The present invention is directed to protocells for specific targeting of hepatocellular and other cancer cells which comprise a nanoporous silica core with a supported lipid bilayer; at least one agent which facilitates cancer cell death (such as a traditional small molecule, a macromolecular cargo (e.g. siRNA or a protein toxin such as ricin toxin A-chain or diphtheria toxin A-chain) and/or a histone-packaged plasmid DNA disposed within the nanoporous silica core (preferably supercoiled in order to more efficiently package the DNA into protocells) which is optionally modified with a nuclear localization sequence to assist in localizing protocells within the nucleus of the cancer cell and the ability to express peptides involved in therapy (apoptosis/cell death) of the cancer cell or as a reporter, a targeting peptide which targets cancer cells in tissue to be treated such that binding of the protocell to the targeted cells is specific and enhanced and a fusogenic peptide that promotes endosomal escape of protocells and encapsulated DNA. Protocells according to the present invention may be used to treat cancer, especially including hepatocellular (liver) cancer using novel binding peptides (c-MET peptides) which selectively bind to hepatocellular tissue or to function in diagnosis of cancer, including cancer treatment and drug discovery.

The present invention relates to oral dosage forms comprising Memantine or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, pharmaceutical formulations comprising the oral dosage forms, and methods for treating mild, moderate or severe Alzheimer's dementia, or neuropathic pain comprising the oral dosage forms and formulations.

A composition includes a therapeutically effective pharmaceutical dosage form including a plurality of individual particulates. The individual particulates respectively have: a core including an active ingredient combination of an L-carnitine and a nootropic substance and a release controlling polymer over the core that substantially prevents release of the active ingredients in stomach acid and permits release of the active ingredients in an intestinal pH environment. The composition may be used to treat conditions associated with a reduction of the amount of L-carnitine in the body and/or cognitive impairment.

The invention relates to a controlled release pharmaceutical composition, comprising a core, comprising a pharmaceutical active ingredient, whereby the core is coated by an ethanol resistance conferring coating layer which has the effect of conferring the release profile of the pharmaceutical active ingredient to be resistant against the influence of ethanol, whereby the ethanol resistance conferring coating layer comprises at least 70% by weight of a mixture of a polymeric portion a) and an excipients portion b), with the polymeric portion a) is consisting of a water insoluble essentially neutral vinyl polymer or vinyl copolymer and the excipients portion b) is consisting of the excipients b1) 100 to 250% by weight of a non-porous inert lubricant, b2) 1 to 35% by weight of a cellulosic compound, b3) 0.1 to 25% by weight of an emulsifier and additionally or alternatively to b3), b4) 0.1 to 30% by weight of a plasticizer whereby the excipients of the excipients portion b) are each calculated on the dry weight of the polymer portion a).

The present invention relates to an andrographolide enteric targeting micropellet and method for preparation thereof; furthermore, the present invention also relates to uses of andrographolide and andrographolide enteric targeting micropellets in the preparation of a pharmaceutical for treatment of inflammatory bowel disease.

The present invention provides an enteric-coated hemoglobin multiparticulate comprising a core, a hemoglobin formulation coating, an inner or sub-coating, and an enteric coating. The present invention also provides a method of preparing said enteric-coated hemoglobin multiparticulate. The present invention further provides a method for treating various diseases caused by oxygen deficiency comprising administering to a subject said enteric-coated hemoglobin multiparticulate in order to orally deliver the encapsulated hemoglobin-based oxygen carriers to a specific target of said subject in a controlled release manner.

Methods of using low dose naltrexone to treat chronic pain in a patient. The methods of using low dose naltrexone to treat chronic pain generally includes administering to the patient a first amount of naltrexone in an immediate-release agent and a second amount of naltrexone in a modified-release agent.

Disclosed herein are core-shell particles and process for preparing the same. The core-shell particles include a functional core, a multilayer or porous shell surrounding the functional core and polymeric tails extending from the shell. The functional core includes an antimicrobial agent or an antitumor agent. Also disclosed herein are pharmaceutical or health care compositions containing the core-shell particles.

The invention provides a method of inducing satiety in a subject comprising a step of orally administering a composition comprising an effective amount of a first agent capable of inducing satiety and of a second agent capable of augmenting the satiety-inducing effect of the first agent. Also disclosed are compositions for carrying out the method and a body weight management system comprising such compositions in combination with a device configured for the collection, storage and/or display of information relating to a subject's response to a predefined therapeutic regimen of orally administering the composition.

The present invention features palatable pharmaceutical compositions including sodium phenylbutyrate and methods for the treatment of inborn errors of metabolism (e.g., Maple Syrup Urine Disease or Urea Cycle Disorders), neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson's disease, spinal muscular atrophy, dystonia, or inclusion-body myositis with such compositions.