Patent ID: 7670617

Claim:
A pharmaceutical composition comprising an active ingredient in a dosage form comprising a first portion, a second portion and means for sequential release of said first portion and said second portion at a desired site within a subject; wherein the desired site is one of the duodenum, jejunum, ileum, large intestine, caecum, colon, rectum, vagina, nasal cavity, esophagus, stomach, buccal region, oral cavity, and sublingual region; said first portion comprising one or more first pH-adjusting substance for adjusting a localized environment of said active ingredient at said desired site to promote dissolution of said active ingredient; said second portion comprising one or more second pH-adjusting substance for adjusting said localized environment of said active ingredient at said desired site to promote absorption of said active ingredient; and wherein said means for sequential release comprise means for sequentially controlling the activity of said pH-adjusting substances so that said first pH-adjusting substance attains peak activity in the localized environment of the active ingredient before said second pH-adjusting substance attains peak activity in the localized environment, whereby the localized environment of the active ingredient attains a first pH and then a second pH; wherein said means for sequentially controlling the activity of said pH-adjusting substances comprises at least one coating that surrounds said second pH-adjusting substance; said first pH-adjusting substance being peripheral to said coating; and wherein said active ingredient is peripheral to said coating in said dosage form.