| abstract |
The present invention provides an orally administrable pharmaceutical dose unit of a size greater than 7 mm comprising a drug and an outer coating which is adapted to prevent release of said drug into the stomach or the small intestine when the pharmaceutical dose unit is in the presence of food. The present invention further provides an orally administrable pharmaceutical dose unit of a size greater than 7 mm which comprises a drug and an outer coating wherein the coating is made of a material that is soluble at pH values below 5.0 and is adapted to provide a separation of the pharmaceutical dose unit from co-administered food material. Preferably, the pharmaceutical dose unit is in the form of a coated tablet or capsule. Conveniently, the outer coating is a polymer. In addition, the invention relates to a method for separating an orally administrable pharmaceutical dose unit from co-administered food, and to the use of said pharmaceutical dose units in medicine. |