FLORHAM PARK, NJ, November 5, 2009 – BASF today announced the availability of Soluplus® polymeric solubilizer 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 this new product.    

“Soluplus polymeric solubilizer helps customers in the pharmaceutical industry develop and produce innovative drug products containing active substances of poor solubility and bioavailability that could not have been formulated with conventional excipients,” said Nicholas Shackley, Business Director, Pharma Ingredients and Services, for BASF in North America  “Since Soluplus polymeric solubilizer is hydrophilic and lipophilic, it provides higher bioavailability with Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs).  Its amorphous granules help to form solid solutions and better tablets.”

Soluplus polymeric solubilizer was developed especially for pharmaceuticals produced by hot melt extrusion, where the individual ingredients of a dosage are not simply compressed into a tablet.  Instead, a polymer like Soluplus polymeric solubilizer is added to the ingredients and the combination is mixed and melted at high temperatures in an extruder. The process yields what are called solid solutions, enabling poorly soluble drugs with limited bioavailability to be administered in tablet form.

Soluplus polymeric solubilizer is a graft copolymer comprised of polyethylene glycol, polyvinylcaprolactam and polyvinylacetate.  This unique structure provides ideal interactions with APIs through hydrogen bonding, leverages stability and enhances solubility of drugs.   Soluplus polymeric solubilizer can also be used to prepare solid dispersions by spray drying, melt granulation and coprecipitation. 

With its polymer chemistry expertise and clear commitment to developing new pharmaceutical excipients, BASF contributes significantly to its customers’ success. A global team of experts strives continuously to develop and improve
BASF’s portfolio of active pharmaceutical ingredients and excipients.

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

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.

Soluplus is a registered trademark of BASF Corporation.