Time-specific controlled release capsule formulations and method of preparing same

A method for time-specific delivery of a pharmaceutically active agent to a patient in need of the therapeutic effects of said pharmaceutically active agent, said method comprising administering to said patient, a pharmaceutical formulation comprising:

• (a) a core which comprises a capsule containing a liquid form of said pharmaceutically active agent, and
• (b) a swellable polymeric coating layer substantially surrounding said core, that delays the release of said pharmaceutically active agent from said core for a predetermined period of time dependent upon the thickness of said swellable polymeric coating layer;
• and wherein said swellable polymeric coating layer is formed from powdered polymeric particles.

A method for producing a time-specific dosage formulation for time-specific delivery of a pharmaceutically active agent, said method comprising coating a core which comprises a capsule containing a liquid form of said pharmaceutically active agent, with a swellable polymeric coating layer that delays the release of said pharmaceutically active agent from said core for a predetermined period of time dependent upon the thickness of said swellable polymeric coating layer;

• wherein said step of coating said core with said swellable polymeric coating layer comprises alternately (I) wetting said core with a binder solution, and (ii) coating said core with powdered polymeric particles a sufficient number of times to produce a time-specific dosage formulation having the desired thickness of swellable polymeric coating layer.

A pharmaceutical formulation for the time-specific delivery of a pharmaceutically active agent, said formulation comprising:

• (a) a core comprising a capsule containing a liquid form of said pharmaceutically active agent, and
• (b) a swellable polymeric coating layer substantially surrounding said core, wherein said swellable polymeric coating layer delays the release of said pharmaceutically active agent from said core for a predetermined period of time dependent upon the thickness of said swellable polymeric coating layer;
• and wherein said swellable polymeric coating layer is provided by alternately (I) wetting said core with a binder solution, and (ii) coating said core with powdered polymeric particles a sufficient number of times to produce a time-specific dosage formulation having the desired thickness of swellable polymeric coating layer.