Tablets of a pharmaceutical, nutritional or vitamin active compound or composition, e.g. a poorly compressible drug are made by direct compression using a synergistic binder composition of co-processed (a) copolymer of vinylpyrrolidone (VP) and vinyl acetate (VA) and (b) microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), in a wt. ratio of (a):(b) of 1 -30:99-70, which is spray dried to provide a readily compressible excipient binder powder for such active. The tablets obtained herein have advantageous hardness and friability at an acceptable compression force.