TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - PHARMACEUTICALS - Preferred Component: The release rate modifying system comprises a combination of greater than or equal to 2 pH independent rate controlling polymers, optionally with excipient(s). The pH independent rate controlling polymers comprise alkyl celluloses, hydroxyalkyl alkyl celluloses, hydroxyalkyl celluloses, polyethylene glycols, copolymers of ethylene oxide with propylene oxide, gelatin, polyvinylpyrrolidones, vinylpyrrolidones, vinyl acetates, polyvinylimidazoles, polyvinylpyridine N-oxides, copolymers of vinylpyrrolidone with long-chained alpha -olefins, copolymers of vinylpyrrolidone with vinylimidazole, poly(vinylpyrrolidone/dimethylaminoethyl methacrylates), copolymers of vinylpyrrolidone/dimethylaminopropyl methacrylamides, copolymers of vinylpyrrolidone/dimethylaminopropyl acrylamides, quaternized copolymers of vinylpyrrolidones and dimethylaminoethyl methacrylates, terpolymers of vinylcaprolactam/vinylpyrrolidone/dimethylaminoethyl methacrylates, copolymers of vinylpyrrolidone and methacrylamidopropyl-trimethylammonium chloride, terpolymers of caprolactam/vinylpyrrolidone/dimethylaminoethyl methacrylates, copolymers of styrene and acrylic acid, polycarboxylic acids, polyvinyl alcohols, hydrolyzed polyvinyl acetate, polysaccharide gums, natural gums, semisynthetic gums, and/or preferably hydroxypropyl methylcellulose and/or sodium carboxymethyl cellulose. The ratio of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose and sodium carboxymethyl cellulose is 1:10-10:1. The composition exhibits a dissolution profile such that greater than or equal to 75% of the drug is released within 20 hours, where the release rate is measured in Apparatus-I using 900 mL, 0.9% sodium chloride in water at 37 degrees C plus minus 0.5 degrees C. The composition exhibits a dissolution profile such that greater than or equal to 50% of the drug is released within 12 hours, where the release rate is measured in Apparatus-I using 900 mL, 0.9% sodium chloride in water at 37 degrees C plus minus 0.5 degrees C. The excipients include diluents, disintegrants, binders, bulking agents, anti-adherents, anti-oxidants, buffering agents, colorants, flavoring agents, coating agents, plasticizers, stabilizers, preservatives, lubricants, glidants, and/or chelating agents. ACTIVITY - Antidepressant; Tranquilizer; Neuroleptic; Muscular-Gen; Nootropic; Anorectic; Anabolic; Eating-Disorders-Gen; Antiaddictive; Antialcoholic; Endocrine-Gen; Immunomodulator; Uropathic; Analgesic; CNS-Gen; Hypertensive; Vasotropic; Antiparkinsonian; Anticonvulsant. No biological data given.    MECHANISM OF ACTION - Selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI).    EXAMPLE - An extended release tablet was prepared by silting (mg) desvenlafaxine succinate monohydrate (152), Methocel K100 MCR (RTM: Hypromellose) (161), Blanose 9M31XFPH (RTM: sodium carboxymethylcellulose) (18), and Avicel PH 101 (RTM: Microcrystalline cellulose) (67); granulating; mixing dried granules with talc (6), and lubricating with magnesium stearate (3); compressing the blend; and coating core tablets with Opadry Pink (RTM: hydroxypropylmethylcellulose) (11).