Tablet coating is described as the process to cover the tablets with a layer of material to facilitate specific drug benefits. Tablet coating is the last critical step in the production of tablet form medicines. It is a traditional practice that has been followed for many decades and is now augmented by innovative techniques and machinery. The coating can be applied directly or by spraying. The Tablet coating process is dependent on the tablet properties, coating mechanism, and coating composition. The technology and its demand across the healthcare module can be assessed through market research tools like Global Market Database. The cloud based market research platform studies the shift in line with changing market trends.
Tablet coating is described as the process to cover the tablets with a layer of material to facilitate specific drug benefits. It is the last critical step in the production of tablet form medicines.
This is a traditional practice that has been followed for many decades and is now augmented by innovative techniques and machinery. The coating can be applied directly or by spraying. The process is dependent on the tablet properties, coating mechanism, and coating composition.
According to the market database, the layer of coating has provided notable benefits compared to non-coated tablets. These include protection from chemical & physical harm, control of the release of the drug, enhance odor, color, and taste of the tablet. Market analysis suggests that the pharmaceutical and nutraceutical industry are the major end-users for tablet coating applications.
Coating Procedure:
Market research reports state that the tablet coating process has modified significantly over the years. Integration of automation has offered reduced labor, time, and costs. Consistent innovation in the overall system and greater acceptance by the manufacturers have contributed towards a positive business outlook for tablet coating. Even with significant advances, the core stages through which the coating is developed have remained constant.
According to secondary research conducted, the coating procedure is initiated by charging the mixing vessel with water/solvent. The dry ingredients that provide the texture of the coating are mixed in the vessel. The mixing process is continued until the dry ingredients are thoroughly mixed with water/solvent. The mixture is placed to rest for some time and the coating is applied directly by making use of coating pans or by sprayers.
A mixer must be competent enough to mix all the input material well. The equipment utilized should be easily cleaned to avoid any contamination and operate at ambient temperature as some materials can be heat-sensitive. The usage of this technology and its rapid penetration into the healthcare module can be assessed by Global Market Database.
Varied Techniques:
According to the market database, a great number of techniques can be incorporated into the tablet coating procedure. Each technique has a unique advantage over the other and is dependent on the type of tablet being utilized. These techniques are sub-divided as sugar-coated tablets, film-coated tablets, enteric-coated tablets, and other tablet techniques. The underlying process of the techniques remains the same as the core process with few additional stages.
The global database indicates that the sugar-coated tablet technique has contributed significantly to the overall business outlook. They make use of a sealing/waterproofing stage which provides a moisture barrier and makes the surface hard. The sub-coating stage is utilized to cover the edges of the tablets. The smoothing stage helps to distribute the coating material in an even manner. Coloring and finishing are the end-stage to provide a smooth texture. A uniform and elegant film of sugar solution are used to make the coating more appealing to the end-user. The sugar coating technique has the significant advantage to provide a sweet taste to the tablet for easy consumption.
The film-coated tablet techniques incorporate similar stages as the sugar-coated techniques. They offer the flexibility to apply the coating either in coating pans or by use of a spray. The film-coated technique has experienced a greater share in the market according to market research tools. This is due to the benefits provided by the technique which include shorter processing time, thin coats, high resistance, and addition of functional properties to the tablets. Film-coated techniques aid in reducing medication errors as they can provide rich color to the tablet. The enteric technique is tablet-specific and is used for its unique advantages such as resistance to gastric fluids, non-toxicity, and formation of a continuous film.
Classification Based on Material:
According to the market database, the coating material makes use of different materials, and the most important among them is the type of polymer being utilized. Based on the type of polymer the market is divided into cellulosic polymer, vinyl derivatives, and acrylic polymers.
The cellulosic polymer type has commanded a significant share in the market. Cellulosic polymer type is prepared by repeated action of monomer glucose. They offer the ability to form coatings easily, have good film strength, aqueous solubility, compressibility, less sensitivity to wet granulation, flowability, and low cost. Such a mixture of factors has contributed towards an optimistic business outlook for this type.
Vinyl derivatives are activated forms of alkenes that are comparatively difficult to prepare. The market database suggests that acrylic polymers are expected to grow at a faster rate as they have witnessed greater adoption. They are formed by the continuous action of acrylic monomers and offer the advantages such as transparency, resistance, and elasticity.
Growth Catalysts of Tablet Coating Market:
A range of factors has contributed to the growth of the tablet coating market. According to the market database, the market witnessed a sharp rise in demand due to COVID-19. Apart from the supply chain constraints, the production process was quite resilient. This was due to the use of different drugs in form of drugs to curb the effects of the virus, leading to greater production in different countries and utilized tablet coating for easy consumption and safety. Furthermore, greater emphasis on the pharmaceutical sector and government investment towards healthcare module development has contributed towards the market growth. The overall business outlook for tablet coating is expected to stay positive.
Market research tools state that technological advancements such as automated processes have allowed to reduce the production time, increase the quantity, improved quality, and reduce costs. Greater acceptance of biosimilars has propelled the growth of tablet coating.
The generic drug category has similar therapeutic effects and is cost-effective. They act as the perfect substitute for high-cost drugs. Growth in this market has supported the use of tablet coating. Furthermore, several drugs are expected to go off-patent which has shifted the focus towards generic drugs.
The market database indicates that the rise in sports nutrition and dietary supplements has allowed tapping more opportunities in the tablet coating market. In the wake of COVID-19, many individuals have shifted towards a healthier lifestyle and altered their diets. Dedicated dietary supplements which include dietary tablets have made extensive use of tablet coating. Such factors have contributed towards a positive business outlook.
The U.K Market Perspective:
The market database states that the region has experienced strong market growth. This is due to the presence of major pharmaceutical players and significant technological advancements. A well-established healthcare module and distribution network are expected to drive business recovery in this region. Due to the impact of COVID-19, the government authorized the use of alternative drugs in form of tablets to tackle the infection. Stringent policies and the use of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) have contributed towards the required safety and quality standards. The impact of GMP on the market trends can be studied through Global Market Database. The cloud-based market research platform provides free market data across 600+ markets.
The impact of Brexit is expected to disrupt the policy and trade regulations. The business outlook is expected to remain positive in the long run. Greater acceptance of biosimilars and generic drugs have contributed to enhanced research initiatives. For instance, in the year 2020, a major player in the U.K launched a film-coating which has extended the pH range of coating material to be compatible with a variety of tablets.
