Following a successful research collaboration with NJIT, Catalent Pharma Solutions of Somerset has announced that it has exclusively licensed innovative taste-making technology developed by NJIT Distinguished Professor Rajesh Davé, who was the principal investigator of a research project funded by Catalent. The technology will mask the most challenging, unpleasant and bitter tasting pharmaceutical active ingredients.
Under the terms of the license, Catalent will complete transfer of the technology into its world class, cGMP facilities to support manufacture of novel dosage forms such as its Zydis® fast dissolve platform. It is expected that the taste-masking technology will be effective for developing a wide variety of formulations including granules/sachets, sprinkles, chewables, effervescent and oral dispersible tablets.
"Taste-masking of fine drug particles has remained an un-met technical challenge for formulators," said Davé. "Through funding from Catalent we have been able to leverage our expertise to innovate technology and processes that allow for these materials to be cost effectively coated and taste-masked. This is a significant achievement for our team that included two highly-talented graduate students who delivered solutions to the Catalent challenge on time while developing strong fundamental science that would lead to journal articles."
Davé is a long-time faculty member of Newark College of Engineering's Department of Chemical, Biological and Pharmaceutical Engineering at NJIT.
Catalent Senior Vice President of Research and Development Kurt Nielsen commented, "Dr. Davé and his group at NJIT are leaders in particle science engineering, which has enabled a unique approach to API coating. It complements perfectly with Catalent's extensive dose form capabilities and will facilitate formulation of the most difficult-to-taste-mask actives. Catalent has already produced the first feasibility samples, which have exceeded our expectations. This technology will allow development of new dosage forms with the potential to deliver significant advantages to our customers and benefits to patients and consumers."
NJIT Associate Vice President of Technology Development Judith Sheft noted, "Collaboration with industry is an important element in the academic technology commercialization process. Industry can provide a focus, direction and input to an academic research agenda as well as the necessary resources to scale up early stage laboratory results. The project with Catalent is a wonderful example of a partnership between industry and academia that addresses both of these aspects."
Catalent Pharma Solutions is the global leader in development solutions and advanced drug delivery technologies, providing world-wide clinical and commercial supply capabilities for drugs, biologics and consumer health products. With over 75 years serving the industry, Catalent has proven expertise in bringing more customer products to market faster, enhancing product performance and ensuring reliable product supply. Catalent employs approximately 9,000 people, including over 1,000 scientists, at nearly 30 facilities across 5 continents and generates more than $1.6 billion in annual revenue.
NJIT, New Jersey's science and technology university, enrolls more than 9,558 students pursuing bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees in 120 programs. The university consists of six colleges: Newark College of Engineering, College of Architecture and Design, College of Science and Liberal Arts, School of Management, College of Computing Sciences and Albert Dorman Honors College. U.S. News & World Report's 2011 Annual Guide to America's Best Colleges ranked NJIT in the top tier of national research universities. NJIT is internationally recognized for being at the edge in knowledge in architecture, applied mathematics, wireless communications and networking, solar physics, advanced engineered particulate materials, nanotechnology, neural engineering and e-learning. Many courses and certificate programs, as well as graduate degrees, are available online through the Division of Continuing Professional Education.