Meggle Reta M® – The Interview

MEGGLE released the new excipient Reta M® at October 13. Pharma Excipients used the chance to do an interview with the responsible product manager, Dr. Christian Nowak, to learn more about Reta M®.  It is the first hypromellose/mannitol-based, co-processed excipient specifically designed for direct compression (DC) and dry granulation of modified release formulations for the pharmaceutical and nutraceutical market. It is also the first Meggle excipient without lactose.

The Interview:

Pharma Excipients: Reta M® is the first lactose-free Meggle excipient product for modified release formulations. How did it come to the idea and the final decision to do this product?

Dr. Nowak: In 2009 MEGGLE introduced RetaLac® a combination of lactose monohydrate and hypromellose (HPMC), tailored specifically for Direct Compression of sustained drug release formulations. Due to its ease of use and reliant performance, RetaLac® has been very well received by the pharmaceutical industry. On the other hand the nutritional market has been missing out on the benefits of RetaLac®, due to its reluctance to use lactose or lactose-based excipients. One can imagine, it was a tough decision for MEGGLE to embrace excipients, which do not contain lactose. But here we are, MEGGLE introduces its first lactose-free excipient, Reta M®,  comprising 50 % Mannitol and 50 % hypromellose (K4M).

Pharma Excipients: You developed Reta M® as a co-processed excipient of HPMC and mannitol. Can you tell us something on the background of this combination?

Dr. Nowak: MEGGLE has been known as a pioneer of co-processing excipients for decades and with RetaLac® especially co-processing HPMC. This expertise was applied to the development and production of Reta M®. A customer request encouraged us to develop a lactose-free version of RetaLac®. Due to its great physical properties, mannitol was the ideal candidate for our first lactose-free co-processed excipient.  It is very well accepted by the nutraceutical industry – a kind of a rising star. Furthermore, Meggle has a long-termed reliable partnership to the suppliers of the used excipients.

See our short introduction video about Reta M®:

Pharma Excipients: Where do you see major areas of use (application?) of Reta M®?

Dr. Nowak: Reta M® was designed for different markets. Our main target markets are the pharmaceutical and as already mentioned the nutraceutical industry. We have seen a great interest in sustained release formulation of Vitamin supplements, e.g. Vitamin C.

A customer request encouraged us to develop a lactose-free version of RetaLac®.
Due to its great physical properties, mannitol was the ideal candidate for our first lactose-free co-processed excipient.

Pharma Excipients: What are the major benefits of Reta M®?

Dr. Nowak: Reta M®’s reliable performance concerning tableting and drug release easily enables sustained release formulations via direct compression. As of its vegan components, it is perfectly suited for the nutritional market?

Pharma Excipients: Can the sustained / modified release be adjusted and if yes, how?

Dr. Nowak: We learned from our RetaLac® platform that an accelerated release can be easily adjusted via tablet height and the addition of water soluble mannitol. And for a reduced dissolution rate, HPMC K100 can be added.

Interested to see our video on Reta M?  Just scan the QR code

Pharma Excipients: Are there more products like this in your pipeline in the next 18-24 months?

Dr. Nowak: We at Meggle pursue the development of highly innovative and multifunctional products. Co-processing is one of our core competences and we definitely aim to use this expertise for the nutraceutical industry.

Dr. Christian Nowak

Application Manager at MEGGLE Excipients & Technology and Project Manager for Reta M®.