Topical doxycycline composition

An anhydrous pharmaceutical composition for topical application of doxycycline comprising:

• a) an anhydrous vehicle suitable for topical application consisting of a semi-solid hydrophobic material a1) selected from petrolatum alone or with lanolin added, optionally mixed with a liquid hydrophobic material a2) selected from paraffin, saturated di- or tri-esters of C6-C12 fatty acids, and
• b) doxycycline in a form suitable for application to the skin or mucous membranes selected from b1) a solid form of micronised powder with a particle size of 20 μm or less and b2) a form of solution in an anhydrous polyol,
• wherein the doxycycline is a doxycycline salt selected from doxycycline hyclate and doxycycline monohydrate, and the doxycycline content is between 0.001% and 1% (m/m),
• wherein the polyols are selected among glycerol, propylene glycol triethylene glycol, butylene glycol, methylene glycol and polyethylene glycols of molecular weight from 200 to 1500 and mixtures thereof, and
• wherein the said composition during storage is stable for more than 150 days at 25° C.