A pharmaceutical composition comprising a pharmaceutically effective amount of a polymeric binder including a high molecular weight synthetic linear copolymer, said synthetic linear copolymer comprising a linear copolymer of hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) and 4-styrene sulfonic acid or a salt thereof, wherein said linear copolymer has a molar percentage ratio of HEMA:4-styrene sulfonic acid or a salt thereof of from between about 82.4:17.6 mol % to about 28:72 mol %, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, wherein the pharmaceutical composition is formulated for oral administration.