Pharmaceutical capsule compositions and structures for gastric sensitive materials
First Claim
1. A pharmaceutical capsule blank adapted for oral administration of gastric-sensitive therapeutic agents, said capsule blank fabricated from a composition comprising a substantially homogeneous and gastric-fluid impervious composition comprising from about 10 to 50 percent by weight of procollagen, from about 40 to 96 percent by weight of at least one material selected from the group consisting of collagen and elastin, and less than 4 weight percent fat and albumin derived from said collagen or elastin source.
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Abstract
This invention provides oral dosage forms of therapeutic agents such as digestive enzymes which are subject to degradation and loss of activity at gastric pH. and compositions and methods for preparing same. Capsules of their components are formulated from a composition comprising a plastic homogeneous mass of gastric fluid impervious material such as cellulosic derivatives or collagenous material; from 10-65% by weight of a diluent selected from the group consisting of water, a lipid having a melting point above mammalian body temperature and a water miscible solvent; 4-60% by weight of procollagen; and 30-86% by weight of collagen or elastin. The composition is formed into finished capsules of relatively homogeneous composition comprising 10-50% by weight of procollagen and 40-96% by weight of a material selected from the group consisting of collagen and elastin, and having less than 4% by weight of fat and water-soluble protein. Prior art pH dependent enteric coat materials such as cellulose acetate phthalate may be incorporated at a level of 1.0-40%. At time of oral administration, an activator capable of dissolving the capsule wall is allowed to contact the interior surface of the capsule. In the case of cellulosic composition outer walls, cellulose or a non-enzymatic alkaline buffer is applied, and a proteolytic enzyme is employed to dissolve collagenous materials.
93 Citations
19 Claims
- 1. A pharmaceutical capsule blank adapted for oral administration of gastric-sensitive therapeutic agents, said capsule blank fabricated from a composition comprising a substantially homogeneous and gastric-fluid impervious composition comprising from about 10 to 50 percent by weight of procollagen, from about 40 to 96 percent by weight of at least one material selected from the group consisting of collagen and elastin, and less than 4 weight percent fat and albumin derived from said collagen or elastin source.
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5. A pharmaceutical capsule adapted for oral administration of a gastric-sensitive therapeutic agent, said capsule comprising an outer housing, said housing containing a first chamber, said first chamber filled with a therapeutically effective amount of said therapeutic agent;
- a second chamber, said second chamber containing an activator material capable of dissolving said capsule;
said second chamber being contiguous to said housing, said housing comprising 10 to 50 percent by weight of procollagen, 40-96 weight percent of a material selected from the group consisting of collagen and elastin, and containing less than 4 weight percent fat or protein derived from said collagen or elastin. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
- a second chamber, said second chamber containing an activator material capable of dissolving said capsule;
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9. A composition of matter suitable for fabrication into housings for oral unit dosage forms of gastric-sensitive medicaments comprising:
- a plastic homogeneous mass of from 40 to 96 weight percent of collagen or elastin having substantially all naturally occurring lipids and water-soluble protein removed therefrom;
from about 10-50 weight percent of procollagen; and
sufficient diluent to render said mass pliable for fabrication. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
- a plastic homogeneous mass of from 40 to 96 weight percent of collagen or elastin having substantially all naturally occurring lipids and water-soluble protein removed therefrom;
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12. A pharmaceutical oral unit dosage form for administering gastric-sensitive materials to a mammalian host comprising:
- a capsule having a resilient outer wall which is impervious to gastric fluids, said outer wall defining a first chamber adapted to house a therapeutically effective amount of a gastric sensitive medicament;
said unit dosage form further including pharmaceutically acceptable activator fluid contained within said capsule, said fluid causing digestion of said capsule wall on a timed basis so as to release said gastric-sensitive medicament into the lower intestinal tract. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
- a capsule having a resilient outer wall which is impervious to gastric fluids, said outer wall defining a first chamber adapted to house a therapeutically effective amount of a gastric sensitive medicament;
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16. A pharmaceutically acceptable oral unit dosage composition which is substantially homogeneous and gastric-fluid impervious comprising from about 10% to 50% procollagen by weight and at least 40% by weight of at least one material selected from the group consisting of collagen and elastin, substantially free of native fat and water-soluble protein.
- 17. A method of administering a therapeutically effective amount of a gastric-sensitive medicament to a patient in need of said treatment comprising orally administering said medicament to said patient in a housing which is impervious to gastric fluid, said unit dosage form including an activator which dissolves said housing at a pre-determined time so as to predictably release said medicament into the intestinal tract of said patient.
Specification