New excipients for oral dosages
A new range of pharmacopoeia-compliant hydrolysed fish gelatins, the Byco range, has been developed by Croda Healthcare. Cold water soluble and with good adhesion properties, Bycos are particularly useful in tableting and microencapsulation applications. The new marine-sourced grades are direct substitutes for bovine products and provide a number of benefits in oral dosage pharmaceuticals and veterinary medicines.
In tableting applications, Bycos are useful as dry & wet granulation aids (including fluidised-bed granulation), binders in direct compression tableting, and dispersion aids in granular suspensions. With a melting point below body temperature, Bycos are particularly recommended as tablet coatings. Unlike starches and gums, Bycos form a water-soluble film on drying. This protects actives such as oil-soluble vitamins from air oxidation, and heat-sensitive drugs during spray-drying. The hydrophilic nature of the Byco film allows rapid redispersion of the compound on contact with water. Hydrolysed gelatins have been used in pharmaceutical applications for many years, are non-toxic and considered non-allergenic.