Abstract: One aspect of the invention relates to a pharmaceutical dosage unit for sublingual, buccal, pulmonary or oral administration, said dosage unit having a weight of 20-500 mg and comprising 1-80 wt. % of a microgranulate that is distributed throughout a solid hydrophilic matrix; said microgranulate being characterized in that it: has a volume weighted average diameter of 5-100 m; contains at least 0.01 wt. %, preferably at least 0.1 wt. % of one or more water-insoluble pharmaceutically active substances; contains at least 10 wt. %, preferably at least 20 wt. % of an emulsifier component; and is capable of forming a micro-emulsion upon contact with saliva or water. The dosage units of the present invention achieve the inherent benefits of oral delivery while at the same time realizing a high transmucosal absorption rate of the cannabinoids contained therein.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for removing impurities from biopolymer material, e.g. polysaccharides, polypeptides or polynucleotides. More particularly, the present invention provides a method of reducing lipopolysaccharide levels in a lipopolysaccharide containing biopolymer material, comprising the successive steps of: a) providing an aqueous solution containing 0.05-50 wt. % of dissolved lipopolysaccharide-containing biopolymer material; 0.001-10 wt.% of a surfactant; 0.05-15 wt. % of solid adsorbent; and at least 50 wt. % of water; b) allowing the adsorbent to adsorb lipopolysaccharides; c) separating the solid adsorbent containing adsorbed lipopolysaccharides from the remaining aqueous solution; and d) recovering the biopolymer material containing a reduced level of lipopolysaccharide from the separated aqueous solution.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of encapsulates, employs: a pumpable emulsion having (i) a continuous phase containing a solvent and a matrix-forming solute dissolved in the solvent and (ii) a dispersed phase; an extractant including supercritical, subcritical or liquefied gas; the solvent being substantially more soluble in the extractant than the matrix-forming solute and the process including the successive steps of: a) combining the pumpable emulsion with the extractant under mixing conditions; b) allowing the formation of particulate encapsulates in which the dispersed phase is encased in a solid matrix of the matrix-forming solute; c) collecting the encapsulates and separating them from the extractant. The present processes is particularly suitable for producing particles containing active ingredients that are very sensitive, whose activity is adversely affected by exposure to oxygen, light, moisture, heat and/or friction.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for removing impurities from biopolymer material, e.g. polysaccharides, polypeptides or polynucleotides. More particularly, the present invention provides a method of reducing lipopolysaccharide levels in a lipopolysaccharide containing biopolymer material, comprising the successive steps of: a) providing an aqueous solution containing 0.05-50 wt. % of dissolved lipopolysaccharide-containing biopolymer material; 0.001-10 wt.% of a surfactant; 0.05-15 wt. % of solid adsorbent; and at least 50 wt. % of water; b) allowing the adsorbent to adsorb lipopolysaccharides; c) separating the solid adsorbent containing adsorbed lipopolysaccharides from the remaining aqueous solution; and d) recovering the biopolymer material containing a reduced level of lipopolysaccharide from the separated aqueous solution.

Abstract: One aspect of the invention relates to a pharmaceutical dosage unit for sublingual, buccal, pulmonary or oral administration, said dosage unit having a weight of 20-500 mg and comprising 1-80 Wt. % of a microgranulate that is distributed throughout a solid hydrophilic matrix; said microgranulate being characterised in that it: has a volume weighted average diameter of 5-100 m; contains at least 0.01 wt. %, preferably at least 0.1 wt. % of one or more water-insoluble pharmaceutically active substances; contains at least 10 wt. %, preferably at least 20 wt. % of an emulsifier component; and is capable of forming a micro-emulsion upon contact with saliva or water. The dosage units of the present invention achieve the inherent benefits of oral delivery whilst at the same time realising a high transmucosal absorption rate of the cannabinoids contained therein.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of encapsulates, employs: a pumpable emulsion having (i) a continuous phase containing a solvent and a matrix-forming solute dissolved in the solvent and (ii) a dispersed phase; an extractant including supercritical, subcritical or liquefied gas; the solvent being substantially more soluble in the extractant than the matrix-forming solute and the process including the successive steps of: a) combining the pumpable emulsion with the extractant under mixing conditions; b) allowing the formation of particulate encapsulates in which the dispersed phase is encased in a solid matrix of the matrix-forming solute; c) collecting the encapsulates and separating them from the extractant. The present processes is particularly suitable for producing particles containing active ingredients that are very sensitive, whose activity is adversely affected by exposure to oxygen, light, moisture, heat and/or friction.