Composition and pharmaceutical dosage form for colonic drug delivery using polysaccharides

A pharmaceutical composition comprising an effective amount of a drug, diagnostic reagent, or mixture thereof in contact with a composition consisting essentially of a polysaccharide mixture formed in an aqueous medium at a pH of about 7 or above of (a) a polysaccharide selected form the group consisting of pectin, derivatives of pectin, and mixtures thereof, and (b) galactomannan, without use of a cross-linking agent, wherein the drug is an antiinfective, analgesic, anorexic, helminthic, antiarthritic, antiasthmatic, anticonvulsant, antidepressant, antidiabetic, antidiarrheal, antihistamine, antiinflammatory, antimigraine, antinauseant, antineoplastic, antiparkinsonism, antipruritic, antipsychotic, antipyretic, antispasmodic, anticholinergic, sympathomimetic, xanthine derivative, potassium channel blocker, calcium channel blocker, beta-blocker, alpha-blocker, antiarrhythmic, antihypertensive, diuretic, antidiuretic, vasodilator, central nervous system stimulant, vasoconstrictor, decongestant, hormone, hypnotic, immunosuppressive, muscle relaxant, parasympatholytic, psychostimulant, sedative, tranquilizer, or a combination thereof.

A method for preparing a colon selective pharmaceutical composition for oral delivery of a drug, diagnostic reagent, or mixture thereof comprising forming a polysaccharide mixture in an aqueous medium at a pH of about 7 or above of (a) a polysaccharide selected from the group consisting of pectin, derivatives of pectin, and mixtures thereof, and (b) galactomannan, without use of a cross-linking agent, and contacting the polysaccharide mixture with a drug, diagnostic regent or mixture thereof.

A method of delivering a drug, nutrient, diagnostic reagent, or mixture thereof to the colon of a subject, without substantial release into the upper gastrointestinal tract, comprising orally administering a composition comprising said drug, nutrient, diagnostic reagent or mixture thereof to the subject and a polysaccharide mixture formed in an aqueous medium at a pH of about 7 or above of (a) a polysaccharide selected from the group consisting of pectin, derivative of pectin, and mixtures thereof, and (b) galactomannan, without use of a cross-linking agent, wherein the drug, nutrient, diagnostic reagent or mixture thereof is released into the colon of the subject without substantial release into the upper gastrointestinal tract.