Omeprazole MUPS®: An advanced formulation solution

The MUPS® tablet formulation of omeprazole employs patented technology in a delivery system which disperses rapidly in the stomach to release about 1,000 small (0.5mm) individually enteric coated units or ‘micropellets’ of omeprazole as the magnesium salt. These pellets are designed to dissolve in the high pH of the small intestine to release omeprazole for absorption.

The manufacture of MUPS® tablets has multiple steps. First omeprazole magnesium is micronized before suspension and layering onto sugar microspheres (0.250-0.355mm). These pellets are then sub-coated to separate the omeprazole from the enteric coating which is applied next. The pellets are then given a final protective over-coating before being mixed with tabletting excipients and compressed into tablets which themselves are film-coated.

Thus each MUPS® pellet has a 4 layer ‘onion’ structure and each tablet is comprised of multiple pellets which are apparent if the tablet is broken (figure 1).

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