The Qinhuangdao Zhenyuan Pharmaceutical Ltd. has obtained patents for its algal polysaccharide gum and algal polysaccharide capsule, and has set up a new factory in the Qinhuangdao Development Zone for the production of hollow capsules.

The construction of the new factory for the production of the capsules has almost been finished, and will be put into operation soon. The algal polysaccharide capsule is the first plant capsule in China to be effective for 18 months, doubling previous animal-derived hollow capsules, which are developed using glutin extracted from the bones of pigs or cattle.

The plant hollow capsule is a kind of pharmaceutical excipient, and the algal polysaccharide gum is prepared with Rhodophyceae, which has been planted over large areas in China.

The plant hollow capsule is less water-absorptive and conducive to retaining the stability of the medicines in the capsule. By avoiding the use of animal products, it can also be used in Islamic countries.

Zhenyuan Pharma started research into the algal polysaccharide capsule in 1997 with the Institute of Oceanology of China Academy of Sciences, and began constructing the project last year.

Some antibiotic manufacturers are using the hollow capsules, including the producers of penicillin V, Cefadroxil and Trimethoprim, and Ampicillin capsules. Industry figures showed that China's demand for hollow capsules reaches 150 bln units each year, and is increasing at a rate of 20%.

Source:佚名