New HPMC-based capsules, combined with a range of innovative formulation strategies and processing technologies, offer a means of addressing the challenges of today’s APIs as well as the requirement for rapid product development. The expanding range and application of HPMC-based capsules and encapsulation options are meeting demand for increasingly specialised and patient-centric dosage forms.
HPMC-based capsules can also play a role in addressing poor bioavailability. These capsules can interact with poorly soluble APIs, leading to a lower crystallisation rate in the GI tract, which can be important in situations when there are supersaturated APIs in the intestine or when dosing either a high-energy salt form or a weakly basic API. In such cases, the degree to which HPMC capsules can affect in vivo performance by helping to maintain supersaturation — by inhibiting crystallisation — depends on the specific application.
