Site-specific intestinal delivery of adsorbents, alone or in combination with degrading molecules

Abstract

Compositions which deliver adsorbents, alone or in combination with active drug “degrading molecules,” in a site-specific manner to the intestine, and which eliminate or at least lower the concentration of residual unwanted material within the intestine, are disclosed. Methods of treatment using the compositions are also disclosed. The material to be eliminated can include residual active antibiotics, metabolites, bacterial or other toxins, and drugs which cause side effects in the gastrointestinal tract. The adsorbents can be formulated in capsules, tablets or any acceptable pharmaceutical composition, and are ideally designed to specifically release the adsorbents in a programmed manner at a specific site of the intestinal tract. The programmed delivery prevents adsorbents from interfering with the normal absorption process of a given molecule after oral absorption, until it reaches the lower part of the small intestine. The compositions can be used to adsorb, and therefore remove, any residual drug, metabolite thereof, or bacterial toxin after oral or parenteral administration which would otherwise cause adverse effects in the lower intestine and/or colon.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.