ISP and Capricorn form strategic alliance

US companies International Specialty Products (ISP) and Capricorn Pharma have signed a global marketing agreement that involves the worldwide promotion and sales of Capricorn's range of microencapsulated active ingredients for use in a variety of pharmaceutical OTC, nutritional and oral care applications.

ISP will have worldwide rights to market, sell and distribute the Capricorn ingredients, which create innovative opportunities for chewable and rapidly dissolving consumer products. The Capricorn family of microencapsulation technologies has the flexibility to be applied to a wide variety of active ingredients for taste and odour masking and active stabilisation in a number of final product formulations including tablets, films, bars and chews.

According to Steve Olsen, senior vp marketing and corporate development at ISP: 'Our alliance with Capricorn is a fantastic opportunity to add an exciting product line and technology to our pharmaceutical portfolio. We are very impressed with Capricorn's technology and its dedication to being a technology leader in providing high-quality, high-value ingredients. Over a very short period of time, we expect to offer customers a strong product portfolio, including microencapsulated ingredients in the analgesic, cough and cold, allergy, gastrointestinal, vitamins and minerals, nutritional supplements and oral care categories.'

S. Rao Cherukuri, president and ceo of Capricorn, commented: 'We believe that ISP's strength and position in the global pharmaceuticals, oral care and fine chemicals businesses will rapidly enhance the development and growth of our products in the market.'