EUDRACOL^® gives Pharma Polymers a multi-unit technology that provides targeted drug delivery direct to the colon, with delayed and uniform drug release. The system consists of several layers. At the center is a core containing the active. This is enclosed in several layers of EUDRAGIT^®. The first layer allows the tablet to pass through the stomach intact and be conveyed via the small intestine to the beginning of the colon.

The switch from the acid environment of the stomach to the alkaline environment of the intestine causes the outer protective layer to dissolve. During further passage through the colon, the next layer becomes permeable due to the basic pH value and the presence of fluid. Water can then penetrate this layer, causing the drug to diffuse from the core and be absorbed by the intestinal wall. This process offers the crucial advantage of sustained drug release in small doses over a defined period of time.