PHARMACEUTICAL COMPOSITIONS FOR DELIVERY OF FERRIC IRON COMPOUNDS, AND METHODS OF USE THEREOF

The pharmaceutical compositions described comprise a therapeutically effective amount of a ferric compound and at least one bioavailability enhancer for oral delivery. Some pharmaceutical compositions described herein include a suspension which comprises an admixture in solid form of a therapeutically effective amount of a ferric compound and at least one bioavailability enhancer (e.g. a salt of a medium chain fatty acid) and a lipophilic medium. The pharmaceutical compositions may be enteric-coated. Methods of treating or preventing diseases by administering such compositions to affected subjects are also disclosed. The methods of treatment described herein increase the level of iron in the bloodstream of a subject by administering to the subject an effective amount of an oral composition of a ferric iron compound.