Types of CapsCanada Gelatin Capsules Explained

The only vertically-integrated manufacturer of gelatin capsules

Whether you’re looking for capsule solutions for medications or the best empty capsules for  supplements, we offer something very unique in the gelatin capsules market: the ability to guarantee our raw materials sourcing.

Unique in the industry, CapsCanada has a vertically-integrated gelatin capsule supply chain, starting with the raw gelatin. Our vertical integration ensures complete traceability and a reliable, uninterrupted long-term supply of superior-quality bovine hide gelatin – an absolute must for  manufacturing the high-quality capsules that your products and filling machines require.

Benefits of empty capsules

CapsCanada’s gelatin capsules line includes five types of empty capsules, all of which…

• Meet the highest quality standards.
• Provide excellent, reliable performance in high-speed capsule filling machines.
• Have precise capsule-to-tooling fit.
• Feature strong domes that reduce splits, tucks and breaks.
• Are backed by CapsCanada’s technical services team.
• Are manufactured in North and South America, and available globally.
• Can be filled with powders, granules, beads, pastes, liquids and tablets – or a combination of fill types. This enables you to combine otherwise incompatible chemicals into one capsule.
• Are Kosher and Halal certified, Non-GMO, BSE-free and free of preservatives and common allergens.
• Offer extensive capsule customization options, including size, color (even PMS – Pantone Matching System – colors!), imprint (axial or radial printing on the capsule cap and/or body, in fine detail), finish, banding and flavor.

The following provides an overview of CapsCanada’s gelatin-based encapsulation options.

G-CAPS® Gelatin Capsules

Made from 100% bovine hide pharmaceutical grade gelatin to ensure your product’s optimal  bioavailability, G-CAPS® gelatin capsules are one of the most popular CapsCanada empty capsules, offering a flexible option for a wide range of formulations and applications.

G-CAPS® Benefits

In addition to the benefits that all of our gelatin capsules offer (see list above), G-CAPS® are:

• Budget friendly – Gelatin capsules are less expensive than plant-based capsules.
• Continuously available – To ensure you can meet your production schedule without supply disruptions, we maintain a robust four-month inventory of G-CAPS®. Plus, our strategically-located warehouses across North America give you quick access to our made-to-stock products.
• Available in all standard sizes – Choose from sizes 000, 00E, 00, 0E, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.
  
  

G-CAPS® Applications

Suitable for the majority of pharmaceutical and nutraceutical applications, G-CAPS® gelatin capsules are often the top choice empty capsules for medication.

In addition, G-CAPS® are a particularly optimum choice for:

• Oxygen-sensitive APIs, due to gelatin capsules’ low oxygen permeability

• Large-dose actives

• Heat-sensitive drugs that cannot be made into tablets
  
  
  

LQ-CAPS® Liquid-Fill Capsules

Specifically designed as liquid-fill capsules, LQ-CAPS® gelatin capsules pair with our LQ banding solution to create a highly secure and flexible encapsulation option for your liquid formulations.

LQ-CAPS® Benefits

In addition to the benefits that all of our vegetarian capsules offer (see list above), LQ-CAPS®  are designed to overcome the stability, bioavailability and homogeneity challenges typically  associated with complex liquid-fill formulations. LQ-CAPS® liquid-fill capsules provide faster, more consistent dissolution for optimized absorption.

LQ-CAPS® are available in a full range of sizes and are fully customizable.

LQ-CAPS® Applications

LQ-CAPS® can be used to encapsulate any liquid formulation. Liquid encapsulation is especially beneficial for encapsulating:

• Highly Potent Active Ingredients (HPAIs) – Encapsulating HPAIs in liquid form reduces the costs and risks of the significant containment issues that you face when leaving HPAIs in powder form. It also enables you to create low-dose medicines out of these highly potent ingredients.
• Low water solubility molecules – To increase their bioavailability, molecules with low water solubility can be suspended in a lipid solution and then encapsulated in liquid-fill capsules. This avoids the potential heat-related degradations seen in many formulations when the conventional particle size reduction approach to increasing bioavailability is used.
• Nano-sized APIs – Suspending these ingredients in liquid simplifies the manufacturing process.
• Highly sensitive APIs – APIs that are highly sensitive to degradation from light and heat can benefit from being encapsulated in liquid form.
• Certain liquid formulations – These types of empty capsules are ideal for liquid formulations that contain excipients that are not compatible with softgels.
  
  

FM-CAPS® Clinical Trial Capsules

When considering capsule solutions for medications, be sure to consider how your clinical trial capsule can impact the length of your clinical trial. After all, if you use a standard clear capsule and then later make changes to your dye color, this can delay your process. CapsCanada’s FM-CAPS®, which contains the entire primary range of dyes and additives, overcomes this problem.

FM-CAPS® Benefits

FM-CAPS® can accelerate your drug development process. Because they use a reverse engineering method for color selection (i.e., you achieve the desired color by removing the unneeded dyes), FM-CAPS® enable you to leverage studies of clinical stability from earlier stages to support your final dosage. By reducing regulatory interaction and the number of required stability studies, this can reduce your time to market by up to nine months.

FM-CAPS® Applications

As a flexible dosage form, FM-CAPS® can be used for the clinical trial of any formulation for which the final product will be encapsulated in CapsCanada’s G-CAPS® gelatin capsules.

FLAVORED-CAPS Gelatin Capsules

FLAVORED-CAPS gelatin capsules both taste and smell like your chosen pre-formulated or custom flavor. Whether you’re looking for capsules for children or just want a fun and unique way to differentiate your product in the market, our flavor caps can increase your product’s appeal without compromising its integrity. Plus, because they function like standard gelatin capsules, they do not require any special handling or machinery.

FLAVORED-CAPS Benefits

FLAVORED-CAPS go beyond simply masking tastes and smells; they make your capsules taste and smell good. For capsules for children, kid-friendly flavors such as berry, grape and bubble gum are available. For capsules for adults, orange, lime, coffee and mint are popular options.

One of the benefits of FLAVORED-CAPS is that they help reduce anxiety for those who struggle to swallow pills. These consumers can rest assured that if it takes them a few tries to swallow the pill, the pill will still taste good throughout the process.

FLAVORED-CAPS Applications

CapsCanada’s FLAVORED-CAPS function like any other gelatin capsule, without the need for any special handling or machinery. While these flavor caps can therefore be used for any formulation that can be encapsulated in gelatin capsules, they can be particularly beneficial for pediatric products, products meant for those with autism, and as a way for nutraceutical makers to provide a tasty alternative to gummies.

PET-CAPS Flavored Gelatin Capsules

The veterinary version of our flavor caps line, PET-CAPS are flavored gelatin capsules designed specifically for dogs and cats. PET-CAPS both taste and smell like beef, bacon or chicken, and are available in sizes 0, 1, and 3.

Although they are meant for pets, PET-CAPS are made to such a high standard that they are safe for human consumption as well.

PET-CAPS Benefits

PET-CAPS:

• Increase compliance, because they both taste and smell like foods that pets love.
• Differentiate your product in a very desirable way.
• Function like standard gelatin capsules, without any need for special handling or machinery.

PET-CAPS Applications

PET-CAPS can be used for any veterinary application for which gelatin capsules are appropriate.

Need help choosing the best capsules for your product? The experts at CapsCanada are here to help.