NanoGuardian and Capsugel Announce Global Collaboration to Help Protect Medications From Counterfeiting and Illegal Diversion

Powerful Alliance of Industry Leaders Helps Protect Pharmaceutical Supply Chain


SKOKIE, IL--(Marketwire - February 22, 2010) -  NanoGuardian™, a division of NanoInk® that delivers brand protection solutions to defend against illegal diversion and counterfeiting, announced today that it entered into a license agreement with Capsugel, a division of Pfizer and the global leader in providing capsule-based drug delivery systems, that gives Capsugel global access to NanoGuardian's NanoEncryption™ technology for the protection of capsule-based medications against counterfeiting and illegal diversion. 

NanoGuardian's NanoEncryption technology works directly on capsules, tablets, vial caps, and single-use syringes to provide a layered security strategy consisting of overt, covert and forensic security features. NanoGuardian's multi-layered security provides a dual-protective benefit to manufacturers by fighting both counterfeiting and illegal diversion with a single technology. The overt and covert security features allow dose-level authentication at any point in a manufacturer's supply chain, while forensic NanoCodes™ provide comprehensive tracing information on each and every dose. NanoGuardian's technology provides a strong benefit over other on-dose technologies given that NanoGuardian's security features are implemented with no additional chemicals being added to the medication.

"Capsugel is committed to providing cutting-edge advancements in capsule dosage delivery technology. Given the concerning rise in counterfeit and illegally diverted medications throughout the world, we wanted to bring value to our customers by helping to protect their brands, companies, and the patients they serve. After evaluating available security technologies, we chose NanoGuardian as a technology partner because of the sophistication, sustainability and benefits of their NanoEncryption technology. This will allow our pharmaceutical customers to authenticate and trace every single dose, from plant-to-patient," said Guido Driesen, President and General Manager of Capsugel.

In addition to the traditional NanoGuardian model of using a proprietary machine to implement the NanoEncryption technology, Capsugel will offer pre-NanoEncrypted capsule shells to pharmaceutical companies, eliminating any significant additions to their current manufacturing process. Capsugel will market this new technology to current and future Capsugel customers and expects it to be able to supply NanoEncrypted capsules by mid-2010.

"NanoGuardian is a leader in the on-dose brand protection marketplace so it makes perfect sense for us to partner with the global leader in capsule-delivery systems. Together, NanoGuardian and Capsugel can extend product security and integrity to the dose level for capsule-based medications and help provide confidence to the millions of patients who rely on these medications for their health and well being," said James Hussey, chief executive officer of NanoGuardian. 

About NanoGuardian
NanoGuardian™, a division of NanoInk®, focuses exclusively on delivering brand protection solutions to fight illegal diversion and counterfeiting. Anchored by NanoInk's novel NanoEncryption™ technology, NanoGuardian enables manufacturers to authenticate and trace the integrity of their products across the supply chain. More information about NanoGuardian is available at www.nanoguardian.net.

About Capsugel
Capsugel, a division of Pfizer Inc. with over 2,800 colleagues and 13 locations around the world, is a global leader in innovative dosage forms and solutions for the healthcare industry. Offering a comprehensive array of products and services, from hard gelatin, softgel, and vegetarian capsules, to innovative R&D equipment and liquid formulations as part of its Licaps® Drug Delivery System, Capsugel is at the forefront of drug delivery innovation providing support to customers from formulation to final production. For more information about Capsugel, visit www.capsugel.com.

Contact Information:

Contacts:
Joshua Taustein
Dresner Corporate Services for NanoGuardian
(312) 780-7219
jtaustein@dresnerco.com

David Gutierrez
Dresner Corporate Services for NanoGuardian
(312) 780-7204
dgutierrez@dresnerco.com

Alyssa Augustine
Director of Communications for Capsugel
(908) 901-6584
alyssa.augustine@pfizer.com