By Frithjof Holtz and Najib Sehat
Volume 11, Issue 2 (Summer 2012)
Risks in the pharmaceutical supply chain are not solely related to the active pharmaceutical ingredients (API). On average, excipients used in formulating medicines comprise 80% of each product and include a broad range of substances such as antiadherents, binders, coatings, disintegrants, diluents, flavors, colorings, preservatives, and sweeteners. Pharmaceutical excipients aid in the manufacturing process to protect, support, or enhance stability and bioavailability, and also make the product acceptable to the patient. They may also assist in product identification and augment the overall safety or function of the product during storage or use. Excipients represent an annual market value of approximately $4 billion worldwide, accounting for 0.5% of the total pharmaceutical market, according to industry experts…
Citation: Holtz F, Sehat N. Protecting the Excipient Supply Chain. BioProcess J, 2012; 11(2): 37-41. https://dx.doi.org/10.12665/J112.HoltzSehat
Posted online July 20, 2012