The present invention concerns a novel sustained-release oral formulation
of morphine sulphate in the form of microgranules. Each microgranule
comprises a neutral support grain coated with an active layer and with a
sustained-release layer, characterized in that the sustained-release
layer contains a copolymer of methacrylic acid and of methyl methacrylate
ester, the relative proportion of the free carboxyl groups and of the
ester groups of which is equal to 0.5 approximately, and a silica
exhibiting a hydrophobic character. The present invention also concerns a
process for preparing these microgranules which is carried out entirely
in aqueous medium by emplacing on neutral support grains.