Patent ID: 8454997

Claim:
A solid pharmaceutical composition for parenteral administration comprising: an inner matrix comprising: at least one therapeutic agent, and a binder constituting at least 0.5% by weight of the composition and comprising a binding agent, wherein the binding agent is a carbohydrate and the binder forms an amorphous matrix with the components of the inner matrix; a biodegradable and water-impermeable coating covering at least 50% of the exterior surface of the inner matrix of said composition, the coating having a coating area and a coating thickness; at least one non-coated area on the exterior surface of the inner matrix of said composition; and a permeable coat over the at least one non-coated area, wherein the rate of release of the therapeutic agent can be controlled by the at least one non-coated area, wherein the release profile of the therapeutic agent can be controlled by at least one of the coating, the coating area, and the coating thickness to provide a release profile which is longer, more constant or longer and more constant than a release profile of a non-coated composition, and wherein said inner matrix disintegrates upon contact with animal tissue or tissue fluids and the solid pharmaceutical composition is of sufficient strength such that it is capable of parenteral administration by penetrating the epidermis or the mucosa of a patient by itself and without the assistance of a trocar or syringe.