Thomas Frazier, global marketing manager at Dow, explained to in-PharmaTechnologist that adding the flake variant to its portfolio provides clients with an excipient that may dissolve or melt better than other products in some applications.
Other companies already offer polyethylene glycol (PEG) in flake form but Fraizer believes Dow will be able to grow its market share in the next 12 months.
Frazier explained that although the product has just launched "traction has started" that suggests demand will increase, which he attributes to several factors.
Firstly, Dow's production is fully integrated back to ethylene. This reassures customers that Dow will be able to consistently produce PEG and also that the supply chain is secure. Fraizer added that although many PEG producers are fully integrated "very few" are focused on pharma grade material.
Furthermore, Fraizer believes Dow's position in the market and the value clients place on its "branded speciality PEGs" will help the flake variant succeed.
Phased Expansion
The launch is part of the phased capacity expansion that Dow began in 2007, which has seen the company make improvements to its equipment and processes. Dow already provides its Carbowax Sentry PEGs as a liquid and in granular and powder solid forms, which are also marketed as actives.
This range is now supplemented by PEG 3350, 4000 and 8000 flake forms that are sold solely as excipients. Dow is producing the PEG at two facilities in the US, both of which are compliant with current good manufacturing practices (cGMP).
By entering the market for PEG flake Fraizer believes Dow can reinforce its position as "the global leader" and continue its approach of focusing on the needs of customers and the market.