An aromatic polyanhydride comprising a repeating unit having the structure ##STR00001## is disclosed, wherein Ar and R are selected so that the aromatic polyanhydride hydrolyzes to form a therapeutic salicylate, another non-steroidal anti-inflammatory, an antifibrotic aminobenzoate, or a vasoconstricting phenylethanolamine. Implantable medical devices, such as scaffolding implants for tissue reconstruction, drug delivery systems prepared from the aromatic polyanhydrides, as well as therapeutic dosage forms and treatment methods are also disclosed.