Abstract: Controlled release oral dosage forms are provided for the continuous, sustained administration of a pharmacologically active agent to the upper gastrointestinal tract of a patient in whom the fed mode as been induced. The majority of the agent is delivered, on an extended release basis, to the stomach, duodenum and upper regions of the small intestine, with drug delivery in the lower gastrointestinal tract and colon substantially restricted. The dosage form comprises a matrix of a biocompatible, hydrophilic, erodible polymer with an active agent incorporated therein, wherein the polymer is one that both swells in the presence of water and gradually erodes over a time period of hours, with swelling and erosion commencing upon contact with gastric fluid, and drug release rate primarily controlled by erosion rate.

Abstract: Erodible, gastric-retentive dosage forms are provided that are formulated using the in vitro drug release profile obtained with USP Disintegration test equipment rather the USP Dissolution Apparatus. The invention is premised on the discovery that the USP Disintegration Test and modified versions thereof are far more predictive of the in vivo release profile for a controlled release dosage form than is the standard USP Dissolution Test, particularly controlled release dosage forms of the swellable, erodible type. The dosage forms generally comprise particles of a biocompatible, hydrophilic polymer having the active agent incorporated therein, wherein the particles are optionally but preferably compacted into a tablet or loaded into a capsule. The dosage forms can be used to deliver water-insoluble or sparingly soluble drugs as well as water-soluble drugs, providing that the latter are coated with a protective coating or contained in a protective vesicle.

Abstract: Drugs are formulated as unit oral dosage forms by incorporating them into polymeric matrices comprised of hydrophilic polymers that swell upon imbibition of water to a size that is large enough to promote retention of the dosage form in the stomach during the fed mode. The oral formulation is designed for gastric retention and controlled delivery of an incorporated drug into the gastric cavity, and thus administered, the drug is released from the matrix into the gastric fluid by solution diffusion. The swollen polymeric matrix, having achieved sufficient size, remains in the gastric cavity for several hours if administered while the patient is in the fed mode, and remains intact long enough for substantially all of the drug to be released before substantial dissolution of the matrix occurs. The swelling matrix lowers the accessibility of the gastric fluid to the drug and thereby reduces the drug release rate.

Abstract: An erodible, gastric-retentive oral diuretic is provided that is formulated using the in vitro drug release profile obtained with USP Disintegration test equipment rather the USP Dissolution Apparatus. The invention is premised on the discovery that the USP Disintegration Test and modified versions thereof are far more predictive of the in vivo release profile for a controlled release dosage form than is the standard USP Dissolution Test, particularly controlled release dosage forms of the swellable, erodible type. The dosage forms generally comprise particles of a biocompatible, hydrophilic polymer having the active agent incorporated therein, wherein the particles are optionally but preferably compacted into a tablet or loaded into a capsule. The dosage forms can be used to deliver water-insoluble or sparingly soluble drugs as well as water-soluble drugs, providing that the latter are coated with a protective coating or contained in a protective vesicle.

Abstract: Erodible, gastric-retentive dosage forms are provided that are formulated using the in vitro drug release profile obtained with USP Disintegration test equipment rather the USP Dissolution Apparatus. The invention is premised on the discovery that the USP Disintegration Test and modified versions thereof are far more predictive of the in vivo release profile for a controlled release dosage form than is the standard USP Dissolution Test, particularly controlled release dosage forms of the swellable, erodible type. The dosage forms generally comprise particles of a biocompatible, hydrophilic polymer having the active agent incorporated therein, wherein the particles are optionally but preferably compacted into a tablet or loaded into a capsule. The dosage forms can be used to deliver water-insoluble or sparingly soluble drugs as well as water-soluble drugs, providing that the latter are coated with a protective coating or contained in a protective vesicle.

Abstract: Drugs are formulated as oral dosage forms for controlled release in which the release rate limiting portion is a shell surrounding the drug-containing core. The shell releases drug from the core by permitting diffusion of the drug from the core. The shell also promotes gastric retention of the dosage form by swelling upon imbibition of gastric fluid to a size that is retained in the stomach during the postprandial or fed mode.

Abstract: Controlled release oral dosage forms are provided for the continuous, sustained administration of a pharmacologically active agent to the upper gastrointestinal tract of a patient in whom the fed mode as been induced. The majority of the agent is delivered, on an extended release basis, to the stomach, duodenum and upper regions of the small intestine, with drug delivery in the lower gastrointestinal tract and colon substantially restricted. The dosage form comprises a matrix of a biocompatible, hydrophilic, erodible polymer with an active agent incorporated therein, wherein the polymer is one that both swells in the presence of water and gradually erodes over a time period of hours, with swelling and erosion commencing upon contact with gastric fluid, and drug release rate primarily controlled by erosion rate.

Abstract: Erodible, gastric-retentive dosage forms are provided that are formulated using the in vitro drug release profile obtained with USP Disintegration test equipment rather the USP Dissolution Apparatus. The invention is premised on the discovery that the USP Disintegration Test and modified versions thereof are far more predictive of the in vivo release profile for a controlled release dosage form than is the standard USP Dissolution Test, particularly controlled release dosage forms of the swellable, erodible type. The dosage forms generally comprise particles of a biocompatible, hydrophilic polymer having the active agent incorporated therein, wherein the particles are optionally but preferably compacted into a tablet or loaded into a capsule. The dosage forms can be used to deliver water-insoluble or sparingly soluble drugs as well as water-soluble drugs, providing that the latter are coated with a protective coating or contained in a protective vesicle.

Abstract: Drugs are formulated as unit oral dosage forms by incorporating them into polymeric matrices comprised of hydrophilic polymers that swell upon imbibition of water to a size that is large enough to promote retention of the dosage form in the stomach during the fed mode. The oral formulation is designed for gastric retention and controlled delivery of an incorporated drug into the gastric cavity, and thus administered, the drug is released from the matrix into the gastric fluid by solution diffusion. The swollen polymeric matrix, having achieved sufficient size, remains in the gastric cavity for several hours if administered while the patient is in the fed mode, and remains intact long enough for substantially all of the drug to be released before substantial dissolution of the matrix occurs. The swelling matrix lowers the accessibility of the gastric fluid to the drug and thereby reduces the drug release rate.

Abstract: The retention of oral drug dosage forms in the stomach is improved by using swellable dosage forms that are shaped in a manner that will prevent them from inadvertently passing through the pylorus as a result of being in a particular orientation. The planar projection of the shape is one that has two orthogonal axes of different lengths, the longer being short enough to permit easy swallowing prior to swelling while the shorter is long enough within one-half hour of swelling to prevent passage through the pylorus.

Abstract: Drugs are formulated as unit oral dosage forms by incorporating them into polymeric matrices comprised of hydrophilic polymers that swell upon imbibition of water to a size that is large enough to promote retention of the dosage form in the stomach during the fed mode. The oral formulation is designed for gastric retention and controlled delivery of an incorporated drug into the gastric cavity, and thus administered, the drug is released from the matrix into the gastric fluid by solution diffusion. The swollen polymeric matrix, having achieved sufficient size, remains in the gastric cavity for several hours if administered while the patient is in the fed mode, and remains intact long enough for substantially all of the drug to be released before substantial dissolution of the matrix occurs. The swelling matrix lowers the accessibility of the gastric fluid to the drug and thereby reduces the drug release rate.

Abstract: Drugs are formulated as unit oral dosage forms by incorporating them into polymeric matrices comprised of hydrophilic polymers that swell upon imbibition of water to a size that is large enough to promote retention of the dosage form in the stomach during the fed mode. The oral formulation is designed for gastric retention and controlled delivery of an incorporated drug into the gastric cavity, and thus administered, the drug is released from the matrix into the gastric fluid by solution diffusion. The swollen polymeric matrix, having achieved sufficient size, remains in the gastric cavity for several hours if administered while the patient is in the fed mode, and remains intact long enough for substantially all of the drug to be released before substantial dissolution of the matrix occurs. The swelling matrix lowers the accessibility of the gastric fluid to the drug and thereby reduces the drug release rate.

Abstract: Drugs are formulated as unit oral dosage forms by incorporating them into polymeric matrices comprised of hydrophilic polymers that swell upon imbibition of water to a size that is large enough to promote retention of the dosage form in the stomach during the fed mode. The oral formulation is designed for gastric retention and controlled delivery of an incorporated drug into the gastric cavity, and thus administered, the drug is released from the matrix into the gastric fluid by solution diffusion. The swollen polymeric matrix, having achieved sufficient size, remains in the gastric cavity for several hours if administered while the patient is in the fed mode, and remains intact long enough for substantially all of the drug to be released before substantial dissolution of the matrix occurs. The swelling matrix lowers the accessibility of the gastric fluid to the drug and thereby reduces the drug release rate.

Abstract: Controlled-release oral drug dosage forms that comprise a tablet or capsule containing a plurality of particles of a solid-state drug dispersed in a swellable/erodible polymer, such as poly(ethylene oxide) are described. Once ingested, the tablet or capsule disintegrates to disperse the particles within the stomach where they imbibe water to cause them to swell and promote retention in fed-mode-induced patients. As the gastric-retained dosage form gradually erodes, the drug is released in a controlled manner to the stomach for treatment of local disorders, and to the upper gastrointestinal tract where it becomes available for absorption in a controlled and therapeutic manner. Drug-containing vesicles, such as liposomes or nanoparticles or enteric-coated drug particles, can also be delivered to the gastrointestinal tract in a controlled manner using the gastric-retentive dosage forms of the present invention.