International Specialty Products and Capricorn Pharma Inc have announced the signing of a global marketing agreement. The agreement represents a strategic alliance between the two companies and specifically involves the worldwide promotion and sales of Capricorn's range of microencapsulated active ingredients for use in a variety of pharmaceutical OTC, nutritional and Oral Care applications.

ISP will have worldwide rights to market, sell and distribute the Capricorn ingredients which create innovative opportunities for chewable and rapidly dissolving consumer products. The Capricorn family of microencapsulation technologies has the flexibility to be applied to a wide variety of active ingredients for taste and odor masking and active stabilization in a number of final product formulations including tablets, films, bars and chews.

According to Steve Olsen, Sr. Vice-President, Marketing and Corporate Development, ISP: "Our alliance with Capricorn is a fantastic opportunity to add an exciting product line and technology to our pharmaceutical portfolio for the benefit of our customers around the world. We are very impressed with Capricorn's technology and their dedication to being a technology leader in providing high-quality, high-value ingredients. The scientists at Capricorn have drawn from their experience in pharmaceutical, nutritional and polymer sciences; process engineering; and consumer products to develop technology which provides excellent organoleptic properties that will appeal to consumers while meeting the regulatory expectations for drug release. Over a very short period of time, we expect to offer customers a strong product portfolio including microencapsulated ingredients in the analgesic, cough and cold, allergy, gastrointestinal, vitamins and minerals, nutritional supplements and oral care categories."