BioProgress makes first system sales

BioProgress of the UK, which specialises in delivery mechanisms for the pharmaceutical oral dosage markets, has sold the first two machines in its line of systems for tablet coating based on its proprietary coloured cellulose film.

One of the XGEL TABWRAP machines has been delivered to a major global pharmaceutical company in the US, while the other has been delivered to Peter Black Healthcare in the UK, a contract pharmaceutical and supplement manufacturer. While the identity of the US firm has not been divulged, BioProgress has long-standing business relationships with Bristol-Myers Squibb, and Procter & Gamble.

"These first machines are small-scale pilot versions of the full size XGEL TABWRAP systems which are currently being designed and built by BioProgress,"​ said the firm in a statement. The pilot scale machines can be used to validate product performance and generate the stability data that is required for new pharmaceutical products.

Graham Hind, BioProgress' CEO, said: "there has been relatively little innovation in the tablet making process for a number of years."​ He added that the market opportunity for the TABWRAP technology is significant.

BioProgress claims that the TABWRAP technology offers a number of major advantages over conventional approaches. For example, it provides a new product development opportunity and the ability to differentiate a product in the marketplace. It also answers the industry wish to replace animal derived materials like gelatine and can produce a two-colour tablet, something that is not possible using traditional tablet spray coating techniques.

TABWRAP can also improve product shelf life, according to the company, and by manipulating the film wrap formulation it is possible to release the active in the tablet into the body at a faster rate.

"Most importantly these advantages are achieved at reduced production costs for the customer,"​ according to Hind.

TABWRAP is one of four new dosage forms BioProgress is developing under the XGEL family of products. The others are: SWALLOW, a non-gelatin liquid filled capsule process; NROBE, a powder delivery dosage form; and SEPTUM, a dosage form which enables the encapsulation of two non-compatible active ingredients in the same shell, delivering each at a different time or site in the body.