Cardinal moves into tablet coating
healthcare industry, is building its first tablet coating facility
to offer its pharmaceutical clients a range of innovative delivery
systems that target the oral drug delivery market.
The new plant will enable >Cardinal to provide contract manufacturing services for pharmaceutical tablets that offer new forms of drug delivery, using electrostatic powder coating technology developed by Phoqus, a UK-based drug delivery company.
Drug delivery technologies are applied to pharmaceuticals to provide benefits such as controlling the release of a drug into the body to improve the performance and efficacy of an existing drug, whilst reducing side-effects.
These benefits enable pharmaceutical companies to extend the life cycles of their products, strengthen their patent protection and thereby enhance the value of their products and development pipelines.
Thus, advanced delivery technologies are increasingly being used by drug companies to provide a competitive advantage in tough pharmaceutical markets and revamp existing products.
Installation of the new plant will begin in January 2006 at the company's existing site in Schorndorf, Germany.
In building the new facility, Cardinal has recognised the potential value of such technology in the pharmaceutical market.
