Capsules made from animal-derived gelatin have been used for at least 200 years. Because gelatin can mask the bad taste, odor or irritation of many drugs, gelatin capsules are quickly being used in the production of various solid preparations. Over the past 100 years, gelatin-based capsules have long been popular in the international pharmaceutical market. By 2007, the total output of various capsules worldwide was around 3.5 trillion.

Medications help us extend life and health. However, incorrect medication can not only fully exert the efficacy of the drug, but also may cause side effects. Therefore, it is necessary to understand safe and reasonable medication knowledge.

In 2015, the demand for capsules in China has reached 300 billion, with a compound annual growth rate of 8.3% in the past five years. From the perspective of industry market composition, empty capsules are widely used in health food and pharmaceutical fields. According to Wind industry data, the market share of pharmaceuticals in the retail market dropped significantly from 11.28% in 2004 to 8.10% in 2014. The market share of health foods has gradually increased, accounting for 10.99% of the entire retail market.

From the perspective of market demand, with the improvement of economic level and consumption capacity, population growth and aging, and the increase of people's health awareness will drive the sustained and rapid development of the healthcare industry, which in turn will drive the demand for empty capsules.

Capsule pills, tablets, etc. need to add the excipients during the manufacturing process. Sometimes the amount of excipients even are greater than the main drug. In the preparation of the capsule drug, in addition to the main drug powder, an additional agent such as a diluent, a lubricant, a disintegrator or the like are added as needed.

Since the birth of capsules more than 100 years ago, capsules have achieved rapid development in the fields of health care and pharmaceuticals, and have become one of the most important dosage forms for oral solid preparations.

Due to the impact of the "poison capsule" incident, the market structure of China's medicinal empty capsules has accelerated restructuring. However, from the overall point of view, most enterprises in the capsule industry still have the stage characteristics of individual dispersion, small production scale and inconsistent product standards.

US researchers have recently developed an oral insulin capsule that is expected to replace subcutaneous injections for daily use in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Russia's Tomsk Polytechnic University and the Russian Ministry of Health's Smolozentev Influenza Institute have jointly developed 11 new siRNAs (small interfering RNAs) that have antiviral activity in vitro and can inhibit NS, PA and NP genes Influenza A virus.

According to the website of the Macao SAR government, a series of "innovative Chinese medicine series products" and "zebrafish screening system based on microfluidic technology" independently researched and developed by the National Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Quality Research of the University of Macau were unveiled at the 47th Geneva International Invention.