The present invention relates to polymers modified to increase theirresorbability. In particular, the polymers of theinvention have phenyl ester side chains which are good leaving groups andwhich thereby increase the resorption rate of the polymerrelative to the same polymer, for example, bearing a comparable amount of analkyl ester side chain. Such polymers are generallywater insoluble, but when modified are able to solublize drugs and upondegradation and resorption, release those in a physiologicalenvironment in a controlled and/or sustained manner.