Patent ID: 7220406

Claim:
A method for promoting bone formation in a mammal in need thereof by administering to the mammal a therapeutically effective amount of at least one amine polymer with the proviso that said mammal is not suffering from hyperparathyroidism, hyperphosphatemia or osteitis fibrosa; wherein (a) said amine polymer comprises a repeat unit having a formula selected from the group consisting of: or a salt or a copolymer thereof, where n is a positive integer and y is an integer of one or more, each R, R 1 , R 2 and R 3 , independently, is H or a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, and X − is an exchangeable negatively charged counterion, (b) said amine polymer is cross-linked by means of a multifunctional cross-linking agent, and (c) said multifunctional cross-linking agent is present in an amount from about 0.5–25% by weight, based upon the combined weight of monomer and cross-linking agent.