Abstract: A carrier base material combined with a therapeutically active medicament and shaped and compressed to a solid unit dosage form having a regular and prolonged release pattern upon administration, the carrier base material being hydroxypropylmethylcellulose or a mixture of hydroxypropylmethylcellulose and up to 30% by weight of the mixture of ethylcellulose and/or up to 30% by weight of the mixture of sodium carboxymethylcellulose, and wherein the hydroxypropylmethylcellulose has a hydroxypropoxyl content of 9-12 weight % and a number average molecular weight of less than 50,000.

Abstract: Shaped pharmaceutical tablets, lozenges, suppositories and other solid dosage unit forms which have a prolonged and regular release pattern of a therapeutically active medicament incorporated therein, wherein the shaped dosage unit comprises a carrier base material of hydroxypropylmethylcellulose or a mixture thereof with up to 30% ethylcellulose and/or up to 30% sodium carboxymethylcellulose and wherein the carrier base material is subjected to hydrolysis and oxidation so as to generate thereon a desired minimum concentration of carbonyl and carboxyl groups, and then admixed and shaped with a therapeutically active medicament.