MESALAMINE SUPPOSITORY

1 . A mesalamine rectal suppository comprising mesalamine, a suppository base, at least one surfactant and at least one mucoadhesive agent.

2 . The mesalamine rectal suppository of claim 1 , wherein the suppository comprises:

from about 0.5% w/w to about 5% w/w of the mucoadhesive agent; and

from about 0.2% w/w to up to 2% w/w of surfactant.

3 . The mesalamine rectal suppository of claim 2 , wherein the suppository comprises from about 0.5% w/w to up to 2% w/w of the mucoadhesive agent.

4 . The mesalamine rectal suppository of claim 1 , wherein the mesalamine has a mean particle size of less than 120 microns.

5 . The mesalamine rectal suppository of claim 1 , wherein 30% to 60% of the total amount of mesalamine in the suppository has a mean particle size of less than 100 microns.

6 . The mesalamine rectal suppository of claim 1 , wherein 40% to 70% of the total amount of mesalamine in the suppository has a mean particle size of less than 20 micron.

7 . The mesalamine rectal suppository of claim 1 , wherein the suppository has a drug load ranging from about 30% to about 65%.

8 . The mesalamine rectal suppository of claim 1 , wherein the suppository comprises from about 450 to about 2,000 mg of mesalamine.

9 . The mesalamine rectal suppository of claim 1 , wherein the surfactant is selected from the group consisting of disodium laurenth sulfosuccinate; polysorbates;

polyoxyethylene derivatives of natural or hydrogenated vegetable oils; polyoxyethylene-sorbitan fatty acid esters; alkyl/dialykyl sulfate, sulfonate or sulfosuccinate salts;

polyoxyethylene fatty acid esters; phospholipids; transesterification products of natural vegetable oil triglycerides and polyalkylene polyols; sorbitan fatty acid esters;

pentaerythritol fatty acid esters; and polyoxyethylene glycol alkyl ethers and esters; and

mixtures thereof.

10 . The mesalamine rectal suppository of claim 1 , wherein the mucoadhesive agent is selected from the group consisting of polycarbophil, carbopol, sodium alginate, hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose, natural gums, lecithins, pectin, ammonia alginate, calcium alginate, potassium alginate, propylene glycol alginate, agar, gum arabic, gum karaya, locust bean gum, tragacanth, carrageenans, guar, xanthan, and scleroglucan, and mixtures thereof.

11 . The mesalamine rectal suppository of claim 1 , wherein the suppository base is selected from the group consisting of theobroma oil, cocoa butter, oily or fatty base, glycerides of fatty acids, and glycerol-gelatin bases.

12 . The mesalamine rectal suppository of claim 12 , wherein the suppository base is oily or fatty base.

13 . The mesalamine rectal suppository of claim 1 , wherein the suppository base is devoid of polyethylene glycol.

14 . The mesalamine rectal suppository of claim 1 , wherein the suppository is a moulded suppository.

15 . The rectal suppository of claim 1 , wherein the suppository includes mesalamine as the sole active ingredient and consists essentially of a suppository base, at least one surfactant and at least one mucoadhesive agent to deliver the active ingredients.

16 . The rectal suppository of claim 1 , wherein the suppository consists of mesalamine and one or more of a local anaesthetic agent, a corticosteroid, and an immunosuppressant as the active ingredients and consists essentially of a suppository base, at least one surfactant and at least one mucoadhesive agent to deliver the active ingredients.

17 . The rectal suppository of claim 1 , wherein the suppository consists of mesalamine and one or more of a local anaesthetic agent, a corticosteroid, and an immunosuppressant as the active ingredients and consists of a suppository base, at least one surfactant and at least one mucoadhesive agent to deliver the active ingredients.

18 . A rectal suppository consisting essentially of an aminosalicylate and one or more of a local anaesthetic agent, a corticosteroid, and an immunosuppressant as the active ingredients and consisting essentially of a suppository base, at least one surfactant and at least one mucoadhesive agent to deliver the active ingredients and have a melting point that is less than about 37° C., wherein:

the aminosalicylate is present in a first portion and a second portion, the first portion being micronized and having a first particle size, the second portion being non-micronized and having a second particle size, and the first particle size and the second particle size are different;

the suppository base comprises a hard fat;

the suppository has a total weight between about 2,000 and about 3,000 mg and a drug load from about 30% to about 65% of the total weight of the suppository; and

the suppository contains from about 0.5% w/w to about 5% w/w of the mucoadhesive agent, from about 0.2% w/w to about 2% w/w of the surfactant, from about 450 to about 2,000 mg of the aminosalicylate, and about 5 to about 100 mg of the local anaesthetic agent, the corticosteroid, or the immunosuppressant.

19 . A method of treating active ulcerative proctitis in a patient in need thereof comprising administering the mesalamine rectal suppository of claim 1 to the patient.

20 . A method of manufacturing the mesalamine rectal suppository of claim 1 , which method comprises the steps of:

(a) melting of hard fat in a suitable vessel fitted with a high shear mixer and a heating/cooling jacket;

(b) addition of the surfactant to step (a);

(c) addition of the mucoadhesive agent to step (b);

(d) addition of the mesalamine to step (c);

(e) cooling the mixture of step (d);

(f) transferring the mixture of step (e) into a suppository moulding machine hopper; and

(g) filling the mixture of step (f) into the suppository mould, cooling and cutting into suitable strips.