Patent ID: 7666398

Claim:
An anhydride polymer having an average molecular weight of at least 1500 daltons that comprises repeating units of Formula (I): wherein R 1 is a low molecular weight drug molecule comprising a carboxylic acid group and at least one amine, thiol, alcohol, or phenol group, wherein each low molecular weight drug molecule is an anti-inflammatory agent; X is selected from the group consisting of amides, thioamides, esters and thioesters; and R 2 is an alkyl represented by (CH 2 ) n , wherein n is from 1 to 20; wherein the carbonyl groups shown in formula (I) are part of the R 1 to which they are attached, and wherein the amine, thiol, alcohol, or phenol group of each R 1 forms part of the X to which it is attached in formula (I).