Tablet coating is a critical unit operation in the manufacturing of solid oral dosage forms, directly influencing drug release, stability, absorption, process efficiency and batch-to-batch consistency. Modern pharmaceutical coatings are engineered systems designed to deliver reliable performance under defined physiological and manufacturing conditions.

With growing formulation complexity and rising safety expectations, selecting the right coating strategy is essential to achieve predictable outcomes and scalable manufacturing. Built on four decades of industry experience and a proven Chemistry of Trust, Vikram Thermo India Ltd. supports pharmaceutical manufacturers from development to commercialisation with science-led, production-ready coating solutions.

Types of Pharmaceutical Tablet Coating

Film Coating

A thin polymer layer that protects the tablet while enhancing appearance and handling.

• Shields APIs from moisture, oxygen, and light
• Improves swallowability and visual appeal
• Enables basic taste masking
• Supports immediate-release and functional dosage forms
• Ensures batch-to-batch consistency

Enteric Coating

Designed to resist stomach acid and dissolve in the intestine for targeted delivery.

• Protects acid-sensitive APIs
• Prevents gastric irritation
• Enables intestinal drug release
• Improves bioavailability
• Enhances patient safety and trust

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Sustained Release Coating

Controls drug release over time for consistent therapeutic outcomes.

• Maintains stable plasma levels
• Reduces dosing frequency
• Improves patient compliance
• Ideal for chronic therapies

Taste Masking Coating

Improves palatability without compromising drug performance.

• Masks bitter or unpleasant API taste
• Enhances patient acceptance
• Suitable for paediatric and geriatric formulations
• Preserves formulation integrity

Functional Coatings

Custom-engineered coatings designed for specific performance needs.

• Provides moisture, light, and oxygen protection
• Enables modified dissolution profiles
• Supports multi-layer systems
• Meets regulatory and performance requirements

Impact of Tablet Coating on Drug Performance

Tablet coatings directly influence how a drug behaves before and after administration. They improve stability by protecting APIs from environmental degradation, enable controlled and targeted drug release, enhance bioavailability through optimised dissolution, and improve patient compliance through taste masking and reduced dosing frequency.

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Manufacturing Challenges in Tablet Coating

Despite technological advancements, tablet coating presents several challenges, including:

• Coating defects and poor film adhesion
• Non-uniform coating thickness
• API–polymer incompatibility
• Scale-up from pilot to commercial production
• Process variability leading to batch inconsistencies

These challenges highlight the importance of robust, science-backed coating systems and experienced technical partners.

Advancements in Modern Coating Systems

Modern pharmaceutical coating systems address formulation and manufacturing challenges through optimised polymer design, aqueous-based coatings that enhance safety and sustainability, faster processing with reduced material waste, improved scalability and reproducibility, and regulatory-ready documentation supporting global submissions. These advancements improve efficiency without compromising product quality.

Vikram Thermo: Advanced Coating Solutions

With four decades of expertise, Vikram Thermo India Ltd. offers a comprehensive portfolio of pharmaceutical coating systems focused on performance, reliability, and global compliance readiness. Its DRUGCOAT® and DRCOAT® series cover enteric, sustained release, protective, taste masking and high-quality film coatings.

Supported by end-to-end technical services including formulation assistance, process optimisation, scale-up support, and regulatory documentation Vikram Thermo acts as a long-term formulation partner, helping manufacturers achieve consistent, dependable outcomes.

Conclusion

Tablet coating today is no longer just a finishing step, it is a critical driver of product quality and drug performance. From protecting APIs and enabling controlled release to supporting regulatory compliance and manufacturing scalability, coating systems define formulation success.

Backed by more than 40 years of polymer science expertise, regulatory excellence and global market experience, Vikram Thermo continues to empower pharmaceutical manufacturers with science-driven excipient and coating solutions built on a proven Chemistry of Trust.

To explore more about pharmaceutical tablet coating systems, excipients and formulation technologies, visit https://www.vikramthermo.com, where science-led solutions are built for consistent performance and regulatory readiness.

For deeper technical resources, formulation guides and application insights, access https://www.vikramthermo.com/resource, supporting development teams from R&D through scale-up and commercial manufacturing.

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