Under the new nomenclature the names of all the excipients will start with the word ‘Kolli’ with the suffix ‘phor’ applied to solubilizers and emulsifiers, ‘solv’ being used for solvents, ‘wax’ for consistency factors and the term ‘cream’ for emollients.
Spokesman Andres-Christian Orthofer told in-Pharmatechnologist.com that: “After the acquisition of Cognis, BASF’s pharmaceutical portfolio changed substantially.
“In addition, BASF’s former solubilizers portfolio included many different kinds of products, not just solubilizers. This made it necessary to develop a new and consistent naming system.
BASF expects the consequences of the name change to minimal for customers, because none of the processes used to manufacture the various excipients have been changed. Nevertheless firms that have used BASF tradenames in regulatory dossiers may need to make minor changes as Orthofertold explained.
“Usually customers use chemical or compendial names in their dossiers, labels and package inserts instead of BASF brand names. In this case, the change has no impact on the customer’s filed documents. According to our market knowledge most European customers are using chemical names; therefore, no problems are expected.
“In the US and Asia, it seems that some customers use BASF brand names along with chemical or compendial names in their regulatory dossiers. In general, when customers change the brand name in regulatory documents, they are required to notify the authorities. It is usually regarded as an administrative change.”
The renaming move follows just days after BASF set up a bioavailability services-focused partnership with contract manufacturer Catalent. In that agreement the German firm provides its excipients and formulation know-how and the US company supplies its Optimelt and Softgel platforms.
The launch of the renamed products also fits with BASF’s recent decision to refocus its R&D teams. The project – which will establish six new research teams – is designed to improve the efficiency of BASF’s development efforts with pharmaceutical excipients and bioavailability being cited as core areas of focus going forward.