Delayed release pharmaceutical composition of mesalamine

1. A delayed release pharmaceutical composition of mesalamine consisting of: (a) granules, consisting of mesalamine or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof and a hydrophilic polymer; (b) extragranular excipients selected from the group consisting of hydrophilic polymers, glidants, lubricants, diluents and disintegrants; and (c) a single layer coating comprising at least one polymer and one or more pharmaceutically acceptable excipients.

2. The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 1 , wherein the hydrophilic polymer in the granules is selected from the group consisting of water-soluble polymers and water-swellable polymers.

3. The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 2 , wherein the hydrophilic polymer is present in a concentration of about 0.5% to about 15% by total weight of the composition.

4. The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 1 , wherein the composition is a tablet or capsule.

5. The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one polymer in the single layer coating comprises an enteric polymer.

6. The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 5 , wherein the enteric polymer is selected from the group consisting of cellulose acetate phthalate, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose acetate phthalate, polyvinyl acetate phthalate, hydroxy propyl phthalate, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose phthalate (HPMC phthalate), hydroxypropyl methylcellulose acetate succinate; methacrylic acid/methyl methacrylate copolymers of Type A, Type B and mixtures thereof.

7. The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 6 , wherein the enteric polymer is a mixture of copolymer of poly(methacrylic acid, methyl methacrylate) 1:1 and poly(methacrylic acid, methyl methacrylate) 1:2.

8. The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 7 , wherein the ratio of enteric polymers may vary from 1:1 to 1:4.

9. The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 1 wherein the composition is prepared by a process comprising the steps of:

a) granulating mesalamine or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof with a hydrophilic polymer;

b) blending the granules obtained in step a) with other pharmaceutically acceptable excipients selected from the group consisting of hydrophilic polymers, glidants, lubricants, diluents, and disintegrants;

c) compressing the blend into suitable sized tablets or filling into suitable sized solid dosage forms; and

d) coating the dosage form with a single layer coating comprising at least one polymer and one or more pharmaceutically acceptable excipients to obtain desired pharmaceutical composition.

10. The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more pharmaceutically acceptable excipients in the single layer coating is selected from the group consisting of plasticizers, opacifiers, and coloring agents.