Solid pharmaceutical dosage forms comprising bisphosphonates and modified amino acid carriers

The present invention provides novel solid pharmaceutical dosage forms for oral administration comprising a bisphosphonate, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, which bisphosphonate is present in an amount not therapeutically effective when the bisphosphonate is orally administered alone, and a modified amino acid carrier, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, which modified amino acid carrier is present in an amount effective to facilitate absorption of the bisphosphonate in the gastrointestinal tract such that the bisphosphonate is therapeutically effective. The ratio of bisphosphonate to modified amino acid carrier is from about 1:30 to about 1:1, respectively. These novel solid pharmaceutical dosage forms are useful in the treatment or control of bone diseases and particular disorders in calcium metabolism, including, for example, osteoporosis, hypercalcaemia of cancer, and the treatment of metastatic bone pain. The present invention also provides a method for treating these diseases employing the solid pharmaceutical dosage forms and a method for preparing the pharmaceutical dosage forms.