10.01.05
Capsugel: Producing Capsules for Every Lifestyle
Capsugel, Greenwood, SC, the world’s leading supplier of capsule products and services, has always been an active supporter of the supplement industry. Beyond supplying high quality gelatin capsules, Capsugel is also active in building supplement markets around the world with a number of new products. Its Licaps liquid-filled capsules, as well as Vcaps and NPcaps vegetarian capsules, address the growing demands of today’s consumer of dietary supplements.
Consumer demand continues to be the driver behind the growth of products in the capsule dosage form. The swallowability advantage of capsules vs. tablets is well supported by multiple consumer preference studies. Additionally, consumers of dietary supplements are perhaps the most informed audience in terms of nutrition. They notice the absence of chemical additives (such as binders and fillers required for tablets) in the ingredient listings of encapsulated products. From the formulator perspective, the reduction in required excipients translates into fewer resources required for selecting, testing and optimizing formulations. Needless to say, speed to market is also improved.
Another growing consumer trend relates to liquid filled dosage forms. Consumers readily identify several positive attributes with liquid dosage forms: gentle, fast-acting and easy to absorb. Capsugel’s line of Licaps liquid filled capsules helps supplement companies differentiate their products because the capsules are clear and contain liquid, which is a departure from other standard product offerings on the market. Furthermore, Capsugel claims that consumers feel liquids carry the essence of dietary supplements and that they feel a certain level of comfort in taking supplement products they can see. Licaps capsules are sealed using an innovative technology based on a precisely controlled microspray process.
To satisfy cultural and vegetarian needs of consumers, Capsugel offers Vcaps capsules, which are produced using a plant-based raw material. Vcaps provides a preservative-free, all natural dosage form that retains all the advantages of standard two-piece gelatin capsules in that they are easy to swallow, effectively mask taste and odor, and allow product visibility. This capsule of plant origin meets the strict dietary needs of customers that choose vegetarian, as well as Kosher lifestyles. From a technical perspective, Vcaps capsules are ideal for formulations with moisture-sensitive ingredients.
In response to consumers looking to lead a healthier way of life, Capsugel has also launched an additional vegetarian alternative: NPcaps capsules. This product allows dietary supplement manufacturers to stay ahead of the development curve by offering increasingly selective consumers yet another way to meet their supplement needs. According to the company, this encapsulation option is a 100% natural, crystal clear capsule material. NPcaps are odorless, tasteless and completely biodegradable two-piece capsules made from the natural, vegetable-derived polysaccharide pullulan. Because pullulan is the capsule material most impermeable to oxygen transmission, NPcaps have the potential to offer enhanced protection for applications requiring the encapsulation of oxidation-sensitive ingredients.
The supplement market continues to be a major focus for Capsugel, according to Dan Healy, Dietary Supplements Marketing Specialist. Going forward, he said, “Supplements are part of Capsugel’s core business and are key to the growth of our organization. As such, we are committed to being supportive of industry improvements, progressive legislation and in offering science-based nutritional products that will improve the health of the supplement user.”
About the future, Mr. Healy commented, “The health of the industry is the responsibility of all those who both consume and provide supplement products. With the advent of good manufacturing practices (GMPs), as well as vigilant self-policing, the industry should remain robust, which will benefit all of its stakeholders.”—R.W.
Capsugel
535 North Emerald Road
Greenwood, SC 29646
Telephone: 888-783-6361
Fax: 888-783-6360
E-mail: glenda.oliver-smith@pfizer.com
Website: www.capsugel.com