Aqueous drug delivery system

Abstract

Novel water stable pharmaceutical compositions, their liquid form oral pharmaceutical compositions and kits thereof, rehydration beverages containing these water stable pharmaceutical compositions methods of manufacture and methods of use thereof are disclosed. The novel aqueous delivery systems are useful, inter alia, as alternative pharmaceutical dosing agents to tablets, capsules and other forms of delivering medication to a mammalian host in need thereof.

1 .- 3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . A liquid form oral pharmaceutical composition; comprising:
 a water stable pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 7 ; and a pharmaceutically acceptable aqueous liquid medium.   
     
     
         5 . A kit, comprising:
 a. the liquid form oral pharmaceutical composition of  claim 7  in one or more containers; and   b. instructions for administering the liquid form oral pharmaceutical composition.   
     
     
         6 . A rehydration beverage composition, comprising:
 a water stable pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 7 ;   a pharmaceutically acceptable aqueous liquid medium; and   optionally at least one mineral or non-mineral nutritional supplement;
 wherein the aqueous medium comprises an isotonic solution. 
   
     
     
         7 . A water stable pharmaceutical gel composition comprising:
 a therapeutic agent; and   an off-flavor masking agent comprising a cyclodextrin;   in a water stable pharmaceutically acceptable gel matrix;   wherein:
 the water stable pharmaceutically acceptable gel matrix comprises a non-ion-specific gel comprising gellan; and 
 the therapeutic agent comprises an agent selected from the group consisting of: antacids, anti-anginals, anti-smoking formulations containing nicotine, anti-fungals, anti-anxiety agents, anti-depressants, anti-hypertensives, cardiac agents, diuretics, cholesterol reducing agents, upset stomach agents and lipid lowering drugs. 
   
     
     
         8 . A water stable pharmaceutical gel composition comprising:
 a therapeutic agent; and   an off-flavor masking agent comprising a cyclodextrin;   in a water stable pharmaceutically acceptable gel matrix;   wherein:
 the water stable pharmaceutically acceptable gel matrix comprises a non-ion-specific gel comprising gellan; and 
 the therapeutic agent comprises ibandronate sodium. 
   
     
     
         9 . A water stable pharmaceutical gel composition according to  claim 7 , wherein the therapeutic agent comprises an anti-anginal agent. 
     
     
         10 . A water stable pharmaceutical gel composition according to  claim 7 , wherein the anti-anginal therapeutic agent comprises amlodipin. 
     
     
         11 .- 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . A water stable pharmaceutical gel composition according to  claim 7 , wherein the therapeutic agent comprises an anti-fungal. 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . A water stable pharmaceutical gel composition according to  claim 7 , wherein the therapeutic agent comprises an anti-anxiety agent. 
     
     
         16 . A water stable pharmaceutical gel composition according to  claim 7 , wherein the therapeutic agent comprises an anti-depressant. 
     
     
         17 . A water stable pharmaceutical gel composition according to  claim 7 , wherein the therapeutic agent comprises an anti-hypertensive. 
     
     
         18 . A water stable pharmaceutical gel composition according to  claim 17 , wherein the anti-hypertensive therapeutic agent comprises amlodipin. 
     
     
         19 . A water stable pharmaceutical gel composition according to  claim 7 , wherein the therapeutic agent comprises a cardiac agent. 
     
     
         20 . A water stable pharmaceutical gel composition according to  claim 19 , wherein the cardiac agent comprises digoxin. 
     
     
         21 . A water stable pharmaceutical gel composition according to  claim 7 , wherein the therapeutic agent comprises a diuretic. 
     
     
         22 . A water stable pharmaceutical gel composition according to  claim 7 , wherein the therapeutic agent comprises a lipid lowering drug. 
     
     
         23 . A water stable pharmaceutical gel composition according to  claim 7 , wherein the therapeutic agent comprises an antacid. 
     
     
         24 .- 29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . A water stable pharmaceutical gel composition according to  claim 7 , wherein the therapeutic agent comprises a cholesterol reducing agent. 
     
     
         31 . A water stable pharmaceutical gel composition according to  claim 7 , wherein the therapeutic agent comprises an agent for treating upset stomach. 
     
     
         32 .- 34 . (canceled) 
     
     
         35 . A water stable pharmaceutical composition of any one of  claim 7 , wherein the gellan matrix is provided in the form of beads. 
     
     
         36 . A water stable pharmaceutical composition of  claim 35 , further comprising a bead shape retention compound. 
     
     
         37 . A water stable pharmaceutical composition of  claim 36 , wherein the shape retention compound is xanthan. 
     
     
         38 . A water stable pharmaceutical composition of any one of  claim 8 , wherein the gellan matrix is provided in the form of beads. 
     
     
         39 . A water stable pharmaceutical composition of  claim 38 , further comprising a bead shape retention compound. 
     
     
         40 . A water stable pharmaceutical composition of  claim 39 , wherein the shape retention compound is xanthan.