Patent ID: 8734826

Claim:
A drug delivery device comprising: a shell sized for insertion in a rectum of a subject and which comprises within the shell a pharmaceutical composition, wherein the pharmaceutical composition comprises a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and an active pharmaceutical ingredient, wherein the carrier is a solid at normal room temperature and has a melting point so as to melt due to a rectal temperature of the subject, and wherein the shell has an upper end and sides that are continuous, wherein the shell has a lower portion with an aperture, and wherein the upper end and sides are impermeable to the active pharmaceutical ingredient and impermeable to water; and a wick having a first portion extending from the inside of the shell and passing through the aperture of the shell, and a second portion positioned outside the shell, wherein: (i) the first portion is configured to contact the active pharmaceutical ingredient during delivery of the active pharmaceutical ingredient, and (ii) the second portion is positionable proximal to an anal sphincter upon insertion of the device into the rectum of the subject, wherein, when the device is inserted into the rectum of the subject, the carrier melts due to the rectal temperature of the subject, and the active pharmaceutical ingredient is released from the second portion of the wick proximal to the anal sphincter.