Evonik issued U.S. Patent for Groundbreaking Microencapsulation Process

• Production Process for Extended-Release Parenteral Formulations

Essen. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has issued leading specialty chemicals company Evonik a process patent (No. 8,916,196) for the preparation of extended-release, injectable pharmaceuticals using the company’s proprietary FormEZETM microparticle technology.

"This innovative, continuous microencapsulation process allows for industrial production of drug eluting particles for long acting injectables, which can be administered using smaller-diameter needles" said Kevin Burton, Head of Evonik’s Drug Delivery Business. "We are delighted that the USPTO has issued this patent covering Evonik’s groundbreaking FormEZETM microparticle production process."

The patent enables Evonik to develop and manufacture for its customers, injectable drug products that not only provide benefits to patients, physicians, and healthcare professionals, but also can prove to be more economical for pharmaceutical companies.

Advantages of Evonik’s patented proprietary FormEZETM microencapsulation technology include:

• Increased patient safety, tolerability and compliance,
• higher drug bioavailability,
• precise control of microparticle size distribution, which facilitates smoother, quicker and easier injections with smaller needles for longer drug delivery with a single administration,
• lower production costs,
• scalable continuous aseptic microencapsulation process, covering all stages from laboratory to production.

The United States Patent, No. 8,916,196, is the latest innovation from Evonik‘s Birmingham Laboratories (USA). The site is part of the Nutrition & Care segment of Evonik where microsphere drug systems are developed and produced using Evonik’s proprietary FormEZETM technology as well as its bioresorbable RESOMER® and RESOMER® Select polymers.

"Our ability to offer reliable and innovative product and service solutions to our customers clearly positions Evonik as a leading strategic partner for the pharmaceutical industry," said Dr. Jean-Luc Herbeaux, Head of Evonik’s Health Care Business Line. "We do so in a broad range of enabling applications ranging from active ingredients to drug delivery systems."