Softgel Technology

Maximize treatments and deliver complex compounds to market faster

As innovators of softgel technology, we bring more than 75 years of development expertise and manufacturing experience to the full spectrum of drug delivery.  Softgel is the drug delivery solution of choice that solves complex formulation, solubility, bioavailability, and development challenges, bringing more molecules to market faster. Our broad clinical knowledge and deep regulatory experience provides you with an opportunity to shorten development time, improve bioavailability, and reduce regulatory risk. With the ever-increasing demand for drug development solutions in today’s market, our global manufacturing facilities and team of over 1,000 expert scientists can provide a catalyst to your success by solving your complex solubility, stability, and bioavailability challenges.

Whether you require a traditional softgel capsule, enhanced technology for chewable and enteric-coated capsules, or our innovative, plant-derived Vegicaps^® capsules, our goal is to optimize your product performance and minimize your time to market with a proven dosage form that has a strong track record of commercial success.

Catalent Benefits 

Softgel drug delivery technology has numerous pharmacological advantages that can help bring challenging compounds to market.

• Improve bioavailability of poorly water-soluble and poorly permeable compounds
• Improve solubility for BCS (Biopharmaceutical Classification system) II/IV compounds
• Improve solubility and permeability for BCS III/IV compounds
• Get specialized handling and manufacturing for your hormones, cytotoxics, potent and difficult APIs
• Enhance dose uniformity of potent compounds and minimize patient-to-patient variability 
• Reduce your development time and benefit from a proven dosage form with stringent commercial success
• Differentiate your brand with various color, shape, and size options and protect your product from counterfeiting and tampering
• Reconsider your product life cycle management by generating a faster onset of action, reducing API dose, minimizing side effects, and improving your overall treatment performance.

Valuable Product Differentiation

We offer industry-leading softgel technology solutions that can be uniquely customized for a variety of markets: 

• A complete range of delivery solutions to improve the overall value of your treatments
  • Controlled-release technologies
    • Enteric coating enables delayed-release of the active ingredient with targeted absorption
  • Vegicaps^® capsules
    • Proprietary non-gelatin, plant-derived shell with enhanced utility of more APIs, including high temperature and semisolid forms
  • Suppositories and vaginal ovules
    • Highly-suited drug delivery solution for vaginal and/or rectal creams and ointments  with improved patient compliance
  • Chewables
    • Ideal for pediatric, adolescent, and geriatric markets, accommodating a wide range of formulations
• Unlimited shapes, sizes, and colors to differentiate your product
  • Ovals, rounds, oblongs
  • Capsule sizes and volumes customized with your tailored specifications
• In-line printing that provides protection from brand counterfeiting

Catalent Services

• Formulation expertise for complex API or processing requirements 
• Integrated systemization from formulation to development to commercial manufacturing 
• Global regulatory and validation expertise

Facilities

Our deep formulation expertise supported by a global infrastructure of cGMP, FDA, EMA, and locally accredited softgel facilities will provide a catalyst to your success by tailoring a unique drug delivery solution to bring your product faster to market.