Unlocking innovation, sustainability and consumer-focused ingredients at CPhI Barcelona 2023

11 Oct 2023 --- In the active ingredients and healthcare spaces, innovation is the key to industry progression. At the CPhI trade show in Barcelona, Spain, October 24-26, leaders in the field are set to showcase cutting-edge developments, sustainable practices and transformative partnerships.

We look at the trends in innovation, sustainability and collaboration as unveiled by two leading producers — Bioiberica and dsm-firmenich.

“Our aim is to expand treatment options and convenience for patients worldwide,” says Alexandru Zabara, the innovation manager for pharma and medical nutrition at dsm-firmenich.

“We have invested in research to develop a unique drug delivery technology platform that will empower companies to enter the cannabinoid market with IP-protected solid oral dosage formulations boasting high drug loading, stability and superior bioavailability.”

“We’ll be unveiling the promising preliminary findings of our investigation at the show,” he reveals.

Spotlight on ingredients
Bioiberica, a global life science company committed to enhancing the well-being of people, animals and plants, is also poised to make a significant impact at CPhI Barcelona 2023.The companies agree that sustainability is a driving issue for both customers and consumers.

The company states that its commitment to scientific research, sustainable development and strategic partnerships sets a promising tone for a future that values resilience and innovation.

At the heart of Bioiberica’s presence at CPhI Barcelona are its essential active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), including chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine for osteoarthritis treatment, thyroid for endocrinology and its flagship ingredient, Heparin. These APIs have long been trusted in the pharmaceutical industry for their efficacy.

dsm-firmenich underscores that it brings a rich heritage of supplying vitamins for pharmaceutical applications and states that one of the central themes of its presence at CPhI Barcelona 2023 will be its patient-centric cannabinoid-based therapies.

The company is breaking new boundaries in the cannabinoid arena by offering high-purity, GMP-certified cannabinoid APIs. Collaborating with strategic partner Brains Bioceutical, dsm-firmenich is set to revolutionize drug development in the cannabinoid space. The company’s proprietary data supports customizable drug formulation strategies for solid oral dosage formats and bioavailability enhancement.

Bioiberica is also unveiling scientific data that could unlock new co-innovation possibilities in medical nutrition — a domain of research with far-reaching implications for healthcare.

Building up brands
Additionally, Bioiberica is shining a spotlight on its branded ingredients, such as Collavant n2, Mobilee, Dermial and DAOgest. These innovative ingredients have been meticulously studied and are backed by scientific evidence that supports their efficacy in several health spaces — from joint health and mobility to skin health and histamine intolerance.

For the biomedical domain, dsm-firmenich is also showcasing TheraPEA, a polymer technology for advanced sustained-release drug products. This innovation addresses limitations associated with traditional polymeric materials and empowers the formulation of small molecule drugs and biologics for parenteral drug delivery.

The company says it will also focus on mitigating nitrosamine risk, a critical concern in the pharmaceutical industry. Their solutions aim to ensure the safety and efficacy of pharmaceutical products.Bioiberica will focus on its APIs while dsm-firmenich will focus on its cannabinoid-derived ingredients.

“Nitrosamine contamination continues to be a pressing matter in the pharma industry,” says Zdravka Misic, principal scientist EMEA at dsm-firmenich. “We have a portfolio of high-quality antioxidants available to support a US Food and Drug Administration-recommended strategy for nitrosamine risk mitigation — ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E).”

“New data and insights substantiate the proof of concept and the potential of antioxidant excipients as nitrosamine blocking agents,” she adds. “We look forward to discussing with our existing customers and potential new partners how we can support them with risk assessments, formulation expertise and application knowledge in the space.”

Industry commitment to sustainability
With sustainability gaining paramount importance in the pharmaceutical, healthcare and nutrition industries, Bioiberica says it is eager to share the transformative potential of its sustainability initiatives, highlighting its growing green credentials, and addressing mounting environmental concerns.

dsm-firmenich is also spotlighting its commitment to quality, reliability and sustainability through its RTF (Ready-to-Fill) solutions. The company states that these solutions minimize risks during the filling process, reduce overall costs and accelerate time to market.

Furthermore, it states that its sustainability values shine through its Sustainability Imp’Act Card program. This program supports its product portfolio and dsm-firmenich adds that it has been shortlisted in the CPhI Awards 2023 sustainability category.

“Each card displays tangible, transparent insights into the environmental and social impact of our ingredients — underlying how our broad offering can enable partners to distinguish themselves in the market with environmentally-conscious pharmaceuticals,” explains Kelsey Achenbach, dsm-firmenich’s VP of pharma and medical nutrition.

Innovation takes center stage
Research and innovation are the lifeblood of the pharmaceutical sector. Cognizant of this, dsm-firmenich will also host an exclusive reception dedicated to innovation.

The platform provides insights into global trends, types of innovation and key elements of a robust innovation pipeline.

Both companies agree that CPhI Barcelona 2023 will serve to display the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries’ commitments to innovation, sustainability and collaboration.

By William Bradford Nichols