Roquette Launches New Vegetarian Softgel Capsule Formulations

On Nov. 18, 2020, Roquette, a French plant-based ingredients company and pharmaceutical excipients provider, announced the launch of its pea starch technology, Lycagel, for vegetarian softgel capsule formulations.

The first of its kind, according to the company, the new capsule formulation is made up of carrageenan, a setting agent found in marine macro algae, NEOSORB sorbitol, a plant-based ingredient used for nutraceutical applications, and salt, a company press release said. The new product offers significant capsule strength, seal integrity, quick drying time with no stickiness, fast disintegration, no cross-linking, and higher processing temperature suitability.

“The launch of L[ycagel] marks a new era for softgel formulations and manufacturing. Manufacturers no longer need to compromise on performance when launching a vegetable softgel solution,” said Paul Smaltz, head of Roquette’s Global Pharmaceutical business unit, in the press release. “Designed to be easily adaptable to existing gelatin processes, Lycagel can support businesses in bringing vegetarian alternatives to market quickly, without significant changes to existing operations.”