A pharmaceutical composition comprising a polymeric binder including a high molecular weight synthetic polymer having a backbone constituted of non hydrolysable covalent bonds, said polymer being able to form electrostatic bonds at a pH lower than the isoelectric point of gluten and peptides derived from the degradation of gluten, and being able to bind to gluten or peptides derived from the degradation of gluten in the gastrointestinal tract, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. Methods of using the polymeric binder for binding gluten or a peptide derived from the degradation of gluten, for decreasing the degradation of gluten into toxic peptides or for decreasing interaction of gluten or peptides derived from the degradation of gluten with the gastrointestinal mucosa.