主权项 |
1. A unitary pharmaceutical dosage form comprising:
(a) a therapeutically effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition which self-micellizes upon contact with an aqueous medium to form spherical micelles which have an average diameter of from about 1 μm to about 10 μm, and provide for absorption of omega-3 fatty acid esters substantially free of any food effect containing at least one Omega-3 fatty acid ester selected from the group consisting of (5Z,8Z,11Z,14Z,17Z)-eicosa-5,8,11,14,17-pentaenoic acid (EPA) ethyl ester, (4Z,7Z,10Z,13Z,16Z,19Z)-docosa-4,7,10,13,16,19-hexaenoic acid (DHA) ethyl ester, and a mixture of EPA and DHA ethyl esters, and at least one surface active agent;
wherein, when the EPA ethyl ester and the DHA ethyl ester are in combination, the ratio of EPA:DHA ethyl ester is a ratio encompassed within the ratios of from about 1:2 to about 2:1; from about 1:1 to about 2:1, from about 2:1 to about 3.4:1; and from more than 2:1 to not more than 3.4:1, and wherein said EPA and DHA ethyl esters combined comprise from 40%-95% of the total Omega-3 fatty acid esters in said pharmaceutical composition; andwherein said at least one surface active agent comprises, in combination, at least one non-ionic polyoxyethylene glycol sorbitan alkyl ester (a polysorbate) selected from the group consisting of polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monolaurate (polysorbate 20), polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monopalmitate (polysorbate 40), polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monostearate (polysorbate 60) and polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monooleate (polysorbate 80); anda block copolymer of polyethylene glycol and polypropylene glycol having the formula [(HO(C2H4O)64(C3H6O)37(C2H4O)64H] (Poloxamer 237);wherein said at least one polysorbate is present in an amount within the range of about 15% (wt/wt) to about 31% (wt/wt); andsaid Poloxamer 237 is present in an amount within the range of about 0.5% (wt/wt) to about 5% (wt/wt);wherein said pharmaceutical composition is free of active ingredients other than omega-3 fatty acid esters; and wherein said pharmaceutical composition, when administered to a human at equal dosage strengths, provides for substantially the same bioavailability when administered with or without food to said human in need of such administration; and (b) a therapeutically effective amount of at least one non-Omega-3 fatty acid ester lipid-lowering medicament, at least one non-Omega-3 fatty acid ester cholesterol-lowering medicament, or combinations thereof;
wherein said pharmaceutical composition is encapsulated into a plurality of capsules and said plurality of capsules and said medicament are together incorporated into said unitary pharmaceutical dosage form. |