Snuff composition

1. A nicotine-cellulose combination for the preparation of a snuff composition for achievement of a fast onset of action of nicotine after application of the snuff composition to the oral cavity of a subject, wherein

i) the nicotine-cellulose combination is a solid material composed of a cellulose, which has sorbed an amount of nicotine in voids or pores within the cellulose,

ii) the concentration of the nicotine-cellulose combination in the composition is from 80% to 98% w/w,

iii) the concentration of nicotine in the composition is from about 0.1 to 10% w/w, and

iv) the composition, when subjected to an in vitro dissolution test, about 30% or more of the total content of nicotine is released within 30 minutes, and the in vitro dissolution test being in accordance with the method described herein under the heading “In vitro dissolution test”, subheading “Snuff”.

2. The composition of claim 1 wherein the composition has a high release rate so that when subjected to said in vitro dissolution test about 45% or more of the total content of nicotine is released within 30 minutes.

3. The composition of claim 1 wherein the nicotine-cellulose combination is enclosed in a membrane material.

4. The composition of claim 3 wherein the membrane is a natural, synthetic, semi-synthetic hydrophilic or hydrophobic membrane.

5. The composition of claim 3 wherein the membrane is made from one or more biocompatible and physiologically acceptable polymeric material.

6. The composition of claim 3 wherein the membrane material is selected from the group consisting of cellulose acetate and derivatives thereof, carboxymethyl cellulose, polycellulose ester, other cellulose derivatives including ethylcellulose, propylcellulose, polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl acetate, polymers of methacrylates and acrylates, natural rubber, polycarbonate, polyethylene terephthalate, polyester, polyamide and nylon.

7. The composition of claim 1 wherein the nicotine is nicotine (free base) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate, complex, or derivative thereof.

8. The composition of claim 1 wherein about 50% or more such as, e.g., about 60% or more, about 70% or more or about 75% or more of the total content of nicotine is released within 30 minutes when subjecting the composition to said in vitro dissolution test.

9. The composition of clam 1 wherein the composition—when subjected to said in vitro dissolution test—releases about 45% or more within 20 minutes.

10. The composition of claim 1 wherein the composition—when subjected to said in vitro dissolution test—releases about 20% or more within 10 minutes.

11. The composition of claim 1 wherein the composition is formulated for buccal administration.

12. The composition of claim 1 wherein the cellulose is a cellulose derived from a plant, an algae, a bacterium, a fungi, or combinations thereof.

13. The composition of claim 1 wherein the cellulose has a surface area of at least 0.7 m 2 /g.

14. The composition of claim 1 wherein the cellulose is a crystalline cellulose including a microcrystalline cellulose.

15. The composition of claim 14 wherein said microcrystalline cellulose is synthetic or semi-synthetic celluloses, or it is derived from natural celluloses.

16. The composition of claim 1 wherein the mean particle size of the cellulose is in a range of from about 15 to about 250 μm.

17. The composition of claim 1 wherein the mean particle size of the microcrystalline cellulose is at the most about 500 μm.

18. The composition of claim 1 wherein nicotine is present in the composition in a concentration from about from about 0.1% w/w to about 8% w/w calculated as free base.

19. The composition of claim 1 wherein the nicotine-cellulose combination is present in a concentration from about 85% w/w to about 98% w/w.

20. The composition of claim 1 wherein the composition further Comprises one or more sweeteners in a concentration from about 0.01% w/w to about 0.2% w/w.

21. The composition of claim 1 wherein the composition further comprises one or more flavouring agents.

22. The composition of claim 21 wherein the concentration of the one or more flavouring agents in the composition is from about 1% w/w to about 15% w/w.

23. The composition of claim 21 wherein the composition further comprises one or more buffering agents.

24. The composition of claim 23 wherein the concentration of the one or more buffering agents in the composition is from about 0.1% w/w to about 5% w/w.

25. A snuff composition comprising a nicotine-cellulose combination and one or more acceptable excipients, wherein

i) the nicotine-cellulose combination is a solid material composed of a cellulose, which has sorbed an amount of nicotine in voids or pores within the cellulose,

ii) the concentration of the nicotine-cellulose combination in the composition is from 80% to 98% w/w,

iii) the concentration of nicotine in the composition is from about 0.1 to 10% w/w, and

iv) the composition, when subjected to an in vitro dissolution test, about 30% or more of the total content of nicotine is released within 30 minutes, and the in vitro dissolution test being in accordance with the method described herein under the heading “In vitro dissolution test”, subheading “Snuff”.

26. A snuff composition according to claim 25 wherein the composition when subjected to said in vitro dissolution test releases about 45% or more of the total content of nicotine within 30 minutes.

27. A snuff composition according to claim 26 wherein the nicotine-cellulose combination is enclosed in a membrane material.

28. A snuff composition according to claim 27 wherein the membrane is a natural, synthetic, semi-synthetic hydrophilic or hydrophobic membrane.