Pharmaceutical compositions resistant to abuse

1. An abuse-resistant pharmaceutical composition comprising a shell resistant to physical tampering, the shell comprising an outer shell wall having an inner surface and an outer surface, the outer surface being a double curved surface,

wherein the shell extends from a first end to a second end, the shell having a length in the range of from 4 mm to 20 mm,

wherein the outer shell wall has a first opening at the first end and a second opening at the second end, the first opening and the second opening having an area in the range of from about 1 mm 2 to about 100 mm 2 , and

wherein the outer shell wall is of varying thickness and has a maximum thickness in a range of from 1 mm to about 10 mm, the outer shell wall being impermeable to water.

2. The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 1 , wherein the shell comprises one or more reinforcement elements extending from the inner surface of the outer shell wall.

3. The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 2 , wherein the one or more reinforcement elements comprises a first reinforcement wall.

4. The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 3 , wherein the first reinforcement wall is a plane wall.

5. The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 3 , wherein the first reinforcement wall is perpendicular to a first axis from the first end to the second end.

6. The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 3 , wherein the first reinforcement wall is parallel to a first axis extending from the first end to the second end.

7. The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 3 , wherein the first reinforcement wall has a thickness in a range of from 0.2 mm to 2 mm.

8. The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 3 , wherein the first reinforcement wall has one or more openings.

9. The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 2 , wherein the one or more reinforcement elements comprises a second reinforcement wall.

10. The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 9 , wherein the second reinforcement wall is a plane wall.

11. The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 9 , wherein the second reinforcement wall is perpendicular to a first axis extending from the first end to the second end.

12. The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 9 , wherein the second reinforcement wall is parallel to a first axis extending from the first end to the second end.

13. The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 9 , wherein the second reinforcement wall has a thickness in the range of from 0.2 mm to 2 mm.

14. The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 9 , wherein the first reinforcement wall and the second reinforcement wall are parallel.

15. The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 14 , wherein the first reinforcement wall and the second reinforcement wall extend in the same plane.

16. The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 9 , wherein the first reinforcement wall intersects the second reinforcement wall forming an angle between the first reinforcement wall and the second reinforcement wall.

17. The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 1 , wherein the shell defines a cavity extending from the first end to the second end.

18. The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 1 , wherein the shell defines a plurality of separated cavities extending from the first end to the second end.

19. The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 18 , wherein one or more of the cavities has a circular cross section perpendicular to a first axis extending from the first end to the second end.

20. The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 18 , wherein one or more of the cavities has an elliptical cross section perpendicular to a first axis extending from the first end to the second end.

21. The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 1 , wherein the outer surface of the shell has an elliptical cross section perpendicular to a first axis extending from the first end to the second end.

22. The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 1 , wherein the outer surface of the shell forms an arc, such as a circular arc, from the first end to the second end in a cross section along a first axis extending from the first end to the second end.

23. The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 1 , wherein the shell is made of a material comprising polylactic acid, and wherein the concentration of the polylactic acid is at least 50% w/w.

24. The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 1 , wherein the shell is made of a material comprising one or more of the following polymers: ethyl cellulose grade 20 and 100, cornpack 200, polycaprolactone, PEO 7000000, and/or polyhydroxybuturate.

25. The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 1 , wherein the shell is made of a material comprising one or more of the following plasticizers: cetostearyl alcohol, castor oil, dibutyl sebacate, polyethylene oxide, and/or poloxamer.

26. The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 1 , wherein the shell is made of a material comprising one polymer and the concentration of the polymer is from 5 to 100% w/w.

27. The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 1 , wherein the shell comprises a mixture of polymers and the total concentration of polymers included in the shell is from 70 to 100% w/w.

28. The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 1 , wherein the maximum length of the outer shell wall is 16 mm.