Lonza Capsules & Health Ingredients (Brazil Office) is the regional subsidiary of Lonza Group AG, a global leader in pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, and biotechnology innovation. Located in Rio de Janeiro, the Brazilian office supports the Latin American market with advanced capsule delivery technologies, clean-label health ingredients, and specialized encapsulation systems under the globally recognized Capsugel® brand.
Company Background
Lonza, headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, acquired Capsugel in 2017, creating one of the world’s most comprehensive portfolios for oral dosage delivery and ingredient innovation. With operations in over 35 countries and more than 17,000 employees worldwide, Lonza serves customers across pharmaceuticals, consumer health, and nutrition sectors.
In Brazil, Lonza’s Capsules & Health Ingredients division acts as a commercial and technical extension of its global capabilities. The regional team provides support for dietary supplement brands, pharmaceutical developers, and contract manufacturers throughout Latin America, ensuring compliance with ANVISA, Mercosur, and international regulatory frameworks.
Core Business
Lonza Brazil's core business encompasses:
- Advanced two-piece hard capsules for pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals
- Proprietary capsule technologies (delayed release, enteric, dual fill)
- Nutritional actives and branded ingredients
- Capsule filling equipment and technology transfer
- Regulatory, technical, and formulation support for local partners
The Brazil office enables clients to access global-grade innovation with regional logistics and customer service infrastructure.
Product and Service Offerings
1. Capsule Technologies (Capsugel®)
- Capsugel® Hard Gelatin Capsules: Standard two-piece capsules for dry fills
- Vcaps® Plus: Plant-based HPMC capsules with clean-label compliance
- Plantcaps®: Pullulan-based, 100% natural capsules for organic formulations
- DRcaps®: Delayed-release capsules protecting actives from stomach acid
- Enprotect®: Enteric capsule technology for acid-sensitive ingredients
- DUOCAP®: Capsule-in-capsule design for dual-release or combination products
- Beadlets Technology: Microencapsulation for flavor masking and stability
- Tablet-in-Cap System: Combines tablet and powder in a single capsule
- Lipid Multi-Particulate (LMP) Technology: Modified release for lipid-based drugs
2. Branded Nutritional Ingredients
- UC-II®: Undenatured type II collagen for joint health (clinically proven)
- Carnipure®: High-purity L-Carnitine for fat metabolism and energy
- Super CitriMax®: Garcinia cambogia extract for weight management
- ResistAid®: Immune-support prebiotic derived from larch tree extract
- L-OptiZinc®: Patented zinc formulation for immune and cellular support
- ChromeMate®: Chromium complex for blood sugar support
- ZMA®: Zinc, magnesium, and vitamin B6 for sports recovery
3. Capsule Filling Equipment
- Ultra III®, CAP 8™, and CFS 1200®: Precision capsule-filling machinery for R&D and production-scale manufacturing
Lonza offers machine validation, operator training, and maintenance services to ensure optimal capsule filling outcomes for regional manufacturers.
Specialization and Core USP
Lonza’s Brazilian operation specializes in:
- Clean-label capsule innovation tailored to South American dietary regulations
- Branded, clinically validated nutraceutical actives
- Custom encapsulation platforms for functional delivery
- Local market knowledge combined with global GMP standards
- Technical support for formulation challenges and product differentiation
Their “capsule-first” formulation approach offers unmatched flexibility for supplement brands and pharmaceutical developers targeting innovation and consumer appeal.
Financials and Scale
As part of Lonza Group AG:
- 2023 Global Revenue: CHF 6.7 billion (~USD 7.6 billion)
- Employees: 17,500+ globally
- Capsules & Health Ingredients Division: >200 billion capsules produced annually
- Brazil Market Contribution: Strong LATAM growth driven by demand for plant-based and premium capsule technologies
Brazil is considered a high-growth market in Lonza’s global expansion strategy due to rising demand for nutraceuticals, sports nutrition, and pharmaceutical innovation.
Shipment Records
- Capsules and ingredients exported across Brazil and LATAM from Lonza’s global production sites
- Manufacturing sites: Primarily in Belgium, France, USA, and Japan
- Packaging formats: Bulk capsules (50,000–100,000 pcs per box), drum-packed powder ingredients
- Regulatory documentation: COA, MSDS, ANVISA registration support, TSE/BSE statements, Halal & Kosher certifications
Lonza maintains consistent supply chains into Brazil with regulatory batch compliance and regional technical representatives.
Target Markets
- Pharmaceutical contract manufacturers
- Nutraceutical brands
- Sports nutrition companies
- Herbal medicine and dietary supplement developers
- Health and wellness distributors
- Formulation R&D laboratories
Capabilities
- Capsule selection guidance and material compatibility testing
- OEM and private-label partnerships
- On-site and virtual formulation workshops
- Clinical substantiation and claim support for branded ingredients
- Product registration guidance with ANVISA and Mercosur authorities
Lonza supports clients from concept to commercialization using its global R&D, manufacturing, and technical infrastructure.
Certifications and Compliance
- GMP Certified Manufacturing
- ISO 9001 and ISO 22000
- US FDA Registered
- TSE/BSE Free Certification
- Non-GMO, Allergen-Free, Vegan Options
- Halal and Kosher Certified
- ANVISA regulatory compliance and documentation support
Lonza’s capsule portfolio is also compliant with global pharmacopoeias including USP, EP, and JP.
Major Achievements
- Introduced the first delayed-release vegetarian capsule (DRcaps®) in Brazil
- Successfully commercialized UC-II® in multiple LATAM joint health brands
- Pioneered dual-delivery (DUOCAP®) systems in sports and cognitive supplements
- Supported multiple Brazilian brands transitioning to Vcaps® for clean-label claims
- Developed ANVISA-compliant documentation kits for top-selling capsule systems
Customer Testimonials
“Lonza's capsule technologies give us the flexibility to offer targeted delivery systems to our customers. Their DRcaps® and Vcaps® Plus lines have helped us build premium SKUs in Brazil.”
— CEO, Nutraceutical Brand, São Paulo
“The team at Lonza Brazil helped us reformulate three of our core supplements using UC-II® and Plantcaps®. Technical support and regulatory documentation were excellent.”
— Regulatory Lead, Health & Wellness Company, Curitiba
