Research and development of oral controlled-release dosage forms

Important data concerning the gastrointestinal transit of oral solid dosage forms have been obtained recently by using the technique of gamma scintigraphy. It is now possible to put forward the principal limitations of the oral sustained release dosage forms actually available. The research and development of new controlled release products such as buoyant dosage forms and coevaporates with polymers should permit to decrease the large inter and intrasubject variations of drug plasma levels observed when the actual sustained release dosage forms are administered.