Press Room
November 3, 2005
Cognis at the CPhI show: product purity and process integrity meeting the demands of the pharmaceutical industry
At the CPhI Worldwide 2005 in Madrid, Spain, Cognis’ Pharmaceuticals & Healthcare business unit exhibited its latest range of naturally derived building blocks, excipients and drug delivery agents developed to meet the exacting requirements of today’s pharmaceutical industry. Included was its DermazLine® range of high-purity azelaic acids, the biopolymer Chitopharm®, Phytosterols as intermediates for pharmaceuticals, and the PharmaLine? range of premium-quality excipients.
The regulatory burden on the pharmaceutical industry is today heavier than ever before, particularly as regards the number of safety licenses that must be obtained. Manufacturers are obliged to comply with this legislation to satisfy their end users’ requirements in terms of safety, performance and convenience, but also their suppliers. Cognis has therefore widened its range of high-purity products and has implemented state-of-the-art manufacturing processes, so that manufacturers can meet the stringent demands they face. All of the products comply with the latest European pharmacopoeias and are subject to stringent controls at every stage of development, from when they are raw materials, up until their delivery.
PharmaLine™ is a range of oleochemical derived pharma-grade excipients such as specialty esters, fatty alcohols, ethoxylates, hard fats, stearic acids, mono- and triglycerides and castor oil derivatives. They are used by pharmaceutical companies in their topical, oral, parenteral and other pharmaceutical formulations as tabletting aids, solubilizers, consistency factors, emulsifiers, emollients, cream bases and suppository masses, moisturizers and surfactants for solid, semi-solid and liquid pharmaceutical dosage forms.
Phytosterols make up most of the unsaponifiable matter in vegetable oils and are chemically similar to cholesterols. They are used as intermediates for pharmaceuticals, as raw materials in steroid manufacturing, as functional ingredients for cholesterol reduction in food and dietary supplements, and in cosmetics, primarily for their emollient and surfactant profile.
Chitopharm® (Chitosan, a derivative of Chitin), is a polysaccharide, and is one of the few natural cationic polymers that is non-toxic and biodegradable. Cognis’ Chitopharm shows very low endotoxin values and a low heavy metal content. Independent laboratory tests have shown that it reduces the time taken for the body to heal a wound and that it acts as an antimicrobial agent. It is particularly well suited to a broad range of applications in the medical field such as drug delivery, tissue engineering, surgical dressings, dermatological applications and cell culture.
Cognis is the world’s largest producer of azelaic acids, which form the basis of its DermazLine® range. Azelaic acids are manufactured by an ozone oxidation of vegetable-based oleic acids. Both tallow and vegetable derived azelaic acids are used, depending on the end user’s requirement, which is usually in the manufacture of products to treat acne, hair growth problems and other skin disorders.
Safety through compliance with the highest international standards
Integrated ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 quality management, a clearly defined manufacturing process, and a system for monitoring compliance with the relevant Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) guidelines as laid down by the International Pharmaceutical Excipients Council (IPEC) all help to ensure that the strictest process standards are observed. This quality system helps customers to manage the process of licensing new products with the relevant authorities, by ensuring all the necessary documentation is already in place.
Dr. Albert Strube, Global Market Segment Manager Pharmaceuticals & Healthcare comments, “Our customers rightly expect outstanding performance and want the best possible ingredients for their products. We therefore offer them extensive purity data and audits and self-assessment information, in accordance with international regulations and our high standards in customer service. This approach means we help our customers succeed in their markets.“ Without comprising the abilities in the worldwide markets, sustainability and wellness are the most important trends in the pharmaceutical industry. Without comprising the abilities in the worldwide markets, sustainability and wellness are the most important trends in the pharmaceutical industry
About Cognis
Cognis is a worldwide supplier of innovative specialty chemicals and nutritional ingredients. The company employs about 8,100 people, and it operates production sites and service centers in 30 countries. Cognis has dedicated its activities to a high level of sustainability and delivers natural source raw materials and ingredients for food, nutrition and healthcare markets, and the cosmetics, detergents and cleaners industries. Additionally, Cognis provides solutions for a number of other industries, such as coatings and inks, lubricants, textiles and plastics, as well as agriculture and mining.
Cognis is owned by private equity funds advised by Permira, GS Capital Partners, and SV Life Sciences. In 2004, Cognis recorded sales of 3.07 billion euros and an Adjusted EBITDA (earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation, amortization and exceptional items) of 362 million euros.
Contact
Wulf Klüppelholz, Corporate Communications Manager
Cognis Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG
Phone: +49-2173-4995-221
E-mail: wulf.klueppelholz@cognis.com
Internet: www.cognis.com
Andrea Pitrella, Global Marketing Manager
Pharmaceuticals & Healthcare
Cognis Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG
Phone: +49-211-7940-8529
E-mail: andrea.pitrella@cognis.com
Internet: www.cognis.com