Roquette Wins NIE New Ingredient Award for Low Nitrite METHOCEL™ HPMC
The Health & Pharma Solutions Business Group took home first place in the Excipients/Non-Actives category
Wilmington, Delaware, November 5, 2025 – Roquette, a global leader in plant-based ingredients and pharmaceutical excipients for the health, nutrition and bioindustrial markets, is proud to announce that its innovative Low Nitrite METHOCEL™ hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) has been awarded first place in the Excipients/Non-Actives category at the 2025 NIE New Ingredient Awards, hosted by Nutrition Industry Executive magazine.
This prestigious award highlights Roquette’s commitment to advancing pharmaceutical safety and innovation through science-backed excipient solutions. Low Nitrite METHOCEL™ HPMC is a modified cellulose excipient designed to significantly reduce nitrosamine formation risk in pharmaceutical formulations.
“We’re honored to receive this recognition from NIE,” said Michael Baumann, Global Product Manager, METHOCEL™, Roquette Health & Pharma Solutions Business Group. “The award validates our ongoing efforts to support customers with excipients that meet evolving safety standards while maintaining formulation performance.”
A Breakthrough in Nitrosamine Mitigation
Nitrosamines have become a major concern for pharmaceutical manufacturers. Low Nitrite METHOCEL™ HPMC addresses this challenge by minimizing nitrite content – a key precursor to nitrosamine formation – through advanced process controls and validated analytical methods.
Each batch of Low Nitrite METHOCEL™ HPMC is tested using ion chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry, ensuring nitrite levels are consistently at or below 200 parts per billion. This data is transparently reported on every Certificate of Analysis, supporting regulatory compliance and quality assurance.
Proven Performance, Seamless Integration
With over 75 years of trusted performance, METHOCEL™ cellulose ethers are widely used in both controlled release and immediate release nutraceutical and pharmaceutical dosages. The low nitrite grades maintain the same formulation flexibility and reliability, offering no impact on API performance or drug efficacy, minimal need for costly reformulation, and consistent performance as a rheology modifier, binder and film former.
“This award reflects our team’s deep expertise and unwavering commitment to solving industry challenges through innovation and collaboration,” said Isabelle Bouvier, Chief Executive Officer, Roquette Health & Pharma Solutions Business Group. “After trailblazing for more than 75 years in the pharma industry, we are proud to continue to be a solution provider and look forward to solving our customer’s challenges today and tomorrow.”
Learn more about Roquette’s nitrosamine mitigation strategy and Low Nitrite METHOCEL™ HPMC here.
About Roquette
Roquette is a leading provider of plant-based ingredients, excipients and pharmaceutical solutions dedicated to enhancing the quality and convenience of essential products for consumers and patients worldwide.
Roquette employs more than 11,000 people globally, operating in more than 150 countries through more than 40 manufacturing sites and 20 R&D and innovation centers. The company achieved a turnover of €4.5 billion in 2024.
Harnessing natural resources like wheat, corn and cellulose, Roquette crafts high-performance ingredients and solutions used in everyday foods, oral medications, advanced biopharmaceuticals, and bio-based products.
Roquette is a family-owned company driven by a long-term vision and a constant commitment to innovation. For almost a century, Roquette has been empowering better living and building a sustainable future by offering the best of nature.
Discover more about Roquette here.
