Patent ID: 6905701

Claim:
A method for a transmucosal delivery of bisphosphonates to a systemic circulation for treatment of osteoporosis and Paget's disease and for treatment of a metastatic bone disease in a human female patient, wherein a bisphosphonate is delivered into the systemic circulation through the vaginal mucosa from a vaginal device incorporated with a transmucosal vaginal composition, said method comprising steps of: a) providing the transmucosal vaginal composition consisting essentially of from about 0.01 to about 3200 mg of the bisphosphonate selected from the group consisting of alendronate, clodronate, etidronate, pamidronate, tiludronate, ibandronate, neridronate, risedronate, zoledronic acid, incadronate, minodronate and olpadronate; from about 40% to about 95% of a saturated mono-, di- or triglyceride of fatty acids from 8 to 18 carbons or a mixture thereof; from about 0.01% to about 5% of a mucoadhesive agent selected from the group consisting of alginate, pectin and a cellulose derivative; and from about 5% to about 25% of ethoxydiglycol; wherein said composition is formulated and incorporated into the device as a suppository, cream, spray, gel, film, powder, foam, ointment, microcapsules, nanocapsules or a capsule containing microparticles or nanoparticles; b) incorporating said composition into said vaginal device wherein said vaginal device is a vaginal tampon, vaginal ring, vaginal strip, vaginal capsule, vaginal tablet, vaginal pessary, vaginal cup or vaginal sponge; and c) delivering said composition to the vaginal mucosa by inserting said device into the vagina.