Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose-HPMC has been a core of pharmaceutical film coating on tablets for decades. It must have been a part of your formulations longer than most of the equipment in your facility. 

However, this widely used polymer has been facing several challenges in recent times. In this blog, we explore the role of HPMC in coating applications and discuss how the NOVO Series HPMC grades are effectively bridging the emerging gaps in the market.

What is Novo Series HPMC?

Novocoat is an individual pharmaceutical-grade HPMC excipient. It is a pure polymer supplied in defined viscosity grades, compliant with USP (Hypromellose), Ph. Eur. (Hypromellose), BP, JP, and IP monographs. 

Who is Novocoat for?

Pharmaceutical manufacturers with in-house R&D and coating capabilities,  companies that prefer preparing their own coating dispersions and have the formulation expertise often use Novocoat. 

Novo Series HPMC grades E3 to E50 enhance tablet film coating by offering a range of low-viscosity options that deliver smooth, uniform coatings, rapid film formation, and excellent mechanical protection, while balancing gloss, adhesion, and process efficiency. These grades are particularly suited for immediate-release coatings where aesthetics, stability, and patient compliance are critical.

How NovoCoat E3–E50 Grades Improve Film Coating? 

1. Low Viscosity Range (3–50 cps) : Grades E3, E5, E6 are very thin, quick-drying coatings ideal for high-speed production.Grades E15 offer a balanced viscosity, providing both gloss and mechanical strength. Grade E50 provides thicker, more protective films with enhanced durability.
2. Uniform Coating Quality:

HPMC polymer chains ensure consistent coverage across tablet surfaces. This uniformity is what makes the tablet coating material functional, whether it is protecting the API, masking taste, or controlling release.

3. Reduces defects: This coating reduces risk of defects like peeling, cracking, or mottling. 
4. Masks unpleasant tastes or odor: The HPMC film coating acts as a continuous membrane on tablets. This prevents the API surface from dissolving in the mouth and the patient tastes nothing. This feature is critical for pediatric and geriatric formulations.
5. Enhanced Patient Compliance:  The HPMC film coating acts as a continuous membrane on tablets. This smooth, glossy finish improves appearance and swallowability, enhancing patient compliance. 

Considerations For Using E3–E50: 

• Processing Needs: Lower viscosity grades (E3–E6) are easier to spray but may require multiple layers for durability.
• Film Thickness vs. Drying Time: Higher viscosity (E15–E50) provides stronger protection but may slow down drying.
• Application Fit: E3-E15 are preferred for immediate-release tablets. E50 is more suitable for moisture-sensitive drugs, since it offers better strength & barrier properties. 

Practical Takeaway

For standard immediate-release coatings, E3–E15 grades are ideal due to their rapid film formation and smooth finish. By selecting the right grade, formulators can optimize tablet stability, patient compliance, and manufacturing efficiency.

How Novo Series HPMC (Novocoat) enhances film coating on tablets?

• Batch-to-batch viscosity consistency: Viscosity is not just a number.In film coatings it affects the suspension viscosity, film strength and finally appearance of the film coated tablets.
• Multi-pharmacopoeial compliance: Novocoat meets USP, Ph. Eur., BP, JP, and IP monograph requirements. 
• US-DMF supported: USFDA ANDA and NDA submissions expect excipient DMF cross-referencing. Novocoat is US-DMF supported. This eases your regulatory pressure.
• Nitrosamine-free, ICH M7 and ICH Q3D documented: Regulators now expect nitrosamine impurity risk assessments from excipient suppliers. The nitrosamine levels are tightly controlled for the Novocoat range.Declarations are available on request.
• Full viscosity ranges from one supplier:  From E3 to E50, the entire Novocoat range comes from a single, qualified supplier . This means you have only one supply chain to manage.

Conclusion:

HPMC has been trusted for years because the chemistry works. However, in today’s pharma market along with chemistry, quality and compliance should be given equal importance too. 

Novo Excipients, a pharmaceutical excipients manufacturer based in India, has been working with pharmaceutical film coating systems for over four decades. Novo Series HPMC Grades are not just a catalogued raw material. These materials are backed by a technical team that understands formulation, troubleshoots coating defects, and supports regulatory submissions from development through commercialisation.

Connect with the Novoexcipients Team to experience the Novo Series HPMC Grades.