 Clinical prevention of
thrombosis with heparin is attained at doses that modify tests of
anticoagulant function. These include the activated partial
thromboplastin time (aPTT) and tissue factor pathway
inhibitor (TFPI). Clinical benefit has been associated with
heparin-induced prolongation of aPTT by 1.5- to
2.5-fold.1 2 4 5 6 7 8 Less information is available
that relates alterations in TFPI to clinical outcome.
-amino
acids20 and n-acylated non
-amino
acids21 and demonstrated in animal models that
they promote oral absorption of macromolecules.
N-[8(-2-hydroxybenzoyl) amino]caprylate (SNAC)-mediated
gastrointestinal absorption of heparin occurs in a passive
transcellular process,22 without causing apparent
damage to intestinal epithelium.23 Transport is
thought to be facilitated by the formation of a noncovalent complex
between SNAC and heparin.24 Investigations, both
in vitro and in vivo, revealed that the n-acylated
non
-amino acid SNAC has no pharmacological
activity.21 However, it increased aPTT in
primates dosed orally with heparin. Hypoglycemia, nausea, and emesis
were observed at high doses (1800 mg/kg) of SNAC with an unformulated
solution in cynomolgus macaques.25
![]()
Methods
Top
Abstract
Introduction
Methods
Results
Discussion
References
Study Design
Three clinical studies were performed at the Clinical Research
Unit of Harris Laboratories. All studies were approved by the
Institutional Review Board. In the first study, healthy male
(n=27) and surgically sterile female (n=3) volunteers were evaluated
for inclusion in the study after providing written informed consent.
All had unremarkable histories and physical examinations. No
abnormalities were detected on 12-lead ECG, clinical chemistry,
hematology, and urinalysis (including drug screen). Subjects were
selected and randomly assigned to receive ascending doses (1.4 to
10.5 g) of SNAC by gavage (group 1), 10 000 IU heparin with
ascending doses (1.4 to 10.5 g) of SNAC (group 2), or 20 000 or
30 000 IU heparin with a fixed dose (10.5 g) of SNAC (group 3).
Subjects randomized to a heparin treatment (group 2 or 3) were screened
with 4000 IU heparin (heparin sodium injection, USP, 1000 IU/mL SC,
Schein Pharmaceuticals) for an atypical heparin response (aPTT increase
>2 times baseline) or untoward reaction. In the second study, 4
volunteers (3 men, 1 surgically sterile woman) were administered
30 000 IU heparin alone under identical conditions. Again, indexes of
hemostatic function were monitored.
Anti-factors IIa and Xa and TFPI were assayed in the Center for
Experimental Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania School of
Medicine, except for study 3, in which anti-factor Xa was assayed by
Bioanayltical Services, Elan Pharmaceutical Technologies. Insulin and
AT III were assayed in the Clinical Laboratory, University of Nebraska
Medical Center. All other laboratory work was performed in the Clinical
Laboratory at Harris Laboratories.
All clinical data were entered into an Oracle database. All
computations and statistical analyses were carried out with the
statistical software package SAS, version 6.09 or greater. aPTT,
anti-factors IIa and Xa, and TFPI values were analyzed by
ANOVA, with subsequent pairwise comparison as appropriate. Data are
reported as mean±SEM. Differences were considered statistically
significant at P<0.05.
![]()
Results
Top
Abstract
Introduction
Methods
Results
Discussion
References
Subjects in the first study were randomized to treatment groups as
listed in Table 1
; dropouts and
no-shows were not replaced. There were no changes between preenrollment
and discharge physical examinations in all subjects. All ECG results
and vital sign measurements were considered unremarkable throughout the
study.
View this table:
[in a new window]
Table 1. Subject Distribution and Gastrointestinal Side
Effects by Treatment Group in Study
1
)
in subjects receiving 30 000 IU heparin. Anti-factor IIa activity was
detected in 4 of 6 volunteers after the lower dose and in all but 1 of
the 6 subjects receiving 30 000 IU heparin. An anti-factor Xa response
was measured in 2 of 6 subjects at 20 000 IU heparin and 4 of the 5
volunteers at 30 000 IU heparin, reaching a peak concentration of
0.20±0.05 IU/mL 1 hour after dosing. Anti-factor IIa was significantly
(P<0.05) elevated at 0.67, 1, and 1.5 hours after dosing,
reaching a peak concentration of 0.22±0.08 IU/mL 1 hour after 30 000
IU heparin (Figure 1B
). TFPI rose from 90.0±8.0 to 224.2±66.7 ng/mL 1
hour after dosing with 20 000 IU heparin (P<0.003) and
from 74.9±7.6 to 254.2±12.3 ng/mL 1 hour after the 30 000 IU heparin
dose (P<0.001). Following this observation, the -0.5-,
0.33-, 0.67-, and 1.5-hour samples remaining from the anti-factor IIa
analysis were submitted for TFPI assay. This involved a second
freeze/thaw cycle, so the data were viewed qualitatively. These data
suggest 1.5- to 2-fold increases in TFPI as early as 0.33 hours after
dosing in those subjects in whom a significant increase in anti-factor
IIa was detected 1 and 1.5 hours after dosing with 30 000 IU
heparin.

View larger version (27K):
[in a new window]
Figure 1. A, aPTT values (seconds) and TFPI concentrations
(ng/mL) after oral administration of 10.5 g SNAC and 30 000 IU
heparin in human volunteers. B, Anti-factor IIa and Xa concentrations
(IU/mL) after oral dosing of 10.5 g SNAC and 30 000 IU heparin in
normal volunteers. Stippled lines represent the LOD for
anti-factor Xa (aXa) and anti-factor IIa (aIIa), respectively.
). Consistent with these
observations, neither anti-factor IIa nor anti-factor Xa was detectable
at any time point in any individual.
View this table:
[in a new window]
Table 2. Individual Responses of TFPI to Combination of
Heparin Plus Carrier and Either
Alone
2.5-fold. The remaining 7
subjects (6 men) received ascending doses of oral SNAC-heparin. One
patient was excluded because of an aPTT elevation >2.5-fold greater
after the third oral dose. The group as a whole exhibited
dose-dependent prolongations of mean aPTT and anti-factor Xa (Figure 2
). Thus, despite exclusion of the
volunteers likely to exhibit a more sensitive response to heparin, mean
aPTT was prolonged 172±22% above baseline values 30 minutes after
dosing with 2.25 g SNAC and 150 000 IU heparin. One subject
(included in the mean data) failed to exhibit a prolongation in aPTT at
any oral dose of SNAC-heparin. After administration of heparin 10 000
IU SC, the aPTT in this individual was 27 seconds at baseline and 33,
34, 34, 37, and 27 seconds at 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 4.0, and 24.0 hours after
dosing. After oral SNAC-heparin, a detectable prolongation of
anti-factor Xa was measured in this subject only at 0.5 (0.07 IU/mL)
and 1 (0.06 IU/mL) hour after dosing with 2.25 g SNAC and 150 000
IU heparin.

View larger version (19K):
[in a new window]
Figure 2. Mean dose-dependent prolongation of
anti-factor Xa activity and aPTT as percent at baseline (inset) in
response to taste-masked syrup containing SNAC 2.25 g and rising
doses of heparin ingested per os.
indicates 30 000 IU heparin;
, 60 000 IU heparin;
, 90 000 IU heparin; and
, 150 000 IU
heparin.
). Emesis was self described as mild
(easily tolerated) in 13 of these individuals. One experienced emesis
that interfered with usual activity. Less frequent side effects in
study 1 were headache, diarrhea, abdominal pain, dyspepsia, and
pharyngitis. Gastrointestinal side effects were not noted in the third
study. Neither alterations in blood glucose or serum insulin nor
bleeding complications were observed in any of the studies.
![]()
Discussion
Top
Abstract
Introduction
Methods
Results
Discussion
References
This report describes the first controlled evidence for the oral
absorption of an anticoagulant dose of heparin in humans. Our initial
observations were obtained after drug delivery by gavage under
double-blind conditions and involved 4 indexes of anticoagulant effect.
The results indicate that SNAC does promote oral absorption of heparin
in humans. The evidence that links the anticoagulant effect of heparin
to prevention of thrombosis holds most strongly for aPTT. The changes
in aPTT observed after the single oral dose of heparin administered by
gavage were modest. However, TFPI may also reflect the effects of
heparin in vivo.27 The maximal effects on TFPI
that we observed after oral heparin were an increase of 2.5- to 3-fold.
Such increases are within the range of those reported after
intravenous dosing of 7500 U heparin (1.5- to
6.5-fold)27 and similar to that observed after
5000 anti-factor Xa units of a low-molecular-weight
heparin.27 However, interindividual differences
in the anticoagulant response to conventional heparins are well
recognized.27 28 The peak TFPI concentration we
observed was at 1 hour after dosing. This is similar to the response
reported by Alban et al28 in healthy male and
female human volunteers. Peak values for anti-factor IIa and Xa values
were also observed 1 hour after dosing. Thus, the TFPI and anti-factor
IIa and Xa concentrations suggest that the timing of the aPTT samples
in the first study may have led to an underestimation of the maximum
response to oral heparin on this index of anticoagulant effect.
Similarly, plasma levels of heparin were not estimated by protamine
titration.29 Such an approach may minimize
variability in aPTT responses attributable to differences in test
reagents.30
2.5 times
in response to 10 000 IU heparin SC from exposure to SNAC-heparin.
Despite this, heparin dose dependently prolonged both indexes of
anticoagulation. For example, 0.5 hours after dosing with 150 000 IU
SNAC and 2.25 g heparin, aPTT had been prolonged from 30.3±2.4 to
51.7±8.6 seconds. Furthermore, with the individual who failed to
prolong the aPTT with any dose of SNAC-heparin excluded, aPTT was
elevated from 30.7±2.3 to 55.3±7.4 seconds. It is unclear why this 1
subject failed to respond to SNAC-heparin.
![]()
Acknowledgments
This work was supported by grants from Emisphere Technologies,
the joint venture between Emisphere Technologies and Elan Corporation,
and the NIH (M01- RR-00040). Dr FitzGerald is the Robinette Foundation
Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine. We gratefully
acknowledge the technical contributions of P. Kenny and M. Burke of
Elan Corporation, plc.
![]()
References
Top
Abstract
Introduction
Methods
Results
Discussion
References
1.
Hirsh J. Heparin. N Engl J
Med. 1991;324:15651579.[Medline]
[Order article via Infotrieve]
-amino acids as novel oral delivery agents
for proteins. J Med Chem. 1995;38:42634269.[Medline]
[Order article via Infotrieve]
-amino
acids as novel agents for the oral delivery of heparin sodium, USP.
J Controlled Release. 1998;50:4149.[Medline]
[Order article via Infotrieve]
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