Delivery of drugs to the lower gastrointestinal tract
AssigneeAdvanced Polymer Systems, Inc.
InventorsDavid L. Berliner, Sergio Nacht
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Diseases of the colon are treated by oral ingestion of a unit dosage form containing a plurality of porous microscopic beads, the pores containing an active agent or drug and plugged with a polysaccharide that is chemically degradable by colon-specific bacteria. The dosage form further contains a coating of an enteric material that remains intact until the dosage form reaches the colon.
Claims34
A pharmaceutical composition in unit dosage form suitable for oral ingestion for treating diseases of the colon, said composition comprising microscopic polymeric beads insoluble within the GI tract, said beads having pores containing a pharmacologically active agent, said pores having openings plugged with a polysaccharide that is chemically degradable only by bacterial enzymes present in the colon, said beads being assembled in said unit dosage form, said unit dosage form being provided with an enteric coating to allow said unit dosage form to pass intact through the stomach.
A method for treating a disease of the colon, the method comprising orally administering to a subject suffering from said disease a pharmaceutical composition in unit dosage form suitable for oral administration comprising microscopic polymeric beads insoluble within the GI tract, said beads having pores containing a pharmacologically active agent, said pores having openings plugged with a polysaccharide that is chemically degradable only by bacterial enzymes present in the colon, said beads being assembled in said unit dosage form, said unit dosage form being provided with an enteric coating to allow said unit dosage form to pass intact through the stomach.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.