| abstract |
The invention relates to the oral delivery of peptide and protein pharmaceuticals using the vitamin B12 (VB12) uptake system, with the delivery being amplified using polymers. More particularly, the invention concerns a complex having the general formula: (V - Q)n - P - (Q' - A)m where, V is a carrier which will bind to natural intrinsic factor (IF) selected from vitamin B12 or an analogue thereof, n is the molar substitution ratio of V in the complex, and is a number from 1.0 to about 10, P is a pharmaceutically acceptable polymer, A is a pharmaceutically active substance, m is the molar substitution ratio of A in the complex, and is a number greater than 1.0 to about 1000, Q and Q' are independently a covalent bond, or a spacer compound linking V, P and A by covalent bonds. |