A process for the preparation of a particulate material by a controlled agglomeration method, i.e. a method that enables a controlled growth in particle size. The method is especially suitable for use in the preparation of pharmaceutical compositions containing a therapeutically and/or prophylactically active substance which has a relatively low aqueous solubility and/or which is subject to chemical decomposition. By employment of the novel process, compositions can be prepared that have improved properties with respect to release of the active substance from the composition as evidenced by in vitro dissolution test and/or with respect to improved shelf life of the compositions upon storage. The process comprising i) spraying a first composition comprising a carrier, which has a melting point of about 5 °C or more such as, e.g., about 10 °C or more, about 20°C or more or about 25 °C or more and which is present in the first composition in liquid form, on a second composition comprising a material in solid form, the second composition having a temperature of at the most a temperature corresponding to the melting point of the carrier and/or of the carrier composition such as, e.g., a temperature of at least about 2 °C, at least about 5 °C or at least about 10°C lower than the melting point of the carrier and/or of the carrier composition, and ii) mixing or other means of mechanical working the second composition onto which the first composition is sprayed to obtain the particulate material. The invention also relates to a particulate material obtained by the novel process and to pharmaceutical compositions containing such particulate material. The particulate material obtained exhibits excellent flowability and compactability and possess excellent tabletting properties.
