In 1980, The Empire Strikes Back, part of the popular Star Wars franchise, dominated the box office. Former actor, Ronald Reagan, took office as the 40th President of the United States. And during that same year, a quieter鈥攂ut we would argue, equally transformative鈥攎oment unfolded in pharmaceutical manufacturing: Opadry庐, the first-of-its-kind complete film coating system, entered the market. Opadry was the original fully formulated film coating system for solid oral dosage forms鈥攎arking a new era of reliability, consistency and simplicity for pharmaceutical companies worldwide.
From color concentrates to complete confidence
Dr. Stuart Porter, one of the original scientific leaders and inventors of Opadry, reflected on the evolution of film coating: 鈥淚n the 1970鈥檚, before Opadry was developed, pharmaceutical companies struggled with inconsistent tablet coating. Colorcon, a company known early on for their expertise in color concentrates (hence, the name Colorcon), heard about the many challenges manufacturers were facing鈥攊ncluding the risk involved in using hazardous solvent-based coatings, batch-to-batch variation and unpredictable coating outcomes due in part to human error.鈥� The solution, which became known as Opadry, was developed as a ready-to-use complete system that combined everything into one simple process including the polymers, plasticizers and pigments. 鈥淚t was the first of its kind in the market, and I would argue, still the best solution available today.鈥�
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You might be wondering鈥攚hat does the name Opadry mean? While it may evoke thoughts of a lively Greek 鈥淥pa!鈥� celebration or even the fond nickname for a German grandfather, the origin is a little more technical than that. Opadry is derived from the word opaque, meaning that it blocks light from passing through; and 鈥渄ry鈥� refers to its form as a dry dispersion powder.
Opadry revolutionized tablet coating by offering pharmaceutical manufacturers around the world a streamlined process with exceptional batch uniformity, greatly reducing room for error. Opadry wasn鈥檛 just a new product on the market鈥攊t was a complete shift in how the industry approached film coating.
Charlie Cunningham, Technical Director and a 32-year Colorcon veteran, shared further: 鈥淪pecialized coating formulations, coupled with extensive technical services and support, helped Opadry become the film coating standard for the pharmaceutical and dietary supplement industries.鈥�
Why the world鈥檚 leading pharmaceutical companies still choose Opadry
Today, Opadry is used by almost every pharmaceutical tablet manufacturer on the planet. With 45 years of market leadership, it has grown into a family of unique products that continue to set the global benchmark for quality and dependability.
色界吧 companies mention Opadry by name because it is easy to use, customizable and offers unmatched consistency, which is why they use it regularly, project after project. One of the most recent innovations within the Opadry family is Opadry QX, which has been hailed as a 鈥済ame changer,鈥� slashing production and preparation time while maintaining superior coating quality.
Tailored coating for modern challenges
Whether you’re aiming to mask taste or odor, protect against moisture or oxygen, enhance color consistency, boost patient compliance by improving swallowability, or increase productivity and stability, Colorcon鈥檚 technical experts are available to help you select and customize the ideal Opadry coating for your formulation.
As regulatory landscapes evolve, Opadry has also evolved鈥攐ffering mineral free, titanium dioxide-free, alternative colorant solutions and coatings that meet modern demands for sustainability and performance.
Global supply. Local support. Unshakable quality
With seven film coating manufacturing sites worldwide, Colorcon ensures uninterrupted supply and business continuity鈥攁 priority in today鈥檚 volatile supply chain environment. All facilities follow certified Good Manufacturing Practices and are ISO 9001 certified, minimizing risk and guaranteeing peace of mind.
While many of our competitors are publicly traded and primarily accountable to shareholders, our focus is different鈥攚e prioritize customers first and foremost because it鈥檚 always been a core part of who we are. Colorcon is fundamentally a service-driven business. We deliver meaningful value to our customers through expert support and tailored solutions because we believe in partnership. We earn revenue only when customers choose our products, but our true value lies in the service we provide long before a purchase is made.
The legacy continues
Happy 45th birthday, Opadry!
With Opadry, the future of film coating is one step ahead. Opadry by Colorcon鈥擶here Innovation Meets Reliability.
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