Prolonged release pharmaceutical composition

1. An injectable pharmaceutical composition comprising a cefquinome and a prolonged release vehicle, wherein the prolonged release vehicle comprises a mixture of an oil and aluminium distearate.

2. A composition according to claim 1 comprising the aluminium distearate in an amount of 1.0 to 4.0% by weight.

3. A composition according to claim 2 comprising the aluminium distearate in an amount of 2.5 to 3.5% by weight.

4. A composition according to claim 1 , wherein the oil is a medium chain triglyceride or a mixture of medium chain triglycerides.

5. A composition according to claim 4 , wherein the oil is a polyethylene glycol di-ester of saturated fatty acids having a chain length of 8 to 10 carbon atoms.

6. A composition according to claim 1 comprising 2.0 to 20.0% by weight of a cefquinome.

7. A composition according to claim 6 comprising 7.5 to 10.0% by weight of a cefquinome.

8. A composition according to claim 7 , wherein the cefquinome is cefquinome sulphate.

9. A process for preparing a pharmaceutical composition as defined in claim 1 , comprising the steps of mixing the oil and the aluminium distearate to create the prolonged release vehicle and suspending the cefquinome in the prolonged release vehicle.

10. A process according to claim 9 , wherein the aluminium distearate is added to the oil under gentle stirring and heating to form the prolonged release vehicle and the mixture is allowed to cool before adding the cefquinome.

11. A method for treating or preventing an infectious disease in an animal comprising administering an effective amount of a cefquinome in a single dose in a prolonged release vehicle comprising a mixture of an oil and aluminium distearate.

12. A method for treating or preventing a gram positive or grain negative bacterial infection comprising administering an effective amount of a cefquinome in a prolonged release vehicle comprising a mixture of an oil and aluminium distearate.