In the pharmaceutical sector, the diversity of pill capsule types is first conveyed in material and functional form. Gelatin capsules, which occupy 65% of the world market share, come in standard sizes from 000 (1.37 ml capacity) to 5 (0.13 ml) and are best suited for loading powder, granule or semi-solid drug at a cost of around $0.02 per tablet (Capsugel data). However, vegetarian capsules (e.g., hydroxypropyl methylcellulose HPMC), for food vegetarianism demand, will grow to $1.8 billion in 2023 at 12% annual growth and the water level is kept constant at 5-8%. Higher heat resistance (30% more stability at 40 ° C) versus gelatin capsules (13-15% humidity) (Grand View Research).
Enteric breakdown and delayed-release forms of pill capsule forms significantly influence drug performance. Eudragit L100-55-coated enteric capsules are biodegradable at intestinal pH≥5.5 and reduce omeprazole gastric acid degradation from 25% to 3% (Astrazeneca clinical data). Drug release rate is controlled by controlled release capsules, for instance, Pfizer’s sustained-release capsule Pregabalin with 12-hour fluctuation standard deviation of blood concentration ≤0.8 μg/mL, and patient compliance improves by 40% (FDA approval document). The world market for sustained-release capsules in 2022 will be $7.4 billion, 31% of which will be anti-cancer drugs (IQVIA report).
Special purpose pill capsule shapes advance technological advancement. Liquid-filled capsules (Liqui-Gel) contain oil-based drugs such as vitamin D3 (5000 IU dose) with 22% higher bioavailability and ±2% higher filling accuracy than tablets (Catalent case). Inhaled dry powder capsules of particle size ≤5 μm with Novartis’ Breezhaler device have over 35% lung deposition, or 50% more effective than the conventional atomizers (European Respiratory Journal research). Microcapsules of 1-2 mm diameter are intended for accuracy and precision delivery to children and Merck’s Ivermectin 3mg microcapsules have a weight variation of ±0.5 mg and accuracy of 99% dosage (WHO Tropical Disease Program).
Regulations and prices regulate local market fluctuations. The European Union requirement for gelatin capsules is EDQM compliance (residue of heavy metals ≤10ppm), while the United States Pharmacopeia (USP<3>) allows for gelatin crosslinking ≤15% to yield disintegration in 30 minutes. Indian hard capsule manufacturers such as ACG have increased the capacity to 1.5 million capsules an hour through computerized production lines and reduced the price to $0.015 per capsule, 30% cheaper than what is available from European manufacturers (FICCI report). Chinese pharmaceutical firms embraced plant capsule rather than gelatin in 2021, raising Islamic countries’ share of medicine exports by 17% (China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Pharmaceutical and Health Products data).
The groundbreaking capsule technology is reshaping the future types of pill capsules types. Proteus Digital Health’s “digital pill” has a digestible sensor built into it that sends a stomach acid activation signal 20 minutes after drug consumption, and clinical data show that 99.6% accuracy for monitoring medication for chronic disease (FDA Breakthrough device certification). 3D-printed capsules (e.g., Triastek’s MED technology) can be constructed with a multi-chamber design, release three apis sequentially, and in vitro dissolution curve error ≤5% (Nature Bioengineering paper). In 2023, Roche paid $230 million to develop a pH/enzyme dual-response shell tumor-targeting capsule with eight times more drug concentration at the locations of colon tumors than that of conventional capsules (Phase II clinical data).