Azelis and SPI Pharma distribution deal expands nutraceutical reach in UK and Ireland
26 Jul 2021 --- Azelis is entering into a new distribution agreement with SPI Pharma, a pharmaceutical solutions supplier for formulation marketers. Azelis will distribute SPI Pharma’s product line in the UK and Ireland.The deal is the latest in a series of acquisitions and agreements expanding Azelis’ footprint across international markets and segments.
This new partnership between Azelis and SPI Pharma extends the organoleptic excipients in Azelis’ range, complementing the existing starch derivatives and sugars, flavors and sucralose.
The additional products from SPI Pharma in combination with existing flavors and sweeteners in Azelis’ portfolio allow for new formulations, chewable tablets and nutraceutical tablets.
This alliance also expands Azelis’ antacid actives for pharmaceuticals and highly bioavailable metal salts for the nutraceuticals market.
Delivering active solutions
SPI Pharma’s primary objective is to engineer functional materials allowing for formulation solving and differentiation. SPI Pharma’s product line fits into Azelis’ strategy to offer technical excipients with synergies that complement one another.
SPI Pharma’s organoleptic excipients will extend Azelis’ offerings for formulators of chewable nutraceuticals.This agreement covers product lines including mannitol, fructose, maltose, antacid actives, metal salts, surface modified sodium bicarbonate, ODT (orally disintegrating technology) delivery systems and veterinary vaccine adjuvants.
“SPI Pharma offers a strong range of technical raw materials. The company is a proven innovator in the field, particularly with its range of mannitol excipients,” says Trevor Bridger, business manager pharma, UK, Ireland and developing markets at Azelis.
“Its range of organoleptic excipients will certainly be of interest to formulators of chewable pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals, and will offer unique formulation properties.”
Tapping into pharma
Azelis and SPI Pharma have a like-minded approach to specialty excipients and technical selling, and a very complementary product range, says John McInerney, general manager excipients and drug delivery systems business unit at SPI Pharma.
Azelis has 60 application labs around the world, each dedicated to a single market segment.
“Azelis’ application labs and the ability to formulate with our excipients and actives is something we are excited to see in action,” McInerney adds.
Active in acquisitions
This new distribution agreement furthers Azelis’ strategy of organic growth across markets.
The move comes at the heels of Azelis’ acquisition of Quimdis, a France-based natural products, essential oils and active ingredients company. The move aims to strengthen Azelis’ presence in France and EMEA.
Azelis currently has two EMEA pharma application labs in the UK and Turkey, staffed by industry experts working to support customers and principals with new product development and formulations.
It also builds on the acquisition of Vigon in the US, a specialty distributor and manufacturer of ingredients for the flavors, fragrances and cosmetics market segments in the US.
Expanding to Asia Pacific
Azelis recently agreed to acquire 100 percent shares in Coseal, a specialist distribution business in South Korea. Coseal is renowned for its specialist distribution, repackaging and blending of agricultural and horticultural surfactants. The acquisition of Coseal will further drive Azelis’ growth in these market segments across Asia Pacific.
In June, CP Kelco extended its distribution relationship with Azelis in India, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand, expanding Azelis’ rapid growth in Asia Pacific.
The agreement with CP Kelco comes one month after Azelis increased the scope of its distribution agreement with Roquette for its food product range in China.
This month the company also announced it would open a new personal care application laboratory in Cairo, Egypt, to offer new formulations and stability studies to its customers in the region.
By Missy Green
