METHOD FOR THE TREATMENT OF ACNE

Abstract

A method for treatment of acne with tetracyclines is provided. A lower sustained dose and no loading dose is employed, with an optional once-a-day dosing regimen.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to the treatment of acne vulgaris, commonly known simply as “acne.” Acne is a disease of the skin in which the pilosebaceous structures of the skin become inflamed, leading to the formation of comedones, pustules and nodules. Acne can lead to permanent scarring in severe cases.

It is generally believed that acne arises when hyperkeratosis of the pilosebaceous structure wholly or partially blocks the opening of the structure, resulting in comedones filled with sebum, keratin, and Propionibacterium acnes. These lesions are commonly identified as acne. P. acnes naturally occurs in normal skin, but is especially and characteristically present in acne lesions. It is believed that metabolic byproducts and waste from P. acnes within the pilosebaceous structures cause or contribute to the inflammation of acne lesions.

Conventional acne treatments have taken many forms. Topical keratolytic agents, such as salicylic acid are sometimes used. Keratolytic agents are thought to encourage the opening up of blocked pilosebaceous structures, thereby reducing conditions that are favorable to inflammation. Benzoyl peroxide, an anti-microbial, remains a popular and effective treatment. Topical antibiotics, such as clindamycin, which are effective against P. acnes, have also been used with a view towards preventing the formation of metabolic byproducts from this organism. Topical retinoids such as tretinoin have also been used in the treatment of acne.

Systemic (i.e. non-topical) treatments for acne include the use of oral antibiotics in more serious cases. These treatments are directed towards the reduction in the amount P. acnes in the skin, especially the pilosebaceous structures, and seek to reduce the inflammation caused by waste materials and metabolic byproducts from these organisms. Tetracycline antibiotics are most commonly used for this purpose. These include tetracycline, minocycline and doxycycline. Erythromycin is also sometimes used.

Standard oral minocycline therapy for acne in pediatric patients calls for the administration of a 4 mg/kg initial loading dose, and a 2 mg/kg dose every 12 hours thereafter. This results in a dose of 6 mg/kg on the first day of treatment and a 4 mg/kg dose each day thereafter. In adults, a 200 mg initial dose is followed by a 100 mg dose every 12 hours thereafter. In a typical patient, this results in about a 4.5 mg/kg dose on the first day of treatment, and 3.0 mg/kg dose each day thereafter.

In cases where acne does not respond to oral antibiotic treatment, oral isotretinoin is sometimes used. While effective, isotretinoin is also powerfully teratogenic, and women of childbearing age are required to use multiple methods of contraception while taking the drug.

While oral tetracycline antibiotics remain a highly favored and widely used treatment for more serious cases of acne, it is not without side effects. Vestibular side effects, including extreme dizziness and concomitant nausea, can be so severe as to result in discontinuance of tetracycline therapy. Long term use can sometimes result in vaginal candidisis, esophageal erosions and in antibiotic resistant infections.

Some recent research has indicated that very low doses of oral tetracycline can result in some improvement of acne even though the dose of tetracycline is too low to have an antibiotic effect. This observation has been attributed to an anti-inflammatory effect of tetracycline compounds. This effect has been reported to have been observed even where a chemically modified tetracycline that have no antibiotic properties are used. The use of tetracycline antibiotics at a dose too low to have an antibiotic effect or the use of modified tetracycline having no antibiotic properties as treatments for acne has never been approved by any drug regulatory agency.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention, a method is provided for the treatment of acne in which an antibiotically effective dose of an oral tetracycline, such as minocycline, is provided. This dose is approximately 1 milligram per kilogram of body weight (1 mg/kg), without an initial loading dose of antibiotic. This antibiotic dosing regimen has been found to be as effective as a conventional dosing regimen incorporating a significant initial loading dose and higher subsequent doses. However, the dosing method of the current invention produces far fewer side effects.

In another aspect of this invention, the oral tetracycline is provided in a dosage form that provides for the continued release of the antibiotic between doses, as opposed to an immediate or nearly immediate release of the drag.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention, acne vulgaris is treated by the use of an oral tetracycline antibiotic, preferably minocycline. This antibiotic is administered in an antibiotically effective amount of approximately 1.0 milligram per kilogram of body weight per day (1.0 mg/kg/day). While this may be accomplished by the use of divided doses, it is preferred that the tetracycline antibiotic be delivered in a single daily dose. This treatment regime is initiated without a loading dose, and is continued until resolution or substantial resolution of the patient's acne. The course of treatment typically lasts 12 to up to 60 weeks, but will be adjusted according to the disease status and other medical conditions of each patient in the exercise of ordinary good clinical judgment by the patient's health care provider.

Controlled, double-blinded studies were undertaken to determine the effectiveness of this invention. Treatment of 473 patients with acne was undertaken according to the present invention. Placebos were provided to 239 patients. The effectiveness of the invention in treating acne vulgaris is shown in Table 1.

TABLE 1
Total Lesion Counts
			Total Lesions (as
	zebra	Total Lesions	Percent of Baseline)
	Baseline (mean)	169.3	100
	Day 28 (mean)	134.0	78
	Day 56 (mean)	119.3	69
	Day 84 (mean)	112.3	66
Inflammatory Lesion Counts
		Inflammatory Lesions (as
zebra	Inflammatory Lesions	Percent of Baseline)
Baseline (mean)	77.4	100
Day 28 (mean)	52.1	66
Day 56 (mean)	44.3	56
Day 84 (mean)	41.9	53

While effective as a treatment for acne, this resulted in almost no side effects above those observed with a placebo, as shown in Table 2.

TABLE 2
% Subjects with Adverse Events
	Minocycline	Placebo
	At least One Adverse Event	56.2	54.1
	At Least One Serious	0.4	0
	Adverse Event
	Blood/Lymphatic System	0.3	0.3
	Disorders
	Cardiac Disorders	0.3	0
	Ear and Labyrinth Disorders	3.6	3.3
	Endocrine Disorders	0.3	0
	Eye Disorders	2.2	2.7
	Gastrointestinal Disorders	21.2	26.1
	General Disorders and	13.8	10.4
	Administrative Site
	Conditions
	Immune System Disorders	0.7	2.5
	Infections and Infestations	9.3	11.0
	Laboratory Blood	0.7	1.1
	Abnormalities
	Metabolism and Nutrition	0.6	0.3
	Disorders
	Musculoskeletal and	4.6	3.6
	Connective Disorders
	Neoplasms Benign,	0.1	0
	Malignant and Unspecified
	Nervous System Disorders	29.2	25.8
	Psychiatric Disorders	6.4	7.1
	Renal and Urinary Disorders	0.3	0.5
	Reproductive System and	0.7	0.3
	Breast Disorders
	Respiratory, Thoracic and	5.3	6.9
	Mediastinal Disorders
	Skin and Subcutaneous	8.6	7.1
	Tissue Disorders
	Vascular Disorders	1.0	0.3

The effectiveness of this invention can be seen by comparing the above efficacy data with published data on the effectiveness of conventional tetracycline treatments for acne in the reduction of total acne lesions and in the reduction of inflammatory lesions. See, e.g. Hersel & Gisslen, “Minocycline in Acne Vulgaris: A Double Blind Study,” Current Therapeutic Research, 1976.

Because of the variations in body weight encountered in clinical practice, in the actual practice of this invention it is not practical to provide every patient with exactly 1 mg/kg/day of oral tetracycline antibiotic. However, it is acceptable to approximate this dose by providing the patient with from 0.5 to 1.5 mg/kg/day although from 0.7 to 1.3 mg/kg/day is preferred, and 1.0 mg/kg/day is ideal.

While it can be effective to provide the oral tetracycline antibiotic in divided doses taken over the course of a day (e.g. twice or three times a day), it is preferable to provide the oral tetracycline antibiotic in a dosage form that releases the antibiotic slowly during the course of a day so that once-a-day dosing is possible. While delayed release dosage forms are known in the art, the formulation of them is far from predictable and the selection of a specific delayed release formulation is accomplished more by trial and error than by mathematical prediction based on known properties of delay release agents. No delayed release product useful in the present invention has been known heretofore.

It has been discovered that the ratio of fast dissolving carriers to slow dissolving carriers in the core caplet is important in obtaining a dissolution profile that enables once-a-day dosing in accordance with the present invention. By keeping the ratio of these components within a certain range, one may obtain this result.

The fast dissolving carrier is any binder, vehicle, or excipient that quickly dissolves in an aqueous physiological medium, such as gastric fluid, thereby tending to quickly release the active ingredient. Lactose, its salts and hydrates are good examples of such components. It has been observed that sometimes a portion of the fast dissolving components are formulated in a manner that results in the complete or partial encapsulation or inclusion or coating of these fast-dissolving materials in granules of slow-dissolving materials. These encapsulated materials are excluded from the calculation of the above mentioned ratio of fast-dissolving to slow dissolving components.

A slow dissolving carrier is any binder, vehicle, or excipient that dissolves slowly over the course of hours and perhaps a day, thereby slowing the release of the active ingredient. Examples of such components are polyvinyl pyrrolidone, polyvinyl acetate, microcrystalline cellulose, methyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose, or waxy or lipid-based tableting agents such as magnesium stearate or calcium stearate. Outer “enteric” coatings are excluded from this amount when calculating the above-mentioned ratio.

Insoluble carriers are binders, vehicles, or excipients that are practically insoluble in physiological fluids, such as gastric fluid, and includes compounds, such as silicon dioxide and talc.

While the exact formulation of these dosage forms can vary, it has been observed that it is advantageous to formulate them so that the ratio of fast dissolving carriers to slow dissolving carriers is from 0.30 to 0.50, and preferably from 0.35 to 0.45. A ratio of about 0.36 to 0.40 is particularly preferable.

Dosage forms, such as capsules, tablets, and caplets that release 25 to 52% of the antibiotics within 1 hour, 53 to 89% in 2 hours, and at least 90% within 4 hours are suited to the once-a-day dosage regimen contemplated by the current inventories. More preferably, 30 to 52% of the antibiotic is released within 1 hour, 53 to 84% within 2 hours, and at least 85% within 4 hours.

Alternatively, the oral tetracycline antibiotic may be delivered in a dosage form that releases the antibiotic in such a way that the maximum blood concentration of the antibiotic (C_max) is reached at about 3.5 hours after administration (T_max). In actual practice of the invention, the C_max should be reached between 2.75 and 4.0 after administration, more preferably between 3.0 and 3.75 after administration.

As examples of such a once-a-day formulation, one may use the following:

                Quantity
Component       (mg)
135 mg Caplet
Minocycline (as 145.8
hydrochloride)
(dry weight)
Lactose         107.4
Monohydrate
(intragranular)
Lactose         43.8
Monohydrate
(extragranular)
Total Lactose   151.2
Monohydrate
HPMC            94
Silicon Dioxide 3
Mg. Stearate    6
45 mg Caplet
Minocycline (as 48.6
hydrochloride)
(dry weight)
Lactose         192.2
Monohydrate
(intragranular)
Lactose         42.2
Monohydrate
(extragranular)
Total Lactose   234.40
Monohydrate
HPMC            108
Silicon Dioxide 3
Mg. Stearate    6

Each of these components is combined in a conventional fashion, compressed in a tabletting apparatus, and then provided in a conventional manner with a suitable coating, such as, without limitation Opadry II and optional coloring.

Claims

1. A method of treating acne vulgaris, comprising the step of:

administering to a person suffering from acne vulgaris an oral tetracycline antibiotic in the amount of from about 0.5 to about 1.5 mg per kilogram of body weight, wherein the oral tetracycline antibiotic is contained in a pharmaceutically suitable delivery vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the amount of oral tetracycline is from about 0.7 to about 1.3 mg per kilogram of body weight.

3. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the oral tetracycline antibiotic is administered without a loading dose.

4. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the oral tetracycline antibiotic is minocycline.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the oral tetracycline is minocycline.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the oral tetracycline antibiotic is administered once a day.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the oral tetracycline is administered once a day.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein the delivery vehicle releases the oral tetracycline antibiotic at a rate of:

about 30 to about 52% within about 1 hour

about 53 to about 84% within about 2 hours, and

at least about 85% within about 4 hours.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein the delivery vehicle releases the oral tetracycline antibiotic at a rate of:

about 30 to about 52% within about 1 hour

about 53 to about 84% within about 2 hours, and

at least about 85% within about 4 hours.

10. The method of claim 5, wherein the delivery vehicle releases the oral tetracycline antibiotic at a rate of:

about 25 to about 52% within about 1 hour

about 53 to about 89% within about 2 hours, and

at least about 90% within about 4 hours.

11. The method of claim 4, wherein the delivery vehicle releases the oral tetracycline antibiotic at a rate of:

about 25 to about 52% within about 1 hour

about 53 to about 89% within about 2 hours, and

at least about 90% within about 4 hours.

12. The method of claim 5, wherein the delivery vehicle releases the oral tetracycline antibiotic in such a manner that the antibiotic reaches a Cmax in the person's blood from about 2.75 to about 4.0 hours after administration.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the Cmax is reached from about 3.0 to about 3.75 hours after administration.

14. The method of claim 4, wherein the delivery vehicle releases the oral tetracycline antibiotic in such a manner that the antibiotic reaches a Cmax in the person's blood from about 2.75 to about 4.0 hours after administration.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the Cmax is reached from about 3.0 to about 3.75 hours after administration.

16. The method of claim 5, wherein a ratio of fast dissolving carriers to slow dissolving carriers in the delivery vehicle is from about 0.3 to about 0.5.

17. The method of claim 5, wherein a ratio of fast dissolving carriers to slow dissolving carriers in the delivery vehicle is from about 0.35 to about 0.45.

18. The method of claim 5, wherein a ratio of fast dissolving carriers to slow dissolving carriers in the delivery vehicle is from about 0.36 to about 0.40.

19. The method of claim 4, wherein a ratio of fast dissolving carriers to slow dissolving carriers in the delivery vehicle is from about 0.3 to about 0.5.

20. The method of claim 4, wherein a ratio of fast dissolving carriers to slow dissolving carriers in the delivery vehicle is from about 0.35 to about 0.45.

21. The method of claim 4, wherein a ratio of slow dissolving carriers to fast dissolving carriers in the delivery vehicle is from about 0.36 to about 0.40.

22. The method of claim 6, wherein a ratio of fast dissolving carriers to slow dissolving carriers in the delivery vehicle is from about 0.3 to about 0.5.

23. The method of claim 6, wherein a ratio of fast dissolving carriers to slow dissolving carriers in the delivery vehicle is from about 0.35 to about 0.45.

24. The method of claim 6, wherein a ratio of fast dissolving carriers to slow dissolving carriers in the delivery vehicle is from about 0.36 to about 0.40.

25. The method of claim 7, wherein a ratio of fast dissolving carriers to slow dissolving carriers in the delivery vehicle is from about 0.3 to about 0.5.

26. The method of claim 7, wherein a ratio of fast dissolving carriers to slow dissolving carriers in the delivery vehicle is from about 0.35 to about 0.45.

27. The method of claim 7, wherein a ratio of slow dissolving carriers to fast dissolving carriers in the delivery vehicle is from about 0.36 to about 0.40.

28. An oral dosage form comprising:

an oral tetracycline antibiotic;

a fast dissolving carrier; and

a slow dissolving carrier;

wherein the fast dissolving carrier and the slow dissolving carrier are at a weight ratio of 0.3 to 0.5 of fast dissolving carrier to slow dissolving carrier.

29. The oral dosage form of claim 28, wherein the ratio of fast dissolving carrier to slow dissolving carrier is 0.35 to 0.45.

30. The oral dosage form of claim 28, wherein the ratio of fast dissolving carrier to slow dissolving carrier is about 0.36 to 0.40.

31. The oral dosage form of claim 28, wherein the oral tetracycline antibiotic is minocycline hydrochloride.

32. The oral dosage form of claim 29, wherein the oral tetracycline antibiotic is minocycline hydrochloride.

33. The oral dosage form of claim 30, wherein the oral tetracycline antibiotic is minocycline hydrochloride.

34. The oral dosage form of claim 28, wherein the fast dissolving carrier comprises lactose monohydrate.

35. The oral dosage form of claim 29, wherein the fast dissolving carrier comprises lactose monohydrate.

36. The oral dosage form of claim 30, wherein the fast dissolving carrier comprises lactose monohydrate.

37. The oral dosage form of claim 28, wherein the slow dissolving carrier comprises HPMC.

38. The oral dosage form of claim 29, wherein the slow dissolving carrier comprises HPMC.

39. The oral dosage form of claim 30, wherein the slow dissolving carrier comprises HPMC.

40. The oral dosage form of claim 28, wherein:

the fast dissolving carrier comprises lactose monohydrate; and

the slow dissolving carrier comprises HPMC.

41. The oral dosage form of claim 29, wherein:

the fast dissolving carrier comprises lactose monohydrate; and

the slow dissolving carrier comprises HPMC.

42. The oral dosage form of claim 30, wherein:

the fast dissolving carrier comprises lactose monohydrate; and

the slow dissolving carrier comprises HPMC.

43. The oral dosage form of claim 40, wherein the oral tetracycline antibiotic is minocycline hydrochloride.

44. The oral dosage form of claim 41, wherein the oral tetracycline antibiotic is minocycline hydrochloride.

45. The oral dosage form of claim 42, wherein the oral tetracycline antibiotic is minocycline hydrochloride.

46. The oral dosage form of claim 28, wherein the slow dissolving carrier is present at about 23.5% to about 27.0% by weight of the oral dosage form.

47. The oral dosage form of claim 29, wherein the slow dissolving carrier is present at about 23.5% to about 27.0% by weight of the oral dosage form.

48. The oral dosage form of claim 30, wherein the slow dissolving carrier is present at about 23.5% to about 27.0% by weight of the oral dosage form.

49. The oral dosage form of claim 28, wherein the slow dissolving carrier is present at:

23.5% by weight of the oral dosage form when the oral dosage form comprises 135 mg of the oral tetracycline antibiotic; or

27.0% by weight of the oral dosage form when the oral dosage form comprises 45 mg of the oral tetracycline antibiotic.

50. The oral dosage form of claim 29, wherein the slow dissolving carrier is present at:

23.5% by weight of the oral dosage form when the oral dosage form comprises 135 mg of the oral tetracycline antibiotic; or

27.0% by weight of the oral dosage form when the oral dosage form comprises 45 mg of the oral tetracycline antibiotic.

51. The oral dosage form of claim 30, wherein the slow dissolving carrier is present at:

23.5% by weight of the oral dosage form when the oral dosage form comprises 135 mg of the oral tetracycline antibiotic; or

27.0% by weight of the oral dosage form when the oral dosage form comprises 45 mg of the oral tetracycline antibiotic.

52. The oral dosage form of claim 28, which is formulated to release the oral tetracycline antibiotic at a rate of:

30 to 52% within 1 hour;

53 to 84% within 2 hours; and

at least 85% in 4 hours.

53. The oral dosage form of claim 29, which is formulated to release the oral tetracycline antibiotic at a rate of:

30 to 52% within 1 hour;

53 to 84% within 2 hours; and

at least 85% within 4 hours.

54. The oral dosage form of claim 30, which is formulated to release the oral tetracycline antibiotic at a rate of:

30 to 52% within 1 hour;

53 to 84% within 2 hours; and

at least 85% within 4 hours.

55. The oral dosage form of claim 28, wherein the oral dosage form is formulated to release the oral tetracycline antibiotic at a rate of:

25 to 52% within 1 hour;

53 to 89% within 2 hours; and

at least 90% within 4 hours.

56. The oral dosage form of claim 29, wherein the oral dosage form is formulated to release the oral tetracycline antibiotic at a rate of:

25 to 52% within 1 hour;

53 to 89% within 2 hours; and

at least 90% within 4 hours.

57. The oral dosage form of claim 30, wherein the oral dosage form is formulated to release the oral tetracycline antibiotic at a rate of:

25 to 52% within 1 hour;

53 to 89% within 2 hours; and

at least 90% within 4 hours.

58. The oral dosage form of claim 28, wherein the oral dosage form is formulated to release the oral tetracycline antibiotic in such a manner that Cmax is reached at about 3.0 to about 3.75 hours after administration.

59. The oral dosage form of claim 29, wherein the oral dosage form is formulated to release the oral tetracycline antibiotic in such a manner that Cmax is reached at about 3.0 to about 3.75 hours after administration.

60. The oral dosage form of claim 30, wherein the oral dosage form is formulated to release the oral tetracycline antibiotic in such a manner that Cmax is reached at about 3.0 to about 3.75 hours after administration.

61. The oral dosage form of claim 28, wherein the oral dosage form is a tablet or caplet comprising 40 mg or 135 mg of the oral tetracycline antibiotic.

62. The oral dosage form of claim 61, wherein the oral tetracycline antibiotic is minocycline hydrochloride.

63. The oral dosage form of claim 62, wherein:

the fast dissolving carrier comprises lactose monohydrate; and

the slow dissolving carrier comprises HPMC.

64. An oral dosage form comprising:

135 mg of an oral tetracycline antibiotic; and

23.5% by weight HPMC;

wherein the oral dosage form is formulated to release the oral tetracycline antibiotic at a rate of: 25 to 52% within 1 hour; 53 to 89% within 2 hours; and at least about 90% of the oral tetracycline antibiotic within 4 hours.

65. The oral dosage form of claim 64, wherein the oral dosage form is formulated to release 25 to 52% of the oral tetracycline antibiotic within 1 hour.

66. The oral dosage form of claim 65, wherein the oral dosage form is formulated to release 53 to 89% of the oral tetracycline antibiotic within 2 hours.

67. The oral dosage form of claim 64, wherein the oral tetracycline antibiotic is minocycline hydrochloride.

68. The oral dosage form of claim 64, which is a tablet or caplet.

69. A method of treating acne vulgaris comprising:

administering to the patient with acne vulgaris an effective amount of an oral dosage form selected from: (A) an oral dosage form comprising: an oral tetracycline antibiotic; a fast dissolving carrier; and a slow dissolving carrier; wherein the fast dissolving carrier and the slow dissolving carrier are at a weight ratio of 0.3 to 0.5; and (B) an oral dosage form comprising: 135 mg of an oral tetracycline antibiotic; and 23.5% by weight HPMC; wherein the oral dosage form is formulated to release the oral tetracycline antibiotic at a rate of: 25 to 52% within 1 hour; 53 to 89% within 2 hours; and at least about 90% within 4 hours.

70. The method of claim 69, further comprising determining the weight of the patient to calculate the effective amount of the oral dosage form.

71. The method of claim 70, wherein the effective amount of the oral dosage form is formulated to provide the patient with about 0.5 to about 1.5 mg/kg/day of the oral tetracycline antibiotic.

72. The method of claim 70, wherein the effective amount of the oral dosage form is formulated to provide the patient with about 0.7 to about 1.3 mg/kg/day of the oral tetracycline antibiotic.

73. The method of claim 70, wherein the effective amount of the oral dosage form is formulated to provide the patient with about 1.0 mg/kg/day of the oral tetracycline antibiotic.

74. The method of claim 69, wherein the oral tetracycline antibiotic is minocycline hydrochloride.

75. The method of claim 69, wherein the oral dosage form is administered once a day.

76. The method of claim 69, wherein the oral dosage form is administered without a loading dose.

77. The method of claim 69, wherein the oral dosage form is (A).

78. The method of claim 69, wherein the oral dosage form is (B).

79. The method of claim 69, wherein the oral tetracycline antibiotic reaches Cmax at about 3.0 to about 3.75 hours after administration.

80. A method of preparing an oral dosage form, comprising combining an oral tetracycline antibiotic with a fast dissolving carrier and a slow dissolving carrier to form a combination, wherein the fast dissolving carrier and the slow dissolving carrier are at a weight ratio of 0.3 to 0.5 of fast dissolving carrier to slow dissolving carrier.

81. The method of claim 80, wherein the weight ratio of fast dissolving carrier to slow dissolving carrier is 0.35 to 0.45.

82. The method of claim 80, wherein the weight ratio of fast dissolving carrier to slow dissolving carrier is about 0.36 to 0.40.

83. The method of claim 80, wherein the oral tetracycline antibiotic is minocycline hydrochloride.

84. The method of claim 81, wherein the oral tetracycline antibiotic is minocycline hydrochloride.

85. The method of claim 82, wherein the oral tetracycline antibiotic is minocycline hydrochloride.

86. The method of claim 80, wherein the fast dissolving carrier comprises lactose monohydrate.

87. The method of claim 81, wherein the fast dissolving carrier comprises lactose monohydrate.

88. The method of claim 82, wherein the fast dissolving carrier comprises lactose monohydrate.

89. The method of claim 80, wherein the slow dissolving carrier comprises HPMC.

90. The method of claim 81, wherein the slow dissolving carrier comprises HPMC.

91. The method of claim 82, wherein the slow dissolving carrier comprises HPMC.

92. The method of claim 80, wherein:

the fast dissolving carrier comprises lactose monohydrate; and

the slow dissolving carrier comprises HPMC.

93. The method of claim 81, wherein:

the fast dissolving carrier comprises lactose monohydrate; and

the slow dissolving carrier comprises HPMC.

94. The method of claim 82, wherein:

the fast dissolving carrier comprises lactose monohydrate; and

the slow dissolving carrier comprises HPMC.

95. The method of claim 92, wherein the oral tetracycline antibiotic is minocycline hydrochloride.

96. The method of claim 93, wherein the oral tetracycline antibiotic is minocycline hydrochloride.

97. The method of claim 94, wherein the oral tetracycline antibiotic is minocycline hydrochloride.

98. The method of claim 80, wherein the slow dissolving carrier is present at about 23.5 to about 27.0% by weight of the oral dosage form.

99. The method of claim 81, wherein the slow dissolving carrier is present at about 23.5% to about 27.0% by weight of the oral dosage form.

100. The method of claim 82, wherein the slow dissolving carrier is present at about 23.5% to about 27.0% by weight of the oral dosage form.

101. The method of claim 80, wherein the slow dissolving carrier is present at:

23.5% by weight of the oral dosage form when the oral dosage form comprises 135 mg of the oral tetracycline antibiotic; or

27.0% by weight of the oral dosage form when the oral dosage form comprises 45 mg of the oral tetracycline antibiotic.

102. The method of claim 81, wherein the slow dissolving carrier is present at:

23.5% by weight of the oral dosage form when the oral dosage form comprises 135 mg of the oral tetracycline antibiotic; or

27.0% by weight of the oral dosage form when the oral dosage form comprises 45 mg of the oral tetracycline antibiotic.

103. The method of claim 82, wherein the slow dissolving carrier is present at:

23.5% by weight of the oral dosage form when the oral dosage form comprises 135 mg of the oral tetracycline antibiotic; or

27.0% by weight of the oral dosage form when the oral dosage form comprises 45 mg of the oral tetracycline antibiotic.

104. The method of claim 80, further comprising compressing the combination into a tablet.

105. The method of claim 104, further coating the tablet with Opadry II.

106. A method of preparing an oral dosage form comprising combining an oral tetracycline antibiotic with 23.5% by weight of HPMC to form a combination, wherein the oral dosage form comprises 135 mg of an oral tetracycline antibiotic and the oral dosage form is formulated to release the oral tetracycline antibiotic at a rate of:

25 to 52% within 1 hour;

53 to 89% within 2 hours; and

at least about 90% within 4 hours.

107. The method of claim 106, wherein the oral tetracycline antibiotic is minocycline hydrochloride.

108. The method of claim 106, further comprising compressing the combination into a tablet.

109. The method of claim 106, further coating the tablet with Opadry II.