TARGETED DELIVERY OF DRUGS TO THE LOWER GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT

摘要

This invention relates to compositions for the treatment of certain diseases of the distal intestinal tract. Specifically, the invention relates to coated delivery vehicles such as nonporous microspheres, microscapsules, non-crosslinked porous beads or liposomes, for the sustained delivery of a therapeutically effective amount of an active agent. The composition is coated with a substance, e.g., a polysaccharide such as pectin, which is specifically attacked by intestinal bacteria to permit the release of the active agent in the distal intestinal tract, particularly the colon.