Ashland launches integrated tablet excipients pipeline
The portfolio combines ISP’s Advantia tablet coating technology with Ashland’s Aquarius coating systems line and creates – according to Ashland – ‘one of the broadest product lines in the industry.’
The combined line – which will be sold under the Aquarius brand name – will be produced at Ashland’s facility in Wilmington, Delaware, with development and support available at laboratories in the US, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Turkey, India and China.
Kentucky, US-headquartered Ashland has been thinking about how best to integrate ISP's pharma chemicals portfolio since even before the $3.2bn (€2.2bn) acquisition was completed last summer.
This process accelerated in subsequent months. In August, Ashland Specialty Ingredient’s president, John Panichella, told in-Pharmatechnologist.com the takeover will streamline supply chains for a number of players in the pharmaceutical and cosmetics manufacturing industry.
“A very large number of customers were buying from both of us and now they only have one call to make. The transaction should simplify and ease the process for customers.”
The new integrated excipients portfolio – coupled with Ashland’s continuing efforts to boost pharma-focused manufacturing capacity – suggests the firm is committed to making good on its prediction that combining with ISP will be a catalyst for growth and simplify supply chains for its customers.
The launch of the combined portfolio also echoes recent moves made by Ashland’s peers.
For example, just a week ago German chemicals giant BASF unveiled its new excipient range, which melds its existing excipients with those it gained with the acquisition of Cognis last year.
Like Asland, BASF cited the simplification of customer supply chains as a key factor in its decision to combine the two product lines.
