Environment for innovation in excipients

Combined resources help Sheffield partner with customers to deliver coating and tableting solutions that offer greater manufacturing performance, improved reliability and cost savings.

In the past, a company like Sheffield would have been chosen on the basis of its product quality, diversity, global supply network and FDAregistered manufacturing capabilities. But with the pharma industry facing expiring patents, decreasing production volumes, increasing global competition and ongoing cost pressures, many drug companies are seeking, not merely an ingredient supplier, but a true technical service partner.

As part of a $6 billion global leader, Sheffield is up to the task. The company is able to operate effectively as a technical solutions provider, helping its customers share the burden of managing the risks, supply chain, quality, regulatory and processing costs associated with excipients and cell nutrition.

With more than 65 years in the industry, the Sheffield brand continues its reputation for reliability and excellence in serving biotech and traditional pharma, as well as nutrition markets. Since 2004, Sheffield has been part of the international Kerry Group.

Combined with its own laboratories in Norwich, New York, Sheffield customers now have access to a new, state-of-the-art Kerry Center in Beloit, Wisconsin (US) complete with dedicated laboratories, pilot equipment and sensory facilities. As a result, Sheffield is now in the position to deliver greater value and unique benefits to its pharma customers.

An environment for innovation
Sheffield has a strong reputation as a leading anhydrous lactose supplier with decades of experience in the pharmaceutical business. Kerry is a global leader in ingredients and flavours.

With their collective technologies, the company can now offer improved excipient products, including new film coatings and flavours, plus innovative ways to improve the cost, speed and quality of traditional and orally dissolving (ODT) tablet manufacturing.

One of the more obvious ways Sheffield customers have benefited from Kerry resources is in flavour modulation. Kerry Flavour Modulation Technology (fmt™) provides a perception of sweetness and flavour enhancement that can effectively mask the bitter taste of active ingredients.

Increased access to these technologies has helped customers significantly improve taste performance and increase user acceptance – all while reducing materials and manufacturing costs.

Meeting changing market needs
As market needs change, Sheffield has managed to stay ahead of the curve. For example, the evolution from animal-free to defined non-animal protein media put the company in a strong position within the biotech marketplace.

Sheffield offers non-animalderived protein hydrolysates for serum replacement and general media and system optimisation. A broad array of possible protein sources has yielded products directed toward cell growth and productivity enhancement, in cell culture and microbial fermentation applications.

In tablet manufacturing, whether for pharma or vitamin and nutraceutical products, the manufacturing process will require more functional excipients. Sheffield offers its customers advantage there too. The company is in the process of creating innovative technologies to deliver a new way of lubricating tablets that reduces the need for magnesium stearate.

In film coatings, Sheffield is investing as part of a longterm commitment to become a leading coatings supplier, adding even more value for customers. As part of its research and development, the company is examining alternative polymers and also looking at how it can optimise the synergies of the different components used in coatings.

We can expect even more innovations as Sheffield and Kerry continue to share their spectrum of product knowledge, technologies and application expertise across lactose, starch, coatings, granulations, proteins, flavours and emulsifiers.

Company profile

Kerry Group is a world leader in food ingredients and flavours serving the food and beverage industry, and a leading supplier of added-value brands and customerbranded foods to the Irish and UK markets. Sheffield Pharma Ingredients, as part of the Kerry group, is a leader in innovation and applications of cell nutrition and excipients.

For further information, visit: www.sheffield-products.com.