Capsugel, not currently a division of Pfizer

Pfizer

Pfizer, Inc. is an American multinational pharmaceutical corporation. The company is based in New York City, New York with its research headquarters in Groton, Connecticut, United States...

, is the world leader in the sales and manufacture of gelatin and non-gelatin capsules. With global manufacturing, sales and service, Capsugel provides empty capsules, as well as formulations, for both pharmaceuticals and dietary supplements. Capsugel provides a wide array of capsule products, as well as equipment and services.

History

Capugel was founded in (1931) in Detroit,MI as a division of Parke-Davis

Parke-Davis

Parke-Davis is a subsidiary of the pharmaceutical company Pfizer. Although no longer an independent corporation, it was once America's oldest and largest drug maker, and played an important role in medical history.- History :...

, after Arthur Colton designed a machine which simultaneously manufactured both the body and caps of a hard gelatin capsule, and fit them together.

In 1970, Parke-Davis, including Capsugel, was acquired by Warner Lambert. In 2000, Warner-Lambert, including Capsugel, was acquired by Pfizer

Pfizer

Pfizer, Inc. is an American multinational pharmaceutical corporation. The company is based in New York City, New York with its research headquarters in Groton, Connecticut, United States...

.

It was announced on 4 April 2011 that Pfizer will sell the Capsugel business to global investment firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (KKR) for $2.38 billion. FT detail of 2011 sale to KKR.

Coni-Snap® Capsules

Coni-Snap http://capsugel.com/products/conisnap.php Capsules are Capsugel's most widely recognised product, a standard two-part hard gelatin capsule that are usually filled with either powder or granules. A wide variety of other products, suchs as pellets, tablets, pastes, and liquids, can also be used. Coni-Snap capsules can also be made in nearly any size and colour combination.

The body section of the patented Coni-Snap design has a tapered rim that allows for problem-free encapsulation on high-speed capsule filling machines. The dual snap-ring locking system provides both initial attachment prior to capsule filling, as well as a final, secure closure of the filled capsule. The Coni-Snap design also includes air vents to avoid unwanted air compression within the capsule during high speed filling.

DBcaps® Capsules

DBcaps http://capsugel.com/products/dbcaps.php capsules are a line of capsules designed specifically for use in double-blind studies. These opaque capsules are large enough to fully encapsulate a range of tablet sizes, so splitting or grinding is not required, reducing variability in the study. The DBcap capsule design also incorporates a tamper-proof locking design, preventing the participants from opening the capsules, and breaking the blind.

Vcaps® Capsules

Vcaps http://capsugel.com/products/vcaps.php capsules are a two-piece capsule made of Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose (HPMC), a cellulose-based raw material. They are also startch-free, gluten-free, and preservative-free, and meet the dietary of vegetarians and vegans. They are also Kosher and Halal Certified.

Licaps® Capsules

Licaps http://capsugel.com/licapsDDS/index.php capsules are two-piece gelatin or HPMC capsules, designed specifically for containing liquids or semi-solids. Sealed with patented Liquid Encapsulation Microspray (LEMS) technology, Licaps are designed to be leakproof. Licaps Capsules are commonly used when ingredients are more stable in a liquid-based form, such as in dietary supplements. Liquid supplements are also perceived by consumers as being faster acting and offering greater absorption then tablets.

Global Pharmaceutical Research and Development Center http://capsugel.com/services/development.php

This research centre in Illkirch, France works closely with pharmaceutical and dietary supplement companies to find the best formulation and delivery system, whether it be a powder, or a lipid-based liquid. The centre also provides services to guide customers through pre-clinical testing, clinical trials, as well as help in scaling up production.

Equipment

Besides selling empty capsules and development services, Capsugel also sells a variety of equipment for the filling both empty and liquid capsules, as well as equipment for sealing liquid capsules.

R&D Equipment

The CFS1200®http://capsugel.com/equipment/cfs1200.php is a capsule filling and sealing machine, designed for to test lipid-based liquid formulations. Using patented Liquid Encapsulation Microspray (LEMS) technology, this machine can produce up to 1,200 liquid-filled capsules every hour.

The Xcelodose® Precision Powder Micro-dosing System http://capsugel.com/equipment/xcelodose.php allows for precise measurement of powders into capsules. There are two models available, the Xceldose 120S, which is semi-automated, and can fill approximately 120 capsules every hour, or the fully automated Xceldose 600S, which can continuously fill 600 capsules an hour.

Commercial Scale Filling Equipment

The Cap8®http://capsugel.com/equipment/cap8.php Capsule Filling Machine is an entry-level capsule filling machine offering semi-automatic operation; it can reliably fill up to 29,000 capsules an hour.

The Ultra 8 II®http://capsugel.com/equipment/ultra8.php Capsule Filling Machine provides fast, quiet, and reliable filling capabilities, capable of high capsule output of 33,000 capsules per hour.

Clinical Trial / Manual Filling Equipment

The Profill 100®http://capsugel.com/equipment/profill.php Capsule Filling Machine allows for high precision dosing, while making relatively small quantities of filled capsules. Designed for use in clinical trials, this allows for the manual filling of up to 1,500 capsules hourly, without more expensive machines or electrical/vacuum connections.

Facilities

Capsugel, while headquartered in the United States, is based in 12 countries around the globe. Capsugel's corporate headquarters are in Peapack, New Jersey.

Capsugel has Research and Development labs in:

• Illkirch, France
• Cambridge, United Kingdom
• Greenwood, South Carolina, USA
• Colmar France
• Bornem, Belgium

Capsugel is a global manufacturer, with major production facilities in:

The Americas

• Greenwood, South Carolina
• Puebla, Mexico

Europe

• Ploërmel, France
• Colmar, France
• Bornem, Belgium

Asia

• Sagamahara, Japan
• Suzhou, China
• Dharuhera, India
• Ayuthaya, Thailand
• Cibinong, Indonesia

Dedicated sales offices are located in:

The Americas

• Greenwood, South Carolina, USA
• Rio de Janiero, Brazil

Europe

• Bornem Belgium
• Colmar, France
• Moscow, Russia

Asia

• Sagamihara, Japan
• Suzhou, China
• Ayuthaya, Thailand
• Cibinong, Indonesia
• Dharuhera, India
• Sydney, Australia