Catalent Pharma Solutions Expands Facility in Italy

Catalent Pharma Solutions' Consumer Health business has finished phase one of a multi-million dollar expansion of its facility in Aprilia, Italy. The facility produces Vegicaps capsules, easy-to-swallow plant-derived capsules that are free from animal derivatives and gluten.

"We needed to expand capacity for both traditional gelatin and Vegicaps capsules to ensure reliable supply of strong customer demand," said Gerry Purnell, European Commercial Director for Catalent's Consumer Health business, in a press release. "Customers are increasingly considering Vegicaps capsules because the technology accommodates a wide range of formulations and provides access to markets that require products free from animal derived gelatin."

The expansion offers customers a complete turnkey service from product conceptualization to formulation, development, production, and packaging. Catalent provides quality and analytical support throughout Europe, and the site's capabilities include a range of services such as market registration, analytical testing, and market release by Qualified Persons.

In the last 12 months, Catalent's Aprilia site has been expanded to include a new dedicated gelatine production area. New encapsulation machinery has been added for the production of traditional gelatin and Vegicaps capsules, increasing output by almost one third.

Catalent has also added a new turbo emulsifier to replace open roll-milling equipment. Capacity within inspection and drying areas has been increased and workflows and environments have been reviewed and enhanced to maintain high standards of safety and current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP).

Said Stefano Arena, General Manager of Catalent's Aprilia site, in the press release: "The improvements have been approved by the appropriate regulatory authorities, and we will continue to expand our facility in Aprilia throughout 2011 to bring more products, such as chewable capsules, to market. The ongoing expansion will not only benefit our customers in the consumer health market, but will also allow us to offer more services to the pharmaceutical and cosmetics sectors too."

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