Gelatin capsules, informally called gel caps or gelcaps, are composed of gelatin manufactured from the collagen of animal skin or bone. Capsules offer a viable alternative to tablets as an oral delivery of therapeutic compounds. Empty capsules are oral dosage forms, which based on the type of manufacturing material, come in variety of sizes and colors such as pearl capsules and flavored capsules. There are various types of capsules such as soft gelatin capsules, hard gelatin capsules, sustained release capsules, enteric coated capsules, and rectal capsules. Soft and hard gelatin capsules are widely used empty capsules. Empty capsules are available in five sizes, which includes 00, 0, 1, 2, and 3 and each sized capsule can hold different quantity of active pharmaceutical ingredients. These capsules are differentiated on the basis of the amount of active pharmaceutical ingredient they can hold. For instance, 0 sized capsule can hold up to 500 mg and 3 holds about 200 mg of active pharmaceutical ingredient.
Gelatin is widely used in the empty capsules market due to its softness, lack of a notable odor or taste, and stability across a wide temperature range. However, growing opposition to animal-derived gelatin in economically crucial markets such as India, where vegetarianism is the norm, is likely to lead to significant product development in the global empty capsules market in the coming years.
The global empty capsules market is projected to reach USD 2.79 billion by 2023 from USD 1.95 billion in 2018, at a CAGR of 7.4%. The growing adoption of capsule formulations among the growing geriatric population, growth of the pharmaceutical market along with the increasing R&D activities & clinical trials, and advancements in capsule delivery technologies are some of the major factors driving the growth of the market.
The empty capsules market is a key part of the global pharmaceutical industry and is likely to exhibit steady growth in the coming years due to the rapid proliferation of the pharmaceuticals sector in developing regions. Empty capsules present the perfect way to deliver medication of various kinds, which has imparted them universal utility across the pharmaceuticals industry and the upward trajectory of all aspects of the healthcare sector is likely to remain a vital driver for the market in the coming years.
The demand for capsules is growing on account of the mounting consumption of medicines worldwide. This trend augurs well for the global empty capsules market, where growth has thus far been driven by the demand for both nongelatin and hard gelatin capsules. The changing demographics of the world have necessitated the greater production of medicines to treat various kinds of diseases. Capsules, being among the most versatile forms of administering drug doses, are thus expected to be consumed in larger volumes over the next few years.
