Disclosed are improved granular pharmaceutical preparations, together with improved methods and apparatus for preparation of granules for use in such preparations. granules include an active pharmaceutical ingredient and have a length along an axis of extrusion and a cross-sectional dimension of extrusion, wherein at least 80% by number of all of said granules in the composition have an aspect ratio of said length to said cross-sectional dimension of greater than 0.7 and less than 2.2. The granules exhibit a more sharply peaked length distribution, and hence aspect ratio distribution, and have a consequently much sharper dissolution profile after further processing. Methods for their preparation and a length sorting apparatus for use in such methods is also disclosed.
