Clariant, a focused and innovative specialty chemical company, highlighted its recently introduced brand EQius™ at the 8th Annual InnoPack Pharma Confex, in Mumbai.

This encompasses products and technology related to Equilibrium Relative Humidity (ERH) stabilization. Equilibrium RH Stabilizers are sorbent products that maintain a certain humidity level in pharmaceutical and nutraceutical packaging in cases where specific relative humidity conditions are required.

The EQius products are made using specially engineered sorbents that can act as humectants (desorbers) and desiccants (adsorbers) simultaneously, maintaining a particular equilibrium relative humidity inside product packaging.

An equilibrium sorbent performs like a humectant (desorber) and desiccant (adsorber) for applications requiring a specific Equilibrium Relative Humidity (ERH) range inside product packaging. What makes the Clariant technology special is the way in which this line of standard equilibrium-stabilizer products (packet, canister, stopper, bags) can maintain ERH levels of 10% to 60% to protect finished drug products in bottles or tubes, or to protect bulk ingredients (powders, capsules) in boxes or bags before, during, or after tableting or filling operations.

Gautam Arora, Sales Head-India & South Asia, Clariant Healthcare Packaging, said “EQius truly showcases the expertise that Clariant’s Healthcare Packaging division has to offer in the primary packaging arena of pharmaceutical products. The product was developed keeping in mind the challenges faced by formulators. EQius as compared to conventional desiccant products is a custom made product and needs to be designed considering the unique properties of each formulation.”

Elisa Le Floch, Pharm.D., Business Development Manager, Clariant Healthcare Packaging, explains, “While hydrolytic degradation of drugs can be addressed by removing substantially all humidity entering the packaging using a desiccant, specific drug properties may require a specific range of humidity to be maintained throughout the shelf life of a drug product or ingredient.” Typical examples include micronized drug powders used in inhalers or gelatin capsules.

Clariant in India, headquartered in Navi Mumbai, operates in the business areas of Care Chemicals (BU Industrial & Consumer Specialties), Plastics & Coatings (BU Pigments, BU Masterbatches and BU Additives), Natural Resources (BU Functional Minerals, BL Mining Services) and Catalysis (BU Catalysts).