Catalent Pharma Solutions, headquartered in Somerset, NJ, US, is adding new coating and blister packaging equipment at its 360,000ft2 softgel manufacturing facility in Eberbach, Germany, expanding the integrated softgel solutions available.
Coating services are scheduled to be operational early this year, with the packaging equipment expected to be online during June.
The new coating equipment for softgels with controlled, enteric and targeted release will be capable of processing more than 300 million capsules a year and complements Catalent’s softgel coating capability at its 78,000ft2 facility in Beinheim, France.
Catalent has conducted extensive studies to demonstrate the advantages of film coating softgels, including their physical stability protection under high storage temperatures and humidity.
Richard Lackner, General Manager, Catalent Pharma Solutions, Eberbach, said providing an integrated service enhances process efficiency and control, improving supply lead time and potentially enabling customers to reduce safety stock and extend product shelf life.
As the originator of the RP Scherer softgel rotary die process, Catalent continues to innovate with technologies such as OptiShell, a plant-derived capsule suitable for complex fill formulations, OptiGel Bio for macromolecules, and OptiGel Lock designed for abuse deterrence.
