Capsugel
Capsugel (Lonza Capsules & Health Ingredients) is a global capsule technology and CDMO serving pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, and pet food companies with proprietary hard empty capsules, formulation services, and branded health ingredients across 20 locations worldwide.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1970
- HeadquartersMorristown, United States
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
Capsugel firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Capsugel
- Legal name
- Lonza Group Ltd.
- Website
- https://capsugel.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1970
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- Capsugel (Lonza Capsules & Health Ingredients) is a global capsule technology and CDMO serving pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, and pet food companies with proprietary hard empty capsules, formulation services, and branded health ingredients across 20 locations worldwide.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Capsugel industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Capsule Dosage Solutions & Pharmaceutical CDMO
- NAICS
- Pharmaceutical Preparation Manufacturing (325412), Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing (3254)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Primary Pharmaceutical Packaging (Blister Packs, Bottles, Vials, Ampoules) (IMALAIAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Pharmaceutical & Medical Plastic Packaging Manufacturing (IMANAEAK), Hydrocolloids, Thickeners & Gelling Agents (Pectin, Xanthan, Carrageenan, Gelatin) (CRADAOAD)
Keywords
Where Capsugel is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Morristown
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices16 records
Markets served
Capsugel business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Hard Empty Capsules (HEC): Manufacturing and sale of hard empty capsules including gelatin, HPMC (Vcaps® Plus), pullulan (Plantcaps®), and specialized capsules (DRcaps®, Enprotect®, DBcaps®, Colorista®, etc.) for pharmaceutical and nutraceutical applications.
- Pharmaceutical CDMO Services: Contract development and manufacturing services for pharmaceutical brands spanning quality, regulatory, formulation, technical and supply chain support. Includes capsule manufacturing, equipment, and full end-to-end services from early-stage development through clinical trials to commercialization.
- Nutraceutical CDMO Services: Full-service concept-to-market support for nutraceutical brands including advanced capsule technologies (Licaps® liquid-filled, DUOCAP® dual release, tablet-in-capsule), formulation development, and manufacturing.
- Health Ingredients: Science-backed specialty health ingredients including UC-II® collagen, Carnipure® L-carnitine, ChromeMate®, L-OptiZinc®, ResistAid®, Super Citrimax®, and ZMA® for human and animal nutrition.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom enterprise pricing for pharmaceutical and nutraceutical companies |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Capsugel product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Capsugel designs, develops, and manufactures hard empty capsules (gelatin, HPMC, pullulan, and specialized release formulations) for pharmaceutical and nutraceutical companies, alongside contract development and manufacturing (CDMO) services spanning formulation, clinical trial supply, and commercial production. The company also produces science-backed specialty health ingredients (e.g., UC-II collagen, Carnipure L-carnitine) and encapsulation equipment for global pharma, supplement, and pet nutrition brands.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- ACHIEV: Digital gateway platform providing one-click capsule orders, regulatory support, and downloadable technical data
- Vcaps Plus
- DRcaps
- Plantcaps
- Licaps
- DUOCAP
- UC-II
- Carnipure
- ChromeMate
- Enprotect
Products and services
- Capsugel Coni-Snap Hard Gelatin Capsules
- Capsugel Vcaps Plus HPMC Capsules
- Capsugel Plantcaps Pullulan Capsules
- DBcaps Over-Encapsulation Capsules
- Capsugel Enprotect Enteric Capsules
- Capsugel DRcaps Designed Release Capsules
- Capsugel Licaps Liquid-Filled Capsules
- Licaps DUOCAP Dual Release Technology
- Capsugel Zephyr Dry Powder Inhalation (DPI) Capsule Portfolio
- AromatiQ Sensory Technology
- Organicaps Pullulan Organic Capsules
- Colorista Color Compatibility Capsules
- Pharmaceutical CDMO Services
- Innovaform Accelerator
- Nutraceutical CDMO Services
- UC-II Undenatured Type II Collagen
- UC-FLEX Collagen Blend for Pets
- Carnipure L-Carnitine
- ChromeMate Niacin-Bound Chromium
- Super CitriMax HCA
- L-OptiZinc Immunity
- ResistAid Arabinogalactan
- Ultra III Capsule Filling Machine
- Capsugel TechSolutions
Quantifiable outcome
- Up to 4x higher enzyme activity in upper small intestine compared to standard immediate release capsules using Licaps DUOCAP technology
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Capsugel
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Capsugel technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature11 records
Capsugel partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- ProDigestminorCollaboration with ProDigest (Belgium), leading experts in preclinical gastrointestinal tract models, for peer-reviewed research on Licaps® DUOCAP® capsule-in-capsule technology. Study published in Pharmaceutics demonstrated up to 4x higher enzyme activity compared to standard capsules.
- BeauventminorBelgian renewable energy cooperative providing long-term power purchase agreement (PPA) for wind power to Lonza Capsugel's Bornem site in Belgium. The agreement directly connects a nearby wind turbine to the manufacturing facility, projected to generate approximately 14% of the site's annual electricity needs. Combined with existing onsite solar panels (~11%) and virtual PPA (75%), the Bornem site operates with 100% renewable electricity.
- Lonza Engine® Alliance ProgramcorePartnership program with world-leading equipment manufacturers to offer reliable powder-filling equipment, plus world-class service and support capabilities. Provides customers access to matched equipment and Capsugel® capsule performance.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Capsugel competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Qualicaps: Qualicaps is a Japan-based global manufacturer of hard empty capsules (gelatin and HPMC) and capsule filling equipment with a strong pharma heritage. It directly competes with Capsugel in pharmaceutical-grade capsules, including specialized formats for inhalation and dry powder delivery.
- ACG: ACG is one of the world's largest manufacturers of empty hard capsules (gelatin, HPMC, pullulan) and integrated capsule machinery, serving pharma and nutraceutical customers globally. It is the most direct comparable to Capsugel's hard empty capsule franchise across product portfolio, customer base, and CDMO-adjacent offering.
- Suheung Co., Ltd. Suheung is a Korea-headquartered manufacturer of empty hard capsules (gelatin, HPMC, pullulan) and pharmaceutical packaging, with significant global capacity. It competes head-to-head with Capsugel in both commodity and specialty capsule formats for pharma and nutraceutical customers.
Broad incumbents
- Siegfried Holding AG: Siegfried is a Swiss pharmaceutical CDMO with capabilities spanning API manufacturing and oral solid dose drug products. It is comparable to Capsugel's CDMO services in customer base and integrated pharma services offering, though smaller in capsule-specific IP.
- Thermo Fisher Scientific (Patheon CDMO): Thermo Fisher's Patheon CDMO business provides oral solid dose development, manufacturing, and clinical supply services to global pharma. It is comparable to Capsugel's pharmaceutical CDMO offering in target customers and oral dose capabilities, but is part of a much larger life sciences tools and services platform.
- Aenova Group: Aenova is a European pharmaceutical CDMO with strong capabilities in oral solid dosage forms, softgel capsules, and packaging. It competes with Capsugel's pharma CDMO services for European and global pharma customers, particularly in solid dose and capsule-based formulations.
- Recipharm AB: Recipharm is a European-headquartered pharmaceutical CDMO offering development and manufacturing across oral solids, sterile, and specialty formats. It overlaps Capsugel's CDMO services in oral solid dose and competes for similar pharma customer relationships across geographies.
- Catalent, Inc. Catalent is a leading global CDMO offering softgel and oral solid dose development, manufacturing, and packaging services to pharmaceutical customers. It overlaps Capsugel's pharmaceutical CDMO services and oral dosage franchise, but at significantly broader scale across biologics and multiple delivery formats.
Emerging players
- West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. West Pharmaceutical Services is a global leader in drug delivery and containment components, including elastomeric closures, injectable systems, and inhalation devices. It is comparable to Capsugel's higher-value drug delivery offerings (e.g., Zephyr DPI, containment components) at the intersection of pharma packaging and device technology.
- Colorcon, Inc. Colorcon supplies specialized pharmaceutical excipients, coatings, and modified-release technologies to oral solid dose manufacturers. It overlaps Capsugel's modified-release and enteric capsule positioning (e.g., Enprotect, DRcaps) as a complementary supplier to pharma formulators.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Capsugel social profiles
Digital presenceCapsugel financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Capsugel leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles11 records
Capsugel funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors2 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Capsugel M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A3 records
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Capsugel
What does Capsugel do?
Capsugel designs, develops, and manufactures hard empty capsules (gelatin, HPMC, pullulan, and specialized release formulations) for pharmaceutical and nutraceutical companies, alongside contract development and manufacturing (CDMO) services spanning formulation, clinical trial supply, and commercial production. The company also produces science-backed specialty health ingredients (e.g., UC-II collagen, Carnipure L-carnitine) and encapsulation equipment for global pharma, supplement, and pet nutrition brands.
Is Capsugel a public or private company?
Capsugel is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Capsugel founded?
Capsugel was founded in 1970. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is Capsugel based?
Capsugel is headquartered in Morristown, United States, in the North America region.
How does Capsugel make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Hard Empty Capsules (HEC) is the primary driver. The others are pharmaceutical CDMO Services, nutraceutical CDMO Services and health Ingredients.
Who are Capsugel's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Qualicaps, ACG and Suheung Co., Ltd.. Broad incumbents are Siegfried Holding AG, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Patheon CDMO), Aenova Group, Recipharm AB and Catalent, Inc.. Emerging players are West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. and Colorcon, Inc..
Does Capsugel have an API?
No public API is recorded for Capsugel.
What industry is Capsugel in?
Capsugel's product category is Capsule Dosage Solutions & Pharmaceutical CDMO. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMALAIAA, Primary Pharmaceutical Packaging (Blister Packs, Bottles, Vials, Ampoules), with a secondary code of IMANAEAK, Pharmaceutical & Medical Plastic Packaging Manufacturing. Its NAICS code is 325412.