Acyclovir formulations

1. A solid oral pharmaceutical composition comprising (a) acyclovir and (b) a delivery agent of the formula

or a salt thereof, wherein:

Ar is 2-hydroxyphenyl or 2-hydroxynaphthyl;

Ar is optionally further substituted with one or more of —OH, halogen, C 1 -C 4 alkyl, C 1 -C 4 alkenyl, C 1 -C 4 alkoxy or C 1 -C 4 haloalkoxy;

R 7 is C 6 -C 10 alkyl; and

R 8 is hydrogen.

2. A pharmaceutical composition of claim 1 , wherein the delivery agent is selected from the group consisting of (8-[2-hydroxybenzoyl]-amino)caprylic acid, N-(10-[2-hydroxybenzoyl]-amino)decanoic acid or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

3. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 1 wherein the delivery agent is N-(8-[2-hydroxybenzoyl]-amino)caprylic acid or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

4. A dosage unit form comprising:

(A) the solid oral pharmaceutical composition of claim 1 ; and

(B)

(a) an excipient,

(b) a diluent,

(c) a disintegrant,

(d) a lubricant,

(e) a plasticizer,

(f) a colorant, or

(g) any combination thereof.

5. The dosage unit form of claim 4 , wherein the dosage unit form is in the form of a tablet, a capsule, a particle, a powder, a sachet, or a liquid.

6. The dosage unit form of claim 4 , wherein the dosing vehicle is a liquid selected from the group consisting of water, aqueous propylene glycol, phosphate buffer, 1,2-propane diol, ethanol, and any combination thereof.

7. A method for administering an effective amount of acyclovir a patient in need of thereof, comprising the step of orally administering the pharmaceutical composition of claim 1 .

8. A method of treating a viral infection in a patient in need thereof, comprising the step of orally administering to the patient an effective amount of the pharmaceutical composition of claim 1 .

9. A method of treating a condition or disorder caused by a virus in a patient in need thereof, comprising the step of orally administering an animal an effective amount of the pharmaceutical composition of claim 1 .

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the condition or disorder is caused by a virus selected from the group consisting of herpes simplex 1, herpes simplex 2, varicella zoster virus, cytomegalovirus and Epstein-Barr virus.

11. A method of improving the bioavailability of acyclovir in an animal in need thereof, the method comprising the step of orally administering a formulation of claim 1 .