MICROPARTICULAR PHARMACEUTICAL COMPOSITIONS IN MICELLAR FORM

A pharmaceutical composition comprises microparticles in micell. The microparticles contain at least one pharmaceutically-active agent, at least one water soluble or miscible phospholipid, at least one lipid soluble or miscible phospholipid, at least one non-ionic surfactant having an HLB value of about 15 or greater, at least one non-ionic surfactant having an HLB value of about or less, and at least one water soluble or miscible sterol compound. The microparticles are suspended in at least one fatty acid having a chain length of C14 or less. The composition may optionally contain at least one fatty acid having a chain length of C16 or greater in a concentration of about 5 w/v % or less. The composition is prepared by admixing the pharmaceutically-active agent, phospholipids, surfactants, and sterol, micronizing the admixture to form microparticles, and suspending the microparticles in at least one fatty acid of chain length of C14 or less to form microparticles in micell. The invention may be useful in the oral administration of drugs and other therapeutic agents, as well as for the trans-umbilico-dermal administration of such drugs and therapeutic agents.