Patent ID: 7915227

Claim:
A pharmaceutical formulation suitable for parenteral administration comprising: (i) an amphiphilic drug selected from the group consisting of an anthracycline and an alkaloid; and (ii) a short-chain sphingolipid selected from compounds of the following formula: wherein: R 1 is independently: an O-linked saccharide group; or an O-linked polyhydric alcohol group; or: R 1 is independently: an O-linked (optionally N—(C 1-4 alkyl)-substituted amino)-C 1-6 alkyl-phosphate group; or an O-linked (polyhydric alcohol-substituted)-C 1-6 alkyl-phosphate group; R 2 is independently C 3-9 alkyl, and is independently unsubstituted or substituted; R 3 is independently C 7-19 alkyl, and is independently unsubstituted or substituted; R 4 is independently —H, —OH, or —O—C 1-4 alkyl; R N is independently —H or C 1-4 alkyl; the bond marked with an alpha (α) is independently a single bond or a double bond; if the bond marked with an alpha (α) is a double bond, then R 5 is —H; if the bond marked with an alpha (α) is a single bond, then R 5 is —H or —OH; the carbon atom marked (*) is independently in an R-configuration or an S-configuration; the carbon atom marked (**) is independently in an R-configuration or an S-configuration; with the proviso that when R 1 is an O-linked saccharide group which is derived from galactopyranose, then R 1 is D-galactopyranosyl-β1-; and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.