FLORHAM PARK, NJ, November 5, 2009 – BASF today announced a new tablet coating system that enables individual, on-site production of robust and rapidly soluble tablet coatings in countless shades from only seven base colors at the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS) Annual Meeting, Nov. 8-12, 2009, at the Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, California.  Visitors to BASF booth 1532 will have the opportunity to hear a presentation on Kollicoat® IR Coating Systems.

“BASF is combining a new production process and novel color concept with the water-soluble film former Kollicoat® IR to make tablet coating production more efficient,” said Nicholas Shackley, Business Director, Pharma Ingredients and Services, for BASF in North America.  “Now tablet manufacturers can optimize their inventories and reduce supply chain complexity.” 

Kollicoat IR has excellent processing properties that make the polymer special.  It provides low viscosity coating suspensions at high solid concentrations that reduce production spray times.  As a result, pharmaceutical manufacturers cut their energy bills and spare the environment by reducing CO2 emissions.

Customers are provided with free-flowing granules of each base color.
The granules are dust-free and exhibit excellent flowability, which greatly simplifies production handling.  The BASF coating system module consists of just seven base colors that are combined to match desired color needs.  

Kollicoat IR is a graft copolymer composed of polyethylene glycol and polyvinyl alcohol. It is extremely flexible and does not require additional plasticizer. The polymer dissolves rapidly in the stomach, resulting in prompt active substance release and rapid onset of action.

As the population ages and the number of tablets consumed increases, more pharmaceutical manufacturers are using color coatings as a way to make it easier for people to identify their medications.  A striking color supports and enhances product identification and also helps prevent mix-ups during tablet production.

More information is available on BASF’s Web site at www.coating-systems.basf.com.

A press photo can be found at www.basf.com/pressphoto-database under the keyword “BASF SE” and the search term “Color Coatings”.

Care Chemicals and Formulators

BASF’s Care Chemicals division develops, produces and markets a comprehensive range of products for nutrition, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, detergents & cleaners, and industrial & chemical applications. As a result of focused research and development, we are a preferred partner of our customers worldwide.

The products offered by BASF Care Chemicals include vitamins, carotenoids, organic acids, active pharmaceutical ingredients and excipients, aroma chemicals and cosmetic ingredients, chelating agents, surfactants, biocides, waxes and wax emulsions as well as metal surface treatment products.

BASF - The Chemical Company. We don't make a lot of the products you buy. We make a lot of the products you buy better.®

BASF Corporation, headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, is the North American affiliate of BASF SE, Ludwigshafen, Germany. BASF has more than 15,000 employees in North America, and had sales of approximately $17.5 billion in 2008. For more information about BASF’s North American operations, or to sign up to receive news releases by e-mail, visit www.basf.com/usa.

BASF is the world’s leading chemical company: The Chemical Company. Its portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics and performance products to agricultural products, fine chemicals and oil and gas. As a reliable partner, BASF helps its customers in virtually all industries to be more successful. With its high-value products and intelligent solutions, BASF plays an important role in finding answers to global challenges such as climate protection, energy efficiency, nutrition and mobility. BASF posted sales of more than €62 billion in 2008 and had approximately 97,000 employees as of the end of the year. Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at www.basf.com.

Kollicoat is a registered trademark of BASF Corporation.