New Study Shows Oval Film-Coated Tablets are Easier to Swallow Than
Uncoated Tablets or Caplets, or Gelatin Capsules

WEST POINT, Pa., Oct. 24, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- A new study that tested
the "swallowability" of different forms of tablets and capsules showed
patients can more easily take film-coated oval shaped tablets than any
other commonly manufactured solid dosage forms.


The 48-patient, open-label, randomized, four-way crossover study was
commissioned by Colorcon Inc., a leading provider of technology and
consulting services to the world's pharmaceutical companies. Conducted
by Glasgow-based Bio-Images Research Ltd., the study compared the
swallowability of uncoated tablets and caplets, and soft and hard
gelatin capsules, to film-coated dosages. Researchers used
sophisticated nuclear medicine cameras to study medication passage
from the mouth to the lower GI tract, and found that oval film-coated
tablets demonstrated the fewest instances of slow transit in the
esophagus (greater than 15 seconds), fewer incidences of lodging in
the esophagus, and the least likelihood of causing swallowing
problems.

"The study has important implications for both pharmaceutical
manufacturers and patients, especially those who have swallowing
difficulty," said Frederick R. Kettinger, General Manager of
Colorcon's new Brand Enhancement System for Tablets (BEST(R)) service
that helps pharmaceutical companies make their products more
patient-friendly and resistant to medication errors.

"The results confirm that film-coating an oval-shaped dosage form
improves the ease of swallowing for patients, enabling the dosage to
safely and quickly pass through the esophagus, without concern about
lodging and mucosal irritation. Coated oval tablets seem most likely
to provide greater patient comfort, acceptance and safety, and could
also lead to improved compliance, and patient preference for a
medication in this form."

Forty percent of people report problems swallowing pills, according to
a Harris Interactive Survey. Most describe the sensations as having "a
pill stuck in their throat" (80%), having a "bad after taste in their
mouth" (48%), or gagging (32%).

Seniors, in particular, have difficulty swallowing pills. Swallowing
disorders in elderly Americans range between 16% and 22% (a) for
ambulatory adults over age 55, and 40% or more in nursing homes (b).
According to the National Institutes of Health, between 1 and 4
million Americans -- 90% women -- suffer from Sjogren's Syndrome,
which makes swallowing solid dosage forms especially difficult.

For more information, visit www.colorcon.com/best.