Patent ID: 7041316

Claim:
A pharmaceutical dosage form for oral administration to human being or animal host which consists essentially of: (a) a core granulation formed by dry mixing, without using an aqueous granulation solution, an acid-unstable drug with an alkaline substance and a pharmaceutical excipient or excipients, wherein the core granulation is capable of being quantitatively filled into an empty hard gelatin capsule shell having an outer surface and an inner surface, wherein the hard gelatine capsule shell separates the core granulation from an enteric coating, and wherein the acid-unstable drug is omeprazole, sodium omeprazole, potassium omeprazole, lansoprazole, or a pharmaceutical salt of lansoprazole; and (b) the enteric coating being disposed on the outer surface of the hard gelatin capsule shell to prevent the release of the acid-unstable drug in the gastric environment and to deliver the acid-unstable drug in the intestinal environment, wherein the pharmaceutical dosage form has more than about 95% of the drug remaining after 11 months in ambient room temperature conditions.