The agreement between Nisso’s New York-based division Nisso America and Mutchler will focus on distribution of the Japanese firm’s hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC) to drug manufacturers in the US and its territories according to company president, Dwight Mutchler.
Mutchler said his firm “will provide sales, marketing, sampling, technical support, and distribution for Nisso HPC to the pharmaceutical market in the USA and Puerto Rico.”
Hiroyasu Yamazaki, president of Nisso Ameirca, said the deal with Mutchler will help the firm “better communicate with pharmaceutical formulators about the unique advantages Nisso HPC can provide to solve difficult formulation problems.”
The collaboration comes less than a year after Nisso added a fourth production line at its HPC production plant in Nihongi, Japan.
The firm claims its product has a lower molecular weight and is a finer grade than other HPCs on the market.
Competition in the US market is set to increase in the next couple of years.
In August 2014, Ashland announced plans to expand its own plant in Hopewell, Virginia, also citing increased demand. The plant will open its doors in 2016.