Empty Hard Gelatin Capsules are a solid dosage form in which one or more medicinal agents are enclosed within a small shell. These capsules are a well-established dosage form that provide solutions to many of today’s drug delivery and nutraceutical formulation challenges.

Capsules come in a variety of shapes and sizes to suit different applications. Depending on the drug substance and compaction requirements, they can be filled using a number of methods.

Filling of capsules can be done manually for research or experimental purposes or when filling a small batch in the pharmacy. To do this, place the powder to be filled on a clean paper or porcelain plate and press the open end of the capsule downward until it is full. The open end is then pressed back to close the capsule.

A typical gelatin hard capsule dissolves in the stomach, under normal conditions, within twenty to thirty minutes after swallowing. However, the dissolution rate varies between different types of gelatin and can be influenced by additional process steps or conditions.

The market for Empty Hard Gelatin Capsules is expected to grow at a CAGR of 9.1% from 2018 to 2025. Key drivers for this growth include increasing popularity of capsules over other drug delivery formats, strategic collaborations between empty capsule suppliers and gelatin manufacturers and rapid advancements in capsule drug delivery technology.