Modified release coated capsules

1. A capsule filled with a liquid material comprising a body, a cap and a gap therebetween, characterized in that said capsule body and capsule cap define a capsule shell, wherein said capsule shell is a gelatin shell and said capsule further comprises a band seal and a modified release coating applied to said capsule shell, further wherein said band seal is a gelatin band sealing the gap between said capsule body and capsule cap, and said modified release coating is an enteric coating that includes a film forming agent in an amount of ≤8.0 mg/cm 2 of the modified release coating, further wherein there is no pre-coating between said capsule shell and said modified release coating, further wherein said enteric coating renders said capsule resistant against stomach acid while completely releasing its liquid material contents under intestinal tract conditions.

2. The capsule according to claim 1 , wherein said film forming agent is selected from the group consisting of acrylate polymers, cellulose polymers, polyvinyl-based polymers and mixtures thereof.

3. The capsule according to claim 2 , wherein said film forming agent is selected from the group consisting of co-polymers of (meth)acrylic acid and a (meth)acrylic acid C 1-4 alkyl ester, cellulose acetate phthalate, cellulose acetate trimellitate, cellulose acetate succinate, hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose phthalate, hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose acetate succinate, carboxymethylethyl cellulose acetate butyrate, polyvinyl acetate phthalate, and mixtures thereof.

4. The capsule according to claim 3 , wherein said film forming agent is an anionic poly(methacrylic acid/methyl methacrylate) co-polymer having a pH threshold of 5.5, 6.0 or 7.

5. The capsule according to claim 1 , wherein the film forming agent is present in an amount ranging from about 1 mg/cm 2 to 8.0 mg/cm 2 of the modified release coating.

6. The capsule according to claim 1 , wherein the film forming agent is present in an amount ranging from about 2 mg to about 7 mg per cm 2 of the modified release coating.

7. The capsule according to claim 1 , wherein the modified release coating additionally comprises at least one excipient selected from the group consisting of plasticizers, anti-tacking agents, colourants, pigments, solubilizers, dispersion agents and surfactants.

8. The capsule according to claim 1 , wherein said liquid material comprises a nutritional ingredient and/or an active pharmaceutical ingredient.

9. The capsule according to claim 1 , further comprising one or more additional coatings.

10. A process for manufacturing a liquid-filled capsule according to claim 1 comprised of a body, a cap and a gap therebetween, wherein said process comprises the steps of (i) filling the capsule body with said liquid material, (ii) closing the capsule with said cap, (iii) sealing the gap between body and cap with a gelatin band and (iv) applying a modified release coating onto the capsule shell, wherein the modified release coating is an enteric coting that includes a film forming agent in an amount of ≤8.0 mg/cm 2 of the modified release coating, further wherein there is no pre-coating between said capsule shell and said modified release coating, further wherein said enteric coating renders said capsule resistant against stomach acid while completely releasing its liquid material contents under intestinal tract conditions.

11. The process according to claim 10 , wherein the modified release coating is applied onto the capsule shell in the form of an aqueous or non-aqueous liquid composition that includes the film forming agent.

12. A modified-release, liquid-filled, hard gelatin capsule comprising a capsule body and a capsule cap that together define a hard gelatin capsule shell filled with a liquid material, said capsule further comprising:

(a) a gelatin band that seals a gap disposed between said capsule body and said capsule cap, and

(b) a modified release enteric coating applied to said capsule shell;

wherein:

(i) said capsule is free from any pre-coating disposed between said capsule shell and said modified release enteric coating,

(ii) said liquid material comprises a nutritional ingredient and/or an active pharmaceutical ingredient,

(iii) said modified release enteric coating comprises at least one excipient selected from the group consisting of anti-tacking agents, colourants, pigments, solubilizers, dispersion agents and surfactants, and further includes a film forming agent that is present in an amount ranging from about 3.5 mg/cm 2 to about 6.0 mg/cm 2 of the modified release enteric coating, and

(iv) said enteric coating renders said capsule resistant against stomach acid while completely releasing its liquid material contents under intestinal tract conditions.

13. The capsule according to claim 12 , wherein said film forming agent has a pH threshold of about 5.5 to about 7.0.

14. The capsule according to claim 12 , wherein said modified release coating further comprises a polysaccharide colon targeting compound which is susceptible to attack by colonic bacteria, said compound selected from the group consisting of starch, amylose, amylopectine, chitosan, chondroitine sulfate, cyclodextrine, dextrane, pullulan, carrageenan, scleroglucan, chitin, curdulan, pectin, guar gum, xanthan gum and levan.