Rousselot’s StabiCaps score European patent, improving soft gel stability and performance

09 May 2022 --- Rousselot has received approval from the European Patent Office (EPO) on a patent for its gelatin excipient solution StabiCaps. The collagen-based solutions supplier adds that the gelatin excipient improves soft gel formulation and stability.

“When manufacturing soft gels, nutraceutical and pharmaceutical manufacturers sometimes experience shell cross-linking leading to stability issues. By using StabiCaps, our customers can rely on gelatin’s functional capabilities and dissolution properties,” Pierre-Albert Thomas, global director at Rousselot Functional Ingredients, tells NutritionInsight.

“StabiCaps has been specifically designed to offer an optimal molecular weight and pH, both necessary qualities to reduce cross-linking in soft capsule formulation.”

Minimizing risk of cross-linking reactions
Due to its strong shell stability and ability to dissolve effectively over time, StabiCaps minimizes the risk of cross-linking reactions in soft gel production – a significant difficulty faced by nutraceutical and pharmaceutical producers when utilizing reactive fillers.

Pierre-Albert Thomas, global director at Rousselot Functional Ingredients (Credit: Rousselot).Compared to standard gelatins, StabiCaps may offer gelatins that provide higher shell stability and active pharmaceutical ingredient release levels.

Detailing the impact the EPO patent of StabiCaps will have on industry, Thomas says: “The patent represents the first step toward raising further awareness that crosslinking isn’t a necessary evil and that StabiCaps can help industry further improve soft gel performance, which will, in turn, benefit the end consumer.”

Gelatin, soft gel production’s “star” ingredient
Rousselot highlights that gelatin is the most popular gel-forming ingredient used in soft gel production because of its natural qualities, therapeutic benefits and suitability for immediate release dosing.

“In addition, Rousselot’s gelatin is a natural ingredient, without e- numbers, produced naturally and responsibly,” Thomas explains. “When the use of products produced in an environmentally and ethical way is important to consumers, responsible production processes are worth being highlighted.”

“Rousselot wants to improve its existing products and develop new ones to help its customers succeed in their market. We know that gelatin still has a lot to offer, and we have no plans to stop exploring its properties.”

Rousselot previously received an EPO patent for its gelatin-based solution SiMoGel for functional gummies. According to the company, SiMoGel improves the production of nutraceutical gummies and allows manufacturers to introduce competitive delivery formats into the market.

According to Aenova, softgel capsules are a suitable dosage form for cannabinoids like CBD as they optimize bioavailability.

Tapping into a robust sector
Rousselot adds that the market for soft gels is predicted to rise at a compound annual rate of 9% over the next six years. The category is expected to be valued at US$9.1 billion by 2028.

Soft capsules, also known as soft gels, are primarily used as a vessel for oil-based liquids or paste-like fills and their popularity has grown over time because of their ease of absorption.

StabiCaps is a gelatin excipient that improves the formulation and stability of soft gels.“Functional gummies and soft gels are two of the fastest-growing dosage formats in today’s healthcare sector,” says Thomas. “By protecting StabiCaps with patents, we give our customers an edge on their competition, enabling them to move to the fore in their markets.”

“In recent years, Rousselot has developed several exciting innovations with collagen and gelatins in most of our target markets, including beauty, health, mobility and the food and biomedical sectors.”

“We have been filing patents regularly and we plan to keep following this direction as we strengthen our focus on innovation going forward.”

Among recent developments, Rousselot opened a new production line for porcine collagen within its Belgium-based plant. Porcine collagen is pegged as “highly bioavailable,” with the bioactive protein Peptan P being used in supplements for joint and muscle support.

Meanwhile, Gelita pegged its Gelita EC as the “first and only” gelatin product for soft gels with full enteric performance. Capsule manufacturers can utilize Gelita EC and their existing equipment in a single step during capsule production.

By Nicole Kerr