Delayed prolonged drug delivery

1. A press-coated tablet formulation for a delayed, followed by a prolonged release of an active agent, the press-coated tablet formulation comprising:

(a) a core comprising the active agent together with a wax and optionally one or more fillers; and

(b) a delayed release layer surrounding the core and comprising a wax and a low substituted hydroxypropyl cellulose in a ratio of 20:80 to 50:50 w/w; wherein the delayed release layer delays release of the active agent within the core for between 2-8 hours after administration of the press-coated tablet formulation to a subject and thereafter a prolonged release of the active agent from the core occurs, such that the active agent in the core is continuously released over a period of 2 up to 8 hours and wherein the low substituted hydroxypropyl cellulose is micronised with a mean particle diameter of 20 μm and has a molecular weight of 115,000 and a hydroxypropyl content of 8%.

2. The press-coated tablet formulation according to claim 1 , further comprising:

(c) a top-coating layer comprising an active agent together with one or more excipients, wherein at least 70% of the active agent in the top-coating layer is released within 5-45 minutes following administration to the subject of the press-coated tablet formulation.

3. The press-coated tablet formulation according to claim 2 further comprising an amount of an active agent, which is the same or different to the active agent in the core and/or top-coating layer, in the delayed release layer.

4. The press-coated tablet formulation according to claim 2 wherein at least 80% of the active agent in the top-coating layer is released within 5-45 minutes following administration to the subject of the press-coated tablet.

5. The press-coated tablet formulation according to claim 4 , wherein at least 80% of the active agent in the top-coating layer is released within 10-30 minutes following administration to the subject of the press-coated tablet formulation.

6. The press-coated tablet formulation according to claim 2 , wherein at least 90% of the active agent in the top-coating layer is released within 5-45 minutes following administration to the subject of the press-coated tablet formation.

7. The press-coated tablet formulation according to claim 6 , wherein at least 90% of the active agent in the top-coating layer is released within 10-30 minutes following administration to the subject of the press-coated tablet formulation.

8. The press-coated tablet formulation according to claim 2 , wherein at least 70% of the active agent in the top-coating layer is released within 10-30 minutes following administration to the subject of the press-coated tablet formulation.

9. The press-coated tablet formulation according to claim 1 wherein the active agent is designed to treat cardiovascular conditions selected from the group consisting of hypertension, angina pectoris and cardiac arrhythmia.

10. The press-coated tablet formulation according to claim 9 wherein the press-coated tablet formulation comprises verapamil.

11. The press-coated tablet formulation according to claim 1 wherein the wax for use in the core and the delayed release layer is independently selected from beeswax, carnuba wax, microcrystalline wax, hydrogenated castor oil and a glyceryl ester.

12. The press-coated tablet formulation according to claim 11 wherein the glyceryl ester is glycerol behenate.

13. The press-coated tablet formulation according to claim 11 wherein the wax in the core and the delayed release layer is the same or different.

14. The press-coated tablet formulation according to claim 1 wherein the wax in the delayed release layer and the low substituted hydroxypropyl cellulose are present in a ratio of 25:75 to 40:60 w/w.

15. The press-coated tablet formulation according to claim 1 further comprising one or more pH-dependent, pH-independent, aesthetic or functional coatings.

16. The press-coated tablet formulation according to claim 15 wherein the coating is a gastro-resistant coating.

17. The press-coated tablet formulation according to claim 1 wherein the active agent in the core is continuously released over a period of 3-6 hours.

18. The press-coated tablet formulation according to claim 1 wherein less than 10% of the active agent within the core is released for between 2-8 hours after administration of the press-coated tablet formulation tablet to the subject.

19. The press-coated tablet formulation according to claim 18 wherein less than 5% of the active agent within the core is released for between 2-8 hours after administration of the press-coated tablet formulation tablet to the subject.

20. The press-coated tablet formulation according to claim 18 wherein less than 1% of the active agent within the core is released for between 2-8 hours after administration of the press-coated tablet formulation tablet to the subject.

21. The press-coated tablet formulation according to claim 1 , comprising one or more of the following active agents:

Antacids selected from the group consisting of aluminium hydroxide, magnesium carbonate, magnesium trisilicate, hydrotalcite, and simeticonealginates;

Antispasmodics selected from the group consisting of atropine sulphate, dicycloverine hydrochloride, hyoscine butylbromine, propantheline bromide, alverine citrate, and mebeverine hydrochloride;

Motility stimulants selected from the group consisting of metoclorpramide and domperidone;

H2-Receptor antagonists selected from the group consisting of Cimetidine, famotidinenizatidine, and ranitidine;

Antimuscarinics;

Chelates selected from the group consisting of Tripotassium dicitratbismuthate and sucralfate;

Prostaglandin analogues;

Aminosalicylates selected from the group consisting of balsazide sodium, mesalazine, olsalazine, and sulphasalazine;

Corticosteroids selected from the group consisting of beclometasone dipropionate, budenoside, hydrocortisone, and prednisolone;

Affecting immune response selected from the group consisting of ciclosporin, mercaptopurine, methotrexate, adalimumab, and infliximab;

Stimulant laxatives selected from the group consisting of bisacodyl, dantron, docusate, and sodium picosulfate;

Drugs affecting biliary composition and flow;

Bile acids sequestrants selected from the group consisting of colestyramine, Oxyphencyclimine, Camylofin, Mebeverine, Trimebutine, Rociverine, Dicycloverine, Dihexyverine, Difemerine, Piperidolate, Benzilone, Mepenzolate, Pipenzolate, Glycopyrronium, Oxyphenonium, Penthienate, Methantheline, Propantheline, Otilonium bromide, Tridihexethyl, Isopropamide, Hexocyclium, Poldine, Bevonium, Diphemanil, Tiemonium iodide, Prifinium bromide, Timepidium bromide, Fenpiverinium, Papaverine, Drotaverine, Moxaverine, 5-HT3 antagonists, 5-HT4 agonists, Fenpiprane, Diisopromine, Chlorbenzoxamine, Pinaverium, Fenoverine, Idanpramine, Proxazole, Alverine, Trepibutone, Isometheptene, Caroverine, Phloroglucinol, Silicones, Trimethyldiphenylpropylamine, Atropine, Hyoscyamine, Scopolamine, Butylscopolamine, Methylscopolamine, Methylatropine, Fentonium, Cimetropium bromide, and primarily dopamine antagonists;

Proton pump inhibitors selected from the group consisting of Omeprazole, lansoprazole, pantoprazole, esomeprazole, and rabeprazole sodium;

Opioids and opioid receptor antagonists;

Analgesics selected from the group consisting of Acetaminophen, Diclofenac, Diflunisal, Etodolac, Fenoprofen, Flurbiprofen, Ibuprofen, Indomethacin, Ketoprofen, Ketorolac, Meclofenamate, Mefenamic Acid, Meloxicam, Nabumetone, Naproxen, Oxaprozin, Phenylbutazone, Piroxicam, Sulindac, Tolmetin, Celecoxib, Buprenorphine, Butorphanol, Codeine, Hydrocodone, Hydromorphone, Levorphanol, Meperidine, Methadone, Morphine, Nalbuphine, Oxycodone, Oxymorphone, Pentazocine, Propoxyphene, and Tramadol;

Sleep drugs selected from the group consisting of Nitrazepam, Flurazepam, Loprazolam, Lormetazepam, Temazepam, Zaleplon, Zolpidem, Zopiclone, Chloral Hydrate, Triclofos, Clomethiazole, Quazepam, triazolam, Estazolam, Clonazepam, Alprazolam, Eszopiclone, Rozerem, Trazodone, Amitriptyline, Doxepin, Benzodiazepine drugs, melatonin, diphenhydramine, and herbal remedies;

Cardiac glycosides selected from the group consisting of Digoxin and digitoxin;

Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors selected from the group consisting of enoximone and milrinone;

Thiazides and related diuretics selected from the group consisting of bendroflumethiazide, chlortalidone, cyclopenthiazide, inapamide, metolazone, and xipamide;

Diuretics selected from the group consisting of furosemide, bumetanide, and torasemide;

Potassium sparing diuretics and aldosterone antagonists selected from the group consisting of amiloride hydrochloride, triamterene, weplerenone, and spironolactone;

Osmotic diuretics;

Drugs for arrhythmias selected from the group consisting of adenosine, amiodarone hydrochloride, disopyramide, flecainide acetate, propafenone hydrochloride, and lidocaine hydrochloride;

Beta adrenoreceptor blocking drugs selected from the group consisting of propranolol, atenolol, acebutolol, bisoprolol fumarate, carvedilol, celiprolol, esmolol, lebatolol, metoprolol tartrate, nadolol, nebivolol, oxprenolol, pindolol, solatol, and timolol;

Hypertension drugs selected from the group consisting of ambrisentan, bosentan, diazoxide, hydralazine, iloprost, minoxidil, sildenafil, sitaxentan, sodium nitroprus side, clonidine, methyldopa, moxonidine, guanethidine monosulphate, doxazosin, indoramin, prazosin, terazosin, phenoxybenzamine, and phentolamine mesilate;

Drugs affecting the renin-angiotensin system selected from the group consisting of Captropril, Cilazapril, Enalapril Maleate, Fosinopril, Imidapril, Lisinopril, Moexipril, Perindopril Erbumine, Quinapril, Ramipril, Trandolapril, Candesartan Cilexetil, Eprosartan, Irbesartan, Losartan, Olmesartan Medoxomil, Telmisartan, Valsartan, and Aliskiren;

Nitrates, calcium channel Blockers, and antianginal drugs selected from the group consisting of Glyceryl trinitrate, Isosorbide Dinitrate, Isosorbide Mononitrate, Amlodipine, Diltiazem, Felodipine, Isradipine, Lacidipine, Lercanidipine, Nicardipine, Nifedipine, Nimodipine, Verapamil, Ivabradine, Nicorandil, and Ranolazine;

Peripheral Vasodilators and related drugs selected from the group consisting of Cilostazol, Inositol Nicotinate, Moxisylyte, Naftidrofuryl Oxalate, and Pentoxifylline;

Sympathomimetics selected from the group consisting of Dopamine, Dopexamine, Ephedrine, Metaraminol, Noradrenaline Acid Tartrate, Norephidrine Bitartrate, and Phenylephidrine;

Anticoagulants and Protamine selected from the group consisting of Heparin, Bemiparin, Dalteparin, Enoxaparin, Tinzaparin, Danaparoid, Bivalirudin, Lepirudin, Epoprostenol, Fondaprinux, Warfarin, Acenocoumarol, Phenindione, Dabigatran Etexilate, Rivaroxaban, and Protamine Sulphate;

Antiplatelet Drugs selected from the group consisting of Abciximab, Asprin, Clopidogrel, Dipyridamole, Eptifibatide, Prasugrel, and Tirofiban;

Fibrinolytic and antifibrinolytic drugs selected from the group consisting of Alteplase, Reteplase, Streptokinase, Tenecteplase, Urokinase, Etamsylate, and Tranexamic Acid;

Lipid regulating drugs selected from the group consisting of Atorvastatin, Fluvastatin, Pravastatin, Rosuvastatin, Simvastatin, Colesevam, Colestyramine, Colestipol, Ezetimibe, Bezafibrate, Ciprofibrate, Fenofibrate, Gemfibrozyl, Acipmox, Nictotinic Acid, Omega three fatty acid compounds, Ethanolamine Oleate, and Sodium Tetradecyl Suphate;

CNS Drugs selected from the group consisting of Benperidol, Chlorpromazine, Flupentixol, Haloperidol, Levomepromazine, Pericyazine, Perphenazine, Pimozide, Prochlorperazine, Promazine, Sulpiride, Trifluoperazine, Zuclopenthixol, Amisulpride, Aripiprazole, Clozapine, Olanzapine, Paliperidone, Quetiapine, Riperidone, Sertindole, Zotepine, Flupentixol, Fluphenazine, Olanzapine Embonate, Pipotiazine Palmitate, Risperidone, Zuclopenthixol Decanoate, Carbamazepine, Valproate, Valproic acid, Lithium Carbonate, Lithium Citrate, Amitriptyline, Clomipramine, Dosulepin, Imipramine, Lofepramine, Nortriptyline, Trimipramine, mianserin, Trazodone, Phenelzine, Isocarboxazid, Tranylcypromine, Moclobemide, Citalopram, Escitalopram, Fluoxetine, Fluvoxamine, Paroxetine, Sertraline, Agomelatine, Duloxetine, Flupentixol, Mirtazapine, Reboxetine, Trytophan, Venflaxine, Atomoxetine, Dexametamine, Methylphenidate, Modafinil, Eslicarbazepine, Ocarbazepene, Ethosuximide, Gabapentin, Pregabalin, Lacosamide, Lamotrigine, Levetiracetam, Phenobarbital, Primidone, Phenytoin, Rufinamide, Tiagabine, Topiramate, Vigabatrin, Zonisamide, ropinirole, Rotigotine, Co-Beneldopa, Levodopa, Co-Careldopa, Rasagiline, Selegiline, Entacapone, Tolcapone, Amantidine, Orphenadrine, Procyclidine, Trihexyphenidyl, Haloperidol, Piracetam, Riluzole, Tetrabenazine, Acamprosate, Disulfiram, Bupropion, Vareniciline, Buprenorphine, Lofexidine, Donepezil, Galantamine, Memantine, and Rivastigimine;

Anti-Infectives selected from the group consisting of Benzylpenicillin, Phenoxymethylpenicillin, Flucloxacillin, Temocillin, Amoxicillin, Ampicillin, Co-Amoxiclav, Co-Fluampicil, Piperacillin, Ticarcillin, Pivmecillinam, Cephalosporins, Cefaclor, Cefadroxil, Cefalexin, Cefixime, Cefotaxime, Cefradine, Ceftazidime, Cefuroxime, Ertapenem, Imipenem, Meropenem, Aztreonam, Tetracycline, Demeclocycline, Doxocycline, Lymecycline, Minocycline, Oxytetracycline, Tigecycline, Gentamicin, Amikacin, Neomycin, Tobramycin, Erythromycin, Azithromycin, Clarithromycin, Telithromycin, Clindamycin, Chloramphenicol, Fusidic Acid, Vancomycin, Teicoplanin, Daptomycin, Linezolid, Quinupristin, Colistin, Co-Trimoxazole, Sulpadiazine, Trimethoprim, Capreomycin, Cycloserine, Ethambutol, Isoniazid, Pyrazinamide, Rifabutin, Rifampicin, Streptomycin, Dapsone, Clofazimine, Metronidazole, Tinidazole, Ciproflaxacin, Levoflaxacin, Moxifloxacin, Nalidixic Acid, Norflaxine, Orflaxacin, Nitrofurantoin, Methenamine Hippurate, Amphotericin, Anidulafungin, Caspofungin, Fluconazole, Flucytosine, Griseofluvin, Itraconzole, Ketoconazole, Micafungin, Nystatin, Posaconazole, Terbinafine, Voriconazole, Abacavir, Didanosine, Emtricitabine, Lamivudine, Stavudine, Tenofovir Disoproxil, Zidovudine, Atazanavir, Darunavir, Fosamprenavir, Indinavir, Lopinair, Nelfinavir, Ritonavir, Saquinavir, Tipranavir, Efavirenz, Etravirine, Nevarapine, Enfuvirtide, Maraviroc, Raltegravir, Aciclovir, Famciclovir, Inosine Pranobex, Valaciclovir, Cidofovir, Gangciclovir, Foscarnet, Valgangciclovir, Adefovir Dipivoxil, Entecavir, Telbivudine, Amantadine, Oseltamivir, Zanamivir, Palivizumab, Ribavirin, Artemether, Chloroquine, Mefloquine, Primaquine, Proguanil, Pyrimethamine, Quinine, Doxycyclin, Diloxanide Furoate, Metronidaziole, Tinidazole, Mepacrine, Sodium Stibogluconate, Atovaquone, Pentamidine Isetionate, Mebendazole, and Piperazine; and

other drugs selected from the group consisting of Benztropine, procyclidine, biperiden, Amantadine, Bromocriptine, Pergolide, Entacapone, Tolcapone, Selegeline, Pramipexole, budesonide, formoterol, quetiapine fumarate, olanzapine, pioglitazone, montelukast, Zoledromic Acid, valsartan, latanoprost, Irbesartan, Clopidogrel, Atomoxetine, Dexamfetamine, Methylphenidate, Modafinil, Bleomycin, Dactinomycin, Daunorubicin, Idarubicin, Mitomycin, Mitoxantrone, Azacitidine, Capecitabine, Cladribine, Clofarabine, Cytarabine, Fludarabine, Flourouracil, Gemcitabine, mercaptopurine, methotrexate, Nelarabine, Pemetrexed, Raltitrexed, Thioguanine, Apomorphine, Betamethasone, Cortisone, Deflazacort, Dexamethosone, Hydrocortisone, Methylprednisolone, Prednisolone, Triamcinolone, Ciclosporine, Sirolimus, Tacrolimus, Interferon Alpha, and Interferon Beta.

22. The press-coated tablet formulation according to claim 21 , comprising one or more of the following active agents:

pirenzepine, misoprostol, ursodeoxycholic acid, Alosetron, Cilansetron, Mosapride, Prucalopride, Tegaserod, Metoclopramide, Bromopride, Clebopride, Domperidone, Alizapride, Cinitapride, Cisapride, codeine, morphine, loperamide, diphenoxylate, methylnaltrexone bromide, Valerian, and mannitol.

23. A method of treating a cardiovascular condition, the method comprising administering the press-coated tablet formulation according to claim 1 to a subject in need thereof, wherein the active agent is a cardiovascular agent.

24. The method according to claim 23 wherein the cardiovascular agent is verapamil.