Beneo enhances pharmaceutical sweetener for improved palatability
Sugar beet-derived excipient manufacturer BENEO has developed a pharmaceutical-grade sweetener that combines taste-enhancement properties with technical functionality. The company’s agglomerated pharmaceutical excipient galenIQ aims to address growing market demand for palatable oral solid dosage forms in both pharmaceutical and nutraceutical applications.
Technical properties support manufacturing efficiency
The galenIQ range, which features a sweetening profile comparable to sucrose whilst remaining non-cariogenic, offers manufacturers significant technical advantages including excellent flow characteristics and high compactability. These properties contribute to enhanced stability in pharmaceutical oral solid dosage forms, making it particularly suitable for applications such as chewable tablets, medicated compressed lozenges and sachets.
Research validates continuous manufacturing suitability
A recent comparative study has demonstrated galenIQ’s suitability for continuous manufacturing processes, showing particularly promising results for the agglomerated variant galenIQ 721.
The research revealed lower electrostatic charging propensity compared to mannitol, alongside reduced adhesion to stainless steel surfaces – both crucial factors for continuous manufacturing applications.
“Pure galenIQ 721 demonstrated feeding performance equivalent to spray-dried mannitol, with notably reduced tendency to adhere to screw outlets and acquire charge during feeding,” explains
Dr Maj-Britt Cepok, Head of Business Development Pharma at BENEO.
Patient compliance considerations
The focus on palatability comes as manufacturers increasingly prioritise patient experience in pharmaceutical formulations. Oliver Luhn, Head of Pharmaceutical Technology at BENEO, notes: “Palatability plays a significant role. Combining an appealing taste profile with excellent technical properties can make a huge difference. As a result, we’re seeing growing market interest in easy-to-process products such as our bulk sweetener galenIQ.”
Manufacturing standards and versatility
Manufactured according to GMP standards for pharmaceutical excipients, galenIQ is available in various grades to accommodate different dosage forms. The product’s versatility extends to addressing common formulation challenges, particularly in managing bitter notes associated with active pharmaceutical ingredients or herbal extract formulations.
The excipient’s unique morphology includes a spherical shape and large, porous surface area, whilst its particle size distribution is specifically engineered for direct compression applications. These characteristics, combined with its resistance to segregation, ensure consistent blending homogeneity and reliable tabletability – properties that become particularly valuable in continuous manufacturing processes where materials undergo extended processing periods.
Quality assurance
As a member of the International Pharmaceutical Excipients Council (IPEC), BENEO maintains strict quality control standards in the production of galenIQ, which meets multiple pharmacopoeia standards including Ph. Eur., BP, USP-NF, and JP specifications.
For more information, visit: www.galenIQ.com
Digital issue: Please click here for more information
