Bovine-derived biological apatite has a long history for use in human health care as bone substitute. This article reports an elegant method of designing bovine-derived hydroxyapatite (BHA) blocks suitable for drug delivery. Neomycin sulphate (NS) was selected as a model drug and its loading and release studies were performed under in-vitro physiological conditions. The results indicate that phase purity and structural integrity of the BHA are retained even after entrapment of drug molecules. It was noticed that the rate of neomycin delivery was directly proportional to the porosity of the BHA blocks. The in-vitro release studies suggest that BHA may be used as a good carrier system for neomycin delivery. © 2006 Springer Science + Business Media, Inc.