Abstract: Polymers from ethylenically unsaturated monomers, cross-linked by a substituted divinylazobenzene are useful as pharmaceutical compositions for the delivery of medicaments. The polymers are degraded by the enzymes of the upper gastrointestinal tract or are transferred intact past the upper gastrointestinal tract, to deliver the medicament to the large intestine. In particular, the polymers contain divinylazobenzene compounds of the formulae ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are independently selected from the group consisting of H, (except that R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are not both H), Cl, Br, I, NO.sub.2, NH.sub.2, RO, ArO, COOH or salts thereof, COOR, COOAr, CHO, COR, SO.sub.3 H or salts thereof, R or Ar and wherein R is alkyl of up to 18 carbon atoms and Ar is mono- or bicyclic aryl of up to 15 carbon atoms.

Abstract: Polymers from ethylenically unsaturated monomers, cross-linked by a substituted or unsubstituted divinylazobenzene are useful as carriers or capsules for medicaments, which are degraded by the enzymes of the upper gastrointestinal tract or which must be transferred intact past the upper gastrointestinal tract, to deliver the medicament to the large intestine.Polymers containing monomeric units of the formulaH.sub.2 C.dbd.CH--C.sub.6 H.sub.4 --N.dbd.N--M,wherein M is the residue of an amino-containing medicament, are useful as carriers for therapeutic agents or as therapeutic agents per se.