Dow and Colorcon extend and broaden the scope of the Controlled Release Alliance

Alliance will be extended to include Dow’s advanced technology-based pharmaceutical excipients.

The Alliance has served the needs of the pharmaceutical industry, since July 2007, providing customized solutions, products and support services for pharmaceutical product development. The addition of new technologies into the Alliance product portfolio expands the existing relationship between Colorcon and Dow and further enables formulation and development of fast-growing pharmaceutical applications, beyond the existing controlled release scope.

“This new phase reaffirms the long-standing commitment between the two companies to grow together and leverage their respective strengths,” said Martti Hedman, CEO of Colorcon Inc. “With the addition of new technologies, we look forward to providing increased value for our pharmaceutical customers, strengthening our market leadership position, and continuing to be their supplier of choice.”

The alliance portfolio will comprise the controlled release technologies including METHOCEL CR Cellulose Ethers, ETHOCEL polymers and POLYOX resins, as well as the additional excipient technologies including AFFINISOL polymers for solubility enhancement, ENTERACT polymers for enteric tablet coatings, and DUOLITE and AMBERLITE ion exchange resins for controlled release and other applications.

AFFINISOL is a new science-driven offering to enhance the solubility profile of poorly soluble active pharmaceutical ingredients, one of the most pressing needs of the pharmaceutical industry today. This innovative technology is ideal for formulating BCS Class II and Class IV compounds via spray dry dispersion or hot melt extrusion, the two leading processing technologies in the field.

In addition, AMBERLITE and DUOLITE are powdered ion exchange resins used as formulation excipients. The technologies have a broad range of applications, including taste-masking, tablet disintegration, modified release and the formulation of poorly soluble or unstable drug compounds.

“The expansion of the Alliance portfolio enables Dow to extend a more robust pharmaceutical offering to a wider base of customers through this collaboration,” said Marc van Gerwen, business director of Dow Pharma & Food Solutions. “Dow’s long standing relationship with Colorcon is rooted in the belief that the company’s innovation and manufacturing excellence is complemented perfectly by Colorcon’s global reach and deep technical expertise.”

The agreement also renews the Alliance innovation partnership, in which Colorcon and Dow collaborate on the development and commercialization of the next generation controlled release excipients. The partnership’s efforts focus on areas such as productivity improvement and manufacturing efficiency for the pharmaceutical industry.