Roquette introduces new coatings platform for pharmaceutical and nutraceutical markets

Photo © AdobeStock.com/candy1812

In a February 11, 2025, news release, provider of plant-based ingredients and pharmaceutical excipients, Roquette, announced its new coatings platform for pharma and nutraceuticals. The platform combines two ranges: Tabshield ready-to-use film coating systems and ReadiLYCOAT plant-based ready-to-use coating systems.

The Tabshield brand is owned by Kofitech, a South Korea-based company that specializes in film coating materials – including immediate-release, controlled-release, and enteric coatings – for the pharmaceutical and nutraceutical industries. Roquette and Kofitech formed a partnership with the goal of offering a variety of ready-to-use coating premixes for manufacturers.

“The global market for pharmaceutical and nutraceutical coatings is projected to reach €2.7 billion by 2027, driven by increasing demand for innovative patient-friendly dosage forms,” stated Paul Smaltz, head of the Pharmaceutical Solutions Business Unit at Roquette, in the press release. “Our new coatings platform is designed to help drug and supplement producers seize these opportunities with effective and eco-conscious solutions that enhance user experience – whether that’s by masking bitter-tasting active ingredients, smoothing tablet surfaces for ease of swallowing, or providing surface color to help patients differentiate their medications.”

Tabshield offers film coatings for immediate or delayed release, and uses industry standard base polymers and titanium dioxide-free formulations that can be used to deliver custom colors and finishes for different applications.

“The Tabshield® ready-to-use film coating systems range stands out for its adaptability, offering flexibility for both immediate and delayed release (primarily pharmaceutical applications) using industry-standard base polymers, in addition to a wide choice of custom colors,” stated Peter Freed, PhD, Head of Global Pharma Customer Technical Support (CTS), Roquette Pharma Solutions. “There’s also the option for titanium dioxide (TiO₂)-free coatings – a feature that’s particularly relevant for the nutraceutical market in the wake of recent controversy and its restricted use in some regions.”

ReadiLYCOAT uses efficient, eco-friendly plant-based polymers (Hydroxypropyl pea starch) to improve the coating process. It also supports inclusive medicine design, offering sugar-free variations.

“Manufacturers working with temperature sensitive functional ingredients, such as probiotics or vitamin C, can leverage the ReadiLYCOAT® range’s superior performance at low processing temperatures to avoid heat-related degradation and boost overall supplement efficacy,” Dr. Freed commented. “What’s more, our refreshed platform offers options for sugar-free sugar coating alternatives, meaning nutra producers don’t have to choose between features, like effective taste masking, pleasant taste, glossy finish, and a low ingredient, clean-label enabler.”

“Thanks to its superior solubility, ReadiLYCOAT® is also easy clean from perforated coating pans, helping minimize downtime between production runs,” he added. “Critically, this ‘easy-clean’ functionality unlocks new possibilities for nutraceutical manufacturers, allowing them to stay agile, increase throughput, and diversify their range and respond quickly to emerging consumer demands.”

Roquette currently operates in more than 100 countries with 30 manufacturing sites, and all of its raw materials are from natural origins.