Patent ID: 7704526

Claim:
A sustained-release composition for oral administration of a drug selected from the group consisting of nifedipine and lovastatin, comprising the drug, a carrier for sustained release of the drug and a gel hydration accelerator, said composition being delivered to the gastrointestinal tract where the drug is released at a constant rate following zero order kinetics over a period of 24 hours or more, wherein the weight ratio of the drug: the carrier for sustained release of the drug: the gel hydration accelerator is in the range of 1:3 to 30:0.1 to 15; the carrier is a mixture of sodium alginate and xanthan gum having a weight ratio of 1:1 to 10; and the gel hydration accelerator is a mixture of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose and propylene glycol alginate having a weight ratio of 1:0.05 to 20.