Roquette, a global leader in plant-based ingredients and a premier provider of pharmaceutical and nutraceutical excipients, proudly unveils LYCAGEL® Flex, its latest innovation in hydroxypropyl pea starch premix for softgel capsules. Leveraging Roquette’s pioneering LYCAGEL® pea starch technology, this plasticizer-free excipient empowers manufacturers with the freedom to select optimal plasticizer combinations, allowing customization of formulations to meet diverse production and end-user requirements while setting new benchmarks in quality, stability, and pearformance for plant-based softgels.

Embracing Flexibility in Softgel Manufacturing

Softgel capsules, renowned for their widespread patient acceptance and mechanical stability, have long been a staple in nutraceutical and pharmaceutical industries. However, challenges in manufacturing gelatin-based capsules, such as interactions with fill types and sensitivity to heat and moisture, often compromise stability and efficacy. LYCAGEL® Flex offers a superior solution, enabling manufacturers to overcome these challenges while catering to the rising demand for plant-based alternatives among consumers following vegetarian, vegan, or flexitarian diets.

Steve Amoussou-Guenou, Technical Developer Manager Europe at Roquette, states: “At Roquette, our mission is to address the most formidable challenges in drug delivery. With LYCAGEL® Flex, we aim to provide softgel producers with a plant-based alternative that not only matches but exceeds the performance of gelatin-based capsules. The flexibility offered by LYCAGEL® Flex empowers our customers to tailor formulations precisely to their needs, meeting the evolving demands of the market.”

Enhanced Performance and Stability

LYCAGEL® Flex offers numerous advantages over traditional gelatin formulations, including reduced degassing time and simplified equipment cleaning. Capsules manufactured using LYCAGEL® Flex exhibit exceptional stability, maintaining optimal appearance, hardness, and integrity throughout extended storage periods under challenging conditions.

Upon rigorous testing, capsules produced with LYCAGEL® Flex maintained their mechanical strength and integrity even after six months of storage at elevated temperatures and humidity levels. With no significant changes in disintegration time or water content, LYCAGEL® Flex ensures consistent performance and reliability, making it the preferred choice for producers and patients alike