CPHI 2025 live: Gelita on bridging the gap between supplements and pharma

At the ongoing CPHI trade show in Frankfurt, Germany (October 28–30), the nutraceutical and pharmaceutical industries are showcasing their innovations to improve human health, from active ingredients to excipients, delivery systems, and finished products.

Gelatin and collagen peptide specialist Gelita is highlighting how its pharma-grade excipients and softgel gelatins are “shaping the next generation of delivery systems.” 

On the showroom floor, Nutrition Insight meets with Oliver Wolf, global product promotion at Gelita, to discuss the company’s innovations. 

“Our focus is on performance, safety, and functionality — especially for brands moving toward pharmaceutical-grade products.”

“These innovations show how Gelita bridges the gap between food supplements and pharmaceutical-grade delivery systems.” 

At booth 3.0D37, the company features its RXL portfolio, comprising gelatins to reduce cross-linking and ensure consistent softgel dissolution over shelf life. It is also presenting its Delasol solution, which enables true enteric soft capsules without coatings — “ideal for acid-sensitive nutraceutical actives,” says Wolf.

Gelita will also showcase Easyseal, which helps brands avoid leakers and allows higher machine speed in softgel production, while Rapisol enables a rapid release of the capsule fill. According to Wolf, this is especially suitable for nootropic ingredients. 

Meanwhile, the company’s Endotoxin Controlled Excipients on display are designed for “highest purity in applications” such as vaccine stabilization and regenerative medicine.

Next wave of innovation

Gelita observes a strong momentum in healthy aging, mobility, and longevity, as well as in beauty and physical performance. Wolf notes collagen peptides already play a proven role in these areas.

“At the same time, demand for advanced delivery formats is growing. Softgels and enteric capsules based on our specific capsule gelatin portfolio allow formulators to combine delicate actives with superior bioavailability and shelf stability — a key advantage in the next generation of evidence-based supplements.”

Oliver Wolf, global product promotion at Gelita.Wolf observes an ongoing convergence between the nutraceutical and pharmaceutical industries, which are both displaying their innovations at CPHI this week. 

“Nutraceuticals and supplements used in clinical nutrition and therapeutic support increasingly demand pharma-level purity, functionality, and documentation,” he details. 

“Pharma companies are increasingly stepping into the lucrative supplement and nutraceutical market. This even increases the demand for the highest quality, soundly researched and approved efficacy for actives as well as for excipients — the strength of Gelita’s solutions.”

Pharma-grade expectations

Wolf says scientific substantiation is central to Gelita’s philosophy. 

“Our collagen peptide brands — such as Verisol, Fortigel, and Tendoforte — are supported by numerous peer-reviewed clinical trials confirming benefits for skin, joints, bones, and connective tissue.”

The company aims to meet pharma-grade expectations with its collagen and gelatin innovations. In 2022, it merged its pharmaceutical competence team into a new Gelita Pharma Institute — a global knowledge hub for excipients for pharma and life science applications. 

Wolf notes that experts at this institute can help tailor ideal excipients and delivery solutions for advanced softgels, enteric capsules, and supplements. 

“For our softgel and excipient innovations, we rely on extensive stability, dissolution, and cross-linking studies conducted by the Gelita Pharma Institute, ensuring reliable capsule performance under real-world conditions. This scientific rigor gives our partners full confidence in both functionality and safety.”

“Gelita excipients and collagen proteins are manufactured under GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices), ISO (International Standards Organization), and full traceability systems, ensuring compliance across global markets,” he concludes.