Pharmaceutical compositions and related methods of delivery

Abstract

The pharmaceutical compositions described herein include a suspension which comprises an admixture in solid form of a therapeutically effective amount of a therapeutic agent and at least one salt of a medium chain fatty acid and a hydrophobic medium, e.g. castor oil or glyceryl tricaprylate or a mixture thereof. The pharmaceutical compositions described herein contain medium chain fatty acid salts and are substantially free of alcohols. The pharmaceutical compositions may be encapsulated in a capsule. Methods of treating or preventing diseases by administering such compositions to affected subjects are also disclosed.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A method of treating a subject suffering from portal hypertension, comprising orally administering octreotide to the subject. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the subject suffers from variceal bleeding. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the variceal bleeding is associated with gastric and/or esophageal varices. 
     
     
         5 . A method of prophylactically treating a subject for variceal bleeding, which comprises orally administering octreotide to the subject. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the prophylaxis is primary. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the prophylaxis is secondary. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the variceal bleeding is associated with portal hypertension. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the variceal bleeding is associated with gastric and/or esophageal varices. 
     
     
         10 . A method of treating a subject suffering from abnormal GI motility, flushing episodes associated with carcinoid syndrome, an endocrine tumor, gastroparesis, diarrhea, pancreatic leak or a pancreatic pseudo-cyst, or hepato-renal syndrome, shock of hypovolemic or vasodilatory origin, cardiopulmonary resuscitation or anesthesia-induced hypotension, comprising orally administering octreotide to the subject. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the subject is suffering from hepato-renal syndrome (HRS). 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the hepato-renal syndrome (HRS) is HRS I. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the hepato-renal syndrome (HRS) is HRS II. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the subject also suffers from bleeding esophageal varices and/or bleeding gastric varices. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the subject also suffers from portal hypertension. 
     
     
         16 . The method of any one of  claims 2  to  15 , wherein the octreotide is administered once daily. 
     
     
         17 . The method of any one of  claims 2  to  15 , wherein the octreotide is administered twice or more daily.