(565a) Oral Absorption of Weakly Acidic Compounds

Dosage form design begins with suitable understanding of the biopharmaceutical characteristics of the therapeutic agent under consideration. While chemical and physical properties govern biological performance of a specific compound, it is often possible to modulate oral absorption through a variety of techniques to maximize the dissolution characteristics of the drug in the formulation. Following oral administration, drug substances are exposed to a range of pH conditions which impact the ionization state of drug molecules as they pass through the gastrointestinal tract. For poorly water soluble drugs, particle size control is important to enhance dissolution from the solid dosage form. Poorly soluble drugs containing weakly acidic chemical functionalities are subject to limited aqueous solubility under gastric pH conditions (i.e., pH