Drugs, especially low
aqueous solubility drugs, are provided in a porous
matrix form, preferably microparticles, which enhances
dissolution of the
drug in aqueous media. The
drug matrices preferably are made using a process that includes (i) dissolving a
drug, preferably a drug having low
aqueous solubility, in a volatile
solvent to form a drug solution, (ii) combining at least one pore forming agent with the drug solution to form an
emulsion, suspension, or second solution and hydrophilic or hydrophobic excipients that stabilize the drug and inhibit
crystallization, and (iii) removing the volatile
solvent and pore forming agent from the
emulsion, suspension, or second solution to yield the porous matrix of drug. Hydrophobic or hydrophilic excipients may be selected to stabilize the drug in crystalline form by inhibiting
crystal growth or to stabilize the drug in amorphous form by preventing
crystallization. The pore forming agent can be either a volatile liquid that is immiscible with the drug
solvent or a volatile
solid-compound, preferably a volatile salt. In a preferred embodiment,
spray drying is used to remove the solvents and the pore forming agent. The resulting porous matrix has a faster rate of
dissolution following administration to a patient, as compared to non-porous matrix forms of the drug. In a preferred embodiment, microparticles of the porous drug matrix are reconstituted with an
aqueous medium and administered parenterally, or processed using standard techniques into tablets or capsules for
oral administration.