The technology, Acryl-EZE, combines the targeted drug release technology Eudragit L 100 – a copolymer of methacrylic acid and ethyl acrylate developed by Evonik – with a single pass coating system developed by Colorcon.
Under the new agreement - financial terms of which were not disclosed - Germany-based Evonik will help Colorcon market the technology to drug developers. It will also provide those customers with technical support at one of its research labs.
Prior to today’s agreement, Colorcon has been solely responsible for the production, distribution, marketing of the coating and has also provided drug industry customers with technical support at its 20 or so labs worldwide.
In a press statement Colorcon said the partnership would allow it to reach and support more customers.
CEO Martti Hedman said: "Expanding our sales and marketing activities will enable us to reach and support more customers and offer them a broader technical service together with Evonik, a leading company in delayed release polymers. We are excited to enter this new cooperation.”
Unfortunately, the Pennsylvania, US, headquartered firm was unable to respond to a request for additional information ahead of publication so it is unclear where Evonik’s marketing and technical support efforts will be focused.
What is clear is that Evonik’s methacrylic acid and ethyl acrylate manufacturing and marketing network is already extensive.
The firm was named alongside BASF, Dow, Arkema and Nippon Shukubai as one of the world’s key manufacturers of acrylic acid derivatives – which include methacrylic acid and ethyl acrylate – in a recent report by marketsandmarkets.
Evonik has acrylic acid production facilities in Worms and Wesseling in Germany, Shanghai in China and Fortier in the US.