A process for the production of a solid dispersion which comprises impregnating, without treatment with a supercritical fluid, a powdered porous carrier containing a porous siliceous carrier (for example, spherical siliceous carrier such as spherical porous silica) which exhibits a weight loss of 4wt% or below when heated at 950°C for 2 hours with an organic solvent solution of a slightly water-soluble active ingredient, and then removing the organic solvent from the resulting system to form a solid dispersion comprising the porous carrier and the active ingredient supported thereon. The porous siliceous carrier may be spherical silica having a mean pore diameter of 10 to 40nm and an oil absorption of 175 to 500ml/100g. Pharmaceutical compositions (such as tablets, granules and capsules) can be prepared by using the solid dispersion and pharmaceutically acceptable carriers. The solid dispersion and the pharmaceutical compositions (or pharmaceutical preparations) bring about improvement in the dissolution and bioavailability of slightly water-soluble active ingredients (such as fibrate compounds).
