Omya to launch natural mineral excipients for easier-to-compress and fast-dissolving tablets

22 Jul 2021 --- Mineral specialist Omya will launch two new excipients for nutraceutical tablets at Vitafoods Europe 2021 – Omyanutra 300 DC and Omyanutra 300 Flash. The innovations help to overcome processing challenges while responding to the demand for orally dissolving tablets (ODTs) and fast dissolving tablets.

One of the launches is Omyanutra 300 DC, a directly compressible version of the company’s proprietary functionalized calcium carbonate excipient. It enables “excellent” tablet compactability and the free flow of granules. Meanwhile, Omyanutra 300 Flash comes with a superdisintegrant that enables fast disintegration in orally and fast-dissolving tablets.

“ODTs are an emerging dosage form. Since they do not need to be swallowed, they can be taken on the go and are especially suited for children and elderly people that struggle with swallowing tablets,” Tanja Budde, director innovation and technical marketing – consumer goods of Omya tells NutritionInsight. 

“In addition, some substances are absorbed best through the mucosa. All these factors contribute to the growing popularity of ODTs in nutraceuticals.” 

Building on its portfolio
Omya’s latest mineral solutions aim to overcome processing challenges with high-purity, natural minerals. Budde supports that the new launches complete the company’s Omyanutra offering. 

Until now, Omyanutra 300 was a powder product offered as a nutraceutical excipient that allows for carrying and releasing actives. The proprietary calcium carbonate excipient makes liquids dry and easy to handle.

The new Omyanutra 300 DC is a granulated product that comes with the same benefits but it is additionally free-flowing and directly compressible into tablets. The granules are tailor-made for tablet usage and designed to withstand stress.

 Tanja Budde, director innovation and technical marketing – consumer goods, OmyaDissolving tablets
Meanwhile, Omyanutra 300 Flash comes with a superdisintegrant that enables fast disintegration in orally and fast-dissolving tablets.  

“An ODT with Omyanutra 300 Flash smoothly and entirely disintegrates, in less than 15 seconds, in the mouth,” says Budde. 

The minerals also provide fast dissolution due to their porous structure. This porosity enables the safe carrying and release of active ingredients. The emerging excipients are free from nanoparticles and GMOs, lending to clean label supplement trends. 

Taking the pressure off processing
Omya’s new mineral solutions help facilitate the production of nutraceutical tablets that require high compaction forces. 

This type of processing is often required to bond components in formulations with a high number of active ingredients, notes the company. 

Omyanutra 300 DC and Omyanutra 300 Flash enable manufacturers to create hard tablets at low compression forces. 

“Herbal extracts, for example, are often only poorly compactable and tableting turns out to be a challenge,” explains Budde. Omyanutra 300 DC allows for improving the compactability of poorly compactable substances including herbal extracts. 

They allow for free-flowing, directly compressible granules and offer better compactability compared to benchmark excipients such as lactose and microcrystalline cellulose, supports the company. 

Facilitating NPD
Omya’s upcoming launches are especially designed with ease-of-use in mind.

“Our mineral excipients Omyanutra 300 DC and Omyanutra 300 Flash are both multifunctional innovations that speed up new product developments,” says Stefan Lander, vice president consumer goods, group sales and marketing at Omya.

Omyanutra 300 Flash, for example, is positioned as an “all-in-one solution,” as it performs regardless of the solid dosage form’s hardness. 

Omya will showcase a cocoa-based instant drink beverage concept for bone health developed in partnership with Gelita.Collaborative concepts
The mineral company will also showcase a cocoa-based instant drink beverage concept for bone health developed by Omya and collagen peptide expert Gelita. 

The beverage will contain 240 mg calcium – enough to provide 30 percent of the recommended daily amount of the mineral – and 5 g of Fortibone Bioactive Collagen Peptides. 

“The prototype drink is just one example of the many opportunities that our solutions open up for manufacturers who are looking for natural, effective and easy to process ingredients,” explains Lander. 

The drink will be presented at Vitafoods’ official Tasting Center and will feature Omya’s Omyaforte 100, a highly bioavailable source of calcium suitable for powdered formulations and dietary supplements.  

The mineral solution can be combined with a broad range of other nutrients to offer a number of benefits in one package. 

“With Vitafoods Europe back as an in-person event, this is the perfect platform to present our new offerings,” concludes Lander. 

Hybrid trade shows roll out 
Vitafoods 2021 will take place in a hybrid format with the in-person program in Palexpo in Geneva open from October 5 to 7. The simultaneous online event from October 4 to 8 will enable exhibitors and visitors to join from around the globe.

The upcoming launches build on Omya's latest moves in the nutraceutical space. In May, it launched a mineral solution to enhance the stability, performance and survivability of probiotics. 

Omya’s natural minerals solutions have also been spotlighted for their ability to increase the calcium content in baby foods. 

By Missy Green