This disclosure provides compositions consisting of solid mixture of cationic lipids and a polynucleotide, wherein the cationic lipid molecules form a water-insoluble ionic complex with the polynucleotide. What is also described is an anhydrous mixture of the cationic lipids and the polynucleotide solubilized in an organic or polar aprotic solvent. The anhydrous compositions are useful in preparing therapeutic formulations and in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases and conditions. The compositions are useful for delivery of agents such as nucleic acid therapeutics to cells, tissues, organs, and subjects.