Abstract: Enterically administrable diagnostic compositions for investigating alimentary functions comprising multiple units of a size of at the most 5 mm, preferably between 0.5 and 1.3 mm, in particular between 0.7 and 1.0 mm, each unit comprising a tracer substance binding agent (such as an ion exchange resin) with which a radioactive tracer substance with a half-life of at the most 5 days, in particular .sup.99m Tc, .sup.113m ln, .sup.111 ln and .sup.129 Cs, is associated. The tracer substance binding agent is being formulated with pharmaceutically acceptable excipients, in particular granulating excipients, in such a way that the exposure of the gastrointestinal mucosa to the tracer substance binding agent is reduced and that the units do not disintegrate during the passage through the gastrointestinal tract.

Abstract: A pharmaceutical oral controlled release multiple-units formulation in which individual units comprise cross-sectionally substantially homogeneous cores containing particles of a sparingly soluble active substance, the cores being coated with a coating which is substantially resistant to gastric conditions, but which is erodable under the conditions prevailing in the small intestine, in particular an enteric coating which is substantially insoluble at a pH below 7 such as Eudragit.RTM.

Abstract: A controlled release multiple-units drug dose is described, which comprises a tablet or a capsule enclosing a plurality of subunits, each containing a therapeutically active agent and being enclosed in an insoluble membrane allowing for diffusion of the juices of the gastrointestinal tract, at least some of the subunits being of increased specific weight as compared with the specific weight of the active agent.