12.07.20
Roquette, a plant-based ingredients supplier, recently announced the launch of Lycagel, a plant-based softgel formula designed to be an alternative to gelatin for both nutraceutical and pharmaceutical applications.
The high-performance capsule is comprised of pea starch, carrageenan (a setting agent sourced from marine microalgae), Neosorb sorbitol, and is entirely plant-based. It meets both the EU and U.S. pharmacopoeia standards.
“The launch of Lycagel marks a new era for softgel formulations and manufacturing,” Paul Smaltz, head of Roquette’s global pharmaceutical unit, said. “Manufacturers no longer need to compromise on performance when launching a vegetable softgel solution. Designed to be easily adaptable to existing gelatin processes, Lycagel can support businesses in bringing vegetarian alternatives to market quickly, without significant changes to existing operations.”
Roquette promises that Lycagel offers excellent capsule strength, seal integrity, a quick drying time, no stickiness, fast disintegration, and, compared to gelatin, no cross-linking and higher processing temperature stability. This makes it suitable for multi-ingredient and advanced formulations, as well as for ingredients with higher processing temperatures such as pastes and waxes.
“Lycagel gives manufacturers the opportunity to take vegetarian softgel formulation further than ever before,” Smaltz continued. “As well as offering advanced performance, the pea starch system delivers on consumer visual appeal too – producing capsules with a transparent, shiny finish and excellent reproducibility. This launch represents Roquette’s continued commitment to ensuring its customers remain at the forefront of innovation.”
Roquette intends to offer contract research services to potential partners who are exploring this technology for their own customers. This includes materials for pilot scale, a data package detailing formulation, equipment, and processing, and remote or on-site technical scale-up support, as part of an effort to speed efficient scale-up and commercialization, the company said.
The high-performance capsule is comprised of pea starch, carrageenan (a setting agent sourced from marine microalgae), Neosorb sorbitol, and is entirely plant-based. It meets both the EU and U.S. pharmacopoeia standards.
“The launch of Lycagel marks a new era for softgel formulations and manufacturing,” Paul Smaltz, head of Roquette’s global pharmaceutical unit, said. “Manufacturers no longer need to compromise on performance when launching a vegetable softgel solution. Designed to be easily adaptable to existing gelatin processes, Lycagel can support businesses in bringing vegetarian alternatives to market quickly, without significant changes to existing operations.”
Roquette promises that Lycagel offers excellent capsule strength, seal integrity, a quick drying time, no stickiness, fast disintegration, and, compared to gelatin, no cross-linking and higher processing temperature stability. This makes it suitable for multi-ingredient and advanced formulations, as well as for ingredients with higher processing temperatures such as pastes and waxes.
“Lycagel gives manufacturers the opportunity to take vegetarian softgel formulation further than ever before,” Smaltz continued. “As well as offering advanced performance, the pea starch system delivers on consumer visual appeal too – producing capsules with a transparent, shiny finish and excellent reproducibility. This launch represents Roquette’s continued commitment to ensuring its customers remain at the forefront of innovation.”
Roquette intends to offer contract research services to potential partners who are exploring this technology for their own customers. This includes materials for pilot scale, a data package detailing formulation, equipment, and processing, and remote or on-site technical scale-up support, as part of an effort to speed efficient scale-up and commercialization, the company said.
